DAY 1. HERAKLION-ARRIVAL

Arrival and reception at Heraklion airport. Lunch and dinner depending on your arrival time.

Accommodation Rethymnon (Dinner)

DAY 2. RETHYMNON-CHANIA-GEORGIOUPOLIS-RETHYMNON

Walk the old city of Chania and taste the famous bread of Georgioupolis.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 3. RETHYMNON-ARGYROUPOLIS-RETHYMNON

Walk the old town of Rethymno.Visit an old 16th-century monastery and end at the waters of Argyroupolis where we offer a variety of Cretan specialties and a variety of grills. Back to the hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the city of Rethymnon.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 4. RETHYMNON-MONASTERY OF ARCADI-PHAISTOS-GORTYS-MATALA-KOKKINOS PYRGOS

Break at the historic monastery of Arkadi.

During the Turkish occupation, due to its strategic location, the monastery became a major revolutionary center that played an important role in all the revolutionary movements that took place on the island of Crete.

Visit drive west and the palace of Phaestos the second most significant archaeological site of the Minoan civilization.

The next stop of the beach and the caves of Matala has by far the best-known beach in the province of Heraklion.

We visit the fishing village of Kokkinos Pyrgos at the Kokkinos Pyrgos restaurant, which features fresh seafood and fresh local specialties. Back to the village later in the afternoon.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 5. RETHYMNON-MOUNTAIN TOUR OF CENTRAL CRETE -RETHYMNON

Visit St. Iakinthos in Anogia, the forgotten monastery of Halepa and the village of Drossia.

First, break the mountain unique small stone church of St Iakinthos

Down the hill direction Anogia. Here you find the best quality cheese Kefalotyri & Kefalogryere.

Visit village Axos and go in the direction the small village of Drossia and taste the authentic tastes of Cretan Cusine. After lunch visits the two monasteries of HALEPA and VOSSAKOS. We will have the pleasure to visit a forgotten treasure – a small almost collapsed forgotten small 15th-century church with beautiful wall paintings/frescoes. Drive to the hotel afternoon.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY  6. RETHYMNON-KNOSSOS-HERAKLION-DOXA-MARATHOS-RETHYMNON

We visit the palace of Knossos. The ancient palace of Knossos built 3.500 years ago.Walk the center of Heraklion city, break for lunch at a small mezedopolion at the heart of Heraklion with a variety of dishes.

After lunch drive north-west to a place 20 km far from the city of Heraklion.We do a short hike and reach the place the bees located and we taste “tiganites”.

Visit women cooperative at the near village of Marathos where they make the very special – unique art pastry small and bigger round bread – we call them XOMPLIASTO KOULOURI – and drive back to the manor. Back our hotel late afternoon.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 7. RETHYMNON-COOKING CLASS-WINE TASTING-RETHYMNON

Last day and will join the courses.

The courses include:

Short lectures on Greek cuisine, raw materials, wine, olive oil, etc.

Practice on cooking, and preparation of Greek food specialties

Practice on food and wine tasting

Lectures and practice on how to combine food with the proper wine.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 8. RETHYMNON-HERAKLION-FLIGHT BACK HOME

(Breakfast)

Transportation to the airport for the flight back home. KALO TAXIDI!

Arrival and reception at Heraklion airport.

Upon arrival at Heraklion airport, you will be met by your personal English speaking driver. If you are arriving in the morning, you will enjoy a traditional Cretan meal with a variety of dishes, and then drive west to the Veneto Exclusive Suites.

For guests arriving after lunch, your driver will meet you at the airport and offer you a snack and water for the 70-minute transfer to the hotel. Check in to your room, and relax and explore your surroundings before joining your dinner made with a variety of local Cretan foods – your first taste of the flavors of Crete

Accommodation Rethymnon (Dinner)

DAY 2. RETHYMNON-CHANIA-GEORGIOUPOLIS-RETHYMNON

Depart at 9.00 AM traveling west to Chania – a scenic city that combines the strong traditional color of living history with the virtues of a modern city. The traces of all cultures and nations that dominated the city in the past are more than obvious as the city is a living museum where architectural styles and cultural attitudes have been harmonically blended together.

