CLASSICAL GREECE AND COOKING HOLIDAYS IN CRETE
Tour for people who don’t like commercialized tours!
The tour
we offer is unique, unconventional vacation for soft adventurous. We use very fine hotels, always in the best
location. The meals are in fine local restaurants. We go to famous places; we visit
over 20 museums, archaeological
and historical sites during the tour. We also go out of “tourist
zones´ places, meeting locals who aren’t trying to sell to you something
and just having fun.
14 days / 13 nights
Pricing
$6.130
(For One Person, Double Occupancy based on 2
people)
Single use: + $684
This tour
is particularly suitable for couples And groups
of friends
(Small
& bigger)
If you love to cook and
travel,
we, Porto Club Travel services
are exactly what you are
looking for!!
With Porto Club you can combine your love at
cooking and your love to travel into one amazing experience. This itinerary
includes the world-famous sites of Classical Greece, as well as little-known
treasures. It covers sacred ancient and Christian sites of Mycenae
and the theatre of Epidaurus, ancient Olympia
and Delphi and the holly rocks of Meteora, art
and history of the places as well as the culture and nutrition. We believe that
the most authentic way to experience and understand the heritage of Greek
Culture/ Religion/ Nutrition / History/ Way of life and its People, is in the
company of a local scholar, walking through streets which are alive with
religion, art and history, immersing in the architecture, learning about the
life, traditions, and customs of Greek people, past and present.
You will sample some of the
finest meals as well as fruit and vegetables in the world. You will drink
selected spirits (ouzo – raki - tsipouro) and wines that will elevate your
spirit and help you relax, and relish the excellent traditional cooking in some
of the less obvious restaurants that we will point you out. We can promise you
we will not be part of any tourist trail or the “sheep following” mentality. Our
aim has always been to offer quality not quantity, so Porto Club remains small but
perfectly formed.
We are in this business because we love
our land and its culture. Our work consists of sharing our passion and
knowledge with others. Our guests!!!
We do all the work, so you have all
the fun!
A combination of
History
- Culture - Cooking
Religion
& Lifestyle
Experience an amazing world
With us!
Inclusions:
13 nights hotel accommodation / double occupancy on bed & breakfast basis (fine located A Class 4****
& 5***** hotels ), 12 days English speaking private driver, 12 days
private A/C vehicle, Fuel, Road taxes,
Drivers accommodation and meals, All transportations Athens and Crete, Flight
and ferry tickets in Greece, All breakfasts all lunches and dinners as per
program
Included in the price
§
Accommodation Athens
§
ATHENS : Return transfers from/to Athens
§
Athens
§
Flight tickets ATHENS / HERAKLION - CRETE
§
CRETE : Transportation port / hotel by arrival and
hotel / port by departure
§
Accommodation at the Thalori Traditional Complex in a twin/double room
house for 5 nights
§
Accommodation at the Veneto
§
Cretan cookery lessons on day 3,4,5,and 6
§
A visit to archaeological sites of Gortys, Phaestos and Knossos
§
A visit to the women’s co-operative work shop of Marathos
§
A visit to the monasteries of Arkadi and Odigitrias
§
A visit to Argyroupolis natural springs and Matala caves and Zaros Lake
§
A gastronomic walking tour of Heraklion
§
A gastronomic walking tour of Chania
§
A visit to local bee-keeping honey producers and tasting of produce
§
A visit to local wineries and tasting of wine
§
All transport to and from the excursions
§
All cooking materials and ingredients
§
Breakfast each morning
§
Dinner on days 1-13
§
Lunch on days 2-13
§
Dinner on board on day 8
§
Dinner accompanied by bottled table water, and bottle of local wine every
2 persons
§
Ferry tickets CHANIA – CRETE / PIRAEUS
§
Chartered vehicle with English speaking driver for the cultural drives in
Crete for 6 days
§
Chartered vehicle with English speaking driver for the drives to Nafplion
/ Olympia / Delphi / Kalambaka / Athens
§
Fuel and road taxes
§
Drivers accommodation and meals
§
Accommodation Nafplion double occupancy at 4**** hotel for 1 night
§
Accommodation Olympia
§
Accommodation Delphi double occupancy at
4**** hotel for 1 night
§
Accommodation Kalambaka double occupancy at 4**** hotel for 1 night
§
5 breakfasts / 5 lunches / 5 dinners when in Athens
Prices are based on two sharing a double room / house, a single
supplement applies for those traveling solo
Itinerary
DAY 1. ATHENS
Arrival Athens Athens
Day 2. ATHENS
AND CRETE
Day 3. CRETE :
South Central Crete : Culture, Food and History
Enjoy a rich
breakfast and ready to explore the south-central part of the island with your
host George Today we’ll visit Gortys, the ruined capital city of the Roman
province 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.
Ending the visit drive west and the palace
of Phaestos
the second most significant archaeological site of the Minoan civilization Phaestos is located at the southern region of
the prefecture of Heraklion in the valley of Messaras Knossos
Stop off in the fishingvillage
of Kokkinos Pyrgos
Stop off in the fishing
Day 4. CRETE :
Breakfast, slow drive to the monastery of Odigitrias or Xopateras. Rich
history back to the Turkish occupation. Centre of revolutionary against conquerors.
