DISCOVER CRETE
Updated: Apr 6, 2023
I am a water person. Which means I am beyond excited to present to you this water focused trip to Crete. We will enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters on a boat trip and simply lounging on the beach. We will explore ancient ruins and small villages. Plus partake in wine tasting, a traditional dinner with entertainment and a bakery workshop. Let's get to the details shall we?
PLEASE NOTE: UP-TO-DATE COVID VACCINES ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP
We specialize in tours for adults only. We take you away from your everyday world and the necessary distractions of family life.
Saturday, August 26th - Saturday, September 2nd 2023
8 Days 7 Nights
$1,880 per person
Only 10 spots available
Start Location-Heraklion, Greece
Finish Location-Chania, Greece
There is an airport in both the start and ending location. You can also take a ferry to both locations from Athens.
INCLUDED
Hotels 4 nights, Guesthouse 3 nights, Twin Share
Meals- 7 Breakfasts, 1 Dinner
Transportation- Public bus, Private vehicle, Boat, & on foot
Leader/Guide-1 English speaking tour leader throughout
Local guides as outlined below
Included Activities-Refer to the day by day itinerary below.
Entrance/ Admission Fees- Where applicable with included activities
ALSO INCLUDED
The piece of mind knowing that all the logistics of your specially curated trip are already taken care of and any issues that may arise will be handled swiftly by the guide, Melissa, or Wade which will provide you with a worry-free adventure!
NOT INCLUDED
International airport departure tax
Airfare to and from Greece
Airport Transfers- Arrival transfer is NOT included. Departure transfer is NOT included.
Any visas required
Services not mentioned in the itinerary
Late check out at hotels
Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
Drinks with included lunches and dinners
Tips for leaders, guide and driver
Expenditures of personal nature
Required Personal Insurance
Optional activities
IMPORTANT NOTES - Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability. Therefore, quoted rates might change accordingly. Travel insurance is required.
“Melissa and Wade are, for lack of a better word, awesome! Their trip perfectly balanced the line of once-in-a-lifetime and affordable.They are so welcoming, by the time the trip ends they are like family. I look forward to more trips in the future!”Amber
Day 1 / Date: August 26th 2023
Destination: Heraklion, Greece
Meals included: None
Welcome to Crete! Greece’s largest island delights with clear waters, charming villages and a tangible history. Today is a free day to settle in and get to know the area. There are optional activities you can partake in including island trips, visits to caves, food tours and more. We recommend you book these with Get Your Guide.
Accommodation: Kastro Hotel (Standard room) or similar
Day 2 / Date August 27, 2023
Destination: Heraklion, Greece
Meals Included: Breakfast
If you didn’t have a chance to go exploring yesterday then why not do so today? The only thing on your itinerary is a 6 pm welcome meeting where you will meet your local leader and fellow travelers. After the group meeting, get your bearings around the capital with a leader-led orientation walk of Heraklion, after head out for an optional group dinner.
Special Information - It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let me know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Accommodation Kastro Hotel (Standard room) or similar
“As a senior single woman, I felt safe and protected traveling with Melissa and Wade” Jacqui
Day 3 / Date: August 28, 2023
Destination: Knossos / Agios Ioannis
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we head out of the city to the renowned archaeological site of Knossos, considered to be one of Europe’s oldest cities. Explore the ruins with your leader and soak in hundreds and thousands of years of history within its walls.
Then it’s time to check out some quiet corners of Crete – continue to the tiny coastal town of Chora Sfakion (sometimes referred to as Sfakia) and the historic village of Anopolis for some short stops. We then carry on to Aradaina, teetering on the edge of a gorge, and learn about the history of this dramatic area. You will also take time to taste one of Crete’s most celebrated commodities during a visit to a nearby winery for a wine tasting.
Your final stop for the day is the delightful village of Agios Ioannis, nestled into the foothills of the White Mountains. Your well-earned dinner this evening will be a lively affair – feast on local specialties accompanied by a wonderful live performance of traditional music, a perfect introduction to village life in Crete. Spend the night in a traditional guesthouse.
Included Activities:
Knossos - Archaeological Site
Agios Ioannis - Village Visits, Wine Tasting, Dinner and Live Music Evening
Special Information: To bring you today’s activities, we’ve partnered with MEET, a non-profit organization which supports local providers in national parks throughout the Mediterranean by giving them the tools to develop community-based ecotourism projects. This partnership gives you the opportunity to visit these protected places in an authentic and sustainable way.
Accommodation: Agios Ioannis Guesthouse (Standard room) or similar
Day 4 / Date: August 29, 2023
Destination: South Coast / Sougia
Meals included: Breakfast
Bid farewell to Agios Ioannis and drive back to Chora Sfakion where you’ll board our private boat along Crete's stunning south coast to the village of Sougia. This is Crete at its very best – an undiscovered sweep of beach overlooked by brooding mountains. It’s almost too pretty to believe, but believe it, you’re here!
