The Spring Crete Tour

DETAILED TOUR TIMELINE

• The Great Labyrinth Tour

  You will start your first day of touring by visiting the biggest Archaeological Site of Crete, the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Meeting the Minoan Civilization, the oldest Western Civilization, we will delve into the ancient myths and reveal all about the Labyrinth and its meaning. Your nest stop will be Heraklion Archaeology Museum, the best Prehistoric Museum of the country, which houses all Minoan Gems excavated in Knossos Palace and the other Minoan Palaces, settlements and tombs excavated in Crete. A sightseeing walking tour in Heraklion old, historic section will follow visiting important Venetian and Ottoman Monuments such as the Venetian Fountain of Morosini, the Basilica of St. Mark, the Venetian Loggia, the Church of Apostle Titos, the Venetian fortress of “Koule” and the Venetian Shipyards. You will enjoy a traditional meal inside the Market Street in one of the local taverns, where the locals would go for lunch, enjoying as well the busy atmosphere of the Market. Have you ever thought of how important the ancient Greek Music is for medieval and modern music composing? Have you ever wished to listen to survived ancient Greek Music dating back to Greece’ Golden Age?! Would you like to try yourself to play basic ancient Greek rhythms on accurate replicas of ancient Greek musical instruments?! If the answer to all above is YES, then this interactive lab is an experience especially designed for you.  

• Artistic and Spiritual Crete

  Your second day of touring is focusing on the Spiritual and Artistic areas and aspects of Minoan, but also modern Crete. Going deeper into the Minoan Arts you will experience an hour and a half interactive lab on the Minoan Nature Dance in a beautiful nature park. Don’t worry, this won’t be a physically demanding attempt and no previous dance experience is required. The purpose of the lab is to help you connect with the land, open up your senses and connect with nature and the Minoan Goddess. To feel the ancient and mythical grounds you will be stepping on and to create your own story. Knossos was not just the palace. The sacred hill of Knossos, called Juktas, with its numerous and breathtaking sites will take you further into how the Minoans conceived the afterlife, how they buried their beloved ones and what their Great Goddess was all about. You surely have a lot to learn from this amazing civilization. Visiting Fourni Minoan Cemetery and Anemopspilia Peak Sanctuary together with the fascinating small Archanes Museum you will get to know your ancestors better. Your lunch will be housed in a family local Restaurant in Archanes traditional and very picturesque town. Maria, our cook will make for you plates we will never forget! There you will also try the local wines of the region, since the area is renowned for its plethora of local wineries.

• Nature Whispers

  You will start our third day of touring with a magnificent drive among fertile vine and olive fields, reaching a unique mountain scenery. At an altitude of 1300m above the sea level you will reach the most beautiful natural forest of central Crete, the forest of Rouvas, renowned for its ancient and rare holm oaks, plane and cypress trees. From the forest of Rouvas, renowned for its ancient and rare trees and orchids, refuge of many wild goats and birds, you will hike down the most impressive natural gorge of central Crete 4 km long- 2, 5 to 3 hours of moderate hiking, the gorge of Agios Nicolaos. You will enjoy your lunch by the beautiful Lake of Zaros, formed by waters running from the nearby springs. On the shore of the lake under the deep shade of the plane trees you will try the local specialty, which is salmon and trout grilled over an open fire. Your day and traveling experience will sum up with an unforgettable swim in the waters of the Libyan Sea in South Crete, renowned for their healing and therapeutic effects.  

• Tour Inclusions

  A very knowledgeable and experienced Official Licensed Guide All exclusive Art Labs conducted by Art Academics Private Transportation on a new, fully air-conditioned, premium class Minibus with a professional driver Accommodation in a Boutique City Hotel or Traditional Suites (upon request)

• Tour Exclusions

  Entrance tickets to the Sites Meals, paid locally