ITINERARY CRETE
Day 1 – Depart UK Airport for Flight to Heraklion Airport. Courier Escorted Coach Transfer to Hotel, your base for the duration of Tour. Aghios Nikolaos, a small harbour town with large esplanade, beach, Archaeological and Folk Museums, tree lined avenues, picturesque lake surrounded by Cafes and Restaurants. One of the best shopping centres in Crete – ubiquitous tourist outlets and superior boutiques selling clothes, rugs, leather goods and jewellery. Dinner either at Hotel or pre arranged local Taverna. Alternatively, Clients are free to make their own arrangements.
Day 2 – Mallia Palace, dating from 1700BC and destroyed 1450BC probably by the catastrophic eruption of Santorini (Thera) and the ensuing tsounami. Heraklion Museum, repository of amazing archaeological evidence of the Minoan Palace Civilisation of Crete, including the famous Bull’s Head Rhyton, ivory Bull Leapers and snake entwined Priestesses. Lunch in Heraklion at non tourist family run Taverna. Time to explore the Cretan capital and outdoor markets selling everything from home made BBQs to Turkish antique jewellery. Palace of Knossos, legendary home of King Minos and the Cretan Labrys (Double Headed Axe) which gives us our modern word Labyrinth. The setting for the legendary defeat by Theseus of the Minotaur and the historical venue of the dangerous Bull Leaping and ritualised cannibalism.
Day 3 – Spectacular drive via Gournia (Minoan trading City with Palace Quarters and theatrical area, destroyed by fire, providing evidence of geometric town planning and domestic occupation) through mountain ranges to the volcanic Lassithi Plateau. The floodlit Diktaean Cave is the reputed birthplace of Zeus and the Trapeza Cave an important centre for pilgrimage from its Neolithic occupation to 7C BC. This highly fertile area with natural Sink Hole and eight natural passes has been the focus for rebellion and revolt from ancient times to WW2. The Folk Law Museum charts the family history of a peasant farming family throughout the early years of the last century.
Day 4 – Another spectacular drive via Doric Lato (with threshing floor and remains of rectangular Minoan theatrical area) through the Southern Mountain Range to Bronze Age Aghia Triada. The ‘Summer Place’ is beautifully situated on a hill at the mouth of the Ieropotamos River. Palace of Phaestos – excavation Site of the Disc which aided decipherment of Linear B. Lunch at seaside resort of Matala, overlooked by Cave Dwellings of 1960’s Hippy Colony. Gortyn, Capital of Roman Crete with public Codex, largely unexcavated and set amongst olive groves in the foot hills of Mount Ida.
Day 5 – A choice of Cruises depending upon Season and weather. Private Charter to either Spinalonga (former Leper Colony) or Minoan Mokhlos. Public Cruise to either Santorini (and Akrotiri) - or Kouphonisi (Roman Murex centre).
Day 6 - Journey to Eastern and Southern Crete via Cosmopolitan Sitia (Archaeological and Folk Museums) and Toplou Castle-Monastery. Kato Zakhros Palace, ideally placed in sheltered harbour for trade with Egypt and the Levant, set below the Ravine of the Dead (a Minoan burial area) and above a fresh water estuary. Lunch at beachside Taverna. Paleo Kastro, potentially larger and more important then Knossos, excavations ongoing. Palm fringed beach of Vaii, film location for ‘Bounty’ Adverts.
Day 7 – Journey west along North Coast to visit Venetian Ports of Rethymnion, Khania and the Commonwealth Cemetery at Souda Bay – WW2 burial area of victims of Battle of Crete including Pendlebury, British archaeologist executed for espionage. Evening at Anapolis Village Fiesta.
Day 8 – Visit to a local Olive Oil Farm (wine, olive and food tasting), functioning 150 year old Oil Press and (on Saturdays) participate in grape treading. After Lunch, Courier Escorted Coach Transfer to Heraklion Airport for return Flight to UK Airport.
