Tour Guides Crete
Tour Guides Crete
5
Cultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursArchaeology Tours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
"There is a land in the middle of the dark wine sea. Crete." (The Odyssey) Based in Crete, I am professional licensed tour guide, interpreter of the Greek State, applied psychologist, cultural retreat leader and speaker. Touring Crete or Greece with me gives you the opportunity to plunge into the beauty of the natural world that astounds the visitor, the pilgrim of my Country, setting in motion dormant mental functions elevating the unsuspecting consciousness into unpresidential of realms of spirituality. Marvelous things happen to one in Greece – marvelous good things which can happen nowhere else on earth. Somehow, almost as if He were nodding, Greece still remains under the protection of the Creator. Men may go about their puny, ineffectual bedevilment, even in Greece, but God’s magic is still at work and, no matter what the race of man may do or try to do, Greece is still a sacred precinct – and my belief is it will remain so until the end of time.
Rethymnon, Rethymnon Prefecture, Greece
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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5.0
153 reviews
Excellent
152
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1
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0
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0
anon73
NY814 contributions
Oct 2021
Great guides are hard to find.
Most guides know their facts. They'll tell you when something was built, or by whom, and will obligingly recite the contents of the brochure or the guidebook.
Better guides are also good storytellers. They'll throw in a few anecdotes, some fun trivia, and a joke or two to keep it lively and engaging.
And often, that's enough. After all, most travelers have come to see the attractions, not listen to the guide. Let the site speak for itself. Res ipsa loquitur.
But Ioanna is unique. She has the ability to transport you away from the crowds, far from coach buses and selfie sticks, all the way to four thousand years ago. With words, she rebuilds ruined palaces, restores faded mosaics, recreates forgotten ceremonies, and you're an observer, not a visitor, a participant, not a tourist.
Her breadth of knowledge is outstanding. As easily as she moves you in time, she whisks you thousands of miles to faraway lands, drawing cultural parallels from societies all over the globe, ancient and modern, to help you gain better understanding - and deeper appreciation of your experience.
And while doing so - she keeps you constantly engaged, so you're not listening to a lecture, you're conversing with a friend.
We are avid travelers and have worked with hundreds of guides. Ioanna is, without a doubt, one of the very best we have ever encountered, and one of the most interesting people we've ever met. But fair warning - her love for Crete is so infectious, she'll make you fall for it too! So you might have to come back again and again and again....
Most guides know their facts. They'll tell you when something was built, or by whom, and will obligingly recite the contents of the brochure or the guidebook.
Better guides are also good storytellers. They'll throw in a few anecdotes, some fun trivia, and a joke or two to keep it lively and engaging.
And often, that's enough. After all, most travelers have come to see the attractions, not listen to the guide. Let the site speak for itself. Res ipsa loquitur.
But Ioanna is unique. She has the ability to transport you away from the crowds, far from coach buses and selfie sticks, all the way to four thousand years ago. With words, she rebuilds ruined palaces, restores faded mosaics, recreates forgotten ceremonies, and you're an observer, not a visitor, a participant, not a tourist.
Her breadth of knowledge is outstanding. As easily as she moves you in time, she whisks you thousands of miles to faraway lands, drawing cultural parallels from societies all over the globe, ancient and modern, to help you gain better understanding - and deeper appreciation of your experience.
And while doing so - she keeps you constantly engaged, so you're not listening to a lecture, you're conversing with a friend.
We are avid travelers and have worked with hundreds of guides. Ioanna is, without a doubt, one of the very best we have ever encountered, and one of the most interesting people we've ever met. But fair warning - her love for Crete is so infectious, she'll make you fall for it too! So you might have to come back again and again and again....
Written 21 January 2022
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.
