Approximately one hour of driving through the ever-changing Cretan countryside, will bring you to Elounda, a town located in a gorgeous natural bay. Elounda is famous not only on the island of Crete but also in the entire Aegean region, much acclaimed for its outstanding hotels and tourist establishments in a magnificent natural environment. The combination of the landscape and the sea is something you’ll never forget! Here you’ll have some free time to stroll around before proceeding to Agios Nikolaos, a picturesque and popular resort town on the Bay of Mirabelo. The harbor area pulsates with activity, restaurants and cafes providing a cosmopolitan atmosphere even though the town itself has maintained its traditional style. The landmark of the city is a small lake, known as Voulismeni, which is located in the center of the city and at the foot of the cliffs. According to mythology, the goddess Athena used to take her bath in this lake.

Your tour begins from the Venetian lion-guarded port of Heraklion with a drive through the city, to the famous wine producing area of Peza. The drive is through a breath-taking landscape of countryside and vineyards as old as Minoan times. You’ll visit a modern winery, where you’ll see the updated methods of wine making and sample some of the delicious Cretan wines. Continue through rural landscape to the village of Archanes, and on the way, you’ll stop for photos at Vathypetro to view one of the oldest farmhouses in Crete, dating to the Minoan period 16th century B.C. The island’s hilly countryside unfolds ahead, where olive groves and vineyards existed from as far back as 4,000 years. The quaint market town of Archanes has many restored sandstone houses dating from the Turkish period. At a taverna in the villages’ tree-shaded square, you can sample an assortment of Cretan snacks and locally produced raki, and have a chance to mingle with many of the locals themselves. You will have free time to browse before the return drive to the port of Heraklion and the ship.

Combine mythology at the archaeological site of Knossos with a taste of old village life and Greek snacks at the preserved settlement of Arolithos. From the fortress-dominated harbor of Heraklion, your day starts with a drive to the archaeological site of Knosos; the Palace of Knossos was the largest and most spectacular of Minoan palaces. It was the court of the legendary King Minos, father of the mythological Minotaur, half-bull, half-man. The original palace was built around 2,000 B.C., and after being destroyed by an earthquake, was replaced with a more complex one, which strongly resembled a labyrinth. It will take you about 1 1/2 hours to visit the highlights of this incredible site. Continue to the very interesting traditional settlement of Arolithos. In this village, you'll have the opportunity to see how people lived in the past. Walk through the narrow, colorful alleys leading to the main square where, under the shade of a plane tree, you can taste various Greek snacks, refreshments, wine and the local spirit aperitif raki. Afterwards, you may stroll around the narrow streets of Arolithos and get acquainted with a typical Cretan village.

Explore the village of Krousonas and engage in activities that will provide an authentic glimpse into daily life. Your first stop will be the St. Irene of Kroussonas Monastery, which was extraordinarily affluent in the 1600s. However, the monastery was abandoned during the Ottoman rule of Greece, left in ruins and not rebuilt until 1940. Following an enlightening tour of the monastery now turned convent, the resident nuns will offer you a homemade sweet. You will next journey through the historic village of Kroussonas, where a stop will be made to savor the local tastes including Tsikoudia, a traditional drink. To become even further immersed in the local culture, you will watch a folkloric dance performance. A traditional Cretan lunch follows at a nearby tavern.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delve into local life in Krousonas, a village on the eastern slopes of the Ida Mountains.
• Browse a convent that was an affluent monastery in the 17th century.
• Converse with shopkeepers, watch a folkloric performance and sample traditional foods.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Crete’s fertile soil and towering peaks witnessed the development of one of the earliest recorded civilizations on earth, the Minoans. Knossos was the court of the legendary King Minos, whose wife Pasiphae gave birth to the Minotaur, half-bull, half-man. The excavations on the site lasted 35 years. Entering the Great Palace through the West Court, one can easily understand why the legend of the labyrinth grew up here. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to walk around the site. Admire the superb Royal Quarters, the Throne Room with an antechamber and main throne, and the Queen’s Quarters whose wall above the entrance door is decorated with a copy of the famous dolphin frescos. Apart from the Royal Palace there are also other buildings included on the site such as the Small Palace, the House of the High Priest and the Caravanserai.

See Heraklion’s highlights at your own pace by riding a double-decker bus around town, hopping on and off whenever you please at the attractions you find most intriguing.

After departing from the pier, you will explore the destinations that are most appealing to you. Simply hop on one of the buses and then hop off when it reaches an attraction of interest from the nine designated stops.

You might hop off at the Natural History Museum of Crete, whose exhibitions include dioramas of various ecosystems, terrariums with animals found in the Eastern Mediterranean and a simulator that allows you to safely experience earthquake tremors.

The buses also stop at the Gate of Jesus within the fortified city walls and at the grave of author Nikos Kazantzakis. Born in Iraklion, the prolific writer is best known for novels such as Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ.

Knossos is another enlightening stop. Once the capital of ancient Minoan Crete, it was first inhabited in the 7th millennium BC, and its grandeur has been slowly revealed through archaeological excavation. The palace that once stood here was the seat of power of the legendary King Minos.

Stay for as long as you like at the attractions and then hop on another bus whenever you’re ready. The buses operate throughout the day and make a continuous loop around Heraklion’s must-see landmarks.

