Island of Crete Culinary & Cultural Exploration

(This Tour has a 2 Person Minimum and 12 Person Maximum)

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Priced From

$4,298 USD *

(For One Person, Double Occupancy)

* Plus taxes. Tours sold on an availability basis.

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7 days | 6 nights

An Adventure into the Soul
of Mediterranean Gastronomy and Culture

This is everything you are hoping for in a Greek Island destination. Picturesque villages, archaeological sites, beautiful mountains, valleys and plenty of lovely beaches all combined into an exclusive experience on the Greek Island of Crete. The largest island of Greece represents one of the oldest, healthiest and most beloved gastronomic traditions in the world. The Mediterranean diet is refined as the Cretian Diet. It is the synergy of tradition, philosophy of life, a heartwarming hospitably of its people and the richness of the island’s naturally grown products. From Homer’s Odyssey “liquid gold” olive oils to excellent cheese and one of the world’s oldest winemaking regions, Crete’s heritage is undeniably linked to its cuisine. Follow this culinary adventure guiding you to immerse yourself in a melting pot of unique flavors, aromas and ingredients that will unfold the richness of the Cretan “Miracle” cuisine with its secret of longevity.

Island of Crete Culinary & Cultural Exploration

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Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ

VACATION HIGHLIGHTS

Please note: Tour inclusions can change depending upon seasonality and weather conditions.

•Round-Trip Crete Airport Transfers

•Breakfast Daily

•Welcome Dinner with Wine

•Two Cooking Classes with Lunch and Wine

•Cheese Making

•Pastry Museum

•Chocolate Egg Making

•2 Walking Foodie Tours

•Cultural and Sightseeing Tours in Rethymnon

•Cultural and Sightseeing Tours in Agios Nikolaos,

•Palace of Knossos

•Visit Heraklion City

•Free Day to Explore Crete Surroundings

•Cheese, Honey, Olive Oil & Wine Tastings

•Farewell Dinner with Wine

While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs, and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is appropriate for your situation.

AVAILABLE DATES

This tour runs from April through to the end of October

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.

Click arrows (▶) to show details

Day 1

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Airport Transfers to Hotel

Welcome to Crete. The English speaking private driver will meet you at Heraklion airport. Just a short drive to your hotel where you will feel at home for the next 6 nights. You can relax and explore your surrounds before dinner.

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Welcome Dinner with Wine

After you settle into your room a Welcome Dinner based on top Cretan products and authentic homemade recipes. A variety of wild greens, Cretan pancakes with cauliflower, smoked lean pork, escargot, meats and pasta and many more specialties. You will be welcomed by your tour hostess who will overview the week, answer any questions and give you all the detailed information to make this your best vacation ever.

Day 2

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Mediterranean Breakfast

Each morning, relax and enjoy a Cretan style breakfast filled with delicious and nutritious local products that will get you ready for day's activities. Daily fresh ingredients include a variety of products such as homemade breads, breakfast cakes, and yogurt with honey, local handmade cheese, toast, eggs, coffee, tea and juice.

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Cultural Walking and Foodie Tour Heraklion

This food and cultural walking tour is an easy 1.5 mile walk to explore the heart of Heraklion city while learning it's unique history and culture. On the foodie tour try local "mezedes" (7-10 small plates), Greek coffee with bougatsa ((phyllo dough with vanilla creme filling and cinnamon with powdered sugar on top) while touring the city. Lunch is on your own.

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Pastry Museum and Chocolate Designing

You'll visit the Pastry History Museum. Museum opened its doors on July 1st, 2021 and currently includes 400 very rare exhibits, 32 of which are unique in the world! We enter the specially designed space where the seminar will take place on the subject of chocolate and its history! You will see the process of making filled chocolates or cookies! You try you hand at making your own cornet out of paper and practicing writing and drawing. Lunch and Dinner are on your own.

Day 3

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Mediterranean Breakfast

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Cheese Making Experience

Today, enjoy a hands-on cheese-making experience. With the guidance of the local shepherd, you will have the chance to milk and feed the goats. You will help in the production of two types of cheese ("Malaka"& "Mizithra") and learn the secrets of cheese-making in Crete. As you are waiting for "Mizithra" to be ready – it takes almost 20 minutes – we will invite you to a cheese tasting of another two very famous types of Cretan cheese, "Gruyere" & "Anthotyros." Afterward, you will taste the freshly made cheese you helped produce, along with our homemade meze and raki!

