REVIEW · CHANIA
Winery Tour and Kourna’s Lake from Rethymno
Book on Viator →Operated by MTM TOURISM GREECE OE · Bookable on Viator
Lake Kournas is the kind of stop you remember. This small-group tour pairs freshwater Lake Kournas with a local winery—and you get a boat morning plus lunch and wine tastings in about five hours. The possible drawback: Lake Kournas admission isn’t included, and wine bottles you like are extra.
I also like the human scale of it: maximum 15 travelers, with pickup from Rethymno when you’re on the route. One more plus is the guide experience—my notes from this route include Aggeliki Kourou, who’s been described as friendly, informative, and excellent in English. Still, if your lodging is outside the pickup proximity, there may be extra charges for transfers.
If you want a simple half-day with two different moods—quiet water in the morning and a courtyard-style winery after—this is a strong match.
In This Review
- Key Highlights Worth Your Time
- A Half-Day That Actually Combines Two Great Experiences
- Lake Kournas by Pedalo: Morning Water Time on Crete’s Only Freshwater Lake
- What you’ll love about the pedalo portion
- One detail to plan for
- Practical tips that help here
- Transition to the Winery: Courtyard, Botanical Gardens, and Production Areas
- What to look for while you’re walking
- A note on guide quality and safety
- Lunch Plus Five Tastings: How to Get the Full Wine Experience Without Feeling Rushed
- What’s included, and what’s not
- How to time your palate
- Price and Logistics: Is $439.59 Good Value?
- Pickup From Rethymno and Day-of Timing
- Extra charges may apply
- Who This Tour Is Best For
- Who might want to skip it
- Should You Book This Lake Kournas and Winery Tour?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- How long is the Lake Kournas and winery tour?
- What’s included in the price?
- Is Lake Kournas admission included?
- How many people are in the group?
- Are wine bottles included?
Key Highlights Worth Your Time
- Lake Kournas by pedalo: about 2 hours on Crete’s only freshwater lake
- Small group of up to 15: more chance to ask questions and get real attention
- Winery tour with multiple areas: courtyard, botanical gardens, and production areas
- Five wine tastings with light lunch: planned pacing, not a rushed sample
- Pickup from Rethymno + mobile ticket: fewer moving parts on travel day
A Half-Day That Actually Combines Two Great Experiences
This tour works because it’s built like a good day plan: start with something active and outdoors, then shift to something slower and taste-focused. After pickup from Rethymno, you’ll head to Lake Kournas for morning pedalo time, then move on to a local winery visit.
What makes it feel good for you is the time squeeze. You’re not trying to squeeze in a full island itinerary. You’re getting a full “story arc” in about five hours: water first, then wine culture—plus coffee/tea and a light lunch to keep the energy steady.
The other quiet win: group discounts and a mobile ticket mean less hassle when you’re coordinating with others. This is the kind of tour that’s easier to commit to if you’re not trying to manage five separate bookings.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Chania.
Lake Kournas by Pedalo: Morning Water Time on Crete’s Only Freshwater Lake
Lake Kournas is special for a simple reason: it’s Crete’s only freshwater lake. That matters because the whole feel of the place is different from the usual sea-side scenes most visitors get.
You’ll spend about two hours there, and the activity is a pedalo ride—so you’re not just looking from the shore. You’re doing that slow, hands-on kind of travel where you control your pace and get to angle toward views that feel best to you.
What you’ll love about the pedalo portion
- Active but not stressful: you’re moving, but you’re not doing anything technical.
- Better perspective: being out on the water changes how you see the shoreline.
- Time to just enjoy: two hours gives you enough slack to pedal, pause, and soak up the moment.
One detail to plan for
Lake Kournas admission is not included. When you budget, treat that as a separate line item so there are no surprises on the day. Also, since the pedalo ride is included but admission isn’t, you’ll want to confirm the exact ticket piece with your operator after booking.
Practical tips that help here
Wear something you can move around in. Even if you’re not planning to get soaked, lake activities can mean misty spray. And bring sunscreen—this is a morning that’s easy to “forget sunscreen” because you’re focused on the water.
If you’re the type who likes photos, you’ll probably get better results out on the lake than from only the shore—so don’t rush through the first ten minutes.
Transition to the Winery: Courtyard, Botanical Gardens, and Production Areas
After the lake, the tour shifts gears to a local winery. This isn’t framed as a quick stop with a single tasting counter. You’ll tour the winery grounds, including the courtyard and botanical gardens, and you’ll also visit production areas.
That combination is why the winery portion feels worth your time. The courtyard and gardens help you understand the place as a living farm-and-social space. The production areas explain how wine moves from grape work to something you can taste.
In plain terms: you get both the setting and the process.
What to look for while you’re walking
- How the winery explains its plantings: botanical gardens are usually chosen for more than looks, and it helps to listen when the guide talks.
