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5 Day Crete Tour
offered by supplier M19330 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 5
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Greece
Specialty Categories:
Archeology/History
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1600 Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1600 Canadian Dollar (CAD)
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Your Itinerary:
Day 1: You arrive in Crete and settle into your hotel in Rethymno. People have been living here since Minoan times. The day is free. Wander through the old quarter, bustling streets that display the architectural influences of the Venetians and Ottomans. Or go to the beaches west of the city. Perhaps you would prefer to while the time away in one of the seaside bars looking out on the harbor. In the evening eat in a traditional Cretan restaurant, perhaps grilled lamb cutlet flavored with lemon and olive oil (Arnaki psito).
Day 2: After breakfast drive inland and southwards, through the Amari Valley, past olive groves, shrines, monasteries, and dramatic landscapes. Stop at Thronos to see the Church of the Panagia and again at Amari, to see some of the oldest mosaics and frescoes. By the mid-morning you will arrive in Gorty's, where you will have an opportunity to explore the ruins that are mostly post-Minoan, Hellenistic, and Roman. Continue on to Matala, where you stay the night. Take the afternoon to lie on the beach at Kommos, just to the north of Matala and in the evening you have an opportunity to enjoy the boisterous nightlife of the city.
Day 3: The bulk of the day is spent at the Minoan ruins of Phaestos. These ruins are of two civilizations built one on top of the other. Despite the confusion they are among the most important Minoan archaeological sites in the Greek Islands. Take a guided tour of the site. In the late afternoon travel northwards to Irakleio and your hotel, where you will stay for the remainder of the tour. Dinner in a local tavern will bring you in contact with the local people. We suggest you try a bottle of Mandilari, a deep colored red wine produced in the vineyards overlooking the city.
Day 4: Today you spend the morning at the Archaeological Museum in Irakleio, where you can see iconic artifacts, that many of us recognize immediately; the Minoan Snake Goddess, the Octopus Vase, and the Bull Head to name a few. In the afternoon there is free time to spend at beaches close by or tavernas that are always at hand. If you go to the beach you will stop at Fodele, the birthplace of El Greco ("The Greek"), and see his house.
Day 5: This morning you travel to the most important Bronze Age Minoan ruins on the island, the Palace of Knosos. It will take you the entire day to walk the ruins, to see the frescoes, shrines, the throne room, and the Royal Apartments. The Greek legend says that the famous labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur was underneath the palace. Thankfully for everyone Theseus slew the half-man, half-bull creature. Tonight eat at a Taverna in Irakleio, perhaps entertained by traditional Greek dancers. Later pack to return home.
Optional: Substitute a day of hiking up Mount Ida. You drive to Anogeia and hike from there to the Nida Plateau, where we you can lunch at a local Taverna. Following a ‘light lunch' continue upwards to the Idaian Cave, where Zeus was reared by Rhea. This was an important pilgrimage site during Classical times, but in fact had been used by successive religion activity since the beginning of the Neolithic era. Once leaving the cave continue to the summit of Mount Ida.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 4 star Hotel
- Transportation
- Guide
- Museum fees.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Greece
History Whiz
Archeology/History
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