1st Day Ioannina – Heraklion
Heraklion: Arrival at the airport of Heraklion (NIKOLAOS KAZANTZAKIS), boarding the buses and departure for the excellent hotel LATO BOUTIQUE 4 *.
Arrangement, dinner and welcome by the travel consultant of Vigo Travel.
Overnight.
2nd Day Heraklion
Breakfast and departure for a unique tour of the Eternal City of Heraklion. The city is renewed with new sidewalks and renovations in old, traditional buildings. We will visit the Koule Fortress and Agios Titos with the church square and the Venetian Loggia where the modern City Hall is located. The square with the lions. The paved Daedalus Street, the heart of trade, leads us to Korai Square. Next, we will visit the Archaeological Museum, which is considered one of the most important in the world. Finally, we will visit the tomb of N. Kazantzakis (Optional).
In the afternoon, the Tourist Advisers of Vigo Travel will suggest a visit to Knossos and the Palace of King Minos or a visit to the traditional Anogia (Optionally).
Dinner: Fun in a Cretan tavern.
Overnight.
Day 3 – Heraklion – Archanes
Breakfast and departure for the most beautiful village of Europe and Crete, Archanes. It is only 14 km from Heraklion and just 7 km from Knossos. This colorful village has been awarded in a competition of the European Union and is an example to be imitated in terms of its residential development.
We will visit the social Cooperative Enterprise “Aretousa”, the weaving art workshop located just before the center of Archanes. There you will learn about the history and revival of the Cretan Loom and we will see rags as well as traditional and modern textiles. We will buy grape, orange, fig or lemon jams, rusks with herbs, herb pies and wild pies, xerotigans and socks from the Women’s Cooperative “Archanes Gefseis”. We will dine in one of the countless traditional taverns.
Return to Heraklion late in the afternoon. Free time.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – Rethymno – Chania
Breakfast and departure with our luxury coaches for the beautiful city of Chania. During our transition, before we reach Chania, we will visit the picturesque Rethymnon. It is the third largest city in Crete, with a population of about 30,000. Near the Old Town with its picturesque alleys, is the largest fortress of Crete, Fortezza. The small Venetian port with the lighthouse, the Venetian Loggia, the Municipal Garden, the Neratze Mosque, the Church of Ag. Francis and finally, the Venetian mansions, complete the enchanting image of the city.
Stop for lunch (optional) in a Cretan traditional tavern in the area of Rethymnon.
We continue for Chania. We will meet the famous, holiday, coastal Georgioupolis and then we will reach the strategic Souda.
Early in the evening we will arrive at the beautiful Civitel Akali 4 * hotel.
Arrange, dinner and walk in the beautiful bars of the city.
Overnight.
5th day – CHANIA
Breakfast and departure from the Venetian port of Chania.
We will start with our visit to the Tombs of Venizelos east of Chania, at the beginning of the Cape with the unique view. Here is the tomb of the great Greek politician Eleftherios Venizelos and his son, Sophocles.
We continue our tour in the Old Town of Chania, the Municipal Market, the Municipal Garden and the well-known Park of Peace and Friendship of Peoples.
Free time for shopping and lunch.
In the afternoon the Tour Leader of Vigo Travel & Tourism will suggest us to visit Souda and the beaches in Marathi, where we will have time to enjoy our swim.
Return to our hotel. Dinner and evening walk in the bars and hangouts of Chania.
Overnight.
Day 6 – CHANIA – ARKADI MONASTERY – HERSONISSOS
We leave the beautiful Chania and depart for the Holy Monastery of Arkadi. Historical and widely known, the Holy Monastery is built at an altitude of 500 meters, in an environment full of olive groves, vineyards, pines, cypresses and prinos, while around the Monastery there are many picturesque chapels. The most important point of the Monastery is the central two-aisled church, the Katholikon, which is dedicated to the transformation of the Savior and to Saints Constantine and Helen.
We continue to Heraklion, where we will make a stop in Agia Pelagia for food, coffee and swimming. Departure for Hersonissos, the largest tourist resort of Crete, located east of Heraklion.
Arrival at the wonderful resort. After enjoying coffee or ice cream on the beautiful beach of Hersonissos, we depart for Heraklion.
Accommodation at our hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – MALIA- ELOUNDA – SPINALOGA – AGIOS NIKOLAOS
Breakfast and departure.
On the way to Agios Nikolaos we will visit Malia with the traditional buildings and the churches from the time of the Venetian occupation. Today it is a popular tourist resort and is famous for its clean beaches as well as its clubs and restaurants.
We continue for Elounda which will offer us a view genuine and traditional, but at the same time a modern breath from its settlement, which today is a very popular tourist resort.
Following is (optionally) a cruise to Spinalonga, with the Venetian Fortress surrounding the area. From 1905 to 1957 the lepers of Greece lived in isolation on the Island and it was known as the island of the Living Dead. In 1970 Spinalonga was declared a protected archaeological site and today is considered as an important sight in Crete. We continue to Agios Nikolaos, the capital of Lassithi.
Arrival and settlement at our beautiful hotel.
Dinner and evening walk in Agios Nikolaos.
Overnight.
8th Day – Ag. NIKOLAOS – IERAPETRA – HERAKLION AIRPORT
After breakfast and a last walk in the center and the beach of Agios Nikolaos, we will depart for the beautiful Ierapetra, about 35 km southeast.
The city is built in an extremely strategic position. A lively and full of action city has developed into a central tourist spot of the Island of Crete.
Meal.