The Island of Crete with Alex Veit
6-14th April 2008
Day
1:
Fly with via Athens to Heraklion
.
Drive to Anogia located at
the foot of Mount Ida , this mountain town was rebuilt after the German invasion
in 1944, and to day the town is famous for its weavers. Drive on through the
mountain range to the Arkadi monastery ( 11th century) , considered to be one of
the most impressive places on the island. Arrive in Rethimno a port town
made up of blend of Venetian and Turkish influences. Overnight: Rethimno
(2 nights).
Day 2:
Drive to the Necropolis of
Armeni, a late Minoan cemetery 1390-1200 BC, with over 200 uncovered tombs.
Continue over the mountain range to Gortyn, here we shall see the “
Twelve Tables of Gortyn “. On to Festos, located above the Messara plain.
Here we shall explore the Minoan ruins dating back to 2000-1400 BC. Drive
around Mount Ida , passing and visiting if possible some of monasteries
along the way. Arrive back in Rethimno .
Day 3:
Drive via Kourtaliotiko
Canyon to the Byzantine monastery of Preveli, which is on the biggest
and richest on the island. View the 14th century castle
Frangokastelo. Easy walk through one of the most impressive gorges of Crete:
the Imbrou gorge. Then drive on to Hania former capitol of Crete
and the most picturesque port town of the island. Overnight: Hania (
3
nights) .
Day 4:
Morning: walking tour of
Hania, including the Venetian port, the restored synagogue , the superb
archeological museum and more. Afternoon: Drive to the Omalos Plateau
located in the heart of White Mountains ( Lefka Ori). Continue to the look out
overlooking the Samaria Gorge (Farangi Samarias). Return to Hania via
the panoramic roads of the Lefka Ori.
Day 5:
Drive
to the most spectaclaur and remote corner of Crete via Kissamou, Village
of Vathi, and Plantanos. Visit some of the wounderful little Byzantine
churches of the Kandanos region. Return via Floria – Voukolies to
Hania.
Day 6:
Drive to archeological site of Aptera, on to
Souda and then a 2 hour
hike-drive-visit of Katholikon and Aghia Triada - Tzangarolon Monasteries.
Reach Almiridha in Apokoronas area and continue
via -Gavalochori Vamos - Neo Chorio
- Samonas to the church of St. Nicholas at Kyriakosellia. Via
Neo Chorio to Herakleion. ( 2 nights)
Day 7:
Eastern
Crete:
Visit Mallia a
Minoan
palace.
Drive on to
Kritsa
see the 13th
century church. Visit the
Doric
citadel of Lato
. Continue to
of Aghios Nikolaos,
visit the
Diktaean cave
and end the day
with a
visit to
the nunnery of Virgin Our Lady of Kardhiotiss,
return to Heraklion.
Santorini:
If the "Flying Dolphin" will be running, (we shall only know in March) we shall
sail to
Santorini
instead of our planned visit to Eastern Crete.
Arrive at
Athinos port, Santorini. Drive up to the village of Pyrgos, visit the monastery
Prophet Elias and explore the villgae. Drive to Fira, capitol of the island.
Visit the archaelogical museum with it's collection from the late Cycladic
civilization period . View the the unique volcanic caldera and time for perosnal
expolartion. Late aftrenoon return by Sea Jet Ferry to Heraklion.
Day
8:
Walking tour around the center of Heraklion the capitol of the island.
Tour the Temporary National Archeological Museum which is devoted to the Minoan
civilization. Afternoon: visit the ancient ruins of Knossos, probably
where King Minos used to feed his enemies to the Minotaur, and the story of
Thesus who kills the Minotaur with the help of “Ariadne thread” and finds his
way out….Fly to Tel-Aviv via
Athens: Arriving on the 14th April early morning.
This above program is not final!
- Price per person for land
arrangements only, in double room depends on size of group :
Group 20 pax and up :
€1395
Additional cost for small
group 16-19 pax : €
150
Single room supplement € 190
Air Fare has to be added
:$640 ( 13.12.07)
Land arrangements include:
7 nights at hotels, 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners
some
at specially chosen Cretan Kitchen restaurants, 3 light lunches registration fee,
tipping, ferry to Santorini and back (if we do not go we shall
refund
€75), touring based on above program and more - Escort Alex Veit.
- Guiding by specially chosen English speaking guide. * Please note:
Tour is planned to cater both Israeli and English speaking clientele. Tours are
guided in English by specially chosen local guides - Alex does not translate
what is said in to Hebrew. How ever Alex will be bilingual, when it comes to
his explanations which deal mainly with administrative aspects of the tour.
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