Greentour
5
Cultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursHiking & Camping ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
Full view
About
Greentour is a local tour operator, specializing in ecotourism. The team at greentour organize special interest holidays, cultural tours and walking tours for small groups, enriched by contact with local communities and exploration of the Cretan wild life. Emphasizing on personal service and local knowledge: - We support and involve local people in our tour programs wherever possible. - We aim to work and treat the traveller, local communities and businesses in a fair and just manner. - We aim to work with partners who operate their own local initiatives. - Small, family-run establishments make up a high percentage of the accommodation we use. Greentour’s latest project is focused on Mountain Psiloritis, an UNESCO global Geopark, where it plays an active role in the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, through innovative Ecotourism programs.
Similar Experiences
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
47 reviews
Excellent
47
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Laura
3 contributions
Feb 2020
Really professional quiding and unique experience with Eleni and this company, from mountains to sea. Loved to see the big birds and get to know some wild greens and spring's first flowers as well. Lovely and caring feeling that I will never forget. Met locals and spend time with them. Learned a lot about Cretan culture and way of life. I hope to get back soon and experience more.
Written May 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RKrtw
Chester, UK33 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
We did a guided day tour up Mount Ida and it was the highlight of our holiday. We were with a lovely group and our guide Haris looked after us brilliantly.
We emailed the company when we got to crete and got on the next tour which was a bit lucky I think. It might be an idea to email them before you go to make sure you get a place. We did it in Oct and it was the perfect weather for it. Haris also took us to see his friend who has a goat cheese business. We had a really good time meeting the family, drinking Raki and tasting the home made food.
If you love walking this is a must.
Thank you Haris for a lovely trip.
Randi and Kevin from Liverpool
We emailed the company when we got to crete and got on the next tour which was a bit lucky I think. It might be an idea to email them before you go to make sure you get a place. We did it in Oct and it was the perfect weather for it. Haris also took us to see his friend who has a goat cheese business. We had a really good time meeting the family, drinking Raki and tasting the home made food.
If you love walking this is a must.
Thank you Haris for a lovely trip.
Randi and Kevin from Liverpool
Written October 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hatfielddoc
Doncaster, UK9 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Just returned from a fantastic 10 days in Crete in the company of Haris,Giorgio and Eleni of Greentour. The holiday was organised by Island Holidays of Comrie Scotland.
What a marvellous trip. We stayed 2 nights in Heraklion taking in Knossos and the Heraklion museum(not to be missed) as well as the town in full easter mood.Walked up Mt Youchtas(steep hours climb,but tackled easily 4 months after knee replacement). Met less able members of party at the top.Great orchid experience on the way up followed by close up views of soaring Griffon vultures.
This was followed by 6 nights based in Gerakari.As this was over the Easter weekend we experienced the local culture and Easter food.With Gerakari as a base we toured the Amari district .Highlights-The flowers and orchids of the Gious Campos plateau, (made more enjoyable by the knowledge of our guides).Seeing innumerable new birds especially raptors( 2 lammergeir!!!).The always varied delicious local cuisine.Above all the delightful company of Eleni and the boys.We ended the holiday with 2 nights in Chania having journeyed via the Sfakia region(Bonelli's Eagle).
The guides were most caring and helpful and modified the itinery to suit the parties wishes as well as to grasp opportunities as they arose.
Green tours can apparently arrange experiences to suit all abilities you don't have to be a fit hiker to experience the very best of Crete.We hope to return to Crete and would like to again use Greentour and Haris ,Eleni and Giorgios as the whole experience was first rate. Ian and Kath
What a marvellous trip. We stayed 2 nights in Heraklion taking in Knossos and the Heraklion museum(not to be missed) as well as the town in full easter mood.Walked up Mt Youchtas(steep hours climb,but tackled easily 4 months after knee replacement). Met less able members of party at the top.Great orchid experience on the way up followed by close up views of soaring Griffon vultures.
