Start the engine... Crete is ready to reveal its very soul!
overs of nature and every adventure, the jeep safari awaits you!
Drive through the Cretan wilderness on roads lined with centenary olive trees and orange groves. This route will take you to some of the remotest villages of the island, where life is still regulated by the alternating seasons and the chores they are related to: collection of olives and oranges, distillation of the raki {Cretan spirit) and so on. A number of stops will enable you to take pictures of the surroundings and indulge in the exhilarating fragrances of rosemary, thyme, wild mint and sage. Depending on the season, you may also have the chance to witness the wild blossoming of rose oleanders along the tracks. At midday the expedition will enjoy a longer break at a fishing village, where you can have lunch, relax and swim in the crystalline waters of the Libyan Sea. Before starting off again -towards the roughest and inaccessible side of the mountains, where your guide will introduce you to a world of ancient, miraculously preserved churches, situated amidst wild olive groves and decorated with precious icons- you are in for a surprise: the tavern-keeper will present you with a small pot of honey or a bottle of tsikoudia from his very own production.
During the second part of the excursion, you will stop on several mountain tops and plateaus. This truly initiatory journey into the Cretan soul will leave you with indelible memories and will make you feel like you actually touched with your own fingertips the heart of the place where mighty Zeus was born!
In search of unexpected treasures...
he goal of this game, played among friends, is to spend a day in an exciting and entertaining way. Anyone can participate, in groups of 2-4 persons. Each team will be given a 4x4 jeep for the rides necessary to the trials, which will give them the opportunity to cross the Cretan countryside in search of the various indications.
Each trial will give certain points, and the team which will manage to achieve the highest score will be the winner, in the course of the game there is a planned stop for a glass of tsikoudia and some local mezes. At the end of the day a special ceremony for the award of the trophy will take place. This treasure hunt not only offers the participants a day full of fun and excitement, but also makes for an experience they will never forget.
Breathe nature in!
et us discover the Cretan countryside, following small roads and tracks lined with olive and orange trees... taking our time to cool off and make acquaintances in these small villages forsaken by time amid the celebration of nature. Then, with our calves a bit burning and our lungs filled with fresh air, we will have a break in the shade of some century-old trees for a well-deserved picnic. After this refreshing stop, we will start on our way back, all the time making the most of the marvellous landscapes that will keep us spellbound forever. The various aspects of the beauty of this excursion will be caught in the pictures taken, one by each participant. (Each participant will be provided with one camera before we leave in the morning.) The best picture will be awarded a prize at the end of the day!
Abandon life on the surface and join us into the submarine world of the Cretan Sea...
or a whole day, explore the beauty of the marine depths and get to know their inhabitants. Embark on board the Atlantis, which will take you to the diving site, where you will find everything necessary for a safe dive. This excursion pertains to both experienced divers and beginners, who, after listening to their trainer's introduction in the morning, will be able to
perform their 'maiden' dive in the afternoon and enjoy a visit to the marvellous sea gardens already sanctified
centuries ago by the Minoans.
The Samaria Gorge, the Longest ravine in Europe, is one of the most sensational and spectacular experiences of this island
eparture to Chora Sfakion. On the way short stop at Imvros, deep inside the White Mountains,
tor a glass of tsikoudia and a variety of local delicatessen (cheese and pies). From Chora
Sfakion we will sail to Aghia Roumeli, on the southernmost edge of the gorge, on the coast of
the Libyan Sea. From there, those wishing to walk can reach within 1 hour the astonishing Iron
Gates, the narrowest pass of the whole ravine. Free time for lunch and swimming in the crystalline waters,
then return to Chora Sfakion, where the bus will be waiting to take us back to the hotel. For the devoted
hikers, we recommend the crossing of the entire gorge (18 km.), with its incomparable beauty and unique
variety of landscapes.
Santorini: an island... a legend
ho has never dreamt of sailing on the Aegean Sea or visiting the islands of the Cyclades with their paved, flowered alleys? Here is a one-day cruise to the volcanic island of Santorini. The boat stops at the port of Fira, from where we will reach the main town by telpher. The island is made of different layers of lava mixed with sand and soil, breathtaking red-and-black
precipices on top of which rest the picturesque villages with their blue-white houses and almost as many
churches. Some people go as far as to identify this inconceivable beauty as the legendary Atlantis.
A walk along the lovely, narrow streets will take us to a selected restaurant with a panoramic view on the
Caldera. Lunch of local specialities and free time for shopping.
Departure in the afternoon. Dinner on board during the return trip (the boat is scheduled to arrive at the port
of Heraclion at 9 pm).
Spinalonga island, the little jewel of the Mirabello Bay
t Etounda you will embark on a small boat for crossing the Spinaionga strait. If the sea should be dead calm, you will have the chance to observe, just a few metres below the surface, the ruins of the ancient city Olous, submerged at the end of the 19th century as a result of ground subsidence. This guided tour will take you all along the Mirabello coast to an isolated bight for swimming in the crystal-clear waters. A refreshing aperitif will be served on board. Then, lunch in a selected tavern by the sea, where you will taste traditional Cretan dishes as well as fresh fish and seafood.
A journey through the past, to the time when the Minotaur was defeated in the great labyrinth of Knossos
his day begins in the heart of mythology, with the frivolities of the god of gods: Zeus, who fathered the monstrous Minotaur, and goes on to relate of the genius of Daedalus, the bravery of Theseus and the grief of his father Aegeus. But Knossos, with a glorious past dating back to more than 5000 years, is also proof of the incredible technical advances of the Minoan civilisation. A visit to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, the 2nd most important in Greece, will reveal an impressive and touching collection of excellently preserved objects from that glorious era, which still holds so many mysteries we have yet to unravel...
Discovering Zeus's birthplace...
visit to the highland plateau of Lassithi, on the eastern part of the island, offering an impressive panorama by means of its morphology, resembling the crater of an ancient volcano, which probably accounts for its fertile land. The surrounding mountains are pierced with caves inhabited since the late Stone Age (5000 years BC), where numerous artefacts of Roman origin have come to light. A mild ascent on Mount Dikti will lead us to the grotto of Psychro, which, according to the myth, was the place where Zeus was bom, and by candlelight you will have the chance to discover a mystifying world of stalactites and stalagmites. In the village of Seli we will enjoy an excellent meal of local dishes in a tavern with a breathtaking view.
Crete's oldest capital still retains its one-time charm and past grandeur. A visit you can't miss!
eparture towards the west part of the island, following the highway along the northern coast. Arrival in Chania, the first capital of Crete and its most beautiful city, with its picturesque alleys winding among Venetian and Turkish buildings, living proof of its rich and illustrious past After the guided visit of the city a small boat will take us to the 'Fortezza,' a construction surrounded
by the sea, in the heart of Chania s Venetian port, where we will have an aperitif with mezes, before moving
on to a selected restaurant at the port for a hearty meal of fresh fish and seafood.
On our way back, a short stop will allow us to discover the old town centre of colourful and charming
Rethymnon.