Beautiful frescoes. Next stop the beach and caves of Matala has by far the
best-known beach in Heraklion province. These are believed to be ancient tombs
first used by Romans or early Christians to more recently inhabit by a sizeable
hippie community. Modern artists as Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell,
amongst others. Lunch in Matala at sea
front restaurant with local specialties. On the way back we buy fresh fish and
sea food that will be on our tonight’s cooking class and dinner. This
evening’s hands-on class focuses on vegetables and George will teach you
preparation techniques that transform basic ingredients into the stars of the
table, full of richness colors and flavors. Tonight’s hands-on class is based on a
variety of vegetables and minced meat with prep techniques that transforms basic ingredients into a
full table of colour, flavours, variety and richness. Moussaka, Aubergines
Papoutsakia, fried vegetables in tomato sauce, smoked eggplant and Pastitsio
(the Greek Version of Mac and Cheese),After the class sit down as a group and enjoy the meal you’ve learned to
cook accompanied by local wine. Accommodation Thalori resort. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
Day 5. CRETE :
Crete: the lake
of Zaros, small winery and wine tasting, and joining lunch with locals,
Beehives and Art pastry at the women cooperative of Marathos village
After
a rich breakfast, we drive north direction the lake of Zaros Sivas North West to a
place 20 km far from the city of Heraklion
yellow
honey is perfect source of nature’s ingredients. We do a visit to a small local
café / restaurant run by the owners since 1949. The
owners (two brothers) have been beekeepers since all their lifetime taking the
business from their father, therefore, we taste honeycombs straight from the
beehive and learn everything about bees and beekeeping as well as having a
kind of pancakes we call them –tiganites
– deep in honey and small cheese pies with
honey in company with local wine and the Cretan snap – Raki -. You will
definitely feel the positive effect to your body and soul.
A
visit to a women cooperative at the near village of Marathos where they make
the very special – unique art pastry small and bigger round breads – called
XOMPLIASTO KOULOURI – and
the forgotten monastery of Halepa. Bbreak for lunch at the small village of Drossia
Day 6. CRETE :
Crete: Knossos
Today
we visit the palace
of Knossos island of Crete
someone must see the ancient palace
of Knossos Knossos Heraklion
with stops at small shops, tasting special cheeses with a shot of raki and
having lunch at a small Mezedopolion is a wonderful way to round out your week
on the Island of Crete church
of Saint Marcos / now gallery,
the church of Saint Titus
Day 7. CRETE :
Crete: the Arkadi monastery, City of Rethymnon
After
a rich breakfast, you will enjoy a slow drive through the vineyards and small
villages of the region. You will visit the 16th century monastery of Arkadi,
the small village
of Margarites Rethymnon
Day 8. CRETE: NIGHT FERRY TRIP TO PIRAEUS
– ATHENS
The bread of Georgioupolis and region of Chania
Culinary tour and city walk
After a
full breakfast buffet, you will depart direction Chania. First break at the
small sea front village of Georgioupolis where they are baking a special smoked taste bread for last 100
years every day including Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, and depending on the
season, Winter or Summer they making between 600 to 1000 loaves per day with a
consistent quality, definitely not the supermarket sliced loaf but proper bread
in the old tradition. We buy and taste this bread. Keep driving west to the
city of Chania port of Souda (port
of Chania ) and embark the ferry for
the night ferry trip to Piraeus
Day 9. ATHENS /
NAFPLION - PELOPONNESE
Arrival port of Piraeus
Day 10. NAFPLION / MYCENAE
/ OLYMPIA - PELOPONNESE
Driving through the
central Peloponnese, Arcadia , as well as the
town of Tripoli village
of Vasta to visit the little church of Agia Theodora
The ground isn't solid enough for those trees to be placed. Another unexplained phenomenon is the underground water which flows from the church and beyond. But the most interesting part is that nowhere you'll find a root from the trees inside the church. Many researches has been made, even with X rays to find wherever the roots are inside the walls of the church, but its not. Additionally the trees heights are almost 30 meters! Now imagine a tiny church not more than 3x2 meters having 17 trees on the roof of each weights 1 ton (or maybe more if you calculate also the weight of the leaves for each season, and weather conditions such wind and storms), 30 meters height, since 12th century, without any physical explanation or damage. That’s got to be a miracle!! Keep driving west an hour later arrive inOlympia Olympia Olympia
The ground isn't solid enough for those trees to be placed. Another unexplained phenomenon is the underground water which flows from the church and beyond. But the most interesting part is that nowhere you'll find a root from the trees inside the church. Many researches has been made, even with X rays to find wherever the roots are inside the walls of the church, but its not. Additionally the trees heights are almost 30 meters! Now imagine a tiny church not more than 3x2 meters having 17 trees on the roof of each weights 1 ton (or maybe more if you calculate also the weight of the leaves for each season, and weather conditions such wind and storms), 30 meters height, since 12th century, without any physical explanation or damage. That’s got to be a miracle!! Keep driving west an hour later arrive in
Day 11. OLYMPIA –
PELOPONNESE / NAFPAKTOS / GALAXIDI / DELPHI
Departure
from the hotel for Delphi through Patras, the capital of the Peloponnese . Cross by the bridge from Rio
to Antirion and passing by Nafpaktos (Lepanto) and having break for lunch at a
sea side small beautiful restaurant. Keep driving and make a stop at the
seaside areas of the beautiful Galaxidi . Arrive in Delphi .
Dinner and overnight at Delphi . Accommodation
Delphi (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
Day 12. DELPHI / METEORA - MAINLAND
Day 13.
METEORA / ATHENS
Meteora is a must-see on any trip to Greece Greece , perched miraculously atop the mountains
along the Pinios River Athens
Day 14. ATHENS
Breakfast and
transportation to the airport for the flight back home (Breakfast)
