Terra Santa Travel

Kokkini Hani 71500 tel: 2810390912 / fax:2810761400 mob: 6946082751 email: [email protected] web: www.terrasantatravel.gr

ENGLISH

KNOSSOS - ARHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM - -

A very interesting excursion where myth meets history! is the birthplace of the European civilization, beginning 7000 BC if not earlier! Our first visit is in one of the most interesting museums worldwide, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. During the guided tour you will discover the secrets of the Minoan culture, the first advanced European civilization, throughfrescoes, artifacts, jewels, inscriptions and many other finds. Leaving the museum, you will have enough free time to walk around the capital, Heraklion, which is full of interesting monuments showing us the different occupations and cultures of the island, shops, street bazaars and a beautiful Venetian fishing port. Our next stop is , the palace of King Minos, where you will hear the fascinating story of this unique building , the so called Labyrinth, that stands there for almost 4000 years. Did actually the Minotaur exist?Join us and find out!

CHRISSI ISLAND

Discover the paradise of the Chrissi island, located in the south part of Crete. We start our day by bus heading to , the southest European town. We continue by boat to the most southern place of Europe! The Chrissi island has a magnificent ecosystem with rare plants and wild life as well as the largest Lybian Cedar Forest in Europe! Among the visitors of the island are the sea turtle Caretta-Caretta, the Mediterranean whale Monachus-Monachus as well as the thousands of couples of Gulls. Accordingly the Chrissi island has been subsumed in the European Program of protected areas Natura 2000 and, also, it has been declared as an official Wildlife Shelter.

In an interval of 6 hours, you will have the chance to wander around in a 10klm path, admiring the endless golden beaches with sea treasures and fossils, swim in the turquoise crystal clear water, relax completely hearing only the sound of the sea dunes! You can also enjoy a nice meal in the small tavern of the island. Come with us to this nature’s park in Europe, a tropical heaven on earth, called the “Diamond of the Mediterranean” and have the time of your life!

CRETAN NIGHT

During your holiday in Crete, you should not miss participating in a real Cretan night! You will have a complete, delicious traditional dinner while enjoying the Greek music and the great performance of different Greek and Cretan dances. You will even have the opportunity to join the dancers on stage! Please don’t forget your camera so you can memorize not only the beautiful traditional dresses and clothes but also the moments of this exciting night. Enjoy yourself and experience the authentic Cretan and Greek culture by dancing Sirtaki!

GRAMVOUSSA

Our trip will start from the port of Kissamos-“Kavonisi” located in the prefecture, in the west of Crete. You will enjoy a pleasant voyage close to the coastline and on the way you will notice the phenomenon of land elevation by 6 to 9 meters above sea level (dated since 2000 years ago). We will arrive at the island of Imeri Gramvoussa after a one-hour sail. There you can visit the Venetian castle, which was built on the top of a steep rock at 137m above sea level and is mentioned as one of the most impressive castles in Crete. You can reach the castle in approximately 15 minutes by a footpath. The spectacular view, the marvelous landscape and the legend of the pirates hidden treasure is an attraction you cannot avoid missing. Upon your return to the beach you will have enough time to swim in the crystal clear waters, while a freshly cooked meal will be under preparation on board (extra). We will then depart for the lagoon of Balos, where we’ll arrive 15 minutes later. This is a shallow and warm water lagoon. The seabed there is of white sand with all kinds of shells and gives the water a shiny jade-like color. During your stay in Balos the boat’s halls and the bar will be at your disposal. Gramvoussa and Balos are biotopes and areas with special natural beauty included in the European Program Natura 2000, also Balos is in the list of the best beaches of the world!

LASSITHI PLATEAU – ZEUS CAVE

Our tour to Lassithi is an unforgettable trip in the heart of Crete, through legends, myths, history, culture and breathtaking nature not touched by touristic development. The plateau of Lassithi is situated 850m above the sea level, surrounded by the Dikti mountains of 2148m height and 18 picturesque villages built all around it. A plateau where mainly fruits and vegetables are cultivated, having a fascinating irrigation system supported by hundreds of windmills. On our way to the plateau, our first stop is the beautiful and traditional village Mochos, where we have a coffee or a walk through its picturesque small streets. The historical Monastery Kera, famous for its frescoes and icons of the 13th and 14th century will be our next destination. Its contribution to the Greek nation, during the hard years of the Turkish occupation was priceless. We continue our way to the plateau where the recently renovated monastery of Vidiani is located. Eventually we reach the village Psichro for visiting the Dikti cave, the birth place of Zeus, the father of the Greek gods, according to the ancient Greek mythology. It’s a beautiful cave with big stalactites and stalagmites and a lot of interesting myths. Afterwards we continue driving through the several villages , stopping in one of them where you have the opportunity to find out all the details about the Cretan olive oil and the Cretan pottery. Our final destination will be the largest village of the plateau, called Tzermiado, where we can rest and enjoy a delicious traditional lunch.