This was followed by 6 nights based in Gerakari.As this was over the Easter weekend we experienced the local culture and Easter food.With Gerakari as a base we toured the Amari district .Highlights-The flowers and orchids of the Gious Campos plateau, (made more enjoyable by the knowledge of our guides).Seeing innumerable new birds especially raptors( 2 lammergeir!!!).The always varied delicious local cuisine.Above all the delightful company of Eleni and the boys.We ended the holiday with 2 nights in Chania having journeyed via the Sfakia region(Bonelli's Eagle).
The guides were most caring and helpful and modified the itinery to suit the parties wishes as well as to grasp opportunities as they arose.
Green tours can apparently arrange experiences to suit all abilities you don't have to be a fit hiker to experience the very best of Crete.We hope to return to Crete and would like to again use Greentour and Haris ,Eleni and Giorgios as the whole experience was first rate. Ian and Kath
Written April 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bjorno64
Skellefteå, Sweden3 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
Had a most memorable trip in August 2016 to the top of Crete, mount Psiloritis or as it is also called mount Ida. Our guide Haris, did a great job, he is very skilled, has a good portion of humor and is also very interested in other people . We were four people, me and my friend Johan, also from Sweden, and a young guy from the Netherlands and Haris. Weather was perfect, hot indeed but no problems making the top if you take rests on the way and drink a lot of water. Way down went rather fast, together with plenty of laughter. This hike can definitely be recommended!
Written September 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elisabeth J
Alta, Norway7 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
I didn't plan on going hiking in the mountain during my one week stay in Rethymnon, but when I saw a poster on the building next to my hotel advertising this trip to the peak of the Psiloritis, I knew I had to do it! I just love mountain tops! I had no warm clothes with me, neither my walking poles. No problem; the guide, Michalis, kindly provided me with both. A very small group of people: the guide; Jan from Belgium, and I seemed to be the only people on Psiloritis that day, and I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended!
Written June 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MLS99
Lexington, MA110 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We have hiked several of the gorges on Crete on previous visits, and wanted to do something a little different this time. Let’s hike upwards! We were a group of 5 with 2 fit adults, 2 fit teens, and me. All communication with Eleni ahead of time was very smooth and clear. She picked us up from the village where we were staying (Spili) and drove us to the south side. She works with the local shepherds so that their knowledge, experience, and traditional ways are respected. Georgios, the shepherd who met us at the base and guided us with Eleni up Psiloritis, has herded sheep and goats there since he was a child, and his father before him. He was so kind and considerate. Eleni was wonderful: knowledgeable, inspiring, and full of interesting information. And her homemade walnut cake and zucchini pies!
The hike was amazing: more strenuous than I expected but I’m not a regular hiker. Eleni told us that we were taking the longer but easier south side route because the weather was not conducive to coming up the north side; it wasn’t easy for me so I was relieved. Of course, the goats just looked at us and jumped up the rocks!
It took us about 7 hours in total. The landscape was incredible, and we saw so many gryphon vultures. The scent of the wild thyme is one of my favorites. What was amazing to me was that there were alpine flowers still in July - spring was very late this year, and we saw several patches of snow still there.
I highly recommend Greentour - you should go out of your way to hike with them: they care about Cretan culture and nature, and are working to keep it well cared for.
The hike was amazing: more strenuous than I expected but I’m not a regular hiker. Eleni told us that we were taking the longer but easier south side route because the weather was not conducive to coming up the north side; it wasn’t easy for me so I was relieved. Of course, the goats just looked at us and jumped up the rocks!
It took us about 7 hours in total. The landscape was incredible, and we saw so many gryphon vultures. The scent of the wild thyme is one of my favorites. What was amazing to me was that there were alpine flowers still in July - spring was very late this year, and we saw several patches of snow still there.
I highly recommend Greentour - you should go out of your way to hike with them: they care about Cretan culture and nature, and are working to keep it well cared for.
