Our 7 night 'Cultural Crete' holiday offers you the opportunity to relax in one of the most beautiful places of the Mediterranean, dipping into aspects of Cretan life but also having enough time for other activities you choose yourself (swimming in the sea, reading a book by the hotel pool etc).
The holiday encourages guests to enjoy activities like walking in typical Cretan landscape, cooking some Cretan dishes, learning about the ancient and modern skills of olive oil and wine production and more about the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet; visit a local archaeological museuem and a farm tour and cookery lesson. It also includes a boat trip to Balos lagoon. All activities are of course optional and will be combined with a little walking in the countryside or by the sea. Swimming, reading, eating out and relaxing are of course other choices in your free time.
The area of Kissamos where your holiday takes place is part of the European Programme NATURA 2000 which aims to protect its rich natural heritage and to promote eco-tourism. There are several tavernas near the hotel, top rated by international holiday rating sites, offering excellent local food at prices of 10-15 Euros per person including local wine. There are shops in the nearby Kissamos town.
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 10 euros per room per day if required; bus tickets and entrance fees to sites/museums are not included and payable locally.
Itinerary includes:
Dates for 2025:
On arrival at Chania Airport, you will be transferred to the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments in Nopigia. The transfer will take approximately 1 hour.
This evening, a welcome dinner is included and provides the opportunity to meet other guests and participants and ask any questions you may have.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments.
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00 : Meet at the hotel. 9:00-14:00 : An optional easy walk : ’ Platanaki – Korfalonas - Town of Kissamos’. Enjoy walking leisurely by the sea for about 1.5 hours. Learn about the flowers and plants at the coast. We will visit the local olive oil pressing factory and then spend time in Kissamos for a visit to the local archaeological museum and shopping. Stay for a coffee, beer or a meal in the picturesque little town. Return to the hotel. 14:30- onwards: Free time to relax, sit on the beach, meet up with friends, have a swim, have dinner in the nearby tavernas etc.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments.
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00 : Meet at the hotel. 9:15-13:00 : We go by public bus to the city of Chania. We walk around the medieval Venetian harbour and visit the Venetian quarter, the Jewish quarter, the Turkish quarter, the archaeological site of ancient Kydonia and the Byzantine walls. Optional visit to the Synagogue and the naval museum. 13:00-16:30 : Return to the hotel by public bus and free time to relax. 16:30-22:30 : Optional farm tour and cookery lesson. In the farmhouse you’ll learn to cook with delicious, locally-sourced ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables, local meats, delectable cheeses, aromatic herbs, and local wines. During the farm tour, you’ll explore the enchanting vegetable garden, free-range chickens and sheep, olive groves, wine cellar, and citrus orchard. You’ll all sit down together to sample the dishes you’ve prepared, accompanied by local wine and traditional sweets.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments.
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00 : Meet at the hotel. 9:00-9:30 : Transfer to the harbour of Kissamos by public bus. 10:20-13:30 : Boat trip to Imeri Gramvousa and visit to the Venetian Castle. 13:30-16:30 : Boat trip to Balos lagoon to swim or sunbathe. 16:30-17:30 : Return trip to Kissamos. 17:30-18:00 : Transfer to the hotel by public bus. 18:00 : Free time for enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments.
A free day to rest or do further sightseeing on your own. You could enjoy the many attractions of Chania, or the famous beach of Falasarna with its ancient archaeological site or hire a car to explore further a-field.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments.
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00 : Meet at the hotel. 9:00-14:00 : An easy walk through the olive groves past the Minoan site of Ancient Mythimna and the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios built on the remains of Roman baths and get to the picturesque village of Drapanias for a coffee. Possibility to walk further into the village to see the Venetian tower and church. Finally we end up at the local winery for a tour and a tasting. There are around 10 different wines and several Cretan drinks to try from in the wine museum. Return by bus or on foot. 14:00-17:30 : Free time to relax. 17:30-19:00 : Optional walk to Spatha Peninsula : We will walk past the open air theater to the little chapel of Panagia Myrtidiotisa in Nopigia and then further up to a little hill on Spatha peninsula. The blue sea is always beside us. We will encounter only a few sheep and goats and enjoy great views towards the Gramvousa peninsula across Kissamos bay, with the Spatha mountain on our right. 19:00 : Free evening to have dinner in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments.
Today's itinerary. 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast. 9:00 : Meet at the hotel. 9:00 - 12:00 : We go by public bus to Kolymbari and visit the famous Greek Orthodox Gonia Monastery 12:00-16:00 : Free time. 16:00-19:30 : Transport arranged to visit the Botanical Gardens of Chania which contain a huge variety of plants and trees including the many endemic and aromatic Cretan herbs 19:30- onwards : Free time to have dinner in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Transfer to Chania Airport for your return flight to the UK or to any other Crete resort to continue your holiday.
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.
We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).
If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.
Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.
We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).
If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.
Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.
Thank you for your enquiry. A member of our specialist reservation teams will be in touch shortly.
If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.
Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.
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