Crete Quad Safari Review: Sisi Adventure with Lunch & Swim

So, you know, if you’re up for a bit of a different way to see Crete and also happen to enjoy a four-wheeled adventure, then a quad safari might be just the thing. I mean, it’s almost like ditching those regular tours and really getting into the heart of the landscape. Anyway, a recent quad safari in Sisi that included lunch and a swim sounded, to me anyway, like a pretty tempting mix of thrill and chill. Actually, this write up, well, it gives you what I thought of it, what stood out, and a few ideas of whether this type of thing would work for you. So, alright, let’s get going.

What’s a Crete Quad Safari All About?

Alright, so first off, quad biking in Crete is a popular way to discover some hidden spots that buses very rarely, if ever reach. Usually, quad safaris like the one I tried based out of Sisi, involve a guided tour. And I mean, that’s probably essential as getting lost in some of those hillsides is apparently super easy. Then too, they usually chuck in a bit of local culture or scenery and that thing you really need on any holiday, food. So, I reckon, this quad adventure wasn’t just about hitting the trails, it was, at least in principle, a chance to experience Crete a little more fully.

Booking and Starting Out

Right then, securing a spot was fairly straightforward, typically handled online. As a matter of fact, there seemed to be multiple operators, so finding one that suited my timetable and budget didn’t take an age. Basically, remember to check the inclusions; some offer hotel pick-ups, which can be really convenient, that. At the starting location, that, anyway there’s the signing of waivers (basically, “you’re responsible” style documents) and a quick briefing on quad safety. Alright, they run you through some essentials, nothing massively technical, so even total newbies shouldn’t feel intimidated at all.

Actually, they gave us a rundown on the vehicle operation and really a few key signals that you absolutely, absolutely need to know when you’re chugging through dusty back roads. Then too, helmets are a must, you know, safety and stuff. Anyway, if you’ve got any doubts about your ability, just tell the people running it and, at least in my case, they spent just a bit longer with the slightly nervous types. Just saying, you.

The Quad Biking Experience

Basically, that Sisi quad safari wound through, just a bit, a variety of landscapes. It’s almost that we tackled coastal roads, so rugged tracks through olive groves, and then we hit some pretty rocky hills. Then too, I would have preferred they made some of this clearer in their description, it was quite dusty so remember shades or goggles! So, the quads, well they dealt pretty well with different terrains, though you do, you know, feel every bump. I reckon anyone with some form of back problem might start feeling it after a short time. The route often included, to be honest, stops at viewpoints, allowing for photos. So, they do have their eye on that Insta crowd.

So, the guides, in my experience, often shared snippets of info regarding the region’s past or pointed out particular flora and fauna. And frankly, in our group, this was really inconsistent. Some people heard stuff, others just rode on. Obviously, though, a great guide can really lift an experience like that, I find. Anyway, don’t expect something insane. It will be, I mean, what can anyone say, relatively pedestrian.

Lunch with a View

Anyway, the included lunch was, and there’s really no other way to say this, was usually at some traditional taverna somewhere out of the way. And that sounds amazing, you know. Picture this. You. Pretty hungry from bumping about all morning. The smells drifting from an outdoor taverna. This quad safari version didn’t let me down, though it wasn’t exactly what I’d call haute cuisine. So, it really involved local fare—salads, grilled meats, maybe a few local specialities—basically, enough to get your energy up. So, is that it was as much regarding the location. Mine sat atop of some pretty tall crags with a killer view of the sea. As a matter of fact, that bit of it made the meal, if that makes sense.

Actually, the break wasn’t really just regarding eating; so it was an opportunity to, you know, mingle with your quad-mates. It’s almost like swapping dust stories, before doing more or less, some off-road. You know what I mean. So, the vegetarian choice seemed pretty limited in a place like this, to be honest.

The Swimming Stop

So, alright, after filling up on the carbs it was more or less off to a pre-arranged swimming spot, which, as a matter of fact, was definitely welcome considering how dusty the entire group was looking! Now, you are where you are here. That doesn’t always mean miles of golden sand. It really could be, arguably, a more out-of-the-way beach, possibly one only known to locals and clued-up tourists. I want to say that it will never, very rarely at least, involve crowds, that.

Anyway, think of this type of swim as more regarding freshening up in some clear blue water than something amazing for sunbathing. Oh yeah, remember a towel! Honestly, I forgot. Clearly, drying off naturally, for a short person, is basically no fun at all. Clearly, there were those, in my little band of quad bikers, who had apparently, for whatever reason, decided against getting in the water. Honestly, though, getting blasted with dust for hours; it’s kind of the least you can do, it is. Really.

What Could be Improved

Basically, like your normal tour, it, arguably, falls down a little on what the guides bring to the party. First off, getting a good guide is vital, you understand? To be fair, the dude with me was ok. Ok. Seriously. Still, a charismatic tour guide who knows his/her stuff can really get everyone a little more excited.

Alright, the food, alright, it was decent enough but just a bit limited. It really could benefit, maybe, from some flexibility for specific dietary needs. So, finally, while a lot of the point, it looks like to me, involves getting away from everyone; it almost feels that including some genuine local interaction would, well, make it better. Then too, I guess it also depends on what type of person you happen to be. Some of us are here for killer thrills; others, I imagine, want the experience. Right, well, let’s just see about that next.

Who Is This Tour Suited To?

Right, so if you love the idea of, say, a rough-and-ready trip through the landscapes, really, then this style of thing could actually fit the bill. I would say that this type of tour actually fits the bill better than someone hoping for manicured paths. Oh yeah, these trips also really work for travelers who, say, only happen to have limited time. You know, a fairly well organized tour lets you cram a bunch of Crete’s bits, scenery, history, swim, food into a single outing.

Seriously, anyway, perhaps you like trying your own thing. Maybe this is something you would enjoy, arguably. It’s almost, I suppose, one part tour to one part feeling like a character on a Mad Max film (well, just a little). If you do it, check the conditions; honestly, a rainy trip would, I reckon, lose quite a bit of its charm. Just saying, really.

Key Considerations: