Vision 2000 Travel Group-Toronto
In association with Renaissance Hellas-Athens
Crete and Santorini-A Culinary and Cultural Odyssey
Sept. 25 to Oct.10, 2013
Please join me and our tour leader, Krysia Venetas, on a small group tour to Crete and Santorini focusing on both the food, and its preparation, and the glorious remnants of the Minoan Civilization and ancient Greece.
We begin with a brief stop in Chania, before driving into the marvellous countryside, stopping for an olive oil tasting, visiting Vouves with its 3000 year old olive tree,
protected by Unesco and on to Milia, a stone built village and our home for 4 nights.
Over the next 4 days we will hike through the village, help prepare the evening meal around the monastery table, partake in workshops on Cretan food preparation and enjoy excursions to Elafonisi beach for an outdoor lunch,
visit a honey bee garden and Loupaki Winery for a tasting and simply relax in this beautiful village.
We leave this spot for another idyllic spot in the mountains, Zaros, and on the way we stop at Rethymno, where we will have lunch in one of the prettiest cities in Greece and visit a fylo maker
and stop at Spili village to try the spring water running through the rocks.
On reaching Zaros, our home for the next 3 nights, we will visit Maria the weaver and Antonis, the musical instrument maker.
During the next few days we will visit the Minoan ruins at Festos, and Matala, with its caves and beach.
There will be cooking lessons, we will make our own bread, and visit a farm here as well.
Leaving Zaros, we will stop for a wine-tasting, continue on to Gortyna, a Roman site, and then continue to Heraklion.
Also from Heraklion we will visit the Lasithi plateau, famous for its windmills
on the way to Aghios Nikolaos, a charming resort town and the capital of Eastern Crete,
where we will take a boat to Spinalonga to walk among the old Venetian houses, visit the fortress and have lunch on the bay.
From Heraklion we take the ferry to Santorini for 3 nights.
On Santorini we will visit the ruins at Akrotiri
and take boat ride in the Caldera on a traditional Caique
and visit Oia village to view the beautiful sunset. A wonderful way to end a trip before departing for Athens to come home.
Please note that optional activities are available for non-foodies at NO EXTRA CHARGE ( no golfing).
COST: $3450.00 per person based on double, land only. Air extra at approx. $1345.00, Toronto-Athens return, and Athens-Chania and Santorini-Athens.
WHATS INCLUDED:
-all accommodation and transportation including the ferry from Crete to Santorini.
-services of a tour leader.
-services of a guide as per detailed itinerary.
-14 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners.
-all entrance fees for the sites as per the detailed itinerary.
Full detailed itinerary available on request.
To book, please call Gerry at 416-463-5184 or e-mail at gerry.pitts
