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Active Crete Painting Holiday
Overview
Introduction
Our Active Crete Painting Holiday offers you the opportunity to relax in one of the most beautiful places of the Mediterranean, by painting but also having enough time for other activities you choose yourself (swimming in the sea or simply relaxing by the hotel pool).
The area of Kissamos where our holiday takes place is part of the European Programme NATURA 2000 which aims to protect its rich natural heritage and to promote eco-tourism.
The 7 night itinerary gives you opportunities to enjoy painting and sketching a variety of subjects in the beautiful Cretan landscape. This is a chance to share insights, see things afresh and above all to have a wonderful and relaxing holiday. All activities are of course optional and flexible. Artist Camille Marquand will be on hand to help out if desired.
Materials: Basic materials are provided, including a board, pencils, pastels and a wetbox with acrylic colours but artists are encouraged to bring their own mediums. Lightweight collapsible stools are also available.
Dates for 2025:
- 06 - 13 May
- 10 - 17 June
- 09 - 16 September
- 07 - 14 October
You will stay at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments during your holiday or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos, a few kilometres from Nopigia. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change if decided by the tour leader due to local conditions. Air Conditioning is charged locally at 7 euros per apartment per day if required.
Board Basis: Bed & BreakfastAgenda
Day 1 - Arrival and Welcome dinner
Transfer from Chania airport. You will be met by our local taxi driver and taken to your family run hotel. To get to our destinations during your holiday, we usually walk or take the public bus, to keep our carbon footprint low and enjoy being part of the local community. On the first evening we offer you the chance to get to know everybody at the Welcome dinner.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos.
Cormoranos Hotel Apartments, Crete
Day 2 - Kastelli and Kissamos
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:15 : Meet at the hotel. 09:30-12:30 : Get to know Kastelli/Kissamos. We will look around for subjects to paint in the town and the Archaeological Museum (Roman mosaics/Ancient Greek jewellery/decorated pots/statues). For example the Venetian water tower/houses/doorways/ café/street scenes. 12:30-17:00 : Chance to drink a beer or have a snack in one of the attractive nearby tavernas. 17:30 - 19:00 : Meet at the hotel to go outdoors for your first painting session with your session leader, Camille 19:00 : Free evening to relax, meet up with friends, have a swim, have dinner in your apartment/on your balcony or in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos.
Kissamos
Day 3 - Byzantine church of Agios Giorgis
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:30-12:00 : Visit the Minoan ruins in Nopigia and the nearby Byzantine church of Agios Giorgos, built on the visible ruins of Roman baths. Behind this are very old olive trees, so there is a good choice of sketching subjects. 12:30-13:30 : Optional wine tasting at the Pnevmatikakis winery in the village of Drapanias 13:30 : Bus back to the hotel 14:00-17:00 : Free time 17:00-19:00 : Meet for further painting/changing adding/reviewing work. 19:00 : Free evening to have dinner in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos.
Crete landscape of olive trees
Day 4 - Introduction to Icon painting
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00-12:30 : Time to practise and sketch on your own 12:30-17:00 : Free time to relax and have lunch in the nearby tavernas 17:00-19:00 : We will look at reproductions of ancient and modern icon paintings and discuss features and ethos, remembering that this flourishing tradition is believed to be a kind of prayer that is executed by artist-priests. We will respectfully approach the subject as novices, copying the Masters. Anybody willing to try to copy or reinvent an old topic will be given an introduction to tempera paint (egg yolk mixed with pigment). You can go home with your own icon (on paper) as a souvenir of Crete. 19:00 : Free evening to have dinner in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos.
Greek Icon paintings
Day 5 - Day at leisure
A free day to rest or do further painting or sightseeing on your own. You could enjoy the many attractions of Chania, or visit the famous Balos beach by a short boat trip or hire a car to explore further a-field.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos.
Chania, Crete
Day 6 - Drapanias village scenes
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00-10:00 : Meet at the hotel. We take the bus to Drapanias. 10:00-12:30 : Find a view to sketch with shade such as pretty Ag. Nikolas church as viewed from the garden (seating and shade there) old doorways/colourful garden/old walls/ street scenes/ the golden coloured stone Venetian tower a ten minute walk away. 12:30 : Bus back to the hotel 13:00-17:00 : Free time 17:00-19:00 : Discuss painting a local scene 19:00 : Free evening to relax and have dinner in the nearby tavernas
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos.
Traditional Greek village scene
Day 7 - Final touches and Exhibition party
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00-12:30 : Time to practise and sketch on your own 12:30-17:30 : Free time to relax and have lunch in the nearby tavernas. 17:30-19:00 : 'Show and Tell' Exhibition Party - a chance to review/discuss/appreciate the week’s work with a glass of wine. 19:00 : Free evening to relax and have dinner in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos.
Group painting, Crete
Day 8 - Day of departure
Transfer to Chania airport for your return flight to the UK or travel to any other Crete resort to continue your holiday.
Accommodation
Cormoranos Hotel Apartments - Night 1 to 7
The Cormoranos Hotel Apartments are located just 150m from the beach in the hamlet of Nopigia, 7 kms east of the main town of Kissamos (aka Kastelli).
The Cormoranos Hotel Apartments are located just 150m from the beach in the hamlet of Nopigia, 7 kms east of the main town of Kissamos (aka Kastelli).
The 10 apartments here comprise a living room with kitchen area (2 cooking rings, fridge) and pull-out extra bed(s), a twin bedroom, shower room and spacious covered balcony or terrace with fine views to the surrounding countryside (some to the sea) and of the pool and gardens. All apartments possess air conditioning, hairdryer, room safe and free WiFi.
Although equipped for self catering, a good breakfast can be provided with some Cretan specialities and home made treats included (local charge - included in our Painting and Walking holidays).
To the front the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments has lush gardens and a beautiful pool (12m x 7m, depth 0.80m-2.40m) with sunbeds on the grass. There is a small fitness room (free), sauna (local charge) and a few bicycles for guests' use (free).
It is a two minute walk to the pebble beach (sandy and gently shelving in the water). Nopigia has a pair of traditional tavernas and a beach cafe (seasonal - sunbeds available at a local charge). Another two tavernas and a mini-market can be found a 15 minute walk away - for a wider choice there is an hourly bus service to Kissamos from the top of the road that takes 15 minutes. A baker's van visits Nopigia most days selling freshly baked bread.
This is a beautiful area of Crete with untouched countryside and little development.
Note: The Cormoranos Hotel Apartments, together with the Sunny Bay Hotel close to Kissamos, are the bases for our 7 night Crete activity itineraries.
Active Crete Walking and Painting Holiday Itinerary
These Itineraries include breakfast but air-conditioning is at a local charge of 7 euros per day.