The Grand Monastery Tour.
Many monasteries on Crete are considered by the Cretans as a National sanctuary, but also as a place of pilgrimage, in which the suffering during the Turkish occupation and the rebellion against the different rulers are remembered.
With a maximum of 25 people, in a comfortable touring car, you will discover the island, her rich history and the Greek-Orthodox religion, her customs and her monasteries. Your group will be attended to by a tour leader, who will accompany you during the whole tour. On the different locations you will be informed by the best specialists regarding this specific subject. (Of course all of them have a lot of knowledge of Crete) A very interesting and a knowledge collecting tour especially developed for those interested in the history, the customs and the people of Crete.
Day 1
Starting at the hotel in Heraklion we travel to the far west of Crete. Via a beautiful route we pass the tourist centers Agia Pelagia, Bali, Georgoupoli, (where we stop for a (Greek) coffee and Rethymnon to Kolimbari in the vicinity of Chania.
In Kolimbari we visit Moni Gonias, definitely the most visited and well-known monastery of Crete.
When you enter this beautiful monastery you will experience a feeling of home-coming when seeing the cooling fountain and the different fruit trees and the splendour of her flowers.
After our visit to the monastery, we will also visit the monastery church and the monastery museum.
After our lunch together on the peninsula, we continue our way to Chania for our first hotel. You are free to fill-in the rest of the afternoon.
At 18.00 hrs you can enjoy a walking tour along the Venetian harbour explained by a specialised tour guide. Dinner with the group will be at the hotel.
Day 2
After breakfast we drive towards Rethymnon. We will visit the Moni Arkadi, which lead an important role in the resistance. It is also called the heaven of refuge of the resistance.
This monastery is remembered in history. Due to the massacre of Arkadi, the international press was finally aware of the Greek/Turkish problem.
In the afternoon, after lunch, we continue our way towards the south of the island. After beautiful journey through a varied landscape we will arrive in Spili. We have lunch here and after a stroll through Spili, we will go to Ierapetra, here we will stay for 2 nights in the well-known Astron hotel.
The rest of the afternoon you can relax in the southernmost town of Europe. At 20.00 hrs we will have dinner in a traditional tavern.
Day 3
After breakfast we will visit the Moni Touplou, situated at the north-east side of Crete. Moni Touplou is without any doubt the richest monastery of Crete. You will notice the fresh colours and the new restorations. We were able to arrange an exclusive tour through the property of the Moni Touplou. We will visit the monastery museum with her extremely valuable collection of icons. Everything will be explained to you by a guide, specialised in Cretan Art.
We will continue our journey by a quick visit to the tourist attraction of the palm beach of Vai. Our next stop will be in Paleokastro, a so-called farmer village, for lunch. After a short stroll through the village we will continue our journey to Zakros. Here you will have the possibility to take a walk through the valley of the death or visit the Kato Zakros, an excavation of a well-known Minoan temple. After that we will go to Sitia and, if we have enough time, take a short stroll through this picturesque town. Then we will return to Ierapetra.
After refreshing, we will make ourselves ready for a Greek evening. In a small (definitely no tourist) traditional tavern, exclusively for our group, a traditional Cretan dinner will be prepared, all accompanied with life Cretan music! Can you imagine a better way of spending this evening, while having a special dinner, dancing the Sirtaki together with your group members?
Day 4
After breakfast we will travel to the southeast of Crete, to the Moni Kapsa. We will travel along a beautiful road, directly along the south coast and we will pass by some nice villages such as Koutsonari, Ferma and Agia Fotia until we reach this hidden monastery.
Glued against the rock-face, like a bird's nest and facing the Libyan sea, this monastery presents itself. Two gorgeous inner yards, cool and full of a splendour of flowers, give you the feeling of an oasis of tranquillity.
Moni Kapsa is built in the honour of John the Baptist, whose life is illustrated on a smoke black icon in the cave church, and Ioannis Vitzentos, a Cretan wonder doctor, who became later a monk in the same monastery.
On our way back we will enjoy our lunch in the Dragon Cave, with a splendid view over the Libyan sea.
Back in Ierapetra we will take you on a walk through the city, where you will see many African influences. Later we will have dinner together.
Day 5
After breakfast we will be on our way back to Heraklion. Halfway we will visit the Moni Selinari. A monastery with a rich history, in the honour of the holy Georges Selenary. It is still frequently visited by the local people.
In Heraklion we shall enjoy our farewell lunch.