Visit the Chania town market dating from the 1900’s – it is a cross-shaped gallery that houses over 65 food stores, presenting fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, bread, legumes and anything else you may like, such as cafés, restaurants, and shopping, to the old town of Chania for one hour. We lunch at the old harbor of Chania with a variety of local specialties.

After lunch, we drive back to our village. Break at the villa of Georgioupolis where we buy and taste the famous bread of Georgioupolis with a unique smoky taste, made the same method for the past 150 years. Back to our village late afternoon. Dinner at the hotel restaurant with a variety of specialties

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 3. RETHYMNON-ARGYROUPOLIS-RETHYMNON

Depart at 10.00 AM. We drive slowly through the vineyards and small villages of the region and our first break are the city of Rethymnon, the capital city of the region. It bears traces of the many different periods of its long history. A beautiful fine, sandy beach surrounds the city. During the Venetian occupation, the city was considered to be the commercial and cultural center of Crete.  Byzantine churches stand alongside the Turkish minaret and characteristic stone Venetian buildings which show the traditional character of the city. You can visit the castle of Fortezza, built on the hilltop that overlooks the city, Lotzia which is an archaeological museum, the Rimondi fountain, the remains of the Venetian fortifications and a number of residences characteristic to the Venetian architectural style. Walk the narrow streets with hundreds of small tourist shops.

Visit an old 16th-century monastery and finally at the waters of Argyroupolis where we lunch with a variety of Cretan specialties and grills. Back to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day exploring the city of Rethymnon. Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 4. RETHYMNON-MONASTERY OF ARKADI-PHAISTOS-GORTYS-MATALA-KOKKINOS PYRGOS

A combination of culture, food, and history. We stop first at the historic monastery of Arkadi. Because of its strategic location, the monastery becomes a major revolutionary center during the Turkish occupation and played an important part in all revolutionary movements that took place on the island of Crete. During the 1886 revolution, the monastery came under siege by a Turkish force consisting of 15,000 men. After days of continuous fighting, the Turkish forces entered the compound. The defenders of the compound withdrew to the building of the powder magazines and in order not to be captured, lit the fuses of the magazine and committed the ultimate sacrifices, killing at the same time numerous enemies who were entering the monastery’s main yard. After these tragic events, Arkadi becomes the symbol of the struggle against oppression. The visit to the monastery is a mystifying and extremely elevating experience.

Ending the visit drive west to the palace of Phaistos, the second most significant archaeological site of the Minoan civilization. Phaistos is located in the southern region of the prefecture of Heraklion in the valley of Messaras. The site of the ancient city is very impressive and the palace compound, although not as extensively restored as the compound of Knossos, offers a detailed insight of the everyday life of such a historically remote period. According to mythology the king of Phaistos was Rhadamanthus, brother of King Minos of Knossos, and superior judge of the underworld.

We continue driving to visit Gortys, the ruined capital city of Roman province that included not only Crete but also much of North Africa. Including an impressive theatre, the Basilica of St. Titus the eponymous saint converted the island to Christianity and was the first bishop, the Odeon, and the Law code. Next stop the beach and caves of Matala which is by far the best-known beach in the Heraklion province. These are believed to be ancient tombs first used by Romans or early Christians to more recently inhabited by a sizeable hippie community. Visited by modern artists such as Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell, who mentions Matala in her song “Carey”. Lunch will be in the fishing village of Kokkinos Pyrgos at a seafront restaurant consisting of fresh seafood and fresh local greens specialties. Back to the village later in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 5. RETHYMNON-MOUNTAIN TOUR OF CENTRAL CRETE -RETHYMNON

Depart at 9.00 AM towards Mount Nida (Psiloritis). First, stop at the mountain’s unique small stone church of St Iakinthos (Orthodox Saint Valentine) built by the well-known songwriter and singer Loudovikos of Anogia. Down the hill towards Anogia. Here you will find the best quality of cheeses – Kefalotyri & Kefalogryere. Break for a cup of coffee.

Next, the village of Axos and then to the small village of Drossia, known by the local people with the Turkish name Geno-Gave. Break for lunch at the finest little restaurant on the island of Yiannis Petoussis known as Tsangaris (shoemaker).  Authentic, natural and indescribable tastes.

