Shepherd's Life – Psiloritis Mountain Private Tour (7 Hours)

This private tour takes small groups into the mountain interior of Crete for a day built around three distinct experiences: a natural cave, a working shepherd's farm, and a traditional open-fire lunch. The day starts with pickup from your accommodation across a wide area of the northern coast, from Heraklion east to Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. After collecting guests, the route heads inland to Anogia, one of Crete's most storied mountain villages, where there is time for a coffee or refreshment in the village square before continuing to Zoniana. At Zoniana, the group enters Sfendoni Cave, one of the largest and most elaborate show caves in Greece. The cave sits at the foot of Mount Psiloritis and contains extensive formations of stalactites and stalagmites built up over millions of years. A guide leads the visit through the illuminated passages. From the cave, the tour continues into the Psiloritis Natural Heritage Park to visit a traditional family-run shepherd's farm. Here guests feed and interact with farm animals including Kri-Kri goats, sheep, and donkeys, then move into the shepherd's cave to make cheese by hand using traditional methods. The group also prepares Cretan cheese pies using the same techniques shepherds have used for generations. The day ends with an Antikristo lamb lunch — whole cuts of lamb cooked on vertical spits arranged around an open fire, a method specific to Crete and rarely seen outside the island's mountain communities. Lunch includes wine and water. The excursion is not suitable for people with mobility problems. Comfortable shoes, a jacket, hat, and sunscreen are recommended.