- How production areas are organized: even if you don’t obsess over wine steps, you’ll come away with a clearer picture than a tasting alone provides.
- Courtyard details: these stops are often where guides show you things most people miss while they’re focused on tastings.
A note on guide quality and safety
One reason this route gets positive energy is the way the guide handles real-world logistics. On this tour route, Aggeliki Kourou has been described as arriving on time and managing pickup challenges in central Rethymno, where car access can be tricky. That kind of calm competence matters because it sets the tone for the whole day.
Even if your guide isn’t Aggeliki, it’s still a sign of what you should expect: clear communication, good English, and confidence in the schedule.
Lunch Plus Five Tastings: How to Get the Full Wine Experience Without Feeling Rushed
At the winery, you’ll get a light lunch paired with five wine tastings. This is the heart of the “value” side of the tour, because it’s not just sipping. You’re tasting with context, then eating something simple to keep it comfortable.
Five tastings is enough variety that you’ll likely find at least one wine that clicks with your palate. But it’s also not so many that you’ll feel like you’re doing a tasting marathon.
What’s included, and what’s not
Wine tasting is included. Coffee and/or tea are included too. Lunch is included. What isn’t included is any bottle purchase—if you fall in love with something, you can buy bottles separately.
How to time your palate
My advice: treat the tastings like a guided walk through flavors, not a race. If you start with a more delicate wine, you can better notice how heavier styles change your perception. And since there’s a light lunch, eat at a normal pace rather than waiting too long and getting overwhelmed.
Also, plan your return to Rethymno with the tastings in mind. Even if you don’t intend to drive anywhere, it helps to keep your day flexible after wine.
Price and Logistics: Is $439.59 Good Value?
Let’s talk money honestly. At $439.59 per person, this isn’t a cheap half-day. But it’s not a random add-on either.
Here’s what you’re buying with that price:
- Pickup from Rethymno (with potential extra transfer charges if you’re farther off-route)
- Pedalo riding on Lake Kournas
- Lunch plus coffee/tea
- Wine tasting for five tastings
- Small group size (max 15) for a more personal day
Two items that are not included are also important:
- Lake Kournas admission ticket
- Wine bottles for purchase
So the value math comes down to this: if you want a packaged day where you don’t have to coordinate lake transport + winery booking + tasting planning, this can be a convenient solution. And because it’s a small group, you’re more likely to actually interact with the guide rather than getting swept along.
If you’re coming with your own car and you already plan to do a lake stop and a winery anyway, you might spend less by DIY-ing. But if you want the day to run smoothly with guided timing, the price starts to make sense fast.
Pickup From Rethymno and Day-of Timing
The start time is 10:00 am, with pickup offered from Rethymno. That matters because it keeps your day from turning into an all-day production. You’re set up to enjoy a morning activity, then a winery afternoon segment, then back to Rethymno.
There’s also a practical note: car access rules in some central areas can complicate pickup. On this route, Aggeliki Kourou has been noted for picking up from a central Rethymno spot on time even where cars aren’t allowed on certain streets. That’s not just a comfort detail—it’s a real schedule saver.
Extra charges may apply
If your accommodation is outside the tour’s selected pickup route proximity (hotels/villas/Airbnb), extra charges may apply for transfers. The operator can provide round-trip transfer ad-hoc, quoted based on location.
So if you want zero surprises, message your exact lodging location during booking and confirm whether it’s on the standard pickup path.
Who This Tour Is Best For
This experience is a good fit if you want:
- A half-day plan that mixes nature time and food/wine culture
- A guide-led experience with a small group
- A structured tasting experience with lunch (not just a quick pour-and-go)
It’s also suitable for most travelers (the tour notes that most people can participate), which helps if you’re not looking for anything extreme.
Who might want to skip it
Skip it if:
- You don’t care for wine tastings.
- You’d rather spend longer at the lake than just two hours.
- You’re trying to keep the budget low, since admission and any bottle purchases are extra.
Should You Book This Lake Kournas and Winery Tour?
I’d book it if you’re the kind of traveler who likes value through structure: a morning activity, a meaningful winery visit with multiple areas, and a tasting experience that includes lunch—done within about five hours. The small group size is a real plus, and the route’s guide quality is a strong signal from past experiences on this itinerary.
I wouldn’t book it if you’re already planning to visit the lake and winery on your own, or if you only want one of the two halves (boat time or wine time). In those cases, a DIY day might fit your style better and cost less.
If you’re visiting Crete and you want something that feels both local and relaxed without dragging your schedule into the night, this one is a solid bet.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The tour start time is 10:00 am.
How long is the Lake Kournas and winery tour?
It’s listed as approximately 5 hours.
What’s included in the price?
Coffee and/or tea, pedalo riding, lunch, and wine tasting are included.
Is Lake Kournas admission included?
No. The Lake Kournas admission ticket is not included.
How many people are in the group?
The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.
Are wine bottles included?
No. Bottles of wine for purchase are not included.
