Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Heraklion
Your flight brings you into Heraklion on Crete's north coast, and you'll get settled at your hotel afterward. This evening you'll meet the other travelers in your group over dinner, so you'll have a chance to get to know everyone before the week really gets going.
Landmarks Heraklion - Day 2
Knossos and Heraklion
Start by heading to Knossos, where you can walk through one of Crete's most significant Minoan excavations with ruins stretching back over 3,500 years. From there, you'll go to the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion to see key Minoan artifacts. The afternoon gives you free time to explore the city on your own. You might check out the Venetian fortress of Koules, walk through Liberty Square, see the Morosini Fountain, or browse the shops along Daedalus Street before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Knossos palace complex
- Visit to Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Optional Activities
- Visit Venetian fortress of Koules
- Explore Liberty Square
- See Morosini Fountain
- Shopping on Daedalus Street
Landmarks Knossos Heraklion Archaeological Museum Koules Fortress Morosini Fountain 
- Day 3
Malia, Lasithi Plain and Olive Oil Factory
Head to Malia, Crete's second most important Minoan excavation from around 4,000 years ago. You'll travel through the scenic Lasithi plain with its vineyards, orchards, and old windmills. Stop at the 14th-century Kera Kardiotissa monastery to see its miraculous icon, then have Greek puff pastries with honey at a local restaurant. Later, you'll visit a traditional olive oil factory and try their oils.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Malia palace
- Visit Kera Kardiotissa monastery
- Traditional olive oil factory tour and tasting
Landmarks Malia Palace Lasithi Plain Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - Day 4
Festos, Matala and Gortys
Head south through the Messara plain and reach Festos to explore the second largest Minoan palace. Continue on to Matala bay on Crete's south coast, which connects to the mythical story of Zeus and Europa. After that, you'll visit Gortys, the ancient Roman capital of Crete, where you can see the Basilica of Titus, Roman Odeon, and the Great Inscription, which is Europe's first recorded town charter.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Festos palace
- Visit to Gortys archaeological site
- Basilica of Titus viewing
Landmarks Festos Palace Matala Bay Gortys Basilica of Titus - Day 5
Margarites, Eleftherna and Rethymnon
Start by learning about ancient Cretan pottery in the village of Margarites, then check out the ancient city of Eleftherna with its new interactive museum. The day finishes in Rethymnon, one of Greece's most attractive cities. You'll walk through the old town and see both the Venetian and Ottoman heritage that shapes the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit pottery village of Margarites
- Eleftherna museum tour
- Exploration of Rethymnon old town including Venetian harbor
Landmarks Margarites Eleftherna Rethymnon Venetian Harbor, Rethymnon - Day 6
Kritsa, Spinalonga Island and Agios Nikolaos
Visit the church of Panagia Kera in Kritsa to see its famous 13th-century wall paintings. From there, you'll head to Elounda and board a boat to the small island of Spinalonga. You can explore the Venetian fortress and the old leper village within its walls, taking in views back toward Crete. After returning to Elounda, you'll have a traditional lunch before heading to Agios Nikolaos for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch in Elounda), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Panagia Kera church
- Boat trip to Spinalonga Island
- Guided tour of Spinalonga Venetian fortress and leper village
- Traditional lunch in Elounda
Landmarks Panagia Kera Church Spinalonga Island Spinalonga Venetian Fortress Agios Nikolaos - Day 7
Free Day in Agios Nikolaos
Today is yours to spend as you like. Relax at your hotel, spend time on the beach, or take a leisurely walk around and do some shopping in the area. If you're interested, you can also take a trip to nearby Heraklion.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Hotel amenities and relaxation
- Beach time
- Shopping and exploration in Agios Nikolaos
- Day trip to Heraklion
- Day 8
Departure from Heraklion
You'll travel to Heraklion airport for your return flight to Germany, saying goodbye to Crete and ending your week.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Heraklion International Airport