After lunch visits the two monasteries of Halepa and Vossakos. We will have the opportunity to visit a forgotten treasure – a small almost collapsed and forgotten small 15th-century church with beautiful wall paintings and frescoes. Drive to the hotel afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY  6. RETHYMNON-KNOSSOS-HERAKLION-DOXA-MARATHOS-RETHYMNON

Today we visit the Palace of Knossos. When visiting the island of Crete everyone must see the ancient palace of Knossos, built 3,500 years ago. Walk the center of Heraklion city, break for lunch at a small mezedopolion at the heart of Heraklion with a variety of dishes.

After lunch drives 20km north-west from the city of Heraklion where beautiful virgin nature is perfect pasture for bees. Old traditional bee-keeping methods ensure honey and other bee products are ecological, clean and free from any additives. The first honey of the season is collected from spring thyme blossoms and this golden yellow honey is a perfect source of nature’s ingredients.

We do a short hike and reach the place the bees are located, then later walk down to a small local café / restaurant run by the owners since 1949. The owners (two brothers) have been beekeepers all their lifetime, carrying on the business from their father.  Therefore, we taste honeycombs straight from the beehive and learn everything about bees and beekeeping as well as enjoying a kind of pancakes called ‘tiganites’ – small cheese pies with honey, accompanied with local wine and a shot of Cretan ‘raki’. You will definitely feel the positive effect on your body and soul.

A visit to a women’s co-operative at the nearby village of Marathos, where they make very special and unique pastries and bread – we call them ‘compliant koulouri’. Then drive back to the manor, back at our hotel late afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 7. RETHYMNON-COOKING CLASS-WINE TASTING-RETHYMNON

The last day we will join some courses Veneto restaurant runs, 3 – 5 sessions presenting modern and creative Greek gastronomy. The courses include :

Short lectures on Greek cuisine, raw ingredients, wine, olive oil, etc.

Practice cooking and preparation of Greek food specialties.

Practice food and wine tasting.

Lectures and practice on how to combine food with the proper wine.

Accommodation Rethymnon  (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 8. RETHYMNON-HERAKLION-FLIGHT BACK HOME

(Breakfast)

Transportation to the airport for the flight back home. KALO TAXIDI!

PRICE PER PERSON 

Double occupancy

based on 2 persons:          €3180

For SINGLE USE:    Add      €544

Day 1: Athens Arrival. Reception at the airport. Transportation and check into our hotel. You will have the remainder of the day free to relax or take a stroll along the streets of Athens to enjoy the flavor of the city. Accommodation Athens.

Day 2: Arrival Thessalonica

Direction north to Thessalonica. On our way a visit to Pelion “the centaurs mountain”. Early afternoon arrival at Thessalonica. Dinner at local “Tsipouradiko” with many Greek specialties and the local spirit “Tsipouro”. Accommodation Thessalonica.
(breakfast-dinner)

Day 3: Philippi/Kavala

Kavala is Greece’s prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Chiristoupoli because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on the same steps these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue on to Philippi where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. We return to Thessalonica for the night. Accommodation Thessalonica. (breakfast – Dinner)

Day 4: Mount Athos

We travel to Chalkidiki and the port Ouranoupolis. By boat sail around the holy land of Mount Athos and view the famous monasteries. As for over 1.000 years no woman has step this land and is not allowed, a monk will come to the boat and bless all passengers. Back to Ouranoupolis and a tour around Chalkidiki. Accommodation Thessalonica (breakfast – Lunch)

Day 5: Thessalonica/Veria

The New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive to us today. Visit the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church; and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. We will see two of the beautiful basilicas in the city of St. Demetrius, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert, and St. Sophia. Our next stop the ancient site of Pela [Alexander’s capital] and its famous mosaics. Go on direction Veria to view the Bema surrounded by newly placed mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the “nobler” church. We also visit King Phillips tomb in Vergina. Accommodation Veria (breakfast-dinner)

Day 6: Meteora Monastery/Delphi

Direction south-west to Meteora where we step and see the world famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of grey rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the Cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Break for lunch and direction south to Delphi where we overnight. (breakfast- Dinner) Meteora where the fantastic and breathtaking Byzantine monasteries are perched on top of huge grey and reddish pillars. Monks seeking isolation and spiritual salvation first built those monasteries in the 14th century. They are veritable Byzantine museums exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes.

