Incredible Crete!

7 days Discovery/ Culinary Guided Tour

Book now
Request info

Group Size
Small – Private

Age Range
7-80 years

From 
1.750€

Physical rating

Book now!

HIGHLIGHTS:
•Rethymno •Chora Sfakion •Elafonisi •Matala •Minoan Palace of Phaistos •Agios Nikolaos •Malia •Knossos Palace •Herakleion •Samaria gorge

Group Size 
Small – Private

From 
1.750€

Ages
7-90

Overview

Inclusions

Itinerary

Dates

More Info

Gallery

A true old story (By the travel designer)
I first visited Crete in the mid-1970s, starting a new job, selling books from house to house. It was a popular job for the university students of the time and sometimes profitable. I formed my own group consisting of some friends who were quite educated, a little bit marginal though, equipped more with a musical talent rather than commercial. Especially the eldest of the company with a big, dense, oriental style mustache which had given him the nickname “Hodja”, was a phenomenon. Intelligent, intellectual, philosopher, story teller, he had taken with him all the musical instruments he used. Bouzouki, baglamadaki, flute.
The huge ship “King Minos” started at 8 pm. Since we didn’t have cabins, we sat on the deck bar and caught up with some Cretan passengers. We were repeatedly given raki, the famous Cretan drink they had with them, and soon came the fun, the music and the songs. “Hodza” started playing bouzouki and then “baglamadaki” singing “rebetika” songs, while my other companion Davelis (another nickname for those who have a tendency towards small illegalities), the teacher (he was a graduate of the Academy and later worked as a teacher), it went very well with his flute or his guitar.
I will remember what followed as long as I live. The deck bar was filled with people, Cretans and tourists, dancing to the rhythm of “Hodja”, this amazing man with the great mental powers that could create a Dionysian, ecstatic mood. Some Cretans, drunk and ecstatic, were banging their heads on a deck pillar! 
We arrived in Heraklion at 7 in the morning, without sleeping.
It was my first visit to this great island, but I already knew enough about its rich history, studying the Greek history and having read most of the books by Nikos Kazantzakis, Pantelis Prevelakis and Ioannis Kondylakis, important representatives of modern Cretan literature and, of course, “Erotokritos », the popular Cretan epic of the late Renaissance, and, also, able to “feel” Cretan music and the impressive Cretan dances.
As soon as I set foot in Crete, I felt like I were in another, mythical country, a feeling that remained in my next three or four visits to Crete.
The hospitality of the Cretan households was impressive. Sometimes it could be annoying, forcing us to eat and drink too much
The result was that the young company got drunk every night for about twenty days, either in houses in the villages or in the cities. Then we went to Cretan tavernas with live local music, the “Lyradika” and we continued the fun until late. Two or three times we found ourselves almost dawn to recite poems  at the tomb of Nicko Kazantzakis in «Megalo Kastro”.
For the record, the financial result of my youth trip to Crete was a failure. I just managed to pay for the team’s hotel with some customer bills.
“Hodja” did not contribute financially to the trip, as he did not sell a single book, but he soon learned to play the Cretan lyre and sing Cretan songs with his own exciting way.
Some forty… years later I will try to recapture and share with you the feeling of my first visit to incredible Crete!

Why you’ll love this tour

Slide 1

Visit the legendary hippie Matala Beach

#culture #hippie #sea

Slide 1

Have a swim at some of the best beaches in Crete!

#sea #sun #relaxation

Slide 1

Visit Elafonisi, with the shallow waters, pale pink-tinted sands, and sweeping dunes!

#sun #beach #sea

Slide 1

Visit the unique Knossos Palace in Crete!

#culture #mythology #Minotaur

next arrow
previous arrow

Inclusions

Accommodation
6 nights 3* – 4* hotels on B/B basis
Meals
• 6 breakfasts
• 6 lunches with a soft drink or beer or local wine (250 g)
• 3 dinners in traditional taverns with a soft drink or beer or local wine (500 g)
Transportation
• Minivan or Car
• Flight from Athens to Crete*
• Flight from Crete to Athens*
*if booked 3 months in advance
• All boats and Ferries as follows:

Sfakia-Agia-Roumeli-Sfakia
Plaka – Spinalonga-Plaka
Entrance fees included
Activities Included
• Visit to the island of Spinaloga
• Hike Samaria Gorge

Exclusions

 Museum Tickets and Archaeological Sites

Transfer to and from the Airport

Drinks and soft drinks (except the above)

Gratuites (optional)

Itinerary

1st Day: From Athens to Chania

Chania City break – start acquaintance with the city and the area around. We visit Souda Bay, the Allied Cemetery, Aptera.
We finish the night at the Old Venetian Port for dinner.
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.
– Overnight stay at Rethymno 4* hotel

3rd Day: South Crete - Nature - Authenticity

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, after passing from Frangokastello, we head to the old monastery of Preveli and the stunning surrounding area. We visit the well known Monastery the history of which is woven with the threads of time and central to Crete’s character. We walk down the steep path above Kourtaliotiko gorge until we meet the Lybian sea. The gorge forms a cool lagoon and a sandy beachS. Palms and oleanders create shade; a tropical paradise forest amidst the dry rocky Mediterranean terrain. The palms are Phoenix theophrastii are unique to Crete.
We can swim in the cold river and the sea.
Overnight stay at the village of Plakias. 3* or 4* hotel.

4th Day: Day 4: From south to East Crete-The hippie caves of Matala

After an hour drive we get to the coastal village of Matala. 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 .
Lunch at a local tavern and then we spend the whole day and the evening in Matala.
Overnight stay at Matala (3* or 4* hotel)

5th Day: All day culture - Beach

We start the day with a visit to 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.
Enjoy the beach at your hotel.
Dinner at a local tavern. Overnight stay at Agios Nikolaos or at Elounda.

Day 6: Elounda-Spinalonga-Knossos-Herakleion

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 tavern. 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 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.
Overnight stay at Herakleion (3* or 4* hotel)

Day 7 : Heraklion City tour -Back to Athens

A morning visit to the city. Transfer to the airport/Port.
Flight to Athens. Transfer to the hotel.

Map

Available departure dates

PriceDates

Select date

Departure:
Total: 2970
Request A FUTURE DATE

Make this tour private!

ask us

Gallery

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Tour Reviews