Autumn in Crete

Day 1: UK/Chania
Depart on your flight to Chania. On arrival, check into your hotel, which is situated on a beautiful sandy beach in the village of Agia Marina. You will stay here for the next seven nights, from where you will explore in the company of a Local Guide as well as a Tour Lecturer who will introduce you to their particular area of expertise, the flora of the island.

Day 2: The White Mountains
Your exploration of Crete begins after breakfast this morning, when you’ll join us as we drive to the Omalos Upland Plain, a journey which takes you past traditional farms and fragrant orange groves. As the ascent into the spectacular scenery of the White Mountains is made your Tour Lecturer will help you to spot the many different types of flora that thrive here, including daphnes, tulips, peonies and anemones.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the view point at the entrance to the Samaria Gorge, believed to be the largest in Europe. It is said that 450 species of plant grow in the gorge, many protected by law, and you may meet its famous inhabitants, the wild goats of Crete.

Day 3: Knossos & Heraklion
Relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel or why not join today’s optional excursion, which will take you on a drive along the north coast to Knossos, where excavations led by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans over a 30-year period from 1894, revealed the magnificent Minoan Palace you will visit. The enormous palace contained hundreds of rooms, grouped around a central courtyard and you will explore its ruins in the company of your knowledgeable Local Guide.

A lunch stop will be made in Heraklion, Crete’s vibrant capital, where you’ll visit its archaeological museum which houses splendid examples of Minoan pottery and gold artefacts.

Day 4: Akrotiri Peninsula & Chania
After breakfast, join your Tour Lecturer and Local Guide on a botanical ramble around the Akrotiri Peninsula before visiting the exquisite 17th century Byzantine monastery of Agia Triada. Later, you’ll continue on to Chania, where you’ll join the locals as they barter for produce in the market, and have the opportunity to take a walk around the elegant Venetian harbour. There is time to explore further at your own pace or maybe take a seat at a café and enjoy the views of the pretty lighthouse before you return to the comforts of your hotel.

Later today join our included visit to the coastal resort of Kato Stalos, where you’ll have the chance to see beautiful sea daffodils which thrive in the warm autumn waters.

Day 5: Chora Skafion & Alikambos
Today we offer an optional excursion which takes you south through picturesque scenery and past the imposing White Mountains and across the Upland Plains of Askifou and Imbros. Your journey follows the road along Imbros Gorge, a valley which is popular among walkers, then down to Chora Sfakion, a charming and remote traditional Cretan village.

Your base for this morning’s activities is the village of Komitades, from where you’ll take a short walk in the lower part of the gorge. Relax and make a stop for lunch before joining your Local Guide for a visit to the village of Alikambos and its Byzantine church which features 14th century frescoes by renowned Cretan artist Ioannis Pagomenos.

Day 6: Polirinia
Enjoy a further day in the company of your Local Guide and Tour Lecturer as they introduce you to the beautiful ancient village of Polirinia, from where you can notch up some wild-flower spots together as you walk through glorious rural landscapes. Look out for asphodels, tree spurge, orchids, anemones and poppies as you take a gentle stroll to the welcome shade of the village church.

Day 7: Aptera & Chania
Today you will head to the hilltop city state of Aptera, where you will discover the site of an ancient city protected by impressive walls dating back to the 5th century BC. Temples, a recently excavated theatre and a Byzantine monastery stand deserted in a landscape strewn with an abundance of wild flowers. The views from this site are also stunning, as you look over the Bay of Souda towards Akrotiri. Your journey concludes in Chania, with a visit to its archaeological museum which displays antiquities from the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age as well as pre-historic discoveries and Iron Age artefacts. Lunch is included today in a traditional taverna in the old town.

Enjoy dinner this evening, the final night of your holiday, back at your hotel.

Day 8: Chania/UK
You will transfer to Chania airport for your flight via Athens back to the UK.

Please note
This holiday includes walking in areas of rough ground, gradients and steps.

Accommodation is of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotel you will stay in is:

4-star Santa Marina Beach Hotel
Situated on Crete’s beautiful north-west coast, a short bus ride from the picturesque city of Chania. Hotel facilities include swimming pool with terrace, outdoor bar and restaurant. All rooms feature en suite facilities, balcony, TV, telephone and mini-bar.

Please note: Outdoor swimming pools are typically open between May and September, but this is dependent on weather conditions.

Hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

White Mountains (half day)
Akrotiri Peninsula & Chania visit (half day)
Polirinia visit (half day)
Kato Stalos
Aptera & Chania visit (three-quarter day)

Optional excursions

Knossos & Heraklion
Chora Sfakion & Alikampos

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
Overseas transfers and other transportation
7 nights’ accommodation
Half-board basis – plus 1 lunch
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”