Our Matala private tour takes you across Crete to the bay of caves on the south coast, with pickup from your hotel and a driver who waits for you.
Matala is 68 km southwest of Heraklion, where the Messara plain meets the Asteroussia Mountains. Its bay is closed on one side by a cliff full of caves carved into the soft rock, probably Roman or early Christian tombs.
In the 1960s and 1970s the caves became home to travelling hippies from all over the world, and the village became a legend of that time. Joni Mitchell sang about it in her song “Carey”. Today Matala is a lively beach village, and every June it celebrates its past with the Matala Beach Festival.
Matala private tour by taxi
A private tour means the car is only for you and your group. You choose the pickup time, how long you stay and where you stop on the way, and your driver takes you back to your hotel at the end. There is no fixed timetable and no crowded coach.
We pick you up from your hotel or address in Kolymbari, Chania, Platanias or anywhere in western Crete. A taxi takes 1 to 4 passengers and a mini bus 5 to 8; for bigger groups, up to 20 people, we send more than one vehicle. Every vehicle has air conditioning and satellite GPS tracking, and our drivers are professional, certified taxi drivers who know the roads of Crete well.
Plan your day
Matala is a long day trip from western Crete, across the island to the south coast. Spend the afternoon on the beach under the caves, walk through the village and stay for the sunset over the bay. Matala combines perfectly with the palace of Phaistos, only a short drive away. On the way back, the road across the Messara plain and the mountains shows you a side of Crete that few visitors see.
Good to know
- The caves can be visited during the day, with a small ticket.
- Stay for the sunset over the bay.
Questions about the Matala tour
Where do you pick us up?
From your hotel or address. Tell us where when you book.
How many people can join?
A taxi takes 1 to 4 passengers and a mini bus 5 to 8. For groups of up to 20 people we send more than one vehicle.
Can we stop on the way?
Yes. It is your private tour, so tell the driver where you would like to stop, for a photo, a coffee or a swim.
Can we combine it with another tour?
Yes. Many places in Crete combine well in one day. Tell us what you would like to see and we suggest a route that fits the time you have.
Can you take us to the airport at the end of the day?
Yes. If you fly out the same day, we can end the tour at Chania Airport or Heraklion Airport. Tell us your flight time when you book.
Do you drive at weekends and on holidays?
Yes, we work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Book the Matala tour
Send us a booking request with the date, the pickup point and the number of passengers, and choose this tour in our booking form. We get back to you with the price for the day and confirm the details. You can also call us on +30 28240 84575 or email info@taxi-kolymbari.gr. Prices are per vehicle, not per person: see the indicative transfer prices on our price table.
Find Matala beach on Google Maps, or see all our private tours in Crete.
