Tour the island of Crete with this 8-day group trip and discover the beautiful beaches of golden sand and turquoise waters, ancient treasures, vibrant cities, and colorful villages, where the locals will teach you their traditions through their hospitality.
This tour will introduce you to Heraklion, with its Venetian walls, old port, and an archaeological museum housing a large collection of Minoan art. We will find the famous palace of Knossos very close to the city, which according to mythology was the residence of King Minos, who sent Daedalus to build the labyrinth where the minotaur was.
We’ll go to Archanes, one of Crete’s most picturesque towns, as well as Matala, which has a famous beach where Zeus is said to have arrived in the shape of a bull, with Europe at his back. We will also visit the famous Arkadi Monastery, a site of Cretan resistance against Ottoman occupation.
We will walk through the port and the old city of Rethymno, and before arriving in Chania, we will visit the Necropolis of Armeni, a Minoan cemetery with 200 tombs that are being excavated and have revealed important information about daily life at the time.
Other charming towns we will visit include Omalos, Thériso, and Kritsa, one of the most typical of the island.
Day 1: HERAKLION
Arrival at Heraklion airport and transfer to the hotel. Night in Heraklion
Day 2: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM – KNOSSOS – ARCHANES
After breakfast, we depart for a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, which houses a large collection of Minoan art as well as other periods of Cretan history. We will visit the Palace of Knossos, which is located a few kilometers from Heraklion. Mythology focuses on Knossos, the residence of King Minos, who commissioned Daedalus to construct the labyrinth in which the minotaur was imprisoned. The “monster” fed on humans brought in as a sacrifice to appease the minotaur. His destiny was to die at the hands of Theseus, who had escaped the labyrinth thanks to Ariadne’s thread, which had shown him the way out. At Knossos, we will see the Dolphin Room, the Royal Throne Room, and learn about the Minoan civilization’s history.
Following our visit to the Palace of Knossos, we will travel to Archanes, one of Crete’s most picturesque towns. We will sample some of the region’s traditional dishes in one of its taverns in the central square. Return to Heraklion in the afternoon.
Day 3: FESTOS – AGIA TRIADA – GORTINA – MATALA
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the south of the Heraklion region. Today we are going to visit the Palace of Phaestos and the town of Agia Triada, two important sites from the Minoan era.
Day 4: LATO – KERA CHURCH – KRITSA – AGIOS NIKOLAOS – SPINALONGA
After breakfast, we will travel to the east of the Heraklion region to visit the ancient city of Lato, which was founded by the Dorians and grew to become one of Crete’s most important city-states.
The day will continue with a visit to Kritsa, a typical Cretan village, and the Byzantine church of Kera. We take the path that will lead us to the coastal town of Agios Nikolaos, where we will have lunch and visit the islet of Spinalonga, where we will learn about its fascinating history. Return to Heraklion in the afternoon.
Day 5: HERAKLION – ARKADI – ARMÉNI – RETHYMNON – CHANIA
After breakfast, we check out and depart for Chania. On our way to Chania, we’ll stop in the south of the Rethymno region to see the Arkadi Monastery, which dates back to the 16th century and was a major center of science and art. Arkadi is also known as a refugee camp for Cretans fleeing the Ottoman occupation.
Following our visit to Arkadi, we will travel to Rethymno, where we will see the port and stroll through the old town. Before arriving in Chania, we will visit the Nekropolis of Armeni, a Minoan era cemetery with 200 tombs that has been excavated since 1969 and has revealed a great deal about daily life in the Minoan era. Arrival in Chania in the afternoon and accommodation.
Day 6: CHANIA + AKROTIRI HALF-DAY
Breakfast at the hotel in Chania, then departure to the Akrotiri peninsula, where we will visit the Agia Triada Monastery, which dates from 1634, before continuing to the city of Chania. Afternoon free to explore the charming port. Accommodation in Chania is available.
Day 7: CHANIA – OMALOS – THERISO – CHANIA
Breakfast at the hotel in Chania, followed by a trip to two of the region’s most charming and authentic towns. We’ll drive to Omalos, a town surrounded by pine trees at the entrance to the Samaria gorge.
We’ll continue to Thériso, where we’ll have time to walk around and eat at a traditional tavern in the town square before returning to Chania.
Day 8: CHANIA – End of trip
Breakfast at the hotel & transfer to the Chania airport to board a return flight to your destination.
This trip can be tailored to your needs.
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page with the dates of your trip, your budget, the number of people, and anything else you think is important for us to take into account in order to send you a personalized proposal.
You can also reach us by phone at +30 210 512 3228 or by email at [email protected].