Ride through Heraklion on a double-decker sightseeing bus that provides excellent views of the most popular landmarks, where you will occasionally pause for photos. Take a seat inside the bus or on the second level, if you prefer to be outside in the open air. Either way, you will hear commentary that describes the significance of the attractions as you pass them. Although the Arabs built fortified walls around Heraklion in the Middle Ages, the Venetians completely rebuilt them in the 15th and 16th centuries. Those are the ones that stand today. Even earlier, the Venetians constructed Koules Castle to guard the entrance to the port. Although damaged by earthquakes and rebuilt several times, the castle is still an impressive sight. You will also view noteworthy contemporary sites, such as the tomb of Heraklion-born author Nikos Kazantzakis, who was nominated nine times for the Nobel Prize in Literature for works that include “Zorba the Greek.” Before your journey back to the ship, you'll enjoy a guided walking tour through the Old Town's most popular spots where you will learn historical and cultural facts about this astonishing town!

HIGHLIGHTS
• See the landmarks in Heraklion from a sightseeing bus with an open-air second level.
• Pass historical attractions that include the centuries-old fortified walls and Koules Castle.
• View contemporary sites such as the tomb of Heraklion-born author Nikos Kazantzakis.
• Pause on occasion for photos of the attractions.
• Enjoy a guided walking tour though Old Town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Dine on dishes made with ingredients that were essential to the diet of the ancient Minoans that lived on Crete. The venue for this culinary experience will be a restaurant in Amnisiades Park, a leafy oasis with olive trees that are estimated to be a few thousand years old. How fitting because olive oil was a cornerstone of Minoan cuisine. During the cooking demonstration, you will learn about the prehistoric Minoan culture and the cuisine of these early inhabitants of Crete. Although there are no written records of the Minoans, archaeological studies have revealed that their diet included seafood, goats, wild deer, lentils, fruits and nuts, all accompanied by wine. The meal that follows the cooking class will be prepared with local mostly organic ingredients. For authenticity, some of the dishes will be baked in a Minoan-style oven and the olive oil will be from the park’s ancient trees.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn to prepare dishes that the ancient Minoans ate.
• Learn about the Minoan diet and culture that thrived on Crete thousands of years ago.
• Dine on Minoan-style cuisine, some of it prepared in an ancient style of oven.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Heraklion, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Selfie sticks are available and complemented by a convenient photo frame, enabling you to capture, share, and post the best pictures.

As you walk and ride through Heraklion, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Koules Fortress
• Agios Tittos Church
• Morosini Fountain in Old Town
• Archanes village

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Heraklion.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• See Koules Fortress and its remarkable three-winged Lion of St. Mark marble reliefs.
• Pause at the 17th-century Morosini Fountain, a landmark in Old Town.
• Explore the inland village Archanes village and an old market in Heraklion.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

OVERVIEW

Savor a lunch of traditional Cretan cuisine at a restaurant in Old Town, Heraklion’s wonderfully atmospheric historic district. You will pause at the old Venetian harbor around which the city was founded. The marina there is still used and the Rocca a Mare fortress still stands sentinel at the entrance. You will have time to pause for photos of this remarkable landmark, which is also known as the Koules, a name derived from the time when the Ottomans ruled Heralion. Be sure to notice the three winged Lion of St. Mark marble reliefs on the fortress walls. More history awaits you in Old Town, where you will dine at the restaurant Peskesi. The rustic, stone-walled venue features a farm-to-table menu that follows the principles of sustainable gastronomy. The exact dishes for lunch will be determined upon your arrival, but they will prepared from traditional Cretan recipes, using ancient cooking techniques that the chefs have revived.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dine at a rustic but elegant restaurant that occupies a historical mansion in Old Town.
• Savor a meal of traditional Cretan cuisine prepared using ancient cooking techniques.
• Get a glimpse of Heraklion’s history at the ancient fortress that overlooks the old Venetian port.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This tour visits the amazing Knossos archaeological site, proving the existence of the Minoan civilization. The Palace of Knossos was the largest and most spectacular of Minoan palaces. It was the court of the legendary King Minos, father of the mythological Minotaur, half-bull, half-man. The original palace was built around 2,000 B.C., and after being destroyed by an earthquake, was replaced with a more complex one, which strongly resembled a labyrinth. Your guided tour will take you through the marvelous ruins of the ancient complex, restored by Sir Arthur Evans. His work has been criticized by some for its modernity, but it does help you visualize the palace as it was, when it served as the administrative center for the region. There will be over an hour of free time for you to stroll at leisure in the town of Heraklion. Perhaps visit the Fountain of Morosini near the colorful fruit and vegetable market, or shop for some Cretan souvenirs.

Take a coastal drive with views of rocky mountains, gulfs and sea cliffs on the way to the town of Rethymnon. Southeast from the town and lying on a rocky plateau with views of the sea below, is the Arkadi Monastery which became famous due to the holocaust suffered in 1866. Built during the last Venetian period, it consists of a large set of fortress-like buildings where people could find refuge in times of trouble. After a visit to this historic place and learning about one the most tragic chapters in Cretan history, you arrive at the friendly old town of Rethymnon which still maintains its old aristocratic appearance. During your walk, admire arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains and the small Venetian harbor. You’ll have some free time to wander around on your own before continuing to a local restaurant to enjoy a Cretan lunch.