Captivating Crete

Day 1 - UK - Heraklion - Hersonissos

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Heraklion. On arrival, we transfer to Hersonissos.

Day 2 - Heraklion

Our Crete tour kicks off with a trip to Heraklion. The dynamic capital of the island is the fifth largest city in Greece. Its inner harbour is guarded by the well-preserved Venetian fortress of Rocca al Mare and the bustling city has a rich cultural history, some of which can be seen in the Archaeological Museum. After a guided tour, it’s a delight to explore its streets of cafés and small shops.

Day 3 - Lasithi Plateau

We journey to the Lasithi Plateau, famous for its centuries-old, white-sailed windmills. Our first stop is Avdou where we’ll visit an olive oil mill to see how olive oil is made before tasting the final product. Then it’s on to the monastery of Panagia Kera for a guided visit, before visiting Tzermiado, one of the prettiest villages on the whole plateau. Heading back we’ll stop for coffee and to stretch our legs at Krasi, an old mountain village whose central square boasts famous stone fountains and a plane tree thought to be 2,400 years old.

Day 4 - Hersonissos

The island of Crete is well known for its ancient Minoan past and the power of this civilisation is illustrated on an optional visit to the Palace of Knossos. Visit the vast Minoan Palace, believed to be more than 4,000 years old. The complex has a number of buildings on four levels and most of what remains belongs to those built after 1700 BC. In Greek mythology, it is said that the Palace was the home of King Minos, whose wife bore the Minotaur who was imprisoned within the labyrinth and slain by Theseus.

Day 5 - Hersonissos

Our holidays in Crete also have some leisure time. Today you can relax on Hersonissos’ small sandy beaches, enjoy excellent shopping facilities, and sightseeing boat trips. The main centre has plenty of relaxing cafés and Greek tavernas from where you can watch the world go by. Or learn more about Crete’s folk traditions and culture at Lychnostatis Open Air Museum.

Day 6 - West Crete

The wild and rugged landscape of western Crete, including snow-capped mountains, delightful villages and beautiful coastlines, are highlighted on today’s excursion. We visit Chania for a guided tour, the former capital, known as the ‘Little Venice’ of Crete is home to a street devoted almost entirely to leather goods. There’s also a beautiful Venetian harbour, which was the location for some of the scenes from the film Zorba the Greek. We continue to Rethymnon, Crete’s third-largest town, on the north coast. Known as the ‘City of Scholars’, the old part of the town has numerous Venetian palazzos, Turkish houses with wooden balconies and a number of small 18th-century mosques. After a tour, there’ll be free time to wander the old streets of the town, or perhaps spend time in a harbourside coffee bar.

Day 7 - Hersonissos

There’s more time today to relax in your surroundings, or perhaps join an optional excursion to visit the island of Spinalonga. The island has had a varied past, from Venetian rule in the 16th century to the setting for a leper colony four centuries later - a subject covered in Victoria Hislop’s 2005 novel ‘The Island’. It’s now an uninhabited island skirted with small pebble beaches.

Day 8 - Hersonissos - Heraklion - UK

As your Crete holiday comes to an end, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.