Western Crete /14 days

Day 0. Travel day

Day 1. CRETE Heraklion

Arrive at Athens Airport (scheduled to arrive around PM); adjust to local time. Flight Athens-Heraklion
(same day). Transportation airport hotel. Overnight Heraklion.
Possibility of a group dinner for the first night

Day 2. CRETE Heraklion

Free morning to kick off jet lag.
Welcome meeting and small introduction to Crete and it’s culture (optional)
Guided visit to the archeological museum of Heraklion
Free afternoon
Suggested activity: Olive oil tasting
Immerse in experiencing the flavors that become the base of the famous Cretan Diet and one of the secrets of longevity. The Homeric Liquid Cold- Olive Oil. Join us in an experience that will introduce you to this amazing product and its properties. Together we will learn what olive oil is all about and its importance in the Cretan Culinary Culture. During this program we will have the opportunity to better approach olive oil as consumers, learn all the properties that make it a super food and find out about its use in our everyday life.

Day 3. CRETE Heraklion

Morning guided visit to the archaeological site of Knossos.
Then we are going to get to know the famous Cretan wines. A trip though Dionysus “juices” in the most famous wine area of Crete, guided by an oenologist. The trip includes a nice picnic in nature , as well as a visit in the unknown ancient open-air wine presses in the surrounding area

Overnight in Heraklion. Suggested group dinner at “Peskesi restaurant”.

Day 4. Heraklion-Kapetaniana

Breakfast at hotel; Leaving the city for the wild mountains of Asterousia.
Visit one Visit one of the wildest and beautiful region in Crete (where mountains meet the Libyan Sea)
Picnic in nature, based in monastic tradition of the historical period
Swimming at heavenly beaches
Historical experience with an archaeologist
Interaction with the locals

Day 5. Kapetaniana trekking, birdwatching, activities in nature

Return late in the afternoon
Overnight Kapetaniana

Day 6. Leaving the Mountains to with direction the west part of Crete Rethymnon

For the next 2 days having as base the city of Rethymnon we are visiting the Palm forest of Preveli and trek along the Kourtaliotis river.

Day 7. Visit the village of Margarites one of the four major points of pottery in Crete

Learn about Cretan pottery.
Visit the archeological site of Eleftherna and the famous monastery or Arkadi.

Day 8. Rethymnon to Chania

Leaving Rethymno with direction west to the city of Chania.

Day 9. Experience the city of Chania like locals do

Experience the city of Chania as the locals do! , WITH AN INTERPRETIVE GUIDE
A short, yet intense and filling tour in the old town of Chania. In this half-day tour, we will mix with the locals, the crafts, the aromas and the tastes of the renown “Venice of the South”, while discovering its cultural and historical background.

Knifemakers, The day starts with a nice walking tour that will lead us to our first stop in the old town: The Knifemakers. We will meet these traditional craftsmen and we will discover the art and the history of their old profession.
Cheese tasting in the Old Market, Next stop: “Agora”, the Municipal Market of Chania. The place to taste, smell, and discover the gastronomic richness of the island. After seeing the various shops in the market, we will stop for a cheese tasting.
A walk connecting history with nowadays, Following the connecting thread of history and mostly the coexistence at the same time of three different religions-cultures (Hebrew, Muslim and Christian) we are looking for the city’s cultural layers from prehistory until nowadays.
Chat & coffee at the locals’ hangouts, The nicest way to finish our day and discuss about the things we saw is a cup of coffee. And the best way to do it is to escape from the most frequented streets by visitors and find the haunts of the locals.
Lunch in a traditional taverna, A lunch at an excellent traditional taverna selected by Petassos Travel may also be included in the programme, depending on your appetite!

Day 10. CRETE- ATHENS

Flight from Chania to Athens. Stay in central hotel walking distance to all major sites and activities
Birthplace of philosophy, democracy and drama, the city of Athens is not only an open-air museum of world-class cultural heritage attractions but also a contemporary metropolis with an urban personality.
The city of Athens comes alive along the streets, filled with locals and visitors, the aroma of olive oil, and the awareness that you have arrived.

Day 11. ATHENS

Visit to the Acropolis museum followed by Acropolis the Agora ( guided)
(with guide)

Free afternoon

Day 12. ATHENS

Morning visit to the Acropolis museum ( guided)

Free day to explore the Plaka (old Athens section), Ermou Square for shopping and a taste of a Greek Souvlaki and Monastiraki flea market.

Day 13. ATHENS

Free day
Suggestions:
• Climb up to Lycabettus hill to have great view of the city and enjoy a lunch or dinner
• Visit one more museum on your own Athens Archaeological museum https://www.namuseum.gr/en/ or Cyladic art museum https://cycladic.gr/en/page/kikladiki-techni or the new art museum https://goulandris.gr/en/
• Private half day sailing cruise at the islands of Saronic gulf ( possible for groups only)
• Enjoy lunch /dinner by the Athenian riviera