Kees Jan M
The Hague, The Netherlands2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
There are few things in life that make as much of an impact as a guided tour by Ioanna. Of course we already knew a lot about Minoan culture, about the ancient Greeks, of course we had read Homer. The background information that Ioanna gave us was unique and profound. The connection Ioanna was able to make between the archaeological finds, the ancient stories and our own psyche, our inner world, was enlightening and gave us a completely different and enriching dimension of the normal narrative. It has been a few days now and we are still talking about our visit to the archaeological museum of Heraklion. Ioanna is not your average guide that can be found anywhere. If you already have knowledge of archaeology and/or Greek history and you are looking for deepening and enrichment, I highly recommend Ioanna.
Written 14 August 2022
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.
OnceUponaLife
Minneapolis, MN37 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Of the many tours we have been on in and around Greece, this has to have been one of the most comprehensive, thought provoking, engaging and academically captivating tours one can ever experience. Ioanna took our group of 8 family members including teens, on a multi-dimensional trip of Crete spanning narratives from 7000 BC to contemporary schools of thought seamlessly weaving through nuggets of history, geography, archaeology, biology, anthropology, psychology, linguistics and even spirituality. Our tour of Knossos exceeded all expectations as we serendipitously learned many fascinating new things along the way.
Ioanna’s depth and breadth of knowledge is scholarly and we were very lucky to have booked the tour with her. We only wished it would have been sooner rather than the last day of our stay in Crete, as she provided so much context for other sites we had already visited but not fully experienced.
Our tour continued on to the pottery village of Margarite, where we made two stops- one at a fourth generation potter family’s workshop, and lastly at a local Taverna for home style cooked lunch. Both of which were fantastic recommendations by Ioanna.
Our driver, Kostas, was also a great sport indulging us in contemporary Greek music along the way and making our 10 hour journey a truly enjoyable and comfortable one.
Overall, an extraordinary day trip with an outstanding tour guide.
Ioanna’s depth and breadth of knowledge is scholarly and we were very lucky to have booked the tour with her. We only wished it would have been sooner rather than the last day of our stay in Crete, as she provided so much context for other sites we had already visited but not fully experienced.
Our tour continued on to the pottery village of Margarite, where we made two stops- one at a fourth generation potter family’s workshop, and lastly at a local Taverna for home style cooked lunch. Both of which were fantastic recommendations by Ioanna.
Our driver, Kostas, was also a great sport indulging us in contemporary Greek music along the way and making our 10 hour journey a truly enjoyable and comfortable one.
Overall, an extraordinary day trip with an outstanding tour guide.
Written 3 July 2023
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.
Thank you so much for your kind words
I am so grateful and touched
Thank you
Warm regards Ioanna Kalypso Glypti
Written 12 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nick S.
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Family
Ioanna exceeded our expectations. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her, touring Knossos as well as the Archeological museum of Herakleion, something that proved to be extremely helpful since so much of one area relates to the other and she was impeccable in completing the story and fulfilling the gaps that inevitably occur when trying to understand minoan civilization; the oldest and most fascinating civilization in Europe. We are thankful to Ioanna for sharing with us her in depth knowledge in a methodical and understandable manner. Thank you Ioanna!! This a guided tour we will never forget!
Written 22 March 2022
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.
Antonis
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Business
Ioanna is a truly excellent guide, a true professional. She knows how to capture her audience's attention, she provides all sorts of helpful information but also allows ample room to her group to explore and enjoy the site through their own eyes. And of course she's very kind, and ready to accommodate all requests with a smile on her face. We were a group of 27 academics visiting the islet of Spinalonga and all enjoyed her guiding.
Written 9 July 2022
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.
TravelingMamaB
Los Angeles, CA51 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Not your average tour guide! Ioanna does not simply tell you about the archeology, she spins story, deep understanding, and makes all of what she brings to life in front of your eyes relevant to your life today! As she says, “we are more than rocks! We are the stories we share.” Our tour of Knossos Palace was like walking back in time guided by a most beloved professor who is also a great storyteller. She knows so much, but even more important, Ioanna understands deeply and shares the wisdom woven from the threads of knowledge, understanding, and depth. If you want to hear a typical tour (of which we have done several), Ioanna is not your guide. Her skills go far beyond the usual and are best appreciated by those with an interest in the profound, deep, and meaningful. For us, we were beyond pleased with our tour so much so I wish I could clone Ioanna and have her for the rest of our time in Greece. She is one of a kind!