Written August 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mikwizzy
Scotland66 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
We booked on a Wild Flowers day tour with the company
Prompt replies to emails
Pickup at our hotel promptly by Eleni and her colleague (we were the only 2 that day)
Headed up to Amari valley to see the wild flowers - masses of orchids (10 + varieties) as well as many others
Eleni and co were very knowledgable and nothing was too much trouble
The trip included some sightseeing in local villages and churches and a stop at a local dam to check out birdlife
A good lunch was included at a local taverna (we're vegetarian) with fresh and local products
Can't recommend the tour enough!
Prompt replies to emails
Pickup at our hotel promptly by Eleni and her colleague (we were the only 2 that day)
Headed up to Amari valley to see the wild flowers - masses of orchids (10 + varieties) as well as many others
Eleni and co were very knowledgable and nothing was too much trouble
The trip included some sightseeing in local villages and churches and a stop at a local dam to check out birdlife
A good lunch was included at a local taverna (we're vegetarian) with fresh and local products
Can't recommend the tour enough!
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
floxxi78
The Hague, The Netherlands6 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
We did a guided tour to Mount Psiloritis with Haris and the whole experience was memorable. Haris is a great, sweet and very knowledgeable guide. He knows everything about botanics, geology and birds. The hike itself was very impressive. I will never forget this amazing panoramic view at the top of the mountain. On our way there, we met lots of goats, birds and ladybugs. After the hike, Haris brought us to a shelter where we had a delicious lunch. In particular, we could taste the delicious cheese made there. The overall experience was amazing. Thanks Haris!
Written June 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elma49
Tallinn, Estonia14 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
Our guide Harris picked us up from the hotel and the journey began. The way to the top was easier than I thought although my husband found it harder than imagined. You need to be able to walk for 3 hours up the mountain and back down. Good shoes are necessary as the road is full of loose rocks and 4 of us managed to fall on them. Weather was rather nice, some snow patches were still there on May 20th 2016 although not on the walking path. On top we had light picnic provided by Greentour. On the way back from the mountain we visited also Sheep Shelter, met local family and enjoyed home-cooked Crete meal (lamb and all other local goods, like freshly made creamcheese). We enjoyed this day very much! It took us 3 h up to go up and 2h 40 min to go down.
Written June 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crowoman
vancouver9 contributions
Sep 2015
I can't even begin to say how much I appreciate Eleni and Haris of
Greentour, and the experiences they provided us. I don't normally
book with tour companies, however, Greentour organized the accommodations
and excursions for an Eco-Psychology Conference I attended in Gerakari,
Amari. Eleni has spent several years making alliances with the locals in the
area and gaining their respect. This resulted in her being able to provide
us with experiences you could never have on your own, for example meeting
local villagers, being invited to their raki distillation and having them feed us all
night, attending a village fair, hiking on Mt Psiloritis (Mt. Ida) with a local shepherd guide, going where
there seemed to be no visible trail, visiting a Shepherd's home who shared
their delicious homemade cheese and walnut liqueur. Eleni and Haris are passionate
about the local villages remaining vibrant and sustainable and they are part
of the solution. I truly enjoyed the company of these two wonderful people.
Greentour, and the experiences they provided us. I don't normally
book with tour companies, however, Greentour organized the accommodations
and excursions for an Eco-Psychology Conference I attended in Gerakari,
Amari. Eleni has spent several years making alliances with the locals in the
area and gaining their respect. This resulted in her being able to provide
us with experiences you could never have on your own, for example meeting
local villagers, being invited to their raki distillation and having them feed us all
night, attending a village fair, hiking on Mt Psiloritis (Mt. Ida) with a local shepherd guide, going where
there seemed to be no visible trail, visiting a Shepherd's home who shared
their delicious homemade cheese and walnut liqueur. Eleni and Haris are passionate
about the local villages remaining vibrant and sustainable and they are part
of the solution. I truly enjoyed the company of these two wonderful people.
Written October 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.