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Crete Location Tour

8 days - Flight - from /to Heraklion or Chania

Overnight stays
7x in the Heraklion area

  1. Day 1 Arrival Heraklion

    Arrival at the airport in Heraklion, the capital of Crete. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in the Heraklion area.

  2. Day 2 Knossos - Peza wine and olive oil tasting - tour of Heraklion

    Today you will visit the archaeological site of Knossos. You will visit the excavations of the Minoan palace complex. Afterwards you will drive to Peza. Here you can taste the typical Cretan wine and the excellent Cretan olive oil. Then drive to Heraklion, the largest city in Crete and seat of the island’s archbishopric. You will take here a walking tour through the history of the Venetian period, such as the Morosini Fountain, the Agios Markus Basilica, the Loggia and the Goules harbor fort. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to stroll through the capital of the island and visit the archaeological museum of Heraklion. Drive back to the hotel. Overnight stay in the Heraklion area.

  3. Day 3 East Crete (Gournia - Toplou - Vai - Sitia)

    Today’s drive takes you to the east of Crete - to the Lassithi district. You will make a photo stop at the excavation site in Gournia. Continue to Toplou. The predominant elements here are: the solitude, the wild nature with the scent of its bushes and the craggy rocks. You will visit the monastery fortress of Toplou, which served as a secret school throughout the Turkish rulership and was one of the richest monasteries in Crete. Then drive to Vai, the only one palm beach in Europe. Here you have the opportunity to swim. On the way back to the hotel, drive to the charming town of Sitia, the most eastern town in Crete. Myson, one of the seven sages of antiquity, is said, that he had come from Sitia. Overnight stay in the Heraklion area.

  4. Day 4 South Crete (Gortys - Titus Basilica - Festos - Matala)

    Excursion to the scenically impressive Messara plain to Gortys. Visit to the Odeion with the first carved Doric legal code (around 500 BC). Gortys was one of the first towns in Crete to accept Christianity and where the first Christian churches were built. You will visit the remains of the Basilica of Titus. Continue to the ruins and visit the Minoan palace complex of Festos situated on a hill with beautiful views. Continue to the coast of the Libyan Sea and visit the fishing village of Matala. Overnight in Hersonissos near Heraklion. Overnight stay in the Heraklion area.

  5. Day 5 at your free disposal

    At your free disposal. Overnight stay in the Heraklion area.

  6. Day 6 Agios Nikolaos - Spinalonga Island

    Today you will drive to the beautiful harbor town of Agios Nikolaos. Afterwards, a boat will take you to the small stone island of Spinalonga. It is located about 12 km from Agios Nikolaos, at the entrance to Elounda Bay. In ancient times, the acropolis of the mighty city of Olounda is said to have stood here. Excavations have also uncovered the foundation walls of a Byzantine Basilica with ornate mosaic floors. The island was under Venetian rulership until 1715. Then the Turk, Kapoudan Pasha, made Spinalonga his own and settled here. Later, lepers who had been banished found refuge on the small island. Return to the hotel. Part of the afternoon is at your free disosal. Overnight stay in the Heraklion area.

  7. Day 7 West Crete (Fodele - Arkadi - Rethymnon)

    Today’s drive takes you into a valley with orange and lemon trees as well as plane trees. Not far from the village of Fodele, where the famous painter El Greco was born in 1545, is the El Greco Museum. There you can see copies and photos of his works. The journey continues to Arkadi. Here you will find the most famous and historically most important monastery in Crete. The fortress-like Arkadi Monastery developed into a rallying point for the rebels during the occupation. Today, the symbol of Cretan love of freedom is a protected monument. Then drive to the picturesque town of Rethymnon, which enchants you with its flair from the Venetian and Turkish periods. Overnight stay in the Heraklion area.

  8. Day 8 Return journey

    Transfer to Heraklion airport. Return flight home.