Written 6 June 2022
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.
Jon B
1 contribution
Sept 2021
Ok, let's just cut to the chase. Ioanna (aka Joanna to us ignorant English speakers) Kalypso Glypti is "simply the best" to quote that great philosopher Tina Turner. Don't bother looking elsewhere, make sure you get her to guide you round Knossos.
I thought I had a basic knowledge of the history and the mythology and it turns out I know nothing. Yeh, there was the minotaur, Theseus and all that stuff.....total myth! The reality, as brought to life on our tour with Ioanna, was way more interesting. She took us back to the earliest history of the site, placed the various "interpretations" of Sir Arthur Evans who was primarily responsible for all the right and the wrong things we know about Knossos, into context and generally brought the whole package of rocks and concrete to life.
Ioanna is fun, fluent and fabulous.
You don't really need to know any more.
I thought I had a basic knowledge of the history and the mythology and it turns out I know nothing. Yeh, there was the minotaur, Theseus and all that stuff.....total myth! The reality, as brought to life on our tour with Ioanna, was way more interesting. She took us back to the earliest history of the site, placed the various "interpretations" of Sir Arthur Evans who was primarily responsible for all the right and the wrong things we know about Knossos, into context and generally brought the whole package of rocks and concrete to life.
Ioanna is fun, fluent and fabulous.
You don't really need to know any more.
Written 14 September 2021
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.
Eileen R
8 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
I was part of a group of 9 people painting in Crete and had the pleasure of touring with an outstanding guide named Ioanna Kalypso Glypti. Her knowledge and enthusiasm of Crete and Greece made for an unforgettable experience.
Our trip included an overnight in Santorini. Ioanna helped us navigate the crowds at the ferry and at the spots we visited and managed us to help avoid the busiest times. She also pivoted quickly when we had a rainy day. she had a great suggestion of how to use our time so we could get the most out of the beauty of Santorini the next day when it didn't rain.
Not only was she friendly and approachable but she knew people in all the places we visited and she knew where to direct us for authentic Greek products and merchandise, shops, restaurants and even the best spots for photo ops. Her recommendations helped us enjoy all that Crete has to offer.
If you're looking for a knowledgeable, personable and insightful tour guidei highly recommend Ioanna. She helped make our visit exceptional!!
Our trip included an overnight in Santorini. Ioanna helped us navigate the crowds at the ferry and at the spots we visited and managed us to help avoid the busiest times. She also pivoted quickly when we had a rainy day. she had a great suggestion of how to use our time so we could get the most out of the beauty of Santorini the next day when it didn't rain.
Not only was she friendly and approachable but she knew people in all the places we visited and she knew where to direct us for authentic Greek products and merchandise, shops, restaurants and even the best spots for photo ops. Her recommendations helped us enjoy all that Crete has to offer.
If you're looking for a knowledgeable, personable and insightful tour guidei highly recommend Ioanna. She helped make our visit exceptional!!
Written 4 June 2024
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.
Stefanía Ragnarsdóttir
2 contributions
Oct 2022 • Business
Ioanna Kalypso Glypti is simply outstanding in her field. I have never before had a tourguide so extremely wise, so purely professional, and so exceptionally good at engaging conversation with the group.
Ioanna makes a connection between different places, so that a piece of art or piece of knowledge in one place, falls in place in the next conversation, at another location, which leaves attendees with a sense of being able to look at history, archaeology and religion as if at a 360 degree angle.
Not only that, she has a remarkable, yet subtle twist of feminism to her approach. With her deep understanding of history it was not only depicted as decades of men conquering the world, but Ioanna shed light on the importance of women's roles and responsibilities which often have been portrayed in an unfair and belittling way throughout centuries.
While having mentioned Ioanna's talent to engage a conversation with the group, she also got us brainstorming and discussing matters on a higher level than the usual tourist guide might. She's not afraid of questions from attendees and often brings around set of questions to spark conversations concerning piece of art, people throughout history or historical events.
