CRETE ISLAND TOUR - (4 NIGHTS - 5 DAYS) - 2026
DAY 01: ISTANBUL AIRPORT – HERAKLION
Meeting at the Aegean Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal at 09:00. After passport control, check-in, and luggage procedures, we will depart for Heraklion at 12:35 with Aegean Air flight A3435. Arrival at Heraklion at 14:05 local time. Our private vehicle will transfer us to the hotel. After arrival and check-in, you can settle into your rooms and enjoy free time. You can take advantage of the hotel facilities and enjoy the sea all day. Overnight stay at our hotel.
Meeting at the Aegean Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal at 09:00. After passport control, check-in, and luggage procedures, we will depart for Heraklion at 12:35 with Aegean Air flight A3435. Arrival at Heraklion at 14:05 local time. Our private vehicle will transfer us to the hotel. After arrival and check-in, you can settle into your rooms and enjoy free time. You can take advantage of the hotel facilities and enjoy the sea all day. Overnight stay at our hotel.
DAY 02: HERAKLION
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish can join the "Heraklion City Tour & Knossos & Archanes Village Tour" organized by our guide for an extra charge. After breakfast, we meet our guide and begin our tour. We set off for the Heraklion City Tour. Upon our arrival in Heraklion, we start our tour at Plateia Elefterias, exploring the rich history and culture of Crete. The service of the Agios Titos Church, the grandeur of Agios Minas Cathedral, and the historical texture of the Ottoman Bon Marche Building will be the highlights of this tour. These special places we visit are among the significant structures reflecting the rich cultural fabric of Crete. After visiting the Valide Sultan Mosque Fountain, the Evkaf Building, and other historical structures that reflect the historical significance of Crete, we will visit one of the important structures of the Venetian period in Crete, the Venetian Loggias, which will present us with Venetian influences as a historical structure. One of the most impressive moments of this tour will perhaps be the Venetian Harbor and shipyards. After the city tour, we will have some free time to taste local delights and relax. Then we head towards the Knossos Archaeological Site. This tour is designed for you to discover Crete's ancient and traditional face. We will visit the Palace of Knossos and the historic Archanes Village. The Palace of Knossos is a magical structure built in 2000 BC, the capital of the Minos Kingdom. After our visit to the palace, we will head towards Archanes Village. This charming Cretan village is famous for its streets and houses that still preserve traditional lifestyles. You will better understand the spirit of the island by experiencing Cretan culture and lifestyle firsthand. After free time, we return to our hotel.
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish can join the "Heraklion City Tour & Knossos & Archanes Village Tour" organized by our guide for an extra charge. After breakfast, we meet our guide and begin our tour. We set off for the Heraklion City Tour. Upon our arrival in Heraklion, we start our tour at Plateia Elefterias, exploring the rich history and culture of Crete. The service of the Agios Titos Church, the grandeur of Agios Minas Cathedral, and the historical texture of the Ottoman Bon Marche Building will be the highlights of this tour. These special places we visit are among the significant structures reflecting the rich cultural fabric of Crete. After visiting the Valide Sultan Mosque Fountain, the Evkaf Building, and other historical structures that reflect the historical significance of Crete, we will visit one of the important structures of the Venetian period in Crete, the Venetian Loggias, which will present us with Venetian influences as a historical structure. One of the most impressive moments of this tour will perhaps be the Venetian Harbor and shipyards. After the city tour, we will have some free time to taste local delights and relax. Then we head towards the Knossos Archaeological Site. This tour is designed for you to discover Crete's ancient and traditional face. We will visit the Palace of Knossos and the historic Archanes Village. The Palace of Knossos is a magical structure built in 2000 BC, the capital of the Minos Kingdom. After our visit to the palace, we will head towards Archanes Village. This charming Cretan village is famous for its streets and houses that still preserve traditional lifestyles. You will better understand the spirit of the island by experiencing Cretan culture and lifestyle firsthand. After free time, we return to our hotel.
