vegetarian Cretan Mediterranean cuisine

  6 DAYS FOOD WANDERING THE CRETAN TRADITIONAL MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE FOLLOWING THE VEGETARIAN NUTRITION & LIFESTYLE

BASED ON 4 PERSONS

6 days / 5 nights

$1.100,00 / £727

based on 4 persons

  Valid Period:

Vegan foodie Cretan Mediterranean holiday

Greece, Crete and vegan/vegetarian nutritional options for a traveler

For many Greeks (especially in the countryside and islands), five days a week their meal is vegetarian or vegan.

Yes, Greeks are meat and dairy eaters, but because such a large percentage of our diet consists of pulses, vegetables, greens and fruits, a vegan or vegetarian visitor will not have any difficulty in finding a huge variety of vegetarian food all over Greece.

You don’t have to “apologize” or explain to anyone why you don’t eat meat.

Taste the healthy Cretan and Greek Mediterranean meat-free delicacies and our fine wine. You shall feel strong humanity, away from the stress of our daily life.

You shall feel the warmth of Greek and Cretan Company.

You shall be captured by the place, perhaps because you think that time has stood still or because they welcome you with a shot of Tsikoudia accompanied by Cretan rusks and fresh tomato or a tsipouro or ouzo.

You shall find the true picture of Greece and Crete, not only in its magnificent monuments and tradition, but in its nature as well. You shall feel the magic of the clear skies, the smell of the aromatic plants, the full moon nights.

Welcome to Greece!

Welcome to Crete!

Welcome to the land of deep heart-given hospitality, good food and good wine….a spot on the map in the midst of the Mediterranean inhabited by warm, proud and friendly people.

Be prepared for a strong sense of daily life and for truly warm hospitality.

Cretans are the hosts. You are the guests of honor.

Vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture Holiday Start Days

- All arrivals are on Mondays on set dates 

- Arrival will depend on your flight but times can be flexible

- It may be possible to arrange vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture holiday on other date for groups of 2 or more, to check availability, contact us with your preferred date

- Vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture Holidays are for 5 nights/6 days 

- If dates appear ‘on request’ please contact us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible

Suitability

- Vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture holidays are suitable for all 

- Non-vegetarians are welcome on the holiday but they must be aware no meat will be used during the food tours 

- Please specify what type of vegetarian diet you follow at the time of booking 

- Minimum age 8 (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)

- Your host is Greek but speaks excellent English so all tours are taught in English

Package includes:

• 5 nights hotel accommodation at fine 3*** hotel city centre at city ofHeraklion for 4 nights
• Return transfers to/from Heraklion airport  
• A welcome drink and snack on arrival at the airport
• A visit to archaeological sites of Gortys, Phaestos and Knossos(guiding/entrance fees are extra)
• A gastronomic walking tour of Heraklion
• A gastronomic walking tour of Rethymnon
• All transport to and from the excursions
• Breakfast each morning
• Lunch on days 2, 3, 4 and 5 accompanied by water and local wine
• Dinner on days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 accompanied by water and local wine every night
• Prices are based on two sharing a room, a single supplement applies for those travelling solo
• Note: Shared rooms may be available subject to availability

Do not include:

Entrance fees at archaeological / historical sites – guiding – tips, anything not mentioned above or bellow

ITINERARY

Day 1. Monday

Arrival the airport of Heraklion. Reception at the airport. Transportation to the hotel. Accommodation at fine 3*** hotel center of Heraklion city. Dinner at traditional restaurant with variety of Cretan vegetarian Mediterranean specialties (Dinner)

Day 2. Tuesday

The palace of Knossos / city of Heraklion

Today we visit the palace of Knossos. When visiting the island of Cretesomeone must see the ancient palace of Knossos, built 3.500 years ago.Combination of archaeological discoveries and food tasting: Start at 9 am. Visit takes 1 ½ hour. After the palace we drive back to the city and visit the Saturdays open farmers market. Visit will take an hour or so and ending the visit we walk the central market of the city taste special cheeses in a small cheese shop, and having break for lunch accompanied with ouzo (anise) with a variety of vegetarian dishes at one of the traditional Mezedopolion of the street. We end our walk after lunch visiting and taste the famous “loukoumades” Cretan style doughnuts sprinkled with honey and sesame.(Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 3. Wednesday -

Arkadi monastery, city of Rethymnon, Argyroupolis natural springs

- After breakfast, take a drive through the vineyards and small villages of the Heraklion region

- Visit the 16th century monastery of Arkadi, and Margarites – a small village famous for producing ceramics

- Next  you’ll visit the city a Rethymnon a city seeped in history and an attractive place to wander through its narrow streets and marvel at Venetian and Turkish architecture that house its restaurants, cafes and shops

- After browsing the shops and a coffee break where you can mingle with the locals, you’ll drive to the natural springs of Argyroupolis a site boasting attractive cascades and an idyllic setting for lunch where you’ll enjoy Cretan vegetable and cheese specialities

- After lunch you’ll return to Heraklion

- Dinner at traditional restaurant at the heart of the city. You’ll enjoy local vegetarian specialties along with some raki and local wine

Day 4. Thursday

Spend the day with locals and the city of Heraklion

We drive to a village near Heraklion. We visit small fine quality family wineries, depending the season we may have the chance join the way to make the Cretan snap (spirit) Raki or Tsikoudia drink Raki and home made chemical free unique wines and spend the day with the locals join them on their daily life and  having lunch at a home tasting unique home made tastes. Back the hotel afternoon.

Dinner at local traditional restaurant in the centre of Heraklion with variety

of vegetarian / vegan specialties. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 5. Friday-

Southern central Crete, the palace of Gortys, the palace of Phaestosand lunch at sea front restaurant  

Combination of culture / food and history. First break at Gortys, ruined capital city of Roman province that included not only Crete but also much of North Africa. Including an impressive theatre, the Basilica of St. Titus the eponymous saint converted the island to Christianity and was the first bishop, the Odeon and the Law code. Continue driving to visit the palace of Phaestos the second most significant archaeological site of the Minoan civilization. Phaestos is located at the southern region of the prefecture ofHeraklion in the valley of Messaras. The site of the ancient city is very impressive and the palace compound, although not as extensively restored as the compound of Knossos, offers a detailed insight of the everyday life of such a historically remote period. According to mythology the king of Phaestos was Rodamanthis brother of king Minos of Knossos, and superior judge of the underworld. Lunch will be in the fishing village ofKokkinos Pyrgos at the sea front restaurant of Kokkinos Pyrgos consisting of fresh sea food for the Pesco vegetarians and fresh local greens specialties. Back to Heraklion later in the afternoon. Dinner at local restaurant with variety of vegetarian local Mediterranean foods. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 6. Saturday -

Fly back home

Breakfast and drive to the airport of Heraklion for the flight back home

PORTO CLUB Travel services:

Contact: Tel: 0030 2815 002754 – 0030 2810 317358 Cell: 0030 6975 735774

Email: info@portoclub.gr