Upon arrival in Sougia the afternoon is yours to spend at leisure, and it’s certainly not hard to find something amazing to do. You may like to explore one of the coastal trails, take a swim in the warm waters,or just lay back on the beach and let life tick along around you with a drink in hand.
Included Activities: Chora Sfakion - Coastal Boat Ride
Accommodation: Sougia Apartments (Standard room) or similar
“Wade and Melissa are warm and inviting. They are so easygoing and personable it's impossible not to like them! We showed up as 16 strangers and left friends!" Maureen
Day 5 / Date: August 30, 2023
Destination: Agia Irini Gorge / Sougia
Meals included: Breakfast
Rise early and board a local bus bound for the Agia Irini Gorge, carved through the west side of the White Mountains. Set off on a shady hike through the gorge as your leader shares stories of the area’s historical past and how it once hid Greek rebels during the Turkish Occupation. The hike is expected to take around three hours and you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views along the way, plus the chance to spot the unique flora and fauna of the region, including endangered Cretan wild goats, cypress, pine, and dittany trees. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you please in Sougia.
Included Activities Sougia - Agia Irini Gorge Hike
Special Information: Today's hike is about 8km / 3 hours. It isn't particularly strenuous, however please note that the surface varies between well worn forest paths to gravel and loose rocks. There are multiple uphill and downhill sections. Please speak to your leader for more details if you have any concerns, and you can always opt out if you prefer to explore Sougia's surrounds instead, or have a leisurely day on the beach.
Accommodation:Sougia Apartments (Standard room) or similar
Day 6 / Date: August 31, 2023
Destination: Chania
Meals included: Breakfast
Say goodbye to Sougia this morning and catch a local bus to Chania. Beachside, colorful and full of culture, Chania is definitely a traveler’s favorite. On arrival, get a feel for the place during an orientation walk with your leader. The rest of the afternoon is free for your own explorations in Chania. Perhaps take a walk through the city markets, the Ottoman neighborhood and Jewish quarter, passing by the workshops of traditional artisans. The town is also bursting with excellent restaurants, so be sure to ask your leader for dinner recommendations this evening.
Accommodation: Morum City Hotel Chania (Standard room) or similar
Day 7 / Date: September 1, 2023
Destination: Chania
Meals included: Breakfast
Start the day with a ‘kalitsounia’ workshop and experience firsthand how one of the most famous Cretanpastries is made. Kalitsounia is commonly served as an appetizer or for breakfast and you can choose your fillings according to your taste: Cretan ‘mizithra’ or ‘anthotyro’ cheese, legendary Cretan greens or choose a sweet filling instead. It’s tasty, nutritious and you can take them with you to enjoy later in the day.
Enjoy some free time at leisure in Chania, perhaps taking the time to visit any spots you may have missed yesterday, or simply sitting back with a coffee and watching the locals go about their business.
You can use Get Your Guide to add some things to do in Chania but be aware of the time you have.
Included Activities Chania - Kalitsounia Bakery Workshop
Accommodation: Morum City Hotel Chania (Standard room) or similar
Day 8 / Date: September 2, 2023
Destination: Chania
Meals included: Breakfast
With no activities scheduled for the day, your planned adventure on Crete comes to an end after breakfast this morning.
If you wish to extend your adventure, consider adding our Greece Land trip of 8 days which starts from Athens. You can take a ferry from the end location of Chania to Athens where the trip starts the next day. You will need to add an additional night of accommodation in either Chania for $165 or Athens for $130 plus your ferry expense.
The cost for the Crete only trip is $1,880 per person
A deposit of $500 per person is due to secure your spot.
“You will never find a better group to travel with than this one! An experience of a lifetime!!!!🥰” Lisa
Payment schedule is as follows:
9/26/22 25% of remaining balance
2/1/23 25% of remaining balance
5/15/23 final balance due
I accept PayPal, Venmo or I can send an invoice that you can pay with a credit card or ACH but there is a 3.5% fee for the invoice.
My PayPal is melissanance@yahoo.com and I ask that you please select sending to a friend or someone you trust so a fee is not deducted or add 4% to cover the fee.
My Venmo is Melissa-nance-19
Or if you want an invoice please just let me know. Note there is a 3.5% fee.
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
Should you cancel no more than 30 days after making your deposit you get a 100% refund minus a $150 admin fee.
Should you cancel between 30 days of booking to 180 days before the trip you will get a 50% refund minus the $150 admin fee.
Once we are within 180 days of the trip starting there are no refunds.
Note-should you find someone to fill your spot I can transfer your balance to them minus the $150 fee. Should you become sick or have other issues it’s highly likely the required travel insurance would kick in and reimburse you so be sure and check with your provider.
Please note proof of current COVID vaccination is required and one will be expected to adhere to any local mask mandates in the areas we are traveling.
Travel insurance is required for all travelers. We use and recommend World Nomads. Over 70 or want an additional quote? Check out Insure My Trip.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
AIRFARE is not included.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me at pennypinchingglobetrotter@yahoo.com
We hope to travel with you soon!
Melissa & Wade