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Imagine enthralling natural beauty, rich heritage, and world-famous gastronomy – this is Crete, the most beautiful island in the southern Aegean Sea. And you can savor the tastes of Greece’s most authentic island in just six days while discovering its unique historical and cultural sites. Visit Chania, the most picturesque town of Crete, along with Elounda, a charming village with some of the best resorts on the island. On this escape to Crete, your itinerary is custom-tailored to the tastes of your private party. While considering dates, keep in mind that temperatures drop during spring and fall, and you may have the beaches all to yourself. The number of visitors increases during July and August, but this is also the peak period for the scintillating nightlife
Upon arrival at Athens International Airport, you will connect to your domestic flight to Chania. Enjoy your first day with a short stroll around the Old Town and have dinner overlooking the Venetian Port.
Hotel: Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection
After breakfast, we will take you on an unforgettable tour of the town, visiting sites that include the Archaeological Museum, the Venetian fortifications, the Arsenals, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the Etz Hayim Synagogue, and the Turkish quarters behind the inner harbor. This informal tour also reveals plenty of hidden spots off the beaten track, that reflect the eclectic mix of influences that has given Chania its unique atmosphere. You understand how the city's multilayered history has unfolded over the years.
Hotel: Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection
After an early breakfast, we are off on a one-hour drive through the countryside and up the White Mountains to the plateau of Omalos, the starting point of the 10-mile-long Samaria Gorge. We take an easy guided hike into the gorge, before driving south to the coastal village of Sougia by the Libyan Sea. Here, you can relax alongside the crystal-clear waters, take a seat on the patio of a waterfront café or go for another hike to the hidden archaeological site of Lissos before returning to the hotel with your private driver.
Hotel: Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection
Today, we leave Chania and head to Elounda, visiting the Minoan Palace of Knossos along the way. The palace is one of the must-see archaeological sites in Greece, presenting visitors with a rare glimpse into Minoan civilization. Accompanied by your guide, you will walk through the ruins and excavations of this vast ancient palace and learn about the Greek mythology that is linked to the site. After the tour, continue to your hotel in Elounda and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Hotel: Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete
Today we visit the working farm of a shepherd, located on a wild landscape of extraordinary beauty, once the site of a Minoan settlement. You have a chance to milk a goat in the paddock and participate in traditional cheese-making. You can then pair this cheese with the shepherd’s homemade raki, a clear brandy made with grapes and anise. You will then enjoy a glass of wine watching the sunset, to the accompaniment of Cretan traditional music.
Hotel: Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete
This morning check out of your hotel in Elounda and head to Heraklion airport with your private driver ahead of your flight back to Athens, and connection homeward-bound.