Day 7: Delphi/Ancient Olympia

Delphi-the ancient sanctuary of Apollo. We will gain a greater understanding of the Greek religious heritage and their influence on the early Christian church. We visit the museum where we will marvel at the site of the Charioteer, a bronze statue so delicate we will see his eyelashes. We will see the Temple of Apollo and the Castalia Springs. We leave Delphi and through Galaxidi / Nafpaktos / Antirion – Rio we pass to Peloponnese and ancient Olympia. Olympia is situated in a fertile valley full of splendour surrounded by hills and light green forests. The incense and the holy atmosphere of the surroundings along with the classical architecture of the ancient buildings make this place unique in the world. Accommodation Olympia (breakfast- Dinner)

Day 8: Olympia-Byzantine city of Mystras-Sparta

Morning, The stadium of Olympia, the temple of Zeus, the statues of heroes and athletes all embrace and speak in favour of the true Olympic Spirit flourished here… in Olympia and in the hearts of… get to know more. We go south-east to Mystras, the Byzantine acropolis, the monasteries of Lakonia the bare and wild slopes of Mani, and Sparta, where we overnight. Accommodation Sparta. (breakfast – Lunch)

Day 9: Mycenae/Epidavros/Corinth/Night ferry trip to Crete

Today we travel to Mycenae where the remains of the ancient city date back to the Bronze Age to see the famous Lioness Gate, the Tomb of Agamemnon in the shape of a Beehive Corinth is the city that inspired many of Paul’s most familiar letters. See the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. To stand in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship place where Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love of I & II Corinthians. The ruins of this important cultural centre are fascinating as we walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are evident in the water systems that still flow from ancient to modern day. Continue our journey direction Piraeus the port of Athens where we take the ferry to Crete. Embarkation. Night ferry trip to Heraklion – Crete. Accommodation on board. (breakfast – Lunch)

Day 10: Crete-The palace of Knossos/Museum of Heraklion

Arrival. Reception at the port, a tour of Heraklion city and the archaeological museum of Heraklion. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and the Palace of Knossos. Join the ancient word, the Minoan civilization. Stand in a corner, close your eyes and leave yourself be part of it. Feel the atmosphere of that period. Dinner at a local restaurant with local specialties (breakfast-dinner)

Day 11: Crete. Kali Limenes (St. Paul foot step)/Gortys/Zaros

Travelling to Italy, Saint Paul as prisoner, got wrecked and landed at Kali Limenes / South central Crete. After Rome where justice let him free, he first gone to Spain and then came back to Crete at the Roman capital city Gortys where the first Christian church started. First episcope St Titus. We step both points and the mountain site of Zaros. Back to Heraklion. Rest of the day free. Accommodation Heraklion. (breakfast – lunch)

Day 12: Crete East part. Agios Nikolaos / the island of Spinalonga / Plaka (breakfast – lunch)

Day 13: Crete (Mountain tour) / night ferry trip to Piraeus

Today our first contact with locals. Clime up direction Anogia and the plateau of Ida. Break at the mountain small church of Saint Iakinthos (the Orthodox Saint of love / St Valentine) and the stoned small shepherd buildings called “mitata”. Go on direction the village of Drossia where we lunch at Giannis Petoussis tavern. Everything natural & fresh from his own land cooked by the farmhouse lady. Excellent quality and taste. Way back to Heraklion and break at the point Doxa for a mountain tea, a tasty memory from the island of Crete before we say good-bye. Back to the port of Heraklion. Embarkation and night ferry trip to Piraeus. Accommodation on board. (breakfast – lunch)

Day 14: Flight back home

PRICE PER PERSON 

Based on 2 persons

Price per person: € 3.890

Based on 3 persons

Price per person: € 3.529,49

Based on 4 persons: 

Price per person: € 2.995

FOR SINGLE USE:  ADD € 621,72

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