Introduction

ACTIVE CRETE's Cultural Holiday offers you the opportunity to relax in one of the most beautiful places of the Mediterranean, dipping into aspects of Cretan life but also having enough time for other activities you choose yourself (swimming in the sea, reading a book by the hotel pool etc).

The holiday encourages guests to enjoy activities like walking in typical Cretan landscape, (optional) cooking some Cretan dishes, learning about the ancient and modern skills of olive oil and wine production and more about the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet; to learn about Crean herbs. It includes a boat trip to the little island of Gramvousa and to the famous Balos beach; it also includes a tour in the unique botanical park & gardens of Crete. All activities are of course optional and will be combined with a little walking in the countryside or by the sea. Swimming, reading, eating out and relaxing are of course other choices in the guests’ free time.

The area of Kissamos where our holiday takes place is part of the European Programme NATURA 2000 which aims to protect its rich natural heritage and to promote eco-tourism.

The accommodation of our guests is in several hotels (depending on the holiday dates), top rated by world famous hotel booking sites. They all have a swimming pool and a garden & they are very near or by the beach.

There are several tavernas near the hotels, top rated by international holiday rating sites, offering excellent local food at prices of 12-18 Euros per person including local wine. There are shops in the nearby Kissamos town.

Dates, Prices and Accommodation

For details about the accommodation please click on its name

Price D : Price per person for two occupants in the twin bedded apartment/room
Price S : Price for a single occupant in the twin bedded apartment/room

25% of the price is payable on booking and the remaining 75% is due 30 days before the holiday.

Payment may also be made in GBP.

Prices include:

• Transfer from/to Chania airport (transfer from/to Heraklion airport can be arranged on request at an additional cost).
  
• 7 nights, shower/WC, hot water, fridge, electric cooker(Cormoranos Apts),  balcony/terrace, free wi fi access
• 7 x Breakfast
• Welcome dinner
  
• Walks with walking Leaders
• Boat trip to Imeri Gramvousa and Balos
  
• Transfer to/from the Botanical Gardens of Crete; entrance fee to the Botanical Gardens.
  

Prices do not include:

Flights, Meals (except dinner on the evening of arrival), tickets to sites or museums, bus tickets, travel insurance, air conditioning which can be used at an extra cost of 10 Euros/day (although usually not necessary in the months of the programme).

Special rates and tailor made holiday dates for group bookings above six people !

Cultural Holiday Programme

Day 1 - Arrival - Welcome meal

• Arrival day. Transfer from Chania airport. Communal evening meal to meet the other participants and introduction to the weekly programme, an opportunity for questions to be answered by the leaders etc.

Day 2 - Kissamos town - Kissamos Museum

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-14:00 approx. : An optional easy walk : ’ Platanaki – Korfalonas - Town of Kissamos’. Enjoy walking leisurely by the sea for about 1.5 hours. Learn about the flowers and plants at the coast. We will spend time in Kissamos for a visit to the local archaeological museum, to ancient Roman sites/ruins, to the main church of the town and shopping. Stay for a coffee, beer or a meal in the picturesque little town. Return to the hotel.
  
• 14:30- ... : Free time to relax, sit on the beach, swim, have lunch, meet up with friends, have dinner  in the nearby tavernas etc.
  

Day 3 - Chania sightseeing- Optional Cretan cookery lesson/meal

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:15-13:00 : We go by public bus to the city of Chania. We walk around the medieval Venetian harbor and visit the Venetian quarter, the jewish quarter, the turkish quarter, the archaeological site of ancient Kydonia and the Byzantine walls. Optional visit to the Synagoge and the naval museum.
  
• 13:00-16:30 : Return to the hotel by public bus and free time to relax, swim, have lunch etc.
• 16:30-22:30 : Optional farm tour and cookery lesson. In the Farmhouse you’ll learn to cook with delicious, locally-sourced ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables, local meats, delectable cheeses, aromatic herbs, and local wines. During the farm tour, you’ll explore the enchanting vegetable garden, free-range chickens and sheep, olive groves, wine cellar, and citrus orchard. You’ll all sit down together to sample the dishes you’ve prepared, accompanied by local wine and traditional sweets. 

Day 4 - Boat trip to Gramvousa and Balos

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-9:30 : Transfer to the harbour of Kissamos by public bus.
• 10:20-13:30 : Boat trip to Imeri Gramvousa and visit to the Venetian Castle.
• 13:30-16:30 : Boat trip to Balos lagoon to swim or sunbathe.
• 16:30-17:30 : Return trip to Kissamos.
• 17:30-18:00 : Transfer to the hotel by public bus.
• 18:00 …: Free time for enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 5 - Free

A free day to rest or do further sightseeing on your own. You could enjoy the famous beach of Falasarna with its ancient archaeological site or Elafonisi, or hire a car to explore further a-field or …

Day 6 - Visit to a traditional Cretan Village - Byzantine history - Wine tasting - Spatha Peninsula

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-14:00 approx.: An easy walk through the olive groves past the Minoan site of Ancient Mythimna and the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios built on the remains of Roman baths and get to the picturesque village of Drapanias for a coffee. Possibility to walk further into the village to see the Venetian  tower and church. Finally we end up at the local winery for a tour and a tasting. There are  around 10 different wines and several Cretan drinks to try from in the wine museum. Return by bus or on foot.
  
• 14:00-17:30 : Free time to relax, meet up with friends, have a swim, have lunch/dinner in the nearby tavernas etc.
• 17:30-19:00 : Optional walk to Spatha Peninsula : We will walk past the open air theater to the little chapel  of  Panagia Myrtidiotisa in Nopigia and then further up to a little hill on Spatha peninsula. The blue sea is always beside us. We will encounter only a few sheep and goats and enjoy great views towards the  Gramvousa peninsula  across  Kissamos bay, with the Spatha mountain on our right. 
• 19:00... : Free time to relax, have dinner  in the nearby tavernas etc.

Day 7 - Greek orthodox Monastery - Botanical gardens

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00 - 12:00 : We go by public bus to Kolymbari and visit the famous Greek Orthodox Gonia Monastery
  
• 12:00-16:00 : Free time to relax, swim, have lunch etc.
• 16:00-19:30 : Transport arranged to visit the Botanical Gardens of Chania which contain a huge variety of plants and trees including the many endemic and aromatic Cretan herbs (http://www.botanical-park.com/).
  
• 19:30- ... : Free time to relax, have dinner  in the nearby tavernas etc.
  

Day 8  - Departure

Departure day. Transfer to Chania airport.

What to bring with you

Swimming costume, sun glasses, sun hat, sun cream. 

Additional Information

The optional Cretan cookery lesson & meal costs 80 Euros per person.

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