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Garden Tour | Authentic Cretan Cooking Class | Tour Picturesque Agios Nikolaos

With guidance from a local chef, you will learn to make a variety of Cretan dishes using a wide range of fresh, local, organic ingredients from the garden. You have the option of two different recipes consisting of fish or meat. Afterward, you will enjoy the dishes you helped prepare, along with homemade wine and raki. The fish menu is served every Monday and Friday. Cretan fresh fish soup "Kakavia," marinated anchovies, octopus with onions in red wine sauce, prawns & mussels in tomatoes & feta cheese sauce, fillet of sea bream with potatoes & wild greens, and Cretan cheese pies with honey. The meat menu is served every Wednesday consisting of stuffed vine leaves and zucchini blossoms, tzatziki, Cretan sausages with onions, Cretan rusk bread with tomatoes, capers, feta cheese, Greek Moussaka, and Cretan cheese pies with honey. After the class, you will enjoy the meal you have mastered, accompanied by local wine, raki, and soft drinks. Next, you will visit the picturesque town of Agios Nikolaos - one of Crete's most unique and beautiful locations.

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Free Afternoon to Explore | Dinner on Your Own

Time to enjoy all that your idyllic setting and your hotel has to offer. Heraklion is a vibrant place that combines the pleasures of today and the beauty of yesterday in a unique manner. The city is filled with open spaces and pedestrian streets. All you need to do is walk around and discover the beauties it has to offer.

Day 4

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Mediterranean Breakfast

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Food & Walking Tour Old Town Rethymno | Honey and Olive Oil

This day will provide a deeper understanding of the lifestyle and customs of Crete. Stroll around the city and taste the product's of the Cretan Diet and smell the herbs and spices from the magical soil. We taste the local cheese, honey, local wine, olives and also the famous drink, Raki"as well as many other products. The bees, these unpredictable alchemists, fly from flower to flower, finding hidden gems of the fruit and nectar from the land. Discover historical monuments and see the Venetian architecture of another area. Lunch on your own could be in the heart of the city or in the old port overlooking the lighthouse.

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Pottery Workshop

Margarites village is famous for its ceramic tradition. In the workshop, visitors are received from all over the world to get to know Cretan Ceramic Art. See how the making of pots on the wheel takes place, the hand decoration, and finally the oven baking to reach their final form. Dinner on your own.

Day 5

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Mediterranean Breakfast

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Heraklion Knossos Palace | Cooking Class with Chef | Sommelier led Wine and Olive Oil Tasting

A visit to the Palace of Knossos was built 3500 years ago is a must see in Crete! In the Peza wine region, right in the center of Crete is Domaine Paterianakis and was founded in 1988 with a focus on quality Cretan wine. Now the third generation of the family continue creating organic wines with a strong personality. The chef will lead in making 4 different Cretan dishes such as Dakos, Handmade Pasta, traditional recipes that have been handed down through the generations and desserts. A selection of 3 wines will be featured in this guided tasting along with virgin olive oil and local products such as selected Cretan cheeses, cured meats and home-made marmalade. Tonight's dinner is on your own...if you are still hungry!!

Day 6

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Mediterranean Breakfast

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Free Day for Exploring Heraklion or More of Crete

Take advantage of the central location of your accommodations as a perfect base to explore what Crete has to offer. Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and it flourished under multicultural influence throughout the centuries...with a plethora of Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman structures to enjoy. Admire the ancient treasures, relax on one of its glorious beaches, immerse yourself in unique tranquil locations, and explore magnificent mountain ranges, fertile valleys, and steep gorges as this southernmost island in Europe simply has it all. Your host will be happy to give you additional suggestions on how to make the most of your time and assist you with the car rental. Owners of the hotel will be happy to assist you in ordering a taxi.

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Traditional Farewell Dinner

By preserving and developing old family recipes, we offer you a unique opportunity to taste the authentic taste and quality of Cretan food, now in the heart of Heraklion. We only use locally selected high quality raw materials from the best producers and breeders of Crete. Antikristo with the traditional gamopilafo, grandma Kalliopi's dolmadaki, freshly fermented burgers and meatballs, fresh grilled meats and appetizers. Everything is made on site within the first few days, but the fresh fried potatoes baked at the shows are just some of the many flavors you have to try!

Day 7

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Mediterranean Breakfast

Each morning, relax and enjoy a Cretan style breakfast filled with delicious and nutritious local products that will get you ready for day’s activities. Daily fresh ingredients include homemade breads, breakfast cakes, and yogurt with honey, local handmade cheese, toast, eggs, coffee, tea and juice.

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Check-Out | Transfer to Airport

After breakfast, say good-bye to the lovely Crete Island. Transportation is arranged from the hotel to Heraklion International Airport

Capsis Astoria

At the city's main square, in the historic center of Crete's capital city and right next to one of Europe's most important Museums, the renowned Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Capsis Astoria Hotel offers upgraded and sophisticated services. Capsis Astoria is the most centrally located hotel in Heraklion and a popular meeting point for both locals and travelers. The hotel features stylish and modernly decorated rooms, restaurants, gym and an outdoor swimming pool in the Roof Garden.

Heraklion, Crete, Greece

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What Currency is being quoted?

The Currency Code is listed directly after the published amount. If it states USD, then the quoted price is in United States Dollars. If it states CAD, then the quoted price is in Canadian Dollars. If it states EUR, then the quoted price is in European Union Dollars…etc. However, please note that all charges are processed in USD, and Epitourean’s Merchant Bank automatically calculates the currency conversion on the day of the charge.

