Departure from the USA for an overnight flight to Athens.
Air fare is not included but Celestial Voyagers can help you to get the most convenient air fare and schedule.
Meal: Dinner
ENAGRON, AXOS, CRETE:
Arriving in Athens you go through customs and immigration, get your luggage and check-in for your connecting flight to Heraklion, Crete (connection flight is not included).
Greetings and assistance on arrival. Meet your tour guide outside the custom area; he or she will travel with you throughout the tour.
Transfer to the small village of Axos and check-in for two nights at Enagron in the eco-farm hotel. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the scenery, among the Cretan mountains.
Relax and learn with the cook how the bread and the cheese served at the restaurant are made.
Enjoy a drink of local raki made from twice distilled grapes as you taste the bread and the cheese. Join your travel companions for a welcome dinner at Enagron’s restaurant where the food is prepared from ingredients grown right on the farm (drinks not included).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Your guide will take you to Rethymnon for a two hour guided walking tour including a visit to an artisan baker who is still hand stretching phyllo, the ancient way, on huge tables.
En route to Chania we will stop at the Manousakis Winery and enjoy wine tasting and lunch.
Then, as we walk around the city of Chania with our guide, we will visit the beautifully-restored historic Etz-Chaim Synagogue; we will also make a stop at a unique store, where, since 1938, they are forging Cretan knives using traditional ancient techniques.
We return to Enagron in time for dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Before leaving Enagron we will have a botanical walk on the grounds of this Eco- Hotel, to learn about the uses and legends of local herbs and trees.
We’ll have a short stop in Axos to see the loom and the traditional weaving technique used in the past in many homes.
We’ll continue to the village of Margarites famed for its ceramics and have some free time for lunch after visiting a local potter and before driving to Heraklion.
Check-in for two nights at our hotel and free time for a rest before going to dinner at PESKESI (drinks not included).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
MINOAN CIVILIZATION
Departure for Cnossos, just a few miles away, for a guided tour of the MInoan Capital of Crete and a visit to the Palace of KIng Minos. Proceed to Archanes, a charming small village where you will enjoy the lunch that you will prepare under the directive of a local chef
As we return to Heraklion, it will be time to have a guided walking tour of the old town and a visit to the splendid Archeological Museum
Return to the hotel, rest of the day at leisure. Dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
PREHISTORIC CIVILIZATION
Transfer to the pier on Heraklion harbor to board the ferry which in two hours will take you to Santorini. On arrival you will go to the archaeological and prehistoric sites from where you will learn the history of the island as you visit the Prehistoric Museum and Akrotiri archeological site.
Lunch at a local tavern (drinks not included), then go and check-in at Hotel Rosebay for 2 nights After a short rest get back in the van for a short drive to Oia where you will see the famous and most beautiful sunset in the world.Return to the hotel for dinner on your own, either at the hotel or in Fira.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Mid morning departure to go and meet Maria at her home. In her cellar and her kitchen you will learn about life in Santorini and the special recipes of the island that you will prepare and taste for lunch.
Afterwards, a digestive promenade in the typical villages of Megalpori and Pyrgos will allow you to take fantastic photos.
Before returning to the hotel we will make a last stop to taste the delicious Santorini wines from a place where the view of the caldera is stunning.
Evening at leisure for dinner on your own either at the hotel or in the town of Kamari, near the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Morning at leisure. Sunbathe at the pool or at the beach, then have lunch before we leave.
Short transfer on arrival to reach the Hotel Xenia where we’ll stay for 2 nights
Tonight, we’ll have dinner at a local taverna (drinks not included)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
We will drive through the island of Naxos to a local farm where they raise goats and sheep for their milk to make some delicious cheese. As the farmer takes care of the animals, his wife, Maria will show us how to prepare the specialities of the Naxos cuisine, in the kitchen and on the barbecue. Their wine will be part of the festivities.
En route back to Naxos we’ll stop at a potter, before having a walking city tour through the small streets of the capital.
Evening at leisure with dinner on your own
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Transfer to the Naxos pier to take the ferry which will take us to Piraeus. The crossing lasts 7 ½ hours and lunch will be on board, on your own.
Upon arrival in the afternoon our transfer to the hotel will be combined with a guided orientation city tour of Athens. Check-in at the FRESH HOTEL for 2 nights and shortly after we will have dinner at a traditional tavern nearby.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
After breakfast transfer by van to the Acropolis and walking tour of the Parthenon followed by a visit to New Archaeological Museum
Free time for lunch on your own
Walk back to the hotel via Plaka and the Spice Market
Little rest and transfer to VAROULKO RESTAURANT, one of the best seafood restaurants in Athens. www.varoulko.gr
Gala farewell dinner on the waterfront. Dinner prepared by famous owner, Chef Lazarou
Meal: Breakfast
Check-out.