LASSITHI PLATEAU – KNOSSOS PALACE

This excursion is a combination between the past and the present of the island. We start the day visiting the Lassithi plateau on the Dikti Mountain, through legends, myths, history, culture and breathtaking nature not touched by touristic development. The plateau is situated at 850m above the sea level, surrounded by mountains of 2148m height and 18 picturesque villages producing potatoes, fruits and vegetables. Our first stop is the Monastery Kera, known not only of its frescoes but of a Virgin Mary miraculous icon. Next stop is the village Psichro where the Dikti Cave is located, which is believed to be the birth place of Zeus, the father of the Greek gods, according to ancient Greek mythology. Afterwards we continue driving through the several villages of the plateau reaching the Ecopark Lassinthos, outside the village of . There you can visit the zoo with the domesticated Cretan animals as well as different workshops such as pottery, candle making, woodcarving weaving on loom e.t.c. and eventually have a traditional lunch enjoying the marvelous view of the plateau. Our beautiful and interesting day will end in the afternoon by visiting the palace of Knossos 5 km in the south of Heraklion. The mysteries and the myths of the oldest European culture will be revealed through the guided tour in the building of the 1500 rooms. Don’t miss this unforgettable trip in the heart of Cretan nature, culture and history!

SAMARIA GORGE

This excursion to Europe’s longest gorge will stay in your memory for ever! The gorge of Samaria located in the Southwest Crete, region of Chania, is 16klm long and since 1962 a National Park and a Worlds Biosphere Reserve. The several endemic flower species, the birds, the vaulters and the unique Cretan goat, known as KRI-KRI, form the life in the gorge. In the morning the bus will take you from your hotel to the gorge’s entrance, called Xyloskalo at the plateau of Omalos. During the walk you will enjoy the wild Cretan nature, the fresh crystal water of the White Mountains and the old abandoned village of Osia Maria – Samaria. The walk ends at Agia Roumeli right in front of the south coast. You will continue by boat to Chora Sfakion where the bus will be waiting, to bring you back to your resorts. A trip to Samaria is something you can’t miss during your holiday in Crete!

Sport shoes, sun screen, hat, water are essential!

SPINALONGA

The island of Spinalonga, Kolokytha bay, the small port of and the town of Ag. Nikolaos are among the places that you will visit in our trip. We arrive in the morning at the small port of Elounda, a world wide Known resort, having some of the most expensive hotels on the island. We continue by boat to Spinalonga, the main attraction of the day. Spinalonga was fortified by the Venetians in the 16th century, but known as a leper colony until 1957. The English writer Victoria Hislop inspired by the sad story of the lepers, wrote a book “The Island” giving Spinalonga fame and publicity. During walking through the ruins of the colony you will hear from our professional guide the fascinating story of this special place. We continue by boat to an isolated marvelous beach near by the Kolokytha bay, where we have the chance to relax, swim in the crystal clear water and enjoy a delicious barbeque prepared on Board. Our last stop is the romantic town of and its famous Voulismeni lake which according to the legend is bottomless. There you can enjoy a walk or a coffee by the beach road, the port and the lake. Spinalonga barbeque could be just the day out you were looking for!

WEST CRETE ( ARKADI- CHANIA- RETHYMNON )

Come with us and discover the West of Crete! Our first stop is the Monastery of Arkadi. This unique building of the 16th century is a national sanctuary and a symbol of freedom, since many Cretans, especially women and children, sought refuge during the Turkish occupation. Our next stop is Chania, the largest town of West Crete. It’s the most beautiful town of the island, with Venetian and Turkish monuments, buildings, minarets, the Venetian port and the famous roofed Market having the shape of a cross. Your free time there will give you the chance to explore the beauties of the town and even taste the in one of its romantic corners. On our way back, the town of Rethymnon with its medieval character will be our last stop. The picturesque streets, the Rimondi fountain, the Fortress and the port with the lighthouse form the ideal atmosphere for enjoying a coffee before returning back to your hotels.