8-Day Luxury Culture and Gastronomy Tour in Crete Greece
Activity Description
The cuisine of Crete, being a crossroad island, has been influenced, at different times, by both western and eastern Mediterranean cultures.
What many don’t know is that the famous for its health benefits Mediterranean Diet has its origin in Cretan cuisine. The European voyagers and explorers in the 1950s who started to show an interest in the nutritional habits of other cultures noticed the surprising longevity of the Cretans despite their poverty and the simplicity of their diet. This inspired them to further investigate the eating habits of all neighboring Mediterranean cultures until they formed a clear suggestion of what we today know as the Mediterranean Diet, one of the most healthy styles of eating worldwide.
During your stay and culinary adventure, you will not just learn the secrets of Cretan cooking but will experience with all your senses the journey from the heart to the stomach and from nature to the table.
We invite you to cook, learn, laugh, feel, and travel with us to return back to your country as a proud sharer of our food and cultural tradition.
Day 1: Get to know us better and adjust to the Mediterranean climate
Arrival, Airport Pick-Up, Check-in, and Settling, Snack, Time to Rest, Introductions and Briefing, 19:30 Group Welcome Dinner at your hotel’s restaurant
Day 2: Explore your new neighborhood
Morning is free of activities in order to rest deeply and shift your body clock by sleeping late if needed. Early afternoon we will meet for a 2h Greek Language lesson. This will include the Greek Alphabet, the basics of Greek pronunciation, and a few key phrases. The logical structure of the Greek language and its continuity from the ancient years up till today will be presented in examples. This deeper understanding of the language will hopefully make your trip more enjoyable and help you read the Greek signs with ease or connect with the locals by using a Greek greeting. Later on, you will be toured by car or a fun train around your new neighborhood enjoying stunning views. The tavern that will accommodate us for dinner will introduce you to your first authentic Cretan recipes.
Day 3: Discover the wonders of the Cretan landscape
Early in the morning, we will depart to the southwestern mainland. We will cross mountains and drive along a gorge to reach an old Orthodox monastery that is built on a large rock 35 meters above sea level. Over a breathtaking view of the Libyan Sea, you will be introduced to the dogma of Orthodox Christianity in a spiritual, non-dogmatic way. The monastery has a “hidden school”. What is this and which situation created the need for hidden schools in Greece? Time to be introduced to Greek modern history and better understand the present of the land via its turbulent past.
After that, we will drive to the famous beach of Elafonissi, where you will enjoy the crystal clear waters and the pink sand from the thousands of shells being shattered over the years. Elafonissi is an island to which you can go on foot!
Lunch at a picturesque family tavern and then return to our hotel.
Day 4: Discover Chania, the most beautiful Greek town
Today’s privately guided cultural tour uses food (and optionally wine) as a means of getting to know and having an experience of the local traditions, the authentic people, the history, and the modern lifestyle of Crete. You will be guided around Chania city and learn about the Cretan food culture over tasting:
– Alatsoelies (salted olives) and various kinds of cheese,
– the famous Cretan yogurt with local nuts and thyme honey,
– traditional sweets and pastries with Malotira beverage (the local mountain herb),
– and finally the famous Gyros (pie with pork meat) or alternatively a vegetarian version with mushrooms and local cheese. This will be your lunch of the day.
At the end of your food-tasting tour and lunch, you may enjoy a 45min wine tasting experience. You will be given plenty of time to stroll around the city for sightseeing or shopping before heading back to the hotel.
Day 5: FREE DAY with options
Today you can enjoy the SPA, the swimming pool, or the sandy beach in front of your luxurious hotel. Optionally a cooking class at a farm may be booked for this day. Please, find more information about this tour under the “available add-on activities to your trip” section. Other add-on tour options for the day may be available too depending on your preferences.
Day 6: Beekeeping experience and honey tasting – Scenic trip to famous Southern Crete
We will be starting our day with a drive to a beekeeper’s place for a breathtaking introduction to the world of bees and some honey tasting. Next, we will drive to the wildest and most impressive part of Crete, a part where tradition is alive and time refuse to run fast. To reach this part of Crete we will have to cross the White Mountains, which is an excellent opportunity to visit some beautiful mountain villages on the way and enjoy great landscape views and a traditional pastry shop using rosewater in its recipes! Paleochora, our final destination, is a small seaside town with exotic beaches facing the Libyan Sea and Africa.
After beach time and group lunch, you will have time to enjoy the town’s market before heading back to our base.
Day 7: Day dedicated to olive oil including an olive oil tasting
We will start today’s adventure by visiting the oldest olive tree in Crete, and an olive oil museum. Then you will get a guided tour around a traditional olive oil press where you will learn about traditional olive oil production and why Cretan olive oil is of unique quality. You will get the chance to taste different gourmet olive oils and buy a small special bottle that can safely be transferred back home in your luggage. Beach time after the tour on a small picturesque beach with a small family-owned tavern where we will have our farewell lunch. Return to the hotel to rest and prepare for tomorrow’s departure. For those in the group having enough energy for a live-music late dinner in town, this option will be offered to them.
Day 8: Departure
Check out at 11:00 latest, airport drop-off.
Based on availability you will be staying at one of the following luxury seafront resorts:
Atlantica Kalliston Resort (μόνο για ενήλικες)
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Included
Not included
Do nοt forget
Cancellation policy
- Cancellation 90 days or more prior to the agreed activity starting date. You are automatically reimbursed for the full activity price.
- Cancellation between 30 and 90 days prior to the agreed activity starting date. You are entitled to a 50% reimbursement.
- Cancellation 30 days or later no reimbursements will be effected.
* If the activity is canceled by the activity provider (due to weather, non-completion of minimum entries, force majeure, etc.), the price of your activity, is refunded in full.
Unlimited Adrenaline Tips
- Many activities are based on the weather, so it is recommended that you contact the company before the activity.
- It is a good idea to be at the meeting point on time, before the scheduled start time.
- After your reservation it is enough to give your details to the cooperating company so that you can carry out your activity. However, it is recommended that you have the booking confirmed in digital or printed form.
- Read the benefits of the activity carefully to avoid possible extra charges from additional optional services.
- Read the cancellation policy carefully before booking.
Location
Meeting Point
Region: Akrotiri, Chania
Address: Chania airport CHQ
Notes: Our agent will be waiting for you at the airport with your name on a sign
Point of activity
Region: Chania