Kournas Lake Day Trip from Rethymno

A Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno runs west along the north coast of Crete to Lake Kournas, the only natural freshwater lake on the island, which lies inland from Georgioupoli, with the springs of Argyroupoli, the beach at Georgioupoli and Chania town added on the longer tours. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.

The sections below cover the distance and route, the pickups, the length of the day, the time at the lake, the Argyroupoli and Georgioupoli stops, the olive oil and village stops, the tours you can book, the best time and the bus or car options, with links into the Lake Kournas pages. The tours shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.

What is a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

A Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno is a there-and-back excursion, completed in a single day, from Rethymno and the resorts around it to Lake Kournas, Crete’s only natural freshwater lake, with Argyroupoli, Georgioupoli, an olive mill or Chania town added on.

The outing links two regional units of Crete. Rethymno belongs to the unit that shares its name, while the lake sits within the Apokoronas municipality of the Chania regional unit, close to the Rethymno border. A Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno therefore crosses that border, and the village of Kournas looks down on the water from its hill.

The six GetYourGuide Kournas departures compared here share the Day trip category, and none visits the lake alone, since each adds at least one more stop. Guides to the area describe an easy outing with no strenuous effort, suited to families, so a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno slots in well between the longer excursions on offer in Rethymno.

How far is the lake on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

On a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno the lake lies 20 km west of the town, and driving guides give 25 to 40 minutes for the run out, one of the shorter drives among the day trips offered from Rethymno.

The two figures come from separate guides. A car-hire guide puts the lake 25 minutes from Rethymno, while a guide to excursions from the town allows 35 to 40 minutes. Either way, the drive on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno stays well under an hour, and the same car-hire guide places Rethymno Old Town within 30 minutes of the shore.

By comparison, the excursion guide puts Chania 65 km from Rethymno, about an hour’s drive to the west. Tours that carry a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno on to Chania therefore add a longer road leg, while the plain lake outing stays close to home.

Which route does a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno take?

A Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno follows the E75/A90 national road west along the north coast towards Chania, leaves it at the signposted Georgioupoli exit and takes a short inland road that reaches the lake in about 6 minutes from the resort.

From Rethymno, the way to the lake starts on the E75 national road heading west towards Chania; the highway, also numbered A90, runs along the north coast of the island. The Georgioupoli exit is clearly signed from both directions, so a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno reaches its turn inland without any detour.

Past the exit, signs for Lake Kournas point the way inland from the resort town of Georgioupoli. The road is narrow but paved and well marked, and it brings a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno to the lakeshore in a matter of minutes.

Coach tours add more stops to the route. Markidis Travel heads first to the springs of Argyroupoli, then calls at a local olive mill and makes the lake its final stop before the drive back, passing traditional Cretan villages along the way. On this version of a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno, the lake closes the day rather than opening it.

Which pickup points serve a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

A Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno collects guests from or near their accommodation across the Rethymno area, which one local operator defines as the stretch from Panormo to Kavros, return included, and every one of the six GetYourGuide departures lists pickup as well.

Markidis Travel, which runs a bus day to the lake from Rethymno, arranges each pickup individually once the booking is complete. Guests contact the operator after booking to request it, and the bus then leaves from the accommodation or a spot nearby and brings everyone back to the same area at the end of a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno.

Two GetYourGuide departures can run privately: one is sold as a private group, another carries a private option. GetYourGuide stops taking bookings 10 hours before the start on five listings and 8 hours before on the private trip. Manolis Travel, a second Rethymno operator, makes a transfer available on its CheckYeti bus tour, a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno that also takes in Georgioupoli and Argyroupoli.

Tour pickups start from where you sleep, so the leg from the airport or port comes first. Our Rethymno transfers cover that run to the town and its resorts, which places guests inside the pickup area before a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno.

How long does a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno last?

A Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno runs from 3.5 to 9 hours across the eight listings compared on GetYourGuide and CheckYeti, with six of them between 7 and 8 hours; the two departures that add Chania town take 6 and 8 hours.

The widest spread on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno, 3.5 to 9 hours, belongs to one GetYourGuide departure that pairs the lake with Argyroupoli and Georgioupoli and sells a private option. The private trip through Rethymno’s Venetian Old Town lasts 8 hours, as does the small-group day with an olive oil factory, and the guided tour with an olive mill takes 7.

CheckYeti lists two Rethymno bus days of the same length: the Markidis Travel trip to the springs, an olive mill and the lake lasts 7.5 hours, and the Manolis Travel tour to the lake, Georgioupoli and Argyroupoli takes 7 hours 30 minutes. That places a coach-based Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno inside the 7 to 8 hour cluster.

Driving yourself shortens the day. One guide to excursions from the town reckons half a day covers a self-drive Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno, lunch by the lake included, and another describes a light outing that gets you back to Rethymno without fatigue and leaves room for an easy evening.

