Shore Excursions & Tours   CRETE (Greece)

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Chania   Tour of the Old Town - Tombs of Venizelos  (Tour Duration:  4 Hours)

The old town of Chania is built around the hill of Kastelli and on Minoan ruins of Cydonia. The city is surrounded by historic neighborhoods where they lived people of different nationalities, culture and religion. The monuments they left, gave Chania a special character.
We walk the narrow streets of old town, leading to the port. Specifically, we visit the Topanas district, located in the north of the city and lived during the Turkish wealthy Greeks. Walking the cobbled streets overlooking the old Venetian mansions and Turkish houses. Therein lies the Fort Firkas, while the streets of the neighborhood you will find shops with traditional handmade textiles and folk art.
Another interesting neighborhood is the Jewish Quarter. Therein lies the synagogue, the church of San Francesco and the Archaeological museum.
We visit also Stivanadika region, famous for its leather goods.There, we meet skillful manufacturers leads us in their art.
Departure for the Akrotiri, where the tombs of the Venizelos, with panoramic views of Chania. We also visit the monastery of AgiaTriada.

Included: Pick-up and drop off at the Port -  Coach Transfers - English  speaking guide - 
NOT INCLUDED: Meals and drinks - Personal expenses - Optional activity costs  

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                                 Shore Excursion from Chania - Cretan villages                                     

Cretan Villages     (Tour Duration: 5 Hours)
Cretan Villages (Argyroupoli – Lake Kourna – Aptera Ruins) 

We will see: Argiroupoli is a picturesque village with some 400 permanent residents. One of the most characteristic architectural features of the village is that several architectural parts of ancient constructions have been reused in recent buildings and are well visible. Argiroupoli is a historic village, as it is here that in 1878 it has been declared the Unification of Crete with Greece. At an almost exotic location called “Piges” which means sources, there are many perennial plane trees, small waterfalls, ponds, many streams with crystal clear flowing waters that move several warermills. An ideal location for coffee, drink or delicious food in an environment that truly opens the appetite. In the same area you can see the small church of St John and St Force, built under a large rock.
Lake Kourna is the only lake with fresh water in Crete. It is situated in a magnificent location, surrounded by high mountains and olive groves.. It is a rather small lake, known from antiquity with the name Korisia The relaxing and beautiful landscape is ideal for nature lovers. In Lake Kournas, there are two fountains with only one of them being visible, especially during the end of the summer: the Eye, as the locals call the fountain. This natural lake was created by the holdback of the underwater that comes from the White Mountains, the resistant rocks and the lie of the natural cavity. Basically the lake is a huge hollow which is fed from the southeast side with water due to its soil.
Aptera Ruins was founded in the 7th century BC in a prominent position where it towers above the gulf of Souda and the plain of Armeni, having at its south the huge bulk of the White Mountains as an impressive setting. The ancient city of Aptera was one of the most important ancient city-states in western Crete. Archaeological excavations show a small Sanctuary most likely dedicated to the goddess Demeter. You will also see at the site relics of a small theater, foundations of houses, carved tombs- of the Roman Age - and many large dome-shaped reservoirs of which one well-preserved is divided into three sections. You will see only a part of the Hellenistic walls of the acropolis hemming in the hill and many ruins which date back to the Roman rule with the highlight being the arched reservoirs and the hot springs. 

Included: Pick-up and drop off at the Port - Coach transportation - English  speaking guide.
NOT INCLUDED: Meals and drinks - Personal expenses - Optional activity costs

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                           Shore Excursion from Chania - Knossos & Heraklion Museum                  

Knossos Palace & Heraklion Museum (Duration : approximately 8 hours)

Once the Seat of Minoan Kings and forever linked with the legendary home of Labyrinth and the Minotaur a visit to Knossos, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, is a must to understand the Minoan Civilization and culture. The buildings still standing are from the Minoan Period and where constructed between 1700 and 1400 bc. The guide will provide you with a great deal of information concerning findings discovered in Knossos and you will have the chance to see the frescoes that adorned the Palace, the Kings Chamber, the Royal Guard Hall, the Double Axes Hall, the Queens Apartments and Courtyards. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is regarded as one of Europe's most important museums. The museum brings together archaeological finds from all over Crete, covering over 5500 years of the island's history.

Included: Pick-up and drop off at the Port - Coach transportation - English  speaking guide.
NOT INCLUDED: Meals and drinks - Personal expenses - Optional activity costs

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                                            Shore Excursion from Chania  - Taste of Crete                                              

Vamos - Karidi Monastery - Chania Town (Duration: Approximately 5 hours)

We begin with a 50 minute drive depending upon traffic conditions, from Souda harbour to Vamos village. 
Vamos village is located in Chania perfecture, in the west part of Crete and is the provincial capital of the Apokorona.
The history of Vamos goes back many centuries. According to historical sources its first inhabitants were Arab pirates around the 8th century. To the general census organized by the Venetians in 1573, Vamos is mentioned as "Vamu" with 271 permanent inhabitants. During the time Greece was under Turkish domination, Vamos was the headquarters of the Turkish army and in 1863 a Pasha named Savas chose Vamos as the Capital of the prefecture of Sfakia. People of Vamos proved to be very patriotic fighting to free themselves from the Turkish domination. The winning battles of 1896 set Vamos free from the Turks.

At the time that Vamos was the capital of Sfakia, it met a great development as a region. This development is characterized by the luxurious houses and public building with neo-classic elements. From this time and on, there was a distinction between luxurious and non luxurious houses, a fact that highlights the economical levels of the society, depicting the contrast between the rich that lived in the so called "conakia" and the poor that lived in the "kamarospita" (one room house). Built with local materials such as stone, wood and soil, these houses still impress with their authentically and traditional colour. It is important to mention that until the 19th century architecture was greatly influenced by the Venetian domination.

Vamos is a semi-mountain village, 200 meters high above sea level, surrounded by cultivated and wild nature, with 800 inhabitants and very good customer services. There are super markets, bakery, grocery shops, internet cafe, a county court, post-office, bank, telephone company, police station, health centre, two petrol stations.
Just outside Vamos, we visit the architectural heritage well-preserved and Vamos, one of the most attractive traditional destinations of the area: a preserved traditional stone road, the old neighbourhood, well painted Chapels of Virgin Mary (monument of 13th century), and Karidi Monastery 13th-19^th and its Agios Giorgios church, with the most spectacular scenery of an old olive press with 12 arches.
Then we go to the Braoudakis Winery or other winery estate in the nearby area, to sample local alcohol.
The Braoudakis family operation as all Cretan winery estates aim at offering a warm Cretan hospitality to all visitors, in the Cretan countryside, introducing all visitors to Cretan history and surrounding nature. 

Before returning to the port, you'll have a short free time (approximately 40 - 45 minutes) in Chania old town.

Please note:  Guests must be able to walk approximately 0.5 mile over various surfaces and cobblestone streets with a few steps.  Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.  
To enter the monastery, ladies must cover their shoulders; no shorts are allowed and attire should be conservative.

NOT INCLUDED: Entrance fees to Karidi Monastery: 4,00 Euro per person  -  Visit to the winery: 8,00 Euro per person