Greece
Crete
Culture and history in

Culture and history in Crete

3 Reviews | Culture, Local experience, Sightseeing

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10 days
5 destinations
From 2.600€ pp
30 archaeological sites
Expert travel guides
Endless photo-worthy locations

Peel back the layers of Crete’s history and tradition! Delve into the fascinating history of Crete through a 10-day tour to the most important archaeological sites and cultural gems of the island. Discover the secrets of three different regions and introduce yourself to the renowned Cretan tradition.

Days

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Day 1 Athens

Arrival in Athens and private pick-up from Athens International Airport by one of our drivers. Accommodation at a chic central hotel in Athens. Optional afternoon tour to Athens city center and dinner at a central restaurant. Overnight in Athens.
Day 2 Athens

In the morning, one of our experienced travel guides will meet you at the hotel and take you on a tour around Athens. You’re going to visit the most important landmarks in the city, including the Acropolis hill, the Parthenon,
the Temple of Zeus, Kallimarmaro, the Acropolis Museum, and more. After the tour, you’ll sit at a traditional tavern to taste some of the best Greek delicacies, like souvlaki, Greek salad, pita gyros, and handmade pies. At the end of the tour, our driver will drop you off at your hotel. Overnight in Athens.
Day 3 Athens-Heraklion

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Athens International Airport, where you’ll catch your flight to Heraklion. Upon your arrival in Heraklion, you will be transferred to your elegant hotel in the centre of Heraklion, where you can relax until the
afternoon. In the afternoon, an experienced local guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a walking tour through the picturesque Heraklion Town. During the tour, you’ll get a bit of cultural background and visit the town’s main points of interest. Overnight in Heraklion.
Day 4 Heraklion

This day is dedicated to the exploration of the most popular Minoan Palace in Crete: Knossos Palace. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the archaeological site of Knossos, which was discovered after excavations carried out by Sir Arthur Evans
in 1,900. Originally constructed in the Bronze Age, Knossos is considered the oldest city in Europe. An archaeologist will guide you through the ancient town and introduce you to its fascinating history. After the tour, you’ll return to Heraklion, where you’ll have the rest of the day free. Optional tour to the traditional beehives located close to Heraklion. Overnight in Heraklion.
Day 5 Heraklion

You’ll begin the fifth day of this trip with a visit to another impressive Minoan town: Phaestos. You’ll explore this Bronze Age city with the help of an archaeologist, who’ll show you around the palaces and give you information about
the glorious past of this Minoan gem. After the tour, you can enjoy a wine-tasting session at a winery in Peza, a region with a long tradition of winemaking. Overnight in Heraklion.
Day 6 Heraklion-Agios Nikolaos

On the sixth day of this trip, you’ll set off to explore the eastern part of Crete. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the Lassithi region. From there, you’ll take a boat to one
of the most mysterious places in Crete: Spinalonga island. Also known as the Leper island, Spinalonga used to serve as a quarantine island for lepers until 1957. Now, it operates as a tourist attraction -it is the most-visited attraction in Crete after Knossos Palace! After visiting Spinalonga islet, you’re going to head back to Agios Nikolaos and spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring the town. Overnight in Agios Nikolaos.
Day 7 Agios Nikolaos-Sitia

From Agios Nikolaos, you’ll continue your journey to Sitia, a little seaside town in northeastern Crete. After checking in at your hotel, you can spend the day at your leisure. Visit the exotic palm tree forest at Vai, walk along
the town’s picturesque waterfront, go to Kazarma fortress, or just relax at your hotel. Overnight in Sitia.
Day 8 Sitia-Chania

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Agios Nikolaos, from where you’ll catch a flight to the final destination of this trip, Chania. Upon your arrival at Chania, our driver will transfer you to your hotel in the heart of
Chania. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing, until the afternoon, when an experienced local guide is going to meet you at your hotel and take you on a private walking tour through the city. During the tour, you’re going to introduce yourself to the history of Chania, visit traditional shops, meet and chat with the locals, taste traditional delicacies, see the main points of interest in Chania, and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful city. Overnight in Chania.
Day 9 Chania

On your final day in Chania, you’re free to explore the city at your leisure and discover your own favorite spots. Or, you can spend the day under the sun at one of the region’s beaches. Whatever you choose to
do, don’t miss trying the world-renowned Cretan cuisine at one of the traditional taverns in Chania! Overnight in Chania.
Day 10 Chania-Athens

On the final day of your trip, you can enjoy a relaxing morning before our driver picks you up from your hotel to transfer you to the airport, where you’ll catch a flight to Athens. If you’re planning on staying
in Athens after your trip, we can arrange the transfer to your hotel.

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
Activities and tours
Trip planning by our travel experts
24×7 support during your trip

What's not included?

Meals & Drinks
International flights

The port of Agios Nikolaos in Crete

Spinalonga islet in Crete

The venetian lighthouse in Chania

Reviews: 3

Satisfaction: 5

Thank you for the unforgettable trip!

Aug 28 2020

by traveler: Nick G.

Everyone was so helpful and professional. Although the times are difficult due to Covid, the staff was very helpful and organized everything for us just two weeks before our trip. All the safety measures were kept throughout the trip and everyone was wearing a mask. We strongly recommend this trip to those who want to see Crete through the eyes of a local!

10 fantastic days in Crete.

Jul 19 2020

by traveler: Kate D.

This tour is definitely worth it! All our guides were amazing and all the places we visited were super interesting. We had a wonderful time and we highly recommend it to anyone who wants to visit the main towns of Crete as well as the Minoan palaces. Our favorite places were Heraklion Town, Knossos Palace, Spinalonga islet, and Vai palm forest. We modified our itinerary to spend an extra day in Chania and visit Balos beach. If you want to visit the region’s beaches, we recommend that you also spend an extra day in Chania.

We loved this history tour of Crete!

Oct 3 2019

by traveler: Andrew V.

We’ve been wanting to visit Crete for a long time. We wanted to see the authentic side of the island, learn about the Minoan civilization, and eat Cretan food. This trip was everything we’ve been wanting and more! Within 10 days we went to several towns, explored nature, and visited the major Minoan towns. All activities and accommodations were excellent. Everyone did their best to make us feel welcome and met our every need. Thank you for the experience!

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