Explore the Untouched Crete with a tour butler

8 day Flavours and hiking trails of Mythical Crete

Day 1 – Trip orientation and Welcome Dinner

Airport meet and greet and private transfer service to the hotel in the heart of Heraklio. Settle in and if you wish to, take a explorational short stroll around the Old Town, to make a first acquaintance with Crete’s harbor capital, the bustling Mediterranean metropolis of Heraklion. When everyone is refreshed and ready, we head for a welcome cocktail and trip briefing followed by a welcome dinner at one of the best seafood restaurants of the area.

Day2 - Minotaur’s lair, wine thieves and a feast with the locals

This morning is dedicated to archaeology and mythology. With your tour butler, an expert of history and art you will explore Knossos, the famed Minoan palace of the legendary Minos King. With more than 1,200 rooms, several of which are Fresco painted, Knossos is the most impressive palace of Bonze Age in Crete, due to the large-scale restoration executed and personally funded by the excavator Sir Arthur Evans in the 1920s. Onwards, a short drive into the island’s less known interior will be a first-class opportunity to explore a colorful canvas of gentle slopes covered with olive groves, vineyards and flowers. In one of the best wineries of Crete, you will be introduced to both ancient local, as well as fairly recently introduced international varietals, in an intimate tasting that will be hosted by the winemaker himself in the cellar. Discover the up and coming peachy Vidiano and the unique, herbaceous Dafni. Taste the untamed local red Mandilari and Crete’s Pinot, Liatiko, cultivated here for centuries. Allow yourself to be surprised by the unexpected expressions of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon , in single varietals and blends. Don’ t look surprised if a wine thief shows up to steal wine straight from the barrel, for you to nose-witness the evolution in oak, as barrel-tasting is the name of the game! And the day is not over yet! In the vicinity of the winery, you will enjoy an intimate lunch hosted by a local family, in a typical stone-built olive-farm house. Your tour butler will be happy to take you around the grove and share with you all the secrets of the cultivation and production of extra virgin olive-oil. Dish of the day, the famous all over Crete karpico. Evening spent at leisure, exploring the numerous attractions of the Old Town, dinner on your own, if you have room for more food..

Day 3 - Optional sunrise hike, a superb Museum, the Mousaka of your life, Kapetaniana & hike to the vultures’ nests

An easy 90-minute hike to watch the sun rise over Heraklio, from the summit of the impressive pyramid-shaped neighboring mount Stroumboulas, is an option for the early birds of the group. We will return to the hotel for breakfast and on to the spectacular, fully renovated and fairly recently re- opened Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Next, we cross the island North to South, to our final destination, the small historic village of Kapetaniana. En route you will have the opportunity to cook your lunch and feast on the fruits of your labor, in a quaint private spot overlooking olive groves, vineyards and the Sea of Crete at a distance. Under the friendly supervision of the lady of the house, you will learn how to cook the most iconic of Cretan dishes “Cochlii Boubouristoi”. But we do not expect you to fill up on snails, this is why Maria will teach you how to make the “Mousaka” of your life, the delicious Cretan version of the famous Greek-Mediterranean dish. After lunch we drive to Kapetaniana, where we will be spending the next three nights. Upon arrival, we gear up and take the trail up the rocky slopes of Mt. Kofinas for magnificent Libyan Sea views. Don’t be surprised if a group of massive scavengers with a wing-span of up to 9 feet is waiting round the corner, as this is serious vulture land! We hike back down to Kapetaniana and enjoy the early evening at leisure. Join us for an epic dinner by the fire in the main hall.

Day 4 - Hike the hermits’s trail, Koudoumas Monastery, Eligia beach, St. Anthony’s cave feast

The deserted beach of Eligia is the starting point for our hike to Koudoumas, a ancient seaside monastery at the mouth of the imposing Koudoumas Gorge. The opportunity to swim in the crystal clear waters, just outside the monastery’s walls, should not be missed out on! On the way back, we detour to the huge cave of St. Anthony, spiritual leader of the hermits, who over a millennium ago, chose to live an ascetic life of isolation and prayer in numerous caverns along the southern coastline. They were sleeping in rock-cut beds and surviving on stalactite water they collected drop by drop, in the same caves that were used by Minoans as sanctuaries 4000 years ago. We’ll be here just in time to watch how “Antikrysto” is prepared, an ancient dish decribed in the Iliad by Homer and while feasting on new heavenly flavors, we’ll enjoy the privilege of being exposed to the sounds of “lyra” and “askomantoura” (Cretan back-pipe) played for us inside the cave by some of the best musicians on the island. We will enjoy the energy and mystical atmosphere of this location, then return on foot to Eligia back to our vehicles and return to Kapetaniana.

