Join an amazing journey through the history of Crete! Explore the magnificent Palace of Knossos, a real marvel of the Minoan civilization, then explore the charming, traditional village of Avdou. Next, the incredible beauty of Kera Kardiotissa Monastery awaits you – a hidden gem of religious history. After Monastery we will take a break and have lunch in a traditional tavern with breathtaking views of the Lassithi plateau. We will also make a stop at a pottery – here you may not only try to make a clay masterpiece on your own, but can also taste & buy some traditional Cretan products (such as olive oil, wine, herbal teas, alcoholic drink raki). We will finish the tour by visiting the «holy of the holies” for all Cretans – the oil factory where they will tell us how the liquid Cretan gold – olive oil – is being produced. This unique and unforgettable tour offers a fascinating combination of culture, history and natural beauty in one tour!
9:00 – 18:30
We will start collecting participants from pick-up points in the morning. Depending on the place of your hotel/apartment the bus drive will differ.
Explore the Historical Site of Knossos. There will be a guided tour, where you will learn many interesting facts, as well as some free time to take photos of this unique archaeological scenery.
Drive to Knossos Palace – 30 minutes.
Discover the quaint charm of Avdou Traditional Village, where time seems to stand still amid its picturesque streets and timeless architecture.
Drive to village – 40 minutes.
Explore the Monastery dedicated to Virgin Mary that is situated near the village of Kera . This historic and religious site is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Crete. Visitors will have the chance to admire the architecture and learn about the rich history of the monastery.
Drive 15 minutes till Monastery.
Take a break from exploring and treat yourself in a traditional tavern with breathtaking views of the Lassithi plateau.
Drive to taverna – 10 minutes.
It is curious to know that CRETAN olive oil is considered to be the best in the world! So take a chance to visit one of the olive oil factories and to get acquainted with the amazing process of producing this so healthy and so popular “liquid gold”! (Please note that mainly the oil is produced in winter time, thus if you visit the factory during the summer period, you will just see the equipment and be told about the process without seeing it in reality)
Drive to Olive Oil Factory – 20 minutes.
Visitors will have the chance to see a performance by local artisans and learn about the traditional techniques and processes used to create beautiful ceramics.
Located next to Greek Mythology Thematic Park.
Drive back to the hotels where we gathered participants in the morning.
Depending on traffic and on the pick-up places of each one, the time of journey back to the hotel will differ.
Drive back – 1 hour.
