Incredible Crete – Santorini – Myconos

10 days Discovey/ Cultural/ Food Guided Tour

Trip Info
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From
3.100€

After planning a nice six days trip to “incredible Crete”, we thought of combining it with an acquaintance with two of the most spectacular islands in the Aegean, Santorini of the volcanoes and the cosmopolitan Mykonos.
Of course, the approach of the islands will not be cosmopolitan, according to the principles of our office, but we will not try to avoid a little luxury.
So we will get to know Crete with an alternative approach that will include its wonderful mythological, historical and sociological environment, its music and dances,  the beautiful nature, the beaches, the architecture of its traditional villages and cities and the Venetian castles. The feeling from this visit will be unique.
For more than 4,500 years, Santorini  has had a great cultural connection with Crete. According to the prevailing opinion, the destruction of the Minoan civilization is due to the big eruption of the volcano of Santorini (17th  Century BC) and other smaller eruptions. We will visit the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, we will taste the wonderful local wine variety “Assyrtiko”, we will swim on the red and black beach, we will enjoy the sunset of Oia and the view of the caldera, which we will visit by boat.
In Mykonos we will visit the famous and beautiful beaches of the island, the labyrinthine small town of Mykonos with its intense nightlife and the nearby sacred uninhabited island Delos, the place where Leto gave birth to the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis.
We will return to Athens with the best memories.

Inclusions

Accommodation
9 nights 3* – 4* hotels on B/B basis
Meals
• 9 breakfasts
• 10 lunches with a soft drink or beer or local wine (250 g)
• 2 dinners in traditional taverns with a soft drink or beer or local wine (500 g)

Transportation
• Minivan
• Flight from Athens to Crete included
• All boats and Ferries included
Entrance fees included
• Tickets in caves
• Tickets to Archaeological sites/museums/caves
• Wine Tasting in Santorini
Activities Included
• Visit to the volcano
• Wine tasting in Santorini
• Visit to the sacred island of Delos

Exclusions

 Museum Tickets and Archaeological Sites

Transfer to and from the Airport

Drinks and soft drinks (except the above)

Gratuites (optional)

1st Day: From Athens to Chania

Chania City break – start acquaintance with the city and the area around. Souda Bay, allied Cemetery, Aptera, Dinner with Cretan songs- Overnight stay at Chania 4* hotel

2nd Day: Exploring west Crete - History-Nature

After breakfast we depart for Elafonisi, the magical beach on the west coast. We can swim or sunbathe here.
Then we move forward to the martyric –burned once by the Nazi troops- village of Kandanos, a perfect typical village of Crete and of Cretan hospitality. We are going to have a coffee in a Café mixed with the local people and then we will have lunch trying the famous local food specialities, together with their local spirit called “Raki”.
We take the road to Rethymno, a very interesting city on the northern road axis of the island. We will have enough time to get to know the city with the nice castle.
Dinner – Cretan vibe (Music-dance) – Overnight stay at Rethymno 4* hotel

3rd Day: South Crete - Nature - Authenticity - Hippism

We drive down to the south of Crete visiting the traditional village of Sfakia or Chora Sfakion (1.10 hour). After having a coffee here we take the boat to Agia Roumeli (1 hour). This is a really nice place. It is the end of the very famous gorge of Samaria. We are not going to hike all the distance but it is worth walking for an hour until a certain point which is the highlight of the gorge. It is the southest part of Europe and you can swim since April.
We will have lunch in a local fish tavern and then we are taking the boat back to Sfakia. Then we drive to Agia Galini (Coffee) and we end the tiring day in the village of Tympaki or the village of Matala (2 hours drive).
Dinner at a tavern in Tympaki or in Matala. (We must have in mind that if we have the chance to bump into a local feast in a village with local food and Cretan dances, it is going to be a special experience).
Overnight stay at 4* hotel in Tympaki or in Matala

4th Day: From south to East Crete-The minoan city Phaestos and the Palace - The pictoresque Agios Nikolaos

We start the exploration of the famous caves of Matala, once the world centre of the hippies’ movement (1963-1972). We all love this poetical decade with all its romantic meanings . Then we will visit the archaeological site and the Minoan Palace of Phaistos, an important cretan city of the Minoan civilization (2700-1450 BC).
Lunch at a local tavern and then we drive again to the north-east to the beautiful city of Agios Nikolaos (1.45 h)
We relax in front of the nice canal of the city. Dinner at a local tavern. Overnight at Agios Nikolaos or at Elounda.

5th Day: All day culture - Beach

Within a small driving distance we meet the small port of Plaka. From there we take the boat to the well known fortified island of Spinalonga, used as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. The place inspired Victoria Hisslop to write the novel “The island”. the book was adapted for television in the television series “To Nisi” (The island) in Greece. After a guided exploration we get back to Plaka. We drive west to Malia, Chersonisos, to get to Knossos, the famous center of the Minoan civilization, after we have already had lunch in a coastal Itavern. When we finish the visit to the archaeological site (the Labyrinth) and the museum we move forward to the city of Herakleio, the capital of Crete (do not say that to a person from Chania – they are opposite), the “Megalo castro” of the famous writer Nicko Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek). We have all the evening to explore the wonderful city and enjoy our dinner and Cretan music.

