A true old story (By the travel designer)
I first visited Crete in the mid-1970s, starting a new job, selling books from house to house. It was a popular job for the university students of the time and sometimes profitable. I formed my own group consisting of some friends who were quite educated, a little bit marginal though, equipped more with a musical talent rather than commercial. Especially the eldest of the company with a big, dense, oriental style moustache which had given him the nickname “Hodja”, was a phenomenon. Intelligent, intellectual, philosopher, story teller, he had taken with him all the musical instruments he used. Bouzouki, baglamadaki, flute.
The huge ship “King Minos” started at 8 pm. Since we didn`t have cabins, we sat on the deck bar and caught up with some Cretan passengers. We were repeatedly given raki, the famous Cretan drink they had with them, and soon came the fun, the music and the songs. “Hodza” started playing bouzouki and then “baglamadaki” singing “rebetika” songs, while my other companion Davelis (another nickname for those who have a tendency towards small illegalities), the teacher (he was a graduate of the Academy and later worked as a teacher), it went very well with his flute or his guitar.
I will remember what followed as long as I live. The deck bar was filled with people, Cretans and tourists, dancing to the rhythm of “Hodja”, this amazing man with the great mental powers that could create a Dionysian, ecstatic mood. Some Cretans, drunk and ecstatic, were banging their heads on a deck pillar!
We arrived in Heraklion at 7 in the morning, without sleeping.
It was my first visit to this great island, but I already knew enough about its rich history, studying the Greek history and having read most of the books by Nikos Kazantzakis, Pantelis Prevelakis and Ioannis Kondylakis, important representatives of modern Cretan literature and, of course, “Erotokritos », the popular Cretan epic of the late Renaissance, and, also, able to “feel” Cretan music and the impressive Cretan dances.
As soon as I set foot in Crete, I felt like I were in another, mythical country, a feeling that remained in my next three or four visits to Crete.
The hospitality of the Cretan households was impressive. Sometimes it could be annoying, forcing us to eat and drink too much
The result was that the young company got drunk every night for about twenty days, either in houses in the villages or in the cities. Then we went to Cretan tavernas with live local music, the “Lyradika” and we continued the fun until late. Two or three times we found ourselves almost dawn to recite poems at the tomb of Nicko Kazantzakis in «Megalo Kastro”.
For the record, the financial result of my youth trip to Crete was a failure. I just managed to pay for the team`s hotel with some customer bills.
“Hodja” did not contribute financially to the trip, as he did not sell a single book, but he soon learned to play the Cretan lyre and sing Cretan songs with his own exciting way.
Some forty… years later I will try to recapture and share with you the feeling of my first visit to incredible Crete!
3 Hours Before Flight Time
Chania City break – start acquaintance with the city and the area around. Souda Bay, allied Cemetery, Aptera, Dinner – Overnight stay at Chania 4* hotel.
Start point: Syntagma , Πλατεία Συντάγματος (Syntagma Square), Πλατεία Συντάγματος, Athina, Αττικη, Greece . Time: 08:10 – 08:45
After breakfast we depart for Elafonisi, the magical beach on the west coast. We can swim or sunbathe here.
Then we move forward to the martyric –burned once by the Nazi troops- village of Kandanos, a perfect typical village of Crete and of Cretan hospitality. We are going to have a coffee in a Café mixed with the local people and then we will have lunch trying the famous local food specialities, together with their local spirit called “Raki”.
We take the road to Rethymno, a very interesting city on the northern road axis of the island. We will have enough time to get to know the city with the nice castle.
-Overnight stay at Rethymno 4* hotel
We drive down to the south of Crete visiting the traditional village of Sfakia or Chora Sfakion (1.10 hour). After a coffee here we take the boat to Agia Roumeli (1 hour). This is a really stunning place. It is the end of the very famous gorge of Samaria. We are not going to hike all the distance but it is worth walking for an hour until a certain point, which is the highlight of the gorge. It is the southest part of Europe and you can swim since April.
