Wine, Dine & Divine: A Cretan Odyssey in Chania.
Description
Discover the essence of Cretan charm and heritage on our exclusive private tour from Chania. Explore the timeless Monastery of Gonia, marvel at a 3,000-year-old olive tree in Vouves, and indulge in a wine and olive oil tasting at a renowned winery. With expert guidance and luxury transportation, immerse yourself in the rich history, natural beauty, and culinary delights of western Crete. Optional dinner at a traditional taverna offers authentic wood-fired dishes, completing a day of unforgettable experiences.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your first stop takes you to the serene Monastery of Gonia, a timeless symbol of Cretan spirituality and resilience. Nestled amidst picturesque surroundings, this 9th-century monastery invites you to explore its historic halls, adorned with exquisite Byzantine frescoes and adorned with sacred relics. Delve into the monastery's storied past as your knowledgeable guide shares captivating tales of its significance in local history and culture.
The village of Vouves, home to an ancient olive tree whose branches have stood the test of time for over 3,000 years. Marvel at the sheer grandeur of this living monument, as you stroll beneath its sprawling canopy and bask in the tranquil ambiance of the olive groves that surround it. Learn about the olive tree's venerable legacy, revered as a symbol of longevity, fertility, and prosperity in Cretan tradition.
Winery / Olive mill: Conclude your enriching excursion with a visit to the esteemed Winery, where the essence of Cretan viticulture and gastronomy awaits. Indulge your senses in a guided tour of the production facilities, gaining insight into the artistry behind their acclaimed olive oil. Then, treat your palate to a bespoke tasting experience, savoring a selection of premium wines crafted from indigenous grape varieties, alongside the finest extra virgin olive oils produced on-site. Delight in the harmonious fusion of flavors, as you toast to the timeless spirit of Cretan hospitality.
At a traditional Cretan taverna, you’ll enjoy slow-cooked dishes prepared exclusively over wood fire. Think tender lamp roasted on a spit, hearty vegetable stew simmered in clay pots, and freshly baked bread drizzled with local olive oil. Its all about the authentic flavors nurtured by the slow, methodical process of wood-fired cooking.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotel entrance, driver will hold a sign with the company name.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time is already included in the total duration
Reviews(7)
Excellent service from start to finish. The driver was punctual, professional, and very friendly. The transfer was smooth, comfortable, and stress-free. Great communication and overall a very pleasant experience. Highly recommended!
What a wonderful day tour four our family of 6. Nikos was very engaging and knowledgeable of the area. The winery was beautiful and don't skip the lunch at the traditional wood fired taverna. Highly recommend this tour.
The view and experience were amazing! Our tour guide was also very friendly and great! We enjoyed so much! Highly recommended!
This tour was incredible! It was truly one of the highlights of our visit to Crete. The driver, Nicos, was friendly and knowledgeable about the sights. The vehicle was extremely clean and comfortable. I would definitely recommend this tour company and if we visit Crete again we will book with Sky and Thalassa again.
Michial was a wonderful guide and very flexible. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you Michial for a wonderful day!
Sky & Thalassa is the best travel guide we've had so far! The driver was very friendly and polite, and shared many amazing facts about their beautiful country and gave recommendations to make our vacation worthwhile. My friends and I booked this tour and we felt like we were being transported back in time. We started the day at the monastery of Gonia, its architectural design is just exquisite. Touring in the monastery gave us a sense of serenity with its unique and picturesque architecture. We continued on to see the marvelous ancient olive tree that has been standing for a good 3,000 years. It is indeed a remarkable sight and simply breathtaking. Then we headed for a tour at a local winery, its premises has an aroma of rustic elegance. We learned about the process of how they make wine and olive oil. We than savored in a range of their wines and olive oil during the tasting session. Our driver recommended a local restaurant for dinner. We ordered different variants, but one of my favorite was the kleftiko, which is slow-roasted lamb with potatoes and vegetables cooked together in parchment paper until meltingly tender. It's a must-try! The flavors just compliment each other! Overall, the tour is truly a charming and memorable experience. We highly recommended this tour and Sky & Thalassa! PS: Saw this majestic horse! He was really friendly and gave the customers a warm welcome :)
Sky & Thalassa is the best transportation company in Crete!! In fact, they are the best transporation I have every experienced. I simply cannot recommend them enough. They are efficient, knowledgable, helpful and kind. While I initially booked them for one transport, a quick conversation led me to learn a great deal about Crete. Because of that one ride, I was lucky to secure them for numerous days which included tours throughout Crete. They also made recommendation for restaurants that serve authentic food and ones rarely visited by tourists. For each trip, they made the reservations and ensured all was seemless when we arrived. This is above and beyond anything I would ever expect or imagine would be done, but they always went the extra mile. This is truly a great company and one that helped make my family's trip very, very special. I cannot thank them enough for all that they did for us and I look forward to using their services again on our next trip to Crete! When in Crete, do yourself a favor and call Sky & Thalassa!!