6th Day: Heraklion - Santorini

Very early we take the boat to the island of Santorini, a volcano island, one of the most beautiful of the world. We Visit the Akrotiri archaeological site, a wine tasting of Asyrtiko will follow and a magical Sunset at Oia will complete the full memories creating day.
Dinner –evening Clubbing – Overnight stay at Fira overlooking the spectacular Caldera.

7th Day: A small boat trip to the Volcano

A guided Visit to the Volcano – Caldera (Palea -Nea – Mikri Kameni) by boat. Swim in Red beach and Perissa
Dinner-Clubbing. Overnight stay at Fira

8th Day: Depart for Myconos and the Sacred island of Delos

We depart early for Myconos by a fast boat. After two hours trip we arrive at the port of Mykonos. Lunch
Swim in the beach of Psarou or Platy Gialos.
Dinner-Clubbing

9th Day: A visit to the Sacred Island of Delos

Since you are in Mykonos and so close to the sacred island of Delos, a uninhabited island today, the Athenian Alliance Centre (478 BC), the place where Leto gave birth to the twin Gods Apollo and Artemis.
Lunch at Avra restaurant in Myconos. Swim in Elia beach. Dinner-Clubbing

10th Day: Mykonos-Piraeus

Late wake up-Breakfast – Swim in the beach of Agios Stefanos – Lunch
Departure for Piraeus by boat

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Additional Information

Group leader

All our Epic Tours offered are accompanied by one of our local English speaker group guides. The aim of the group guide is to take the hassle out of your trip and to help you have the best experience possible.
The guide has excellent knowledge of the places visited and will provide you information throughout the whole trip, including historical, cultural and social aspects. Your guide takes care of all the essential things of the tour, offers suggestions for things to do and see and introduces you to the local communities.

Accommodation

We use a minimum three-star rating,conveniently located hotels and apartments with all the essential modern conveniences. Lodges that practice good eco-tourism, use products and hire staff from the local villages, walk lightly on the surrounding environment and are true to the area they represent.
Accommodation on all our trips is on a twin or double bed basis. Single upgrades are available upon request and depend on availability.

Transportation

Concerning the transportation, our company cooperates with leading transfer companies which use vehicles of the latest technology with the most stringent standards. All minivans are equipped with comfortable seats, air condition and large windows.
Our experienced drivers will do everything they can so that your transfer be safe and pleasant.
In all our Epic tours offered, we have made an effort to include as many attractions as possible, therefore reducing our stay in the bus to the minimum, by making many stops.

Meals

When it comes to meals, Epos Travel & Tours strikes a perfect balance, since gastronomy is one of the main aspects of the total tour experience offered.
We include most meals (at selected seaside or traditional taverns) to save you time and money, yet we also leave enough free time so you can sample Greece’s gastronomic delights on your own.
Epos travel packages vary as to the number of meals included.All provided meals are clearly stated on the tours’s inclusions section.
As most of our hotels offer anything from coffee to a full breakfast, you can start the day the way you like best with high quality local  products.
Lunch is your chance to make culinary discoveries of your own – Your tour guide can give you tips about recommended places if asked.
When your itinerary includes a special experience, such as fishing on a hired boat,rafting or wine tasting, lunch will be included.
Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform us prior to the trip. We can provide vegetarian and vegan meals. Please feel free to contact us, regarding any questions you may have about food, so we can provide you the best options possible.

Arrival - Departure information

Meeting and finishing point: Most of our tours -unless otherwise stated in the trip’s information section- start and end at Syntagma square in Athens. Tours commence at 08:00 on the starting date and finish between 21:00 and 22:00 on the finishing point. Please note: In case you leave Greece on the day the tour ends,it is advisable to book your return flight at least 3 hours after our scheduled return time. That will give you the tranquillity and ease of mind, avoiding any unfortunate events that could blemish you vacation.

When you book  with us, please have in mind that our tours don’t include any accommodation before or after the tour. So we advise you to make any stay arrangements for the date the tour ends. In relation to your arrival date and your stay in a hotel in Athens or in another city for one or more days before or after the trips, please feel free to contact us and we shall arrange it at no cost.

With regard to your transfer to and from the airport, we are able to help, if you ask us about it. We can arrange a private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Athens and vice versa 24/7. Your private driver will be waiting for you at the exit of the airport, holding a placard with your name on it.
Regarding the issue of your air ticket you know that the sooner you buy it the more cheap it comes. You are most likely to find lower prices in your home country. But it is worth trying together.

Entrance in Archaeological sites & Museums

Please check if you belong in one of the Free or Reduced admission categories below.

Free admission for:

• Members of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece and equivalent Chambers of member-states of the EU, upon presentation of their membership card

• Members of the ICOM-ICOMOS, upon presentation of their membership card

• Students of University – Higher Education Institutes, Technological Educational Institutes, Military Schools or equivalent Schools of EU member states, as      well as Schools of Guides, upon presentation of their student identity card

• Young people, up to the age of 18, upon presentation of their Identity Card or passport for age confirmation.

Reduced admission for:

• Greek citizens and citizens of other Member – States of the European Union who are over 65 years old, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin
• Students of University – Higher Education Institutes, Technological Educational Institutes or equivalent Schools of countries from outside the European Union, upon presentation of their student ID cards

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