The Culture of Crete
Experience the bewitching scenery and rich history of Crete on this 8-day holiday. The culture of this Greek island is sure to capture your heart.
The Culture of Crete
Available Dates
Prices are per person and based on two people sharing.
Contact us
Phone us on 01-8434734
Day 1 –Â Dublin to Crete
Arrival at Chania Airport. Meet your local tour guide and transfer to your hotel. Check-in and overnight at your hotel.
Day 2 – Chania, The Orthodox Academy of Crete, Gonia Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery
Breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy a tour of Chania with its Venetian walls, narrow streets and Turkish buildings. Continue to the Orthodox Academy of Crete and Gonia Monastery. Today you will also visit Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) Monastery, one of the most impressive monasteries in Crete due to its scale and Venetian architecture. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
Day 3 – Free day
Breakfast at your hotel. Today is free to explore the region at your leisure. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
Day 4 –Â Arkadi, Rethymnon and Lake Kournas
Breakfast at your hotel. Start today with a visit to the Monastery of Arkadi – a national Cretan shrine. During the rebellion of 1866 against the Turks, the monastery was used as a refuge for Cretan insurgents. The defiant defence of this fortress-like monastery during rebellion is legendary and inspirational. You will continue your journey to the old town of Rethymnon. The Venetian harbour, combined with the pedestrian streets below, strewn with charming old buildings, makes Rethymnon very photogenic. There numerous shops to buy souvenirs or local products. The old and the modern combine to make this a colourful and buzzing town. Before you return to your hotel you will stop at Lake Kournas – the only freshwater lake in Crete. Kournas village is perched on a hill overlooking the lake. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – Free day
Breakfast at your hotel. Free time for shopping and sightseeing at your leisure. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
Day 6 – Knossos, local winery & Heraklion
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for the Palace of Knossos, the most famous attraction in Crete. You will journey back 5000 years into the myths and legends of the oldest civilisation in Europe – the Minoan. The palace is a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square where detailed images of Cretan life in the late Bronze Age are visible on the walls. After Knossos visit a local winery and continue to Heraklion, the largest city in Crete. Here you will visit the old Market Street and soak up the atmosphere and buzz of the city. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – Free day
Breakfast at your hotel. Free time for shopping and sightseeing at your leisure. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
Day 8 – Departure
Breakfast at your hotel. Free time in Chania before transfer to the Airport for departure. Flight home to Dublin.
-  dateseturn Ryanair flights from Dublin to Chania Airport including taxes & charges
- Professional English speaking tour guides & executive coach transfers
- 7 nights at the 4* Hydramis Palace in Georgioupolis with breakfast and dinner included each day
- Full day excursion to visit the Palace of Knossos and a local winery followed by a trip to Heraklion city
- Full day excursion to the Monastery of Arkadi, the old town of Rethymnon and Lake Kournas
- Full day excursion to include a city tour of Chania, The Orthodox Academy of Crete, Gonia Monastery and the Holy Trinity Monastery
- Plenty of free time for sightseeing, shopping and relaxing
- Please note – Hydramis Palace Beach Resort enjoys a beachfront location in Georgioupolis, and offers rooms with free Internet access. It includes a large pool, sports facilities and a fully equipped fitness center. The air conditioned rooms of Hydramis are elegantly decorated and have a furnished balcony, some with views of the sea. They are equipped with a satellite TV, hairdryer and fridge. Guests can relax at the free lounge chairs available by the pool and on the beach. The more active ones can engage in sports activities, such as beach volleyball, tennis and basketball. The hotel’s restaurant serves Greek and international dishes with the backdrop of the Cretan Sea. Hydramis also has a lobby bar and a pool bar. The picturesque town of Rethymno is 14.5 km from the resort. The town of Chania is a 40-minute drive away.
Booking Remarks
- Price based on 2 sharing including all airport taxes & charges
- Single room supplement €175 for Apr & Oct 2020 dates and €245 for May & Sep 2020 dates. If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin room with another group member of the same sex, we will do our best to accommodate this request although it cannot be guaranteed.
- Seaview room supplement €25 per night.
- Price includes 1Â standard piece of hand luggage. Checked-in luggage is available to purchase prior to travel – prices may vary
- Non-refundable / non-transferable deposit of €250pp required at time of booking
- Balance due 10 weeks before departure
- Optional insurance available from €30pp (terms & conditions apply)
- City tax has been introduced in Crete on 01st January 2018. It is payable on arrival at the hotel, €4.00 per room per night
- Flights, hotels. taxes, prices & itinerary subject to change
- Booking terms & conditions applyÂ
| Airline | From / To | Flt. No. | Depart / Land | Approx. Flt. Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | Dublin /Â Chania | FRÂ 7354 | 14:45 / 21:15 | 4h 30m |
| Ryanair | Chania / Dublin | FR 7355 | 21:40 / 00:30 | 4h 30m |
All flight times are local and subject to change
Local Time in Crete
GMT is never adjusted backwards or forwards. Ireland is on GMT between mid-autumn & the beginning of spring. Daylight saving time (BST) is GMT+1.
GMT+3
BST+2
Why Book with us?
- Irish owned & operated and have been in business since 2003
- Experienced and professional staff
- 24-hour emergency service
- Professional guides
- Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TA 0533
Send us an enquiry
Do you have any questions?
Call us today for a no-obligation consultation with one of our group tour specialists.