Exploring Crete Week

Exploring Crete 2009

with Keith Hall

April 28 - May 05

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The home of the earliest Western civilization, Crete boasts the great Minoan cities of Knossos and Phaestos and also the smaller ancient ruins of Aptera. Local expert and writer Keith Hall provides a guided introduction to local history including a walking tour of Chania and visits to Minoan, Venetian, Turkish and Roman ruins.

Keith is an experienced history lecturer living in Crete with an extensive knowledge of Greco-Romano sites gained over the past decade. He has also walked extensively in Crete and written successful walking guides for Western Crete. Keith is therefore ideally qualified to lead this guided week.

The week including Pure Crete category B accommodation, airfare, expert guidance, all excursions, transfers and the first evening meal costs £705. Numbers are limited to 12.

Recent comments from Exploring Crete visitors:

'Having taken a tour of Chania last year with ..., we booked to go on his tour (Exploring Crete Week) this week. Only eight of us and it was perfect. We visited several archaeological sites and out-of-the-way places where Cretan life carries on as it always has. .... Anyway we highly recommend his tour week.' (from the Alikis House visitors book)

EXPLORING CRETE

Programme for the week

Day 1: Tuesday

Flight from Gatwick airport to Chania airport and taxi transfers to accommodation. Later in the afternoon there will be an introductory talk reviewing the week’s itinerary and a brief history of Crete; followed by a meal together at the local taverna.

Day 2: Wednesday

Meet at 9.30am in the village square for a guided walking tour Aptera – the site of a Dorian city with Greek and Roman buildings, a Turkish Fort and a Venetian monastic settlement. On to Stilos, where there is a late Minoan/Mycenean Tholos tomb and nearby kiln. Then a short journey to Kalives and Almerida for an optional lunch and a visit to see the fine mosaic floor of a ruined 1^st period Byzantine basilica style church. Time for some stocking up of provisions for the week in a local mini/supermarket. Returning to Megala Chorafia around 4.30pm.

Day 3: Thursday

9.30am in the village square for transfer to Chania for a ‘Guided Walking Tour of Chania Old Town’. Followed by an optional lunch on the harbour. In the afternoon there will be time to visit the various museums or undertake some shopping and the chance to stay in town for an early evening meal at one of the harbour-side restaurants.

Day 4: Friday

Meet at 9.30am in the village square for the minibus journey east to Rethimnon. Initial stop at Armeni to see extensive Late Minoan/Mycenaean period cemetery with deep-shaft, rock-cut, tomb chambers. Then on to Rethimnon town to visit the Archaeological museum, the impressive castle and the old town area with its Venetian and Turkish period houses and the delightful harbour. Optional lunch. Return to Megala Chorafia around 4.30pm.

Day 5: Saturday

A free day to allow you to enjoy the many attractions of Chania where there is an open-air farmers market in the morning. (Alternatively, you could join an excursion to Knossos and Heraklion Museum or, for the more energetic (and if open), an opportunity to walk the renowned Samaria Gorge. Or visit to the Greek and Roman city of Argyropoulou (ancient Lappa).

Day 6: Sunday

Meet at 9.30am in village square for minibus journey west to Kastelli/Kisamos, visiting on the way the German War Cemetery at Maleme which is on Hill107, the site of the major encounter in the Battle of Crete. A stop at the Monastery in Kolimbari and then up to Polyrinnia – site of a Dorian hilltop city-state with Roman and Byzantine remains. Optional lunch in village taverna. Return to Megala Chorafia, via the British Commonwealth War Cmetary at Souda, at around 4.30pm.

Day 7: Monday

Leave at 9.30am in the minibus for a full day’s visit over the mountains to Paleochora on the South Coast – the Libyan Sea. This is a scenic route, stopping at places of interest on the way, including Villa Trevisan and Topolia Gorge. After a walk around the town, a swim and an optional lunch with the return journey via Kandanos. Arriving back at Megala Chorafia around 4.30pm.