Returning to Sfakia we take our lunch in a seafront tavern.
Then, after passing from Frangokastello, we head to the old monastery of Preveli and the stunning surrounding area. We visit the well known Monastery the history of which is woven with the threads of time and central to Crete`s character. We walk down the steep path above Kourtaliotiko gorge until we meet the Lybian sea. The gorge forms a cool lagoon and sandy beach. Palms and oleanders create shade; a tropical paradise forest amidst the dry rocky Mediterranean terrain. The palms are Phoenix theophrastii and are unique to Crete.
We can swim in the cold river and the sea.
Overnight stay at the village of Plakias. 3* or 4* hotel.
After an hour drive we get to the coastal village of Matala. We start the exploration of the famous caves of Matala, once the world centre of the hippies’ movement (1963-1972). We all love this poetical decade with all its romantic meanings .
Lunch at a local tavern and then we spend the whole day and the evening in Matala.
Overnight stay at Matala (3* or 4* hotel)
We start the day with a visit to archaeological site and the Minoan Palace of Phaistos, an important cretan city of the Minoan civilization (2700-1450 BC). Lunch at a local tavern and then we drive again to the north-east to the beautiful city of Agios Nikolaos (1.45 h)
We relax in front of the nice canal of the city.
Enjoy the beach at your hotel.
Dinner at a local tavern. Overnight stay at Agios Nikolaos or at Elounda or at Istro bay.
Enjoy the beach in front of your hotel. Then Within a small driving distance we meet the small port of Plaka. From there we take the boat to the well known fortified island of Spinalonga, used as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. The place inspired Victoria Hisslop to write the novel “The island”. the book was adapted for television in the television series “To Nisi” (The island) in Greece. After a guided exploration we get back to Plaka. We drive west to Malia, Chersonisos, to get to Knossos, the famous center of the Minoan civilization, after we have already had lunch in a coastal Itavern. When we finish the visit to the archaeological site (the Labyrinth) and the museum we move forward to the city of Herakleio, the capital of Crete the “Megalo castro” of the famous writer Nicko Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek). We have all the evening to explore the wonderful city and enjoy our dinner (If available and Cretan music).
Overnight stay at Herakleion (3* or 4* hotel)
A morning visit to the city.
Transfer to the airport/Port.
Flight to Athens. Transfer to the hotel.
End point: syntagma sq, Athina, Αττικη, Greece . Time: 19:00 – 21:00
The tour of Crete was indeed Incredible due to two great gentlemen! RG and Kostintinos displayed the utmost professionalism and class as they drove us all through the island of Crete. They were very genuine and thoughtful to Michele and I throughout the entire trip. They both knew that we were eager to experience and learn about Crete. Michele and I wanted to see Crete through the eyes of the locals that’s reside there and RG and Kostas delivered! We went off the grid and had experiences with Epos Tours that we never could have planned ourselves. Kostas is a wealth of information regarding the culture and history of Crete. From the minute you meet these two men you will bond and have the best travel experience ever! Miss you both and thanks again!
This was an excellent tour, giving us a wonderful experience of Crete. The guides were very knowledgeable and the driving was safe! Would thoroughly recommend this company and tour
An excellent adventure! Our two guides, Dionysus and Constantine, were 100% on top of trip details, planned and carried out a wonderful excursion into Cretan life, nature, and history, and treated us to a feast of Cretan food at every opportunity. The hotels were varied and high quality, and we visited beautiful spots with few other tourists as well as the “can’t miss” old towns, museums, and archeological sites. A really special, memorable time. The guides knew an astounding amount of history and mythology!
We loved it! Great variety of sites and hotels. Dionysis gave us a colorful window into Greek life, and his driving on the narrow curvy roads was superb. Constantine knew SO much about the history and mythology and was fascinating to learn from. And they made sure we had a feast of Cretan food delights every day. Great hotels, food and adventures!
