Greece
Crete
’s authentic beauty: Holistic travel experience

Crete’s authentic beauty: Holistic travel experience

4 Reviews | Local experience, Nature, Sightseeing

Add to favorites

From

2.100€

per person

Adults:

Children:

{{people}} People

I have read and accepted the Terms of Services

Customize this trip

8 days
2 destinations
From 2.100€
30 awesome beaches
10 archeological sites
Endless Greek delicacies

Crete’s natural beauty is equalled only by the richness of its history, as the island is the birthplace of the first advanced society on European soil. Τhe Minoans ruled much of the Aegean 4000 years ago and, being the crossroad of three continents, Crete has been coveted and occupied by many invaders throughout the years. Ultimately, though, it's the locals that make the experience of holidays in Crete unique. Crete’s spirited people honour their culture and customs, so Crete's long-lasting traditions remain a dynamic part of the island’s soul.

This exhilarating mosaic of history, mythology, gallantry, and natural beauty is a challenge that you can’t resist. The island's unique landscape, a fruitful blend of sun, sea & mountain terrain, inspired Cretan people to develop their gastronomy. Local farms, wineries, and excellent local restaurants will introduce you to the island's gastronomy scene and make it impossible for you to leave!

Days

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Day 1 Chania

The trip begins in Chania. Until the 1980’s Chania was one of the best-kept secrets of the Mediterranean: a delightful provincial town between the mountains and the sea. Nowadays, Chania is Crete’s most nostalgic city, full of Ottoman and Venetian influences in
terms of architecture. The winding old streets are home to charming boutique hotels and some of the islands best dining options. At sunset, the view over the protected bay, studded with its lighthouse, is sublime. So is the dinner in a restaurant overlooking the old port.
Day 2 Chania

Chania has managed to keep its vintage appearance and its authentic ‘color’ in balance with the touristic growth of recent years. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece –also known as the Venice of the East, keeping
alive the imprint of the various cultures that have passed through among the centuries. In the morning, alongside your guide, you will walk through the historic quarters of the Old Town, which are made up of individual residential areas, each with its unique character and architecture. On the way, you will see details and structures representative of the Venetian, Ottoman, and local building styles, including Neo-Classical houses, churches, squares, and so on. After lunch, you will visit a winery, which is located in the foothills of the White Mountains, on the road to the Omalos Plateau. Winery owners cultivate several varieties of grapes such as the red Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and white Roussane. They also experiment with local varieties such as Vidiano. Their philosophy is quite a simple one: to carefully cultivate their vineyards to absorb the unique flavors of the White Mountains, the aromas from local herbs, and wild aromatic plants.
Day 3 Samaria Gorge

Hiking through Samaria gorge is considered one of the must things to do in Crete-and with a good reason. The magnificent gorge is the longest in Europe: 18km long and 150m wide at its widest points. It was declared a
National Park in 1962 and a UNESCO biosphere Reserve. The gorge is home to varied wildlife, soaring birds of prey, and a dazzling array of wildflowers in spring. The hike ends at the welcoming seaside resort of Agia Roumeli with its much appreciated fine pebble beach and sparkling sea. You will enjoy our lunch there, and you will end up in Chora Sfakion. From there, you will be transferred back to Chania.
Day 4 Gramvousa Peninsula

Northwest of Chania lies the beautifully wild and remote Gramvousa Peninsula, the main attraction of which is the stunning lagoon-like sandy beach of Balos. This idyllic beach has white sand and exotic white, vivid blue, and turquoise waters and is
overlooked by the two islets of Agria (wild) and Imeri (tame). In many parts of the beach, the sand has a lovely pinkish color, because of millions of crushed shells. With a rib boat, you will visit Balos and spent part of the day there.
Day 5 Chania-Rethymno