DAY 03: HERAKLION
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish can join the "Rethymno & Chania Tour" organized by our guide for an additional charge. After breakfast, we begin our tour accompanied by the guides, heading towards Rethymno, where you will witness the enchanting beauties of Crete. Rethymno is like an open-air museum, carrying traces of both the Venetian and Turkish periods. Upon reaching Rethymno, you will journey through streets intertwined with history. During our explorations in Rethymno, we will see the Venetian Fortress, Ibrahim Aga Mosque, Venetian Fountain, Neratzes Mosque, and the old Ottoman School. After our explorations in Rethymno, we will turn our route toward Chania, home to unique beauties of Crete. As we proceed to Chania through Souda Bay, you will enjoy a pleasant journey with magnificent views. In our Chania city tour, we will explore the Venetian Port, Lighthouse, Hünkar Mosque, Agios Nikolaos Church, and the Kastelli Muslim Quarter. Towards the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to shop in the Covered Bazaar. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish can join the "Rethymno & Chania Tour" organized by our guide for an additional charge. After breakfast, we begin our tour accompanied by the guides, heading towards Rethymno, where you will witness the enchanting beauties of Crete. Rethymno is like an open-air museum, carrying traces of both the Venetian and Turkish periods. Upon reaching Rethymno, you will journey through streets intertwined with history. During our explorations in Rethymno, we will see the Venetian Fortress, Ibrahim Aga Mosque, Venetian Fountain, Neratzes Mosque, and the old Ottoman School. After our explorations in Rethymno, we will turn our route toward Chania, home to unique beauties of Crete. As we proceed to Chania through Souda Bay, you will enjoy a pleasant journey with magnificent views. In our Chania city tour, we will explore the Venetian Port, Lighthouse, Hünkar Mosque, Agios Nikolaos Church, and the Kastelli Muslim Quarter. Towards the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to shop in the Covered Bazaar. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
DAY 04: HERAKLION
After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time set by our guide. Guests who wish can join the "Elounda & Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos Tour" organized by our guides for an extra charge. Our tour will commence from the port town of Plaka, where we will board the boat. After a short boat ride, we will first visit Spinalonga Island, which harbors one of the most powerful fortresses of the Venetian period. After our visit, we will proceed to Elounda for some free time, and then we will visit Agios Nikolaos, known for its lake and the many legends surrounding its depth. We will explore the lovely harbor of this old fishing village overlooking the Mirabello Bay and visit the Lake Voulismeni, also known as the Bottomless Lake. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time set by our guide. Guests who wish can join the "Elounda & Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos Tour" organized by our guides for an extra charge. Our tour will commence from the port town of Plaka, where we will board the boat. After a short boat ride, we will first visit Spinalonga Island, which harbors one of the most powerful fortresses of the Venetian period. After our visit, we will proceed to Elounda for some free time, and then we will visit Agios Nikolaos, known for its lake and the many legends surrounding its depth. We will explore the lovely harbor of this old fishing village overlooking the Mirabello Bay and visit the Lake Voulismeni, also known as the Bottomless Lake. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
DAY 05: HERAKLION – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time set by our guide. Guests who wish can join the "Jumbo Shopping Tour" organized by our guides for an extra charge. We will evaluate our last day at the Jumbo Store, which is the most popular in Greece, offering many options from toys to household items and famous for its affordability. After the tour, we transfer to the airport. After passport control and check-in procedures, we will depart for Istanbul on Aegean Airlines flight A3434 at 15:25. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 17:00 local time. End of our tour.
After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time set by our guide. Guests who wish can join the "Jumbo Shopping Tour" organized by our guides for an extra charge. We will evaluate our last day at the Jumbo Store, which is the most popular in Greece, offering many options from toys to household items and famous for its affordability. After the tour, we transfer to the airport. After passport control and check-in procedures, we will depart for Istanbul on Aegean Airlines flight A3434 at 15:25. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 17:00 local time. End of our tour.
- Prices are calculated per person in a double room.
- Hotel standards in Greece may be below those in Turkey.
- Hotel check-in hours are between 15:00 and 17:00, and check-out hours are between 10:00 and 12:00.
- If multiple hotel alternatives are offered in the same destination and/or only the hotel category is specified, the hotels to be stayed in will be notified to you 48 hours before the travel date.
- Due to high demand, changes may occur in hotels; however, the hotel category will not change.
- Some hotels may provide twin (TWIN) beds. Requests for room type changes during the hotel stay are at the hotel's discretion.
- We kindly ask you to check the prices before making a purchase.
What's Included
- Economy class plane ticket between Istanbul Airport – Heraklion – Istanbul Airport with Aegean Airlines
- 4 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in the selected hotel category in Crete
- Airport taxes
- Hotel taxes.
- Experienced Turkish tour leader service (subject to a minimum participation of 15 people)
- Airport taxes.
- All hotel and airport transfers.
- Mandatory travel insurance (is professional liability insurance).
Not Included
- Personal expenses and hotel extras.
- All tours specified as extra in the program.
- International exit fee (can be paid to relevant banks or at the finance office at the airport).
- Lunch and dinner.
- City taxes charged by hotels.
- Domestic connecting flights.
- Schengen visa fee.
- Travel insurance package (including cancellation insurance).
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