How long do tours stay at the lake on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

Tours that publish their stop times stay about two to 2.5 hours at the lake on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno. Manolis Travel allows about two hours, while Markidis Travel stays about 2.5 hours, enough time to swim and eat.

Markidis Travel makes the lake the last stop of its Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno, after the springs and an olive mill, and its listing builds that time around swimming and dining at the shore. Manolis Travel makes it the middle stop, a break to cool off in the water and take in the view of the hills before the drive to the coast.

Pedalo rental shops and tavernas line part of the shore, where visitors can hire pedal boats, sunbeds and umbrellas. A narrow footpath follows about two-thirds of the shoreline, which runs to 3.5 km in all, and the water is open for a swim. Markidis Travel states that its Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno does not cover activities at the stops, Lake Kournas among them.

Both CheckYeti listings, from Markidis Travel and Manolis Travel, tell guests to pack a swimsuit and a towel. On GetYourGuide, a small-group Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno promises free time at the lake, and a private day trip sets aside time to relax by the water.

What does Argyroupoli add to a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

Argyroupoli adds a stop of about one hour at the springs and waterfalls of a traditional village, with time for a Greek coffee in its cafés. Manolis Travel and Markidis Travel both give it that hour on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno.

Both operators make Argyroupoli the first stop of their Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno. Markidis Travel spends its hour at the water springs, while Manolis Travel leaves time to take in the atmosphere and try the cafés of a village known for its greenery and old springs.

Platanos Tours runs its Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno the other way round: its Discover Greece listing puts the lake first, followed by a short drive across the countryside to Argyroupoli, where guests stop for a Greek coffee. On GetYourGuide, one small-group tour pairs the traditional village with time to relax at its natural springs, and a Viator listing puts the Argyroupolis waterfalls in its title.

What does Georgioupoli add to a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

Georgioupoli adds a beach stop on the Sea of Crete. Manolis Travel ends its Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno there with about 2.5 hours on the sand or in the sea, and Platanos Tours lists a swim and a seaside lunch.

The resort of Georgioupoli sits where three rivers reach the sea, and the biggest, the Almyros, gives fishing and tourist boats a small harbour. The Manolis Travel stop there is the longest of its Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno, with time to lie on the long sandy beach or swim.

Platanos Tours, in its Discover Greece listing, plans a swim in clear water and a rest on the sandy beach at Georgioupolis. Across the river lies a second strand, Kalyvaki beach, and the white chapel of Saint Nicholas sits out on a rock jetty, at a rocky causeway near one end of the beach.

A guest review on the Manolis Travel listing warns that walkers get wet on the way out to the little church, so sandals or beach shoes help, and the listing itself tells guests to bring snorkelling gear for this Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno.

Which olive oil and village stops join a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

An olive mill or olive oil factory is the main extra stop, with the village of Kournas as a second. Four listings for a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno put olive oil or an oil tasting in their product titles.

On the Markidis Travel day, the bus drives on from the springs to a local olive mill, where guests see how Cretan olive oil is made in the traditional way, before it heads to the lake. A GetYourGuide tour with an olive mill in its title lets guests learn about olive oil, and a small-group Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno visits an olive oil factory.

On Viator, one Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno adds an olive oil factory to the lake and Argyroupolis, and a second adds an oil tasting. Travellers who want more time with Cretan oil can book a Crete olive oil tasting on another day of the stay.

One GetYourGuide day trip makes time to explore Kournas, the hilltop village that looks down on the lake, before a countryside drive to Argyroupoli. Platanos Tours promises traditional villages, churches, mountains and gorges on its full day, and the Markidis Travel bus passes traditional Cretan villages between the stops of its Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno.

Where do you eat on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

You eat at the lakeside tavernas, in the cafés of Argyroupoli or in Georgioupoli, at your own cost. Markidis Travel, Manolis Travel and Platanos Tours all leave food, drinks or lunch out of the package on the Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno they sell.

At the lake, the tavernas along the shore serve Cretan dishes, and more tavernas stand beside the road above the water, where a table gives a view down over the lake. Guests on the Markidis Travel Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno eat here, at the last stop of the day.

In Georgioupoli, coffee shops, tavernas and souvenir shops fill the main square of the resort, and its outdoor tables serve visitors drinks and ice cream. Platanos Tours plans a local lunch by the sea there on its Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno.

Manolis Travel lets guests bring their own drinks and snacks, with one rule: no eating on the bus. Markidis Travel also puts food and drinks on its packing list for the Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno, along with cash or a card for spending on the day.

Which tours run a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

Nine products run a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno: six GetYourGuide day trips, a GetYourGuide horse riding tour and two Viator tours. Each pairs the lake with more stops: the springs of Argyroupoli, an olive oil mill, Georgioupoli, Rethymno old town or Chania town.