Today, you will enjoy a drive towards Rethymno and explore the historic quarter with its charismatic Renaissance Venetian buildings sprinkled with exotic features from the Turkish period. Basking between the commanding bastions of its 15th-century fortress and the glittering azure
waters of the Mediterranean, Rethymno is one of Crete’s most delightful towns. Your hotel is located away from the city and the tourist crowds. It is a fascinating group of stone buildings of Cretan and Venetian architecture which look like a village, nestling in peaceful surroundings with superb views of the countryside and the sea.
Day 6 Rethymno

In the morning you will go to a 40.000 square meter farm, a replica of a 17th-century estate. There, you will be introduced to centuries-old, organic, and eco-friendly traditional farming methods. You will experience traditional agricultural activities and will have
lunch in the restaurant of the farm, which was named Best Organic Restaurant by Vanity Fair in 2009. After lunch, you will visit the Arkadi Monastery, which has deep significance for Cretans. In November 1866, massive Ottoman forces arrived to crush the revolts on the island. Hundreds of Cretans fled their villages to find shelter at the monastery. However, the monastery was soon besieged by 2000 Turkish soldiers. Rather than surrender, the Cretans set fire to their kegs of gunpowder, killing everyone, Turks included. Following the monastery visit, you will hike back to your hotel via dirt roads with magnificent views towards the Aegean Sea.
Day 7 Preveli

Today, you will experience the mountainous part of Rethymno while driving through the Amari region on your way to Preveli Beach. The Amari Valley is a quilt of unspoiled villages punctuated by Byzantine churches and framed by olive groves and
orchards. Mountain Psiloritis looms grandly above the lyrical landscape whose charms lay in what’s there than what isn’t: traffic, billboards, and megaresorts. Preveli beach also known as Palm Beach is one of Crete’s most celebrated strands. The setting is truly stunning. It is located at the entrance of the Kourtaliotiko gorge, where the river Megalopotamos slices across before emptying into the Libyan Sea. The palm-lined river banks have freshwater pools good for a dip, while rugged cliffs begin where the sand ends.
Day 8 Rethymno-Athens

Today, you can spend the morning relaxing at your hotel or meandering through the picturesque streets of Rethymno. Then, you will be transferred to the airport, where you’ll catch a flight to Athens.

This is a sample itinerary and can be fully customized according to your travel plans and needs. The price of this trip is indicative, given that it can change depending on several factors, including the season, activities, etc. In every case, our savvy travel experts will create a travel plan based on your budget and your bucket list! The travel planning service is free of charge and includes as many changes and customizations as you wish, until you’re fully satisfied with the result.

What's included?

Accommodation
In-country transportation
Trip planning by our travel experts
Activities and tours
24×7 support during your trip

What's not included?

Food & Drinks
International flights

Reviews: 4

Satisfaction: 5

Holistic trip to Crete.

Jul 3 2021

by traveler: Matt K.

Crete was absolutely breathtaking, both historically and naturally! Hiking through Samaria gorge was an unforgettable experience and Gramvousa Peninsula was stunning, they were our favorite parts of the tour. The staff was friendly and the trip was very well organized, I would highly recommend it!

Fabulous trip in Crete!

Jul 20 2020

by traveler: Jake B.

Fabulous trip! The tour guides were knowledgeable and friendly, they provided useful information about every place we visited and kept us entertained throughout the trip. All the places we visited were impressive, but Balos beach was our favorite. We felt like we were in the Carribean, just wow!

This trip was a great way to see the best places in Crete!

Jul 10 2020

by traveler: Dan M.

This trip was a great way to see the best places in Crete! Accommodation and food were excellent. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and attentive as well. We also loved the activities we did during the trip, Samaria Gorge and the palm tree forest at Preveli beach were our favorite places. Definitely going back!

We’re glad we booked this trip around Crete.

Jul 4 2020

by traveler: Beth P.

We’re glad we booked this trip around Crete. We wouldn’t have seen all those stunning places if we had gone by ourselves, that’s for sure! It was the highlight of our holidays in Greece!

Related Trips