Day 5 - We collect natural sea salt and marinate fish

A short jeep ride down a winding dirt road offering sweeping views of the Libyan Sea takes us to the small waterfront village of Agios Ioannis, which got its name from the homonymous, now abandoned monastery of St.John, the only one of its kind, with its façade decorated with 15th century fresco paintings. The small church of St. John is actually inside a cave and it’s built on what used to be a sanctuary dedicated to Asklepius. This is the starting point for our rugged hike into the remote Salamias Gorge, with its wild-growing olive trees and secluded beach accessible only on foot or by boat. The gorge is one of the earliest inhabited areas in Crete, dating 8.000 years back. The Italian word “Salare” (to salt) gave its name to Salamias. Like the locals do, we will collect sea salt here, that we will use later to marinate anchovies. Hike back to the small waterfront village of Aghios Ioannis, to meet Aspasia, who will teach us how to prepare this very much appreciated delicacy. Enjoy a generous lunch at her waterfront café and swim in the beautiful clear water of the serene beach . When ready we return to Kapetaniana.

If you wish to, you can join the tour butler before dinner, a private hall by the fire, for a comprehensive presentation of ‘Crete: History throughout the ages’.

Day 6 - Ancient Gortyn, Armenoi Minoan Nekropolis, a Fyllopastry workshop in Rethymno, Chania

It’s a bittersweet feeling to leave this beautiful rugged county, but the most ambient towns of Crete await.  We’ll find ourselves driving North again, stopping en route to visit Gortyn, the most important city-state of Crete in Greek-Roman times. Admire the remnants of the huge 6th century Basilica of St.Titus, first bishop of Crete and patron of the island, the Roman Odeon and Gortyn’s highlight, the ‘Queen ofInscriptions’ Europe’s earliest Law Codex carved on a stone wall 50 ft. long! We continue North to the the late Minoan cemetery of Armenoi. Descent into one of the largest tombs, where your guide will present Bronze Age burial customs. Lunch will be offered in a 400 year-old Venetian Mansion, now housing an intimate tavern. We will have some free-time to walk around the cute little town of Rethymno, the best preserved Old Town of Crete, featuring hundreds of Renaissance Mansions, churches, mosques with minarets and fountains. Before we depart for Chania, we will pay a visit to the most renowned family-run fyllo-pastry workshop for a demonstration. The experienced master will make some fyllo sheets for us and the lady of the house will take us behind the scenes for a special treat, Late afternoon we will arrive to Chania (Hania) known for its 14th century Venetian harbor and waterfront restaurants. We will take some time to settle in, then explore the city, including a visit to the market. The evening is at your leisure, since the next day is the long Aradena hike and you should rest accordingly. We will be happy to make recommendations for dinner spots, depending on how fancy or local you want to go.

Day 7 - Aradena Gorge, enchanting Loutro Bay and a War Museum

A really scenic drive into the White Mountains will take us to Sfakia, a beautiful rugged country known throughout the centuries for the untamed nature of its people. “Crete has many farangia (gorges) , but only one “farangas, -a great gorge” Sfakians say, when they talk about the Aradena Gorge. At the homonymous settlement, starting point of tour hike, we will be exposed to a true open-air museum of local architecture. Stone-built abandoned houses with beautiful clay colored walls, arches and cobblestone yards and all around walnut and mulberry trees and prickly pear cacti compose a perfect setting. Dominating the area, a 200 ft long metal bridge that connects the two sides of the gorge since 1987. Throughout the summer Greeks and travellers put their courage to the test, and bungee from a staggering 450 ft elevation into the gorge below! Gear up, take a deep breath and begin. Terrain is a sign-posted trail that descents down to the sea. Your guide, an avid hiker and history expert, will inform you about the numerous species of flora and fauna as well as Aradena’s importance in Cretan history. Reaching the sea, you will be rewarded with crystal clear water in the small gorgeous pebbly beach of Marmara. Feel free to jump in the water and explore the numerous pebbles with rock colors of exquisite beauty. Our hike is not over though... Another 90 mins is what it takes to get to Loutro, a tiny, serene fishing harbor accessible only by boat or on foot . Here we will enjoy a generous lunch in an waterfront tavern, and use the opportunity to go in the water again. On the way back to Chania, we will stop at Askyfou, and hosted by the owner, we will see the best private collection of World War 2 exhibits and learn about the contribution of Crete and how it changed the course of the war. At the end of this long, perfect day, we will continue back to Chania, for a leisurely spent evening.

Day 8 - Sail to Heaven–Balos Beach and Gramvoussa

Sunset Farewell Dinner

After your brave performance in the gorge you deserve a day of leisure. And there is nothing better than spending this morning on the water. Embark a privately chartered motor-yacht and cruise from the Venetian Harbor to one of the most photographed beaches in Europe, the jaw-dropping Balos. En route, stop at Gramboussa, a rock defended terrace by an impressive 16th century Venetian Fortress. Your reward, should you decide to hike to the top is a phenomenal 360 view. Return to the boat and continue to Balos. Words can’t do justice to the colors and images of this perfect spot. Lie in the sun, swim, enjoy a glass of wine, while a delicious lunch is being prepared onboard. Cruise back to Chania in the early afternoon, take some time to relax and explore the shopping district. Our Farewell dinner will be offered at sunset, in one of the best seafood restaurantsin Crete.