Excursions in West Crete, Greece

Excursions take place in comfortable air-conditioned buses, accompanied by Russian-speaking guides. During a group transfer, from the airport to the hotel or at an information meeting with guides, you can get all the necessary information about the nature, duration and other nuances of excursions. If you wish, you can rent a car – company representatives will be happy to show you on the map and explain in detail.

Do you want an unforgettable experience? Do you want to feel like a “kamikaze” for at least a few moments or find yourself in complete obscurity, diving into a “black hole”? Your path lies in one of the three water parks. A sea of ​​​​surprises awaits you, and you will not get off with one visit. In between rides on the attractions, you can have a bite to eat in one of the many bars and mini-restaurants.

Diving

Both beginners and experienced divers will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the underwater world of the coastal regions of Crete. You will be instructed in Russian and, accompanied by an experienced instructor, descend into the kingdom of Poseidon, where you can see a variety of underwater grottoes and caves, marine life, and the wonderful world of the sea. For tourists with CMAS or PADI certificates, we offer different programs with diving up to 30 – 40 meters.

Samaria Gorge

All the beauty of the Cretan mountains can be felt only by visiting Samaria – the longest gorge in Europe, one of the most beautiful places on our planet. The bus will take you to the Omalos plateau (2116 meters above sea level), from where you will descend into the gorge. Nature here is changing at every step: you travel through the cypress forests of Samaria, cross the bed of a dry river, relax at clean mountain springs, go down the rocks to the very shore of the Libyan Sea. And all along the way, mountain walls rise above you, propping up the blue sky. Having descended to the village of Agia Roumeli, you will sail on a boat to the village of Sougia, where they will be waiting for you

Fetos – Gortyna – Matala

Gortyna is the ancient Roman capital of Crete, destroyed in the 9th century by the Arab conquerors. Here you will see the first constitution in Europe – a set of Gortynian laws carved on stone slabs. The theater boxes of the Odeon, which have survived to this day, will remind the murderer of Caesar – Brutus, who was the governor of Crete. Near the Cathedral of St. Titus – the first bishop of the island and disciple of the Apostle Paul. On our way, Festus is the second most important city of the Minoan civilization. The famous Phaistos disc with signs of hieroglyphic writing was found here, which has not yet revealed its secret to us. The coast of Matala, where our tour will end, attracts with its mysterious rocks and a beautiful sandy beach.

Elafonisis

Translated from Greek, “Elafonisi” means “deer islands”. On these delightful beaches with pink sand in the sea, the bottom is so shallow that you can wade to the islands. And the water temperature here is always several degrees higher than on other beaches. The road to Elafonisi passes through the picturesque corners of western Crete. You will visit the cave-church called Agia Sophia, drive along the very edge of the gorge of Hagia Sophia, see the legendary steps of the Chrysoskalitis monastery and enter the church with a miraculous icon. In the monastery, at the church, there lives one nun – Theodora, who is highly respected not only by tourists and local residents, but also by clergy, regardless of their hierarchical rank. After visiting the temple, stop at the beach for swimming and relaxing.

Gramvousa

At the end of the Middle Ages, in the Mediterranean basin – this traditional hotbed of sea robbery of those times, a powerful center of piracy arose, which for 3 centuries tormented Mediterranean navigation and trade. Sea robbers attacked the southern coasts of Spain, Italy, France. They did not “bypass” their attention and the island of Crete. The Venetian fortress on the island of Gramvousa keeps many secrets and treasures in its depths… In addition, Gramvousa is the place where the border of three seas passes: the Aegean, Libyan and Ionian. Here the water is crystal clear, and on sunny days you can count up to 15 shades of the sea: from light azure to dark blue. In Ballos Bay, the ship will leave you on pristine wild beaches, where the famous yacht Britannia once anchored, and Princess Diana and Prince Charles spent their honeymoon.

Knossos Palace and Archaeological Museum (Western and Eastern Crete)

Crete is the birthplace of the almighty Zeus. How many familiar myths of ancient Greece from childhood are associated with him! Minos is the great king of Crete, the Minotaur is a bloodthirsty inhabitant of the Labyrinth, poor Icarus and his father Daedalus. The scene of all these legends is the Palace of Knossos. This is one of the oldest cultural monuments, the center of the Minoan civilization, the very first in Europe. An excursion to Knossos will take you back 4,000 years to the time when Crete was inhabited by the Minoans, who mysteriously disappeared in 1450 BC. You will visit the excavations of the ancient palace, and then the archaeological museum of the city of Heraklion, which contains the most amazing finds from all the palaces of the Minoan era. You will also have free time to walk around the city of Heraklion, the capital of the island of Crete.

Chania – Cretan evening

The romance of narrow, labyrinthine lanes and numerous buildings in the style of Venetian and Ottoman architecture, the elegance of neoclassical buildings, beautiful squares, majestic churches, the Egyptian lighthouse – all this is the city of Chania, whose well-preserved traces of the past give a special charm. After seeing all the sights, you can have a cup of coffee in one of the cafes located along the old Venetian harbour. Next, you will spend a delightful evening in a small typical Cretan village, where you will get acquainted with the local customs of the Cretan holidays. The Greeks honor their rich folk song and dance traditions – not a single holiday here is complete without national songs and dances. You will certainly be taught traditional dances, such as the famous sirtaki and tsefteteli. And at the end of the evening – everyone is dancing.