The Summer Crete Tour

DETAILED TOUR TIMELINE

• The Great Labyrinth Tour

  You will start your first day of touring with visiting the biggest Archaeological Site of Crete, the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Meeting the Minoan Civilization, the oldest Western Civilization, you 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 yourselves to play basic ancient Greek rhythms on copies of actual ancient musical instruments?! If the answer to all above is YES, then this interactive lab will be a lifetime experience.  

• Traditional Crete Experience

  In the typical Cretan traditional village of Asssites, you will travel back in time. You will have the chance to experience the traditional architecture of Crete and explore some of the most ancient professions of the island still practiced in rare regions, such as sheep bells making, basket weaving and Byzantine icon making. You will visit a local honey workshop and find out all about honey making in Crete and also taste delicious local honey, right from the source. You will visit a local dairy/creamery and learn about cheese making while tasting the delicious “myzithra” and “kefalotiri” cheese. You will visit the local Folk Art Museum and see numerous folk art masterpieces, beautiful embroideries and unique lace works. You will experience a Byzantine church and learn about the byzantine architecture and iconography, the Greek Orthodox religion and church traditions. You will try local products such as pure olive oil, olives, local wine and Raki, herbal tea, homemade marmalades. At a local’s house you will enjoy a cooking lesson on some of Crete’s most renowned plates, while your Cook and the housewife will cook for you an unforgettable three course traditional meal out of organic products of her own garden and farm. The highlight of the day?! Pressing grapes by foot in the traditional house press and making your own wine, exactly as people used to do in older times. This is going to be real fun!

• The Mysteries of the Cretan born Zeus

  This is an excursion to the east province of Crete and to the beautiful mountains of Dikti. Reaching an altitude of 850m above the sea level, and driving through wild nature and mountains with a breathtaking view, you will be reaching the fertile Plateau of Lassithi with its unique traditional villages and byzantine churches. At an altitude of almost 900 meters above the sea level, you will be visiting the Cave of Zeus, one of the most impressive Temple- Caves on Crete, the birthplace of the Father of all Gods and Immortals, the place where according to Homer the Cretan- born Zeus was born and one of the most important peak sanctuaries of Crete. A traditional meal in a typical Cretan restaurant will be your culinary experience, trying as well local wine and hearbal tea. After lunch, you will visit a local Pottery workshop, see the process of pottery making following old technics and even try yourselves to create our own masterpiece. Your last stop, will be the Nunnary of Panagia Kera Kardiotissa, with one of the earliest byzantine churches of Crete, renowned for its beautiful frescos and unique “miraculous” icon.

• Tour Included

  A very knowledgeable and experienced Official Licensed Guide 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 Excluded

  Entrance tickets for the Sites Meals, paid locally