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What does Double Occupancy mean?

Two persons traveling together, and staying in the same room. Tour prices are normally quoted as “per person, double occupancy” in case two people are traveling together and staying in the same room, but paying separately. The cost of the lodging is also shared by two people, thereby reducing costs. This could be a married couple, two friends or relatives.

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What is a Single Supplement?

Whenever a person travels alone, the cost of their lodging cannot be shared by another person. When tour products are priced, they are normally stated as “per person, double occupancy.” Whenever a guest occupies a room as a solo, the whole cost of the lodging must be incurred by that one individual. Tour companies accommodate this by charging a Single Supplement. Epitourean does its best to keep the single supplement as low as possible, but it is a real cost that tour companies must absorb, and must pass along to the single traveler.

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If I am a Solo Traveler, will I be paired with another person?

Epitourean never pairs a solo traveler with another person without a special request. If you book Single Occupancy, you will have a room entirely to yourself. However, should you wish to be paired with another solo traveler to save on the single supplement, you may make this request. We cannot guarantee that we can accommodate such requests, since it would take another solo traveling on the same tour for the same dates. But if requested, we will certainly try.

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Are flights included in the tour price?

No. Flights are never included in the price of our land-only tours. Epitourean does not provide air, rail or sea travel, unless expressly noted in the itinerary.

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May I give a culinary tour as a gift?

Yes. Epitourean has a special program designed specifically for this purpose. Our Gift Packages come with features such as special messages to the recipient, gift box option, gift link (without pricing), and floating dates (should you not know when the gift recipient wants to travel). Contact a Culinary Travel Specialist at 800-390-3292 or customerservice@epitourean.com to receive additional information about this unique offering.

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May we request separate beds if sharing a room?

Yes. In most cases, Epitourean can accommodate a request for two beds to be placed in one room. Just make sure to make this request in the comments section of the reservation process.

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Does each guestroom have a private bathroom?

Yes. Epitourean partners with the best lodging options in each destination, and private (en suite) bathrooms are a requirement. However, you should inquire as to the configuration of bathrooms should you have a special need. For example, some tours include accommodations in medieval villages, where either a shower or bath(but maybe not both) are present.

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Can your tours accommodate my dietary restrictions?

In almost all cases, Epitourean can accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. But we do request that you ask a Culinary Travel Specialist prior to making your reservation so that we can assess your individual situation.

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If I am unable to use a portion of the tour, can I get a partial refund?

Unfortunately, due to vendor and supplier contracts, we are unable to provide partial refunds for unused portions of any tour or tour component.

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Are Transfers included in the Itinerary?

Round-trip transfers from the airport or train station are normally included in our international tours. Transfers to the destination (for both international and domestic tours) are not included in the tour price. Please see the Sample Itinerary. If it mentions that transfers are included, then yes, transfers are included at no additional cost.

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What meals and excursions are included in the tour?

The Sample Itinerary should be your reference. If the meal or excursion is described in the Sample Itinerary, then it is included at no additional charge. For those days where it expressly notes Free time, then any optional activities you elect to participate in might have an additional cost. In addition, if the itinerary states "evening on your own," it would imply that you have the opportunity to visit a restaurant of your own choosing, and at your own expense. If you have any question about inclusions, please submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button under the price section.

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Is it possible to book pre or post tours or stays through Edible Destinations?

Yes, we often do have optional 2 and 3 night excursions that are priced separately from the tour. We can also assist with pre and post night stays in a hotel if you choose to come in early before the tour starts, or stay on after a tour ends. The price of those hotel stays are not included in the price of the tour, but we would be happy to provide a quote. Simply ask your Culinary Travel Specialist, or submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button.

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Are Guide or Host Gratuities included in the price of the tour?

Since tipping guidelines and customs vary widely between countries, we do not include gratuities in the price of the tour. Your Culinary Travel Specialist can provide you with recommendations. But the general rule is to tip modestly when you are pleased with a guide’s services, either at the end of the tour, or at the conclusion of a specialty day excursion where you will only be with that guide (or chef) on that day.

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Should we plan on any personal expenses during the tour?

All lodging, meals, transfers, classes and excursions mentioned in the Sample Itinerary and Vacation Highlights are included in the price of the tour. However, we highly recommend taking local currency for purchasing personal items, souvenirs, tipping, etc. You can either get the local currency at an airport exchange service, ATM or from your local bank prior to travel. However, you should note that many hosted destinations do not accept credit cards for personal purchases.

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Do you recommend Travel Protection?

We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. For more information on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0248.

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company), 1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N

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CULINARY TRAVEL
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An Adventure into the Soul of Mediterranean Gastronomy and Culture

Island of Crete Culinary & Cultural Exploration

An Adventure into the Soul
of Mediterranean Gastronomy and Culture