CRETA BLUE SUITES
Ipsilantou str.
Koutouloufari
Crete
Greece
TEL.: +30 28970 29157
FAX.: +30 28970 29158
For U.K. customers only
TEL.: 0203 2868177
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Excursions
Welcome to the shore and Land excursion. Creta Blue Suites have carefully selected some interesting,well organized excursions that you can choose during your stay in the island of Crete. Excursions can be reserved online up to 5 days before your arrival date in order to have everything ready for you.
| SAMARIA GORGE |
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INCLUDES
Pick up service at or near your hotel.
Escort.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Agia Roumeli.
Libyan sea swimming.
Boat trip.
Sfakia. |
With a length of 14 - 16 km., it is the longest gorge in Europe and annually draws thousands of tourists intent on taking the 6- to 7- hour walk to the exit at the coastal village of Agia Roumeli.
Following the north coastline road of Crete you will stop for a short break near by Rethymnon before you continue your trip to Chania and Omalos plateau to the entrance of the Samaria gorge Xyloskalo. From there you begin your descent, from an altitude of 1300m, and the long hike of the narrow path which crosses the famous Samaria’s Gorge National Park. The 18km walk takes approx 7 hours to complete (proper shoes are necessary). However the ever changing view and the wonderful scent of pinewood and of the renowned aromatic Cretan herbs, make the hike pleasant and the effort worthwhile.
Following the path of the Tarras river, with its sparkling waters you’ll come across small beautiful ponds of crystal clear waters and some small interesting churches,
such as Agios Nikolaos and Osia Maria (Sa-Maria), which gave the gorge its name. Your interest will be high and you will never feel fatigue or bored. On the way you will stop to drink the fresh cold water right from the spring of the rock or to check the numerous wells and caves to be found along our route. At the end of your hike there is enough time at Agia Roymeli, for a meal in one of the local taverns, or just to enjoy a refreshing swim in the blue waters of the Libyan Sea. From Agia Roumeli you take the boat for a one hour’s trip to Chora Sfakion, where your coach will meet you for the return journey via the scenic route of Imbros gorge, the plateau, and the villages of Askifou and Vrisses. The total trip icluding all the transfers will take approximately 14 hours. |
| IMBROS GORGE |
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INCLUDES
Pick up service at or near your hotel.
Escort.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Agia Roumeli lunch.
Libyan sea swimming.
Boat trip.
Sfakia. |
The Imbros Gorge starts just south of the village. During World War II, twelve thousand soldiers evacuated the island walking through the gorge to the south coast of Crete under aeroplane fire. There they were taken by the Royal Navy to Egypt.
The Imbros Gorge is very narrow in certain parts, with impressive walls. There is unique flora all year round. It is 11km long, takes 4 to 4 1/2 hours to walk and ends in the village of Komitades.
After the exit (about 13:00) you will drive to Chora Sfakion for rest, swimming and a delicious meal in the local taverns. On the way back you ride through the plateau of Askifou and the village of Vrisses. |
| KNOSSOS–LASSITHI |
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INCLUDES
Pick up service at or near your hotel.
Full timeGuided tour.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Lassithi Tour
Cave Of Zeus
Scenic Mountain Side Drive |
This tour combines Archaeology Mythology and Nature. You visit the archaeological site of Knossos, the palace of mighty King Minos and the Lassithi plateau with its famous thousand wind mills of old times.
Five kilometers south of Heraklion stands the palace of Knossos where the Minoan civilization flourished more than 3500 years ago. Myths and legends come alive through the narration of your official guide. Your program continues driving up to the Dikti mountain and the fertile plateau of Lassithi. You stop at Tzermiado village for lunch break. Then crossing the small villages of the plateau you have another short visit at the traditional potters factory. Then, you visit the Dikteon cave, the birthplace of Zeus full, of fantastic stalagmites and stalactites. Following the way back you have a sort stop for photographs as Seli which is the highest point of your drive where you see the old Venetian mills. |
| WEST CRETE |
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INCLUDES
Pick up service at or near your hotel.
Guided tour.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
CITY TOUR (CHANIA – RETHYMNO)
“AGORA”
SEA SIDE DRIVE
ARKADI MONASTERY |
Driving along the north coast road of Crete you pass by Fodele village with its orange and lemon groves. The village is also known as the birthplace of the famous Cretan painter, El Greco. Leaving behind you the province of Milopotamos and its centuries old olive trees and the range of mount Ida you arrive at the monastery of Arkadi. Here you visit the impressive church and the small historical museum. You keep on driving on the north coast road leading to Chania having the impressive mass of the White Mountains on the right. Chania the former capital of Crete is a beautiful town which still preserves the monuments of its past, such as minarets and mosques from the Turkish occupation and a charming Venetians harbor and lighthouse, where the film “Zorbas the Greek” was filmed. An ideal place to enjoy a cup of coffee and lunch, its roofed market, in the shape of a cross, offers all kind of Cretan products and aromatic mountain herbs and spices such as dicktamos, thyme, sage, oregano, and others.
During this tour you also visit the town of Rethymnon as well, where Turkish and Venetian well-preserved houses can be seen, the fountain of Rimonti and Minarets that give you the sense of Oriental culture. |
| GORTYS - FESTOS -
MATALA |
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INCLUDES
Pick up service at or near your hotel.
Festos – Gortys – Full Guided Tour
Full time In Matala.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Scenic Drive
Swimming
Messara Plain |
| Through the rich vine-yards of Malevisi province and a short stop for coffee in a lovely area, you will continue towards the largest plain of Crete, the Messara plain. First stop in the city of Gortys, an important Greek-Roman town where archaeologists have unearthed the evidence of a complex judicial system of the city, with laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, etc. Dating 500 BC and written in the Cretan Doric language, which are the first written laws in the world. Your next stop is the Minoan palace of Phaestos. It was an important Minoan center contemporary to Knossos with beautiful architecture and impressive structure. Here, the famous Phaestos Disc was found. The disc itself represents one of the world’s mysteries since the clay it is made off cannot be found in Crete and the language which is impressed on both sides in a circular manner, is still unknown.After Phaestos you will head towards Matala. Matala has become famous for the artificial caves, carved into the rocks, north of the coast. These caves were first inhabited during the prehistoric period. Tombs found in the caves date from Greek, Roman and early Christian times. During the 70's the caves were hosting an international hippie community. That was a cultural shock for the local community, which had met no tourists before the hippies arrived. |
| SPINALONGA -
AGIOS NIKOLAOS |
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| Riding east along the coastline you arrive in agios Nikolaos where you take the boat. Cruising the golf of Mirabello you pass over the sunken city of Olous, dating back 4000 yrs, and the coastline is riddled with some of the best (and most expensive) hotels in the world. Further down the coastline you can see the village of Elounda, once a small fishers’ village now a tourist resort. You head further towards the island of Spinalonga, with its Venetian fortress build in 1579 to protect the golf of Elounda. With its 40 canons it played an important role in the history of Crete and the island became a leprecolony in 1903 till 1957 (last lepercolonie in Europe). A professional guide will tour the island with you for about 1hr after which you head to the island of Kolokitha where you have time for a stroll around the island or even better a fresh dive in the clear waters. Barbecue will be served here on board. The barbecue is optional but please keep in mind, that the first opportunity to eat will be in Agios Nikolaos. After your meal you travel to Agios Nikolaos, with its 68m deep lake of Voulesmeni. You have about 1 hr time to visit the city and experience the friendly atmosphere of the place. |
If you want to reserve any of the above excursions
please e-mail: info@cretablue.com |
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