Five of the seven GetYourGuide listings plan a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno without a visit to Chania town, and the other two build Chania into the day, as the next section shows. The five listings name the following stops:

• Argyroupoli, lake and olive oil day – an olive oil factory, the lake and Argyroupoli, in a small group.
• Lake, springs and olive mill tour – a guided tour of the lake, Argyroupolis and an olive mill.
• DayTrip Kournas lake Argyroupoli & Georgioupoli from Rethymno – the lake, the village of Kournas, Argyroupoli and Georgioupoli, with a private option.
• Private Rethymno, lake and Argyroupoli day – the Venetian old town of Rethymno, the lake, and the springs and waterfalls of Argyroupoli, for a private group.
• Chania: Horse Riding, Lake Kournas & Argyroupoli Waterfalls – a horseback ride, the lake and a traditional Cretan lunch in Argyroupoli, from Chania or Rethymno, with a private option.

Viator lists two more versions of a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno: one pairs the lake and Argiroupolis with an olive oil factory, and the other adds the Argyroupolis waterfalls and an oil tasting. Like the five GetYourGuide products above, neither title adds a visit to Chania town.

Can you add Chania town to a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

Yes, two GetYourGuide listings add Chania town to a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno. The first pairs Chania Old Town and its Venetian Harbour with the lake, while the second also takes in the springs of Argyroupoli on the same day.

The Chania and lake day trip makes time for a stroll through the historic streets of Chania Old Town and along the Venetian Harbour, and for a rest beside Crete’s only freshwater lake. No other stop appears in its listing, which keeps this Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno to two places.

The second product, From Rethymno: Chania city, Kournas Lake & Argyroupoli, runs as a limited-seat Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno. Its summary names three stops: the ancient village of Argyroupoli with its springs, Chania town and the island’s only natural freshwater lake. For a full day in the old town instead, turn to our Chania old town page.

When is the best time for a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

The best time for a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno falls between April and October, the season of the Chania and Lake Kournas tour. July and August bring the strongest heat, and the three tours with a private format take bookings for every month.

Crete has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. At Heraklion the average high reaches 28.9 °C in July and 28.8 °C in August, and the record highs for those months stand at 43.6 °C and 44.5 °C. A Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno in midsummer therefore meets the peak heat of the island.

The edges of the season are milder. April averages a high of 20.1 °C at Heraklion, and October counts 7.5 rain days against 0.3 in July. Western Crete, the Chania side of the island, gets more rain than the east, so check the forecast for a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno in October.

Crete ranks among the leading holiday destinations in Greece, with 6.3 million visitors in a single year, so a small-group or private format keeps the party smaller. From November to March, a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno on GetYourGuide runs only with the Georgioupoli day trip, the private Rethymno day trip or the horse riding tour, while winter stays fairly mild.

Can you do a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno by bus or car?

Yes, both work for a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno. The KTEL line from Rethymno to Chania calls at Georgioupoli, yet KTEL lists no stop at the lake, so bus travellers finish the trip inland by taxi, and a hire car drives straight there.

KTEL Chania-Rethymno runs its Rethymno to Chania line via Kavros and Georgioupoli every day, with departures on the hour from Rethymno from early morning to late evening. The return line from Chania calls at Georgioupoli and Kavros daily as well, so neither leg of a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno by bus needs a change of coach.

KTEL’s online booking lets you pick Georgioupoli as the starting point, so the return seat to Rethymno can be reserved before the day. For timing the coach, the KTEL site offers a live departures board and a closest-stop finder, both handy on the day of a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno by bus.

A hire car drops both the timetable and the taxi leg, and it lets you set the order of the lake, Argyroupoli and Georgioupoli. Car-rental offices also trade in Georgioupoli, and our Crete car rental page covers hiring a vehicle to drive a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno on your own schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages count as children on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

Children’s ages differ by listing on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno: 4 to 11 on the Chania and Lake Kournas tour, 3 to 11 on the Olive Oil Tour and 1 to 12 on the Georgioupoli day trip. More family ideas sit on our Crete with kids page.

Is a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno wheelchair accessible?

One version is. The olive mill tour carries a wheelchair-accessible label on GetYourGuide. The other six listings for a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno show no such label, so check with the operator of any other tour before booking.

Which languages do guides speak on a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

All seven GetYourGuide products run a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno in English. German joins on the Georgioupoli day trip and the Olive Oil Mill tour, French on the Olive Oil Mill tour alone, Greek on the private Rethymno day trip and the horse riding tour, and Romanian on the private Rethymno day trip.

Can you cancel a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno?

Yes. All seven GetYourGuide listings for a Kournas lake day trip from Rethymno carry free cancellation, from the small-group olive oil day to the private Rethymno trip and the horse riding tour. That lets you book early in the season and still drop the plan if your dates change.