Crete Countryside Adventure
Crete, Greece
From USD 183.22
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Crete Countryside Adventure
Crete, Greece
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Journey into the heart of Crete for an unforgettable taste of country life that has barely changed for centuries. Driving through the hills, past dreamy olive groves and ancient ruins, we will take you to secret places that only locals know about. You will be welcomed at a traditional metoxi farm where the shepherd lives like a king, despite having no electricity. Learn his secrets as you enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch amid fresh mountain air and glorious sunshine.
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Highlights
- Linger over a very special Cretan lunch, cooked on an open fire amid the unspoiled nature of the Greek countryside
- Discover the peaceful life of a traditional Cretan shepherd and explore his oh-so-comfortable metoxi (shepherd’s hut)
- Revel in some of the most stunning scenery on the island, including a special spot that has the best views across the beautiful Bay of Mirabello
- Find out how to make Cretan raki (a distant cousin of absinthe) and have a taste
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- Your tour promotes rural tourism, which supports deep-rooted traditions and local economies that don't generally benefit from tourism.
- On this tour you will meet a local shepherd in his remote hut where you'll learn about a traditional culture and a way of living that could be lost if not preserved.
- By experiencing an organic Cretan lunch cooked by the shepherd, you are helping to support him financially.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 7 hours
- Meeting point:
Plaka: At 9:45am at Agia Marina church, next to Blue Palace hotel. View map.
Elounda: At 9:55am at the square and roundabout at the church side. View map.
Agios Nikolaos: At 10:15am at the bridge in front of the tourist information office. View map.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.45 AM-10.15 AM
- Ending point:
Same as meeting point.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, roundtrip transportation from meeting point (private vehicle), 1 coffee, 1 iced tea, organic lunch (meat and vegetarian option), 1 glass of wine and shots of raki (a local spirit).
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs or personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide and driver.
Are you ready for your adventure into the picturesque countryside of ancient Crete? Your day will begin with a drive through the traditional village of Kritsa, where we will stop for a coffee at a kafeneio (local café).
This will be our first and only stop in ‘civilisation’ as we know it; our tour from here on out leads you into the mountains and ancient forest of Kroustas, away from the hustle and bustle of the resort towns on the coast.
Kroustas is a rare forest that has been consistently colonised and utilised by humans for the last 4,000 years. Ancient stone constructions from the time of the Minoans are still visible today. Nowadays, the landscape has special protection status.
We will discover hidden churches and ancient water irrigation channels as we drive, stopping to admire stunning vistas. The views from the Fortezza, an old Minoan watch point, are particularly picturesque.
More natural beauty can be found amid the vineyards, fields of olive trees, colourful beehives and, of course, the impressive pine and oak trees of the forest. Here we will do some foraging for local herbs to take home to make a fresh cup of herb tea.
An unmarked road will truly allow us to escape from the rest of the world as make our way along it to meet our host for lunch. The local shepherd will greet us in his unique metoxi (a typical Greek shepherd’s hut only found in remote areas of the country). Our shepherd contends with the elements every day and has no access to electricity or modern comforts, so for a couple of hours at least, you will experience a wonderfully simple way of life that doesn’t exist in modern cities.
All this fresh air, silence, and the smell of pine trees is enough to give anyone an appetite, so we have a very special and unique treat planned for you. Your host will cook a delicious and entirely organic Cretan lunch for you over an open fire. And of course, no lunch finishes in Crete without raki, so you will discover first-hand the secrets of how to make it and, most importantly, drink it.
After a memorable day exploring the wilds of ancient Greece, it is time to take you back on the road towards civilisation.
Note that we also offer this experience as a private tour. For private tours, we will pick you up at your hotel in Plaka, Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Kritsa, or Kalo Xorio. Please indicate at the time of booking where you will be staying; if you don’t have your hotel yet, you can email us later at info@creteurbanadventures.com.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, roundtrip transportation from meeting point (private vehicle), 1 coffee, 1 iced tea, organic lunch (meat and vegetarian option), 1 glass of wine and shots of raki (a local spirit).
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs or personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide and driver.
Dress standard: Please wear comfortable shoes for walking, and bring a hat and sunscreen in the summer months.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 6 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Email address: info@creteurbanadventures.com
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