Crete – Trekking, Gastronomy, Wine and the Tradition of Olive Oil
Crete, Greece’s largest island, is known for its varied terrain, which ranges from fine-sand beaches at Elafonisi to the White Mountains. Mt. Ida, the tallest of the range, is home to the Ideon Cave, the birthplace of Zeus, according to Greek mythology. The capital, Heraklion, is home to the renowned Heraklion Archaeological Museum, housing Minoan artifacts, and Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement.
Chania is an extraordinary town in Crete with its history spanning over centuries and garishly painted buildings that create an amazing colorful maze that will leave you wowed. It’s a captivating cultural mosaic that has managed to preserve its Ottoman and Venetian grandeur. Stroll around and you will discover why this town is by all means timeless!
If you think that the beauty of Chania is concentrated solely in the Old Town then you will be amazed by the outskirts. Invest some of your time to visit the amazing villages scattered around the region. Mountainous ones, like Vamos, Sfakia, Anopolis, Alikianos, will get you closer to nature and lost in the beauty of their landscape, as the White Mountains are quite imposing.
If you prefer the seaside, you can never go wrong with Kissamos and Loutro. Lake Kourna is a very important ecosystem, brimming with species of flora and fauna. Consider a visit to the world-famous Samaria Gorge, and include the Gorge of Aradena, also notable as it is the deepest and steepest one in Crete.
TOUR DETAILS
2022/2023 pricing, please contact us for an estimate anytime
2020 Land Cost Per Person (double occupancy)
July – $1,800
This tour operates with a minimum of 2 travelers. Other group rates are available on request. Please contact us for a current price estimate.
UNESCO SITES:
- Samaria Gorge National Park
Price Includes:
- 5 Nights accommodation in premium double rooms at 4*Hotels
- Meals according to the program
- All transfers mentioned above
- 5 guided tours
- All local taxes
- Guide books with suggestions for the free time
Price Does Not Include:
- Airfare (unless otherwise arranged)
- Departure and custom fees
- Gratuities and individual daily expenses
- Additional beverages
- Travel insurance
- Trip cancellation
Day 1: Arrival at Chania airport(CHQ) 
Arrival at Chania airport located in Souda. You will be met and greeted at the airport and transferred to your 4* hotel located near the old Chania town. Your local coordinator and driver will provide you with your travel guidebook, including a range of suggestions regarding your free time at Chania area. In the evening free time to enjoy the magnificent old town of Chania. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2: Visit to traditional olive oil factory and local producers 
After breakfast your driver will pick you up and transfer you to Vamos village, where you will meet your local guide for a 6 hours off-the-beaten path visit to the traditional olive oil factory and other interesting places of the area, including a visit to to the 14th century Byzantine church. From the infamous Olive oil factory to goat and sheep bells crafting and kri-kri goats running wild, this tour will leave you amazed! You will have your lunch at a traditional restaurant. Through this tour you will have the opportunity to:
- visit an authentic oil press where bio olive oil is produced and learn all the procedures and secrets used in the process of olive oil making,
- taste the real Cretan Graviera cheese, fresh olive oil and other delicacies,
- discover how goat and sheep bells are made, a craft almost extinct in the modern world.
After this tour you will return to your hotel. Enjoy an early evening swim in one of the magnificent beaches located near Chania old town. Ask your driver to take you there. (B, L)
Day 3: Trekking 
Trek along the infamous Samaria Gorge. Samaria gorge, a National Park since 1962, is in UNESCO’s tentative list, a wonder you really have to cross off your to-do list. It is the longest trekking gorge in Europe and also the most famous of all. The length of the gorge reaches 18km and takes almost 5-7 hours to hike from Omalos to Agia Roumeli, depending on trekking speed. After the hike you will have your late lunch at a local tavern and you will be transferred back to your hotel. From Agia Roumeli you will take the boat to Sougia to return to your hotel. Free time and relaxation. (B, L)
Note: This tour is not recommended for those persons who have a history of knee problems, high blood pressure, cardiac and pulmonary problems, pregnant women and for those who suffer from vertigo/fear of heights.
Day 4: Gastronomy
At 10:00 AM you will be transferred to the Botanical park and gardens of Crete for this 4-hour tour. Farm-to-table cooking class with freshly-picked ingredients at the Botanical Park. Cooking is great, but it can get way better when you get to pick with your own hands the ingredients straight from the orchards and the fields. You will learn all about the value of Cretan products and nutrition and you will indulge yourselves in a meal made by you bursting from flavor and freshness. Nearly 20 hectares of land are waiting to welcome you, full of fruit trees from all over the world, herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants in a park different from others, where the land’s formation and the region’s microclimate make it a paradise for hundreds of plants and animals! At the end of this tour you will enjoy your meal at the magnificent patio overseeing the botanical park. (B, L)
Day 5: Nature and Outdoors: Gramvousa and Balos Beach 
At 8:00 AM you will take a luxury coach from your hotel to visit Kissamos port. From Kissamos port you will take the small ferry to visit the amazing Gramvoussa and Balos Beach, both included in the Natura 2000 initiative. Famous for its pink-tinted sand and the many articles listing Balos and Gramvoussa as two of the best beaches one could visit are a few of the many reasons to pay a visit. Free time and relaxation in the evening. (Breakfast and Basket with traditional snacks) (B, L)
Day 6: Vineyard Jeep Safari, wine tasting and departure: At 9:00 AM you will board on the 4X4 Jeep to visit the vineyards of Manousaki winery at the Lefka Ori mountain and then the Manousakis winery.This safari style adventure is coupled with a tour of both old and new wineries and a light lunch including Cretan delicacies such as Apaki, Kalitsounia, Dolmadakia. In the evening you will be transferred to Chania airport for departure to your next destination.
If you have any questions or you’d like to book this trip, please contact us.
Custom itineraries available to this or any of the destinations we travel to.
Please check the Resources page for more information on Travel Insurance, Visa Service and other useful links.
SPECIAL AIRFARES: Kutrubes Travel can assist you with your flight reservations to your destination with all major carriers. We offer special rates through our various airline contracts. Please call us or email us with your proposed travel plans and we will be sure to accommodate you and respond quickly.
Kutrubes Travel also offers a variety of other tours throughout this region. Contact us for detailed itineraries and descriptions.