Group transfer to Athens International airport for group departure
Other private transfers can be arranged but are not included
Flight back to the USA
Explore enchanting Crete, Santorini and Naxos with their diverse culture, history and cuisine
Participate in cooking classes on Crete, Santorini & Naxos: world-renowned for simple, seasonally delicious and outstandingly healthy food
Learn about the various traditions of the islands with the Mediterranean diet, of course, but also about weaving, pottery or cutlery
Uncover 5500 years of history from neolithic to roman times at the archeological museum of Heraklion
Experience ancient archeological sites: Knossos, Crete’s Minoan capital with the Palace of King Minos
Observe the incredible discoveries of the Santorini’s Bronze-Age period at Akrotiri site
Stroll the narrow streets of Megalochori and Pyrgos: discover the charm of Santorini’s past
Taste local Santorini wines: at a family Canava winery with an exquisite panoramic view over the caldera
View the world-famous sunset: at Oia on Santorini
Lunch at a local farm on Naxos: using ingredients from their own garden and flocks
Dine at a * one Michelin star restaurant of Athens, one of the most famous in the city.
All passports must expire at least six months after the trip’s end date.
Due to Covid 19 pandemic, the proposed hotels may not be the one we will be confirmed in October but any replacements will be of equal or superior quality. Greece is opening to tourism as of July 1 under strict hygiene rules determined by the government. Your safety and comfort are among our top priorities and final confirmation of hotels will depend on a very careful selection related to the appropriate safety regulations.
ENAGRON ECO VILLAGE 2 nights Axos, Crete
HOTEL ASTORIA CAPSIS 2 nights Heraklion, Crete
HOTEL ROSEBAY 2 nights, Santorini
XENIA HOTEL 2 nights Naxos
FRESH HOTEL 2 night Athens
This itinerary is subject to possible changes or adjustments due to weather and traffic conditions or other unpredictable events. We will make every effort to ensure that any substitutions are of equal value and interest.
This custom tour was created for Aliza Green Culinary & Cultural Tours
www.alizagreen.com, spice@alizagreen.com
Aliza Green is a renowned chef, an award-winning author of 15 cookbooks, and a certified tour director who is experienced in planning and leading international culinary tours. She loves to share her deep culinary knowledge, her fascinating stories, and kitchen tips and tricks gained from her extensive experience in the kitchen.
Reservations are made through Celestial Voyagers
Trip price: $6,995
Single supplement +965
$600 deposit with your reservation
Final payment date: July 5, 2023
| This trip is a land only program. Your airline ticket is from the USA to Heraklion, Crete, returning from Athens. Celestial Voyagers is an IATA licensed tour operator. We will be able to advise the best schedule, the most convenient routing and best value for your ticket to Greece. Please contact us before booking your flights. Should you choose to purchase your airline ticket on your own, provide us with a copy of your schedule. You may have to book additional private transfers between the airport and hotel. |
Celestial Voyagers Terms & Conditions relate to specific contracts with their Greek partners. The policies below are special and unique due to the situation with the recent pandemic.
Aliza Culinary & Cultural Tours, Celestial Voyagers and all their partners in Greece will surpass your expectations and deliver a trip of superior quality similar to those they offered prior to the pandemic.
As the situation develops, we may make adjustments to the program but we will commit to creating the best possible program for guests with safety, comfort, and ease our top priorities.
$600 deposit to hold your place. This deposit is fully refundable if the trip is canceled due to the evolution of the pandemic.
Full payment is due by July 5, 2023
A cancellation can always be replaced with a new participant and name change fees will be waived.
We highly recommend that you protect yourself with trip cancellation insurance including medical coverage
All changes and cancellations must be provided in writing via email or postal service.
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured.
Click on the link below for more details:
https://keyword.celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
. 
Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires before March 19, 2023, you must apply to renew your passport. If you are not a US citizen please check with the consulate of Greece or a visa agency for the latest requirements. You will also need a re-entry permit to return to the USA.
Aliza Green is a renowned chef, an award-winning author of 15 cookbooks, and a certified tour director who is experienced in planning and leading international culinary tours. She loves to share her deep culinary knowledge, her fascinating stories, and kitchen tips and tricks gained from her extensive experience in the kitchen.