Good sense of time is important to travellers, and Ioanna really knows how to keep schedule and make it worth your while taking part in her tour. She makes good time of otherwise uninteresting places to build up narrative for upcoming scenarios.
Without reading from any paper or brochure, looking up information or any hesitation at all, while guiding our group for hours between historical places around Rethymno, Crete, such as the Monastery of Arcadi and Eleftherna, Ioanna is a person who is extremely passionate about her work and it gives her clients the best possible experience.
I give Ioanna Kalypso Glypti my best recommendation and wish I can go back soon to Crete again to enjoy a second encounter with the world's best guide.
Ioanna makes a connection between different places, so that a piece of art or piece of knowledge in one place, falls in place in the next conversation, at another location, which leaves attendees with a sense of being able to look at history, archaeology and religion as if at a 360 degree angle.
Not only that, she has a remarkable, yet subtle twist of feminism to her approach. With her deep understanding of history it was not only depicted as decades of men conquering the world, but Ioanna shed light on the importance of women's roles and responsibilities which often have been portrayed in an unfair and belittling way throughout centuries.
While having mentioned Ioanna's talent to engage a conversation with the group, she also got us brainstorming and discussing matters on a higher level than the usual tourist guide might. She's not afraid of questions from attendees and often brings around set of questions to spark conversations concerning piece of art, people throughout history or historical events.
Good sense of time is important to travellers, and Ioanna really knows how to keep schedule and make it worth your while taking part in her tour. She makes good time of otherwise uninteresting places to build up narrative for upcoming scenarios.
Without reading from any paper or brochure, looking up information or any hesitation at all, while guiding our group for hours between historical places around Rethymno, Crete, such as the Monastery of Arcadi and Eleftherna, Ioanna is a person who is extremely passionate about her work and it gives her clients the best possible experience.
I give Ioanna Kalypso Glypti my best recommendation and wish I can go back soon to Crete again to enjoy a second encounter with the world's best guide.
Written 19 October 2022
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.
s l
5 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
A tour? A visit of Knossos? A tourist guide? Impossible to find the right words.
Amazing experience: magical, brilliant, émotional, intelligent, high high high level!!!
Ioanna is an exceptionnal person. We thought we would get our doctorate diploma at the end of the day. Still Pending…
The country, the language, the landscape, the mythology, the mindset of Greece: everything described and transmitted with passion so we couldn’t talk. We were subjugué (how to say)
We are looking forward to coming back with additional friends and family to share.
But don’t tell, cause we need Ioanna free when we come back😉
Amazing experience: magical, brilliant, émotional, intelligent, high high high level!!!
Ioanna is an exceptionnal person. We thought we would get our doctorate diploma at the end of the day. Still Pending…
The country, the language, the landscape, the mythology, the mindset of Greece: everything described and transmitted with passion so we couldn’t talk. We were subjugué (how to say)
We are looking forward to coming back with additional friends and family to share.
But don’t tell, cause we need Ioanna free when we come back😉
Written 6 November 2021
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.
Good Morning. I wish to communicate with loanna Kalypso. I ask please indicate what is the email address to write. Thank you very much.
Written 15 June 2018
Good afternoon you can find me here or as kalypsoglypti atgmail
Written 15 June 2018
Bonjour de France, je vais séjourner avec mon fils à l'hôtel Bali Paradise à Bali. Proposez vous une journée à Santorin au départ de notre hôtel et à quel tarif ? (j'ai réalisée il y a quelques années et en aéroglisseur; je ne souhaite pas y aller plusieurs jours...Quelles autres excursions et à quel prix ? Merci d'avance, cordialement, Jocelyne
Written 20 December 2017
Merci beaucoup d’ avoir contacté avec nous. Quelles sont les dates, dont vous êtes intéressés pour fair l’ excursion ? Nous voudrons vous informer que nous organisons seulement des excursions privées. Merci beaucoup
Akrivi
Email infotravelcreteatgmailcom
Written 20 December 2017
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