Exploring Crete: Archaeology, Nature & Food

Morning drive to the spectacular Zakros Gorge, or Gorge of the Dead, in the romantically wild east of the island. We walk (approx. 4km) through the gorge to the tiny coastal plain of Kato Zakros, site of a Minoan town and palace which we explore. On the way back to our hotel, we stop for coffee on the seafront of Siteia.

We explore the incredibly well- preserved Minoan town of Gournia and the scenic Hellenistic city of Lato boasting wonderful views over the gulf of Mirabello. We visit the Byzantine/ Venetian church of Panayia Kera with its famous frescoes and head west through central Crete into the Asterousia Mountains, towering above the rugged southern coast.

A morning visit to the beautifully located Minoan town of Agia Triada, which may have been a summer residence of the Bronze Age rulers of southern Crete. In the afternoon, we explore the Minoan palace at Phaistos, the most impressive of its kind, in a panoramic setting overlooking the huge Mesara Plain and the snow-topped peaks of Mt. Ida.

We investigate the island’s Roman capital, Gortyn, with an array of excavated buildings and other largely unexcavated ruins scattered among the olive groves. We continue into the western half of Crete, to enjoy lunch and a tasting at a famous winery in the most fertile part of Crete. We end the day at a lovely seafront hotel in the beautiful Venetian city of Chania.

Free day, yours to relax or explore the lanes and vistas of Chania. You are free to choose your own options for lunch and dinner.

A stunning drive along the edge of the White Mountains to Souyia on the south coast. We walk (approx. 3km) through a rocky gorge across to rarely visited Lissos, one of the loveliest ancient cities in Crete, set in a cove only reachable by foot or boat.