Day 1: ISTANBUL AIRPORT – HERAKLION
Meeting at 09:00 in front of the Aegean Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departure Terminal. After passport, check-in, and baggage procedures, we will depart for Heraklion on Aegean Air's flight A3435 at 12:35. Arrival in Heraklion at 14:05 local time. Transfer to our hotel by a private vehicle waiting for us at the airport. After checking in at the hotel, you can settle into your rooms and enjoy free time. You can take advantage of the hotel facilities throughout the day and enjoy the sea. Overnight stay at our hotel.
Meeting at 09:00 in front of the Aegean Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departure Terminal. After passport, check-in, and baggage procedures, we will depart for Heraklion on Aegean Air's flight A3435 at 12:35. Arrival in Heraklion at 14:05 local time. Transfer to our hotel by a private vehicle waiting for us at the airport. After checking in at the hotel, you can settle into your rooms and enjoy free time. You can take advantage of the hotel facilities throughout the day and enjoy the sea. Overnight stay at our hotel.
Day 2: HERAKLION
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests wishing to participate can join the “Heraklion City Tour & Knossos & Archanes Village Tour” organized by the guide for an extra fee. After breakfast, we meet with our guide and start our tour. We will set off for the Heraklion City Tour. Upon arrival in Heraklion, we begin our tour from Plateia Elefterias, exploring the rich history and culture of Crete. Significant stops on this tour will include the Agios Titos Church, the grandeur of Agios Minas Cathedral, and the historical texture of the Ottoman Bon Marche Building, which are important structures reflecting the rich cultural texture of Crete. After visiting these special sites, we will see the Venetian Loggias, one of the important structures from Crete's Venetian period, showcasing the Venetian influence. Perhaps one of the most impressive moments of this tour will be the Venetian Harbor and shipyards. After the city tour, we will have free time to taste local delicacies and relax. Then, we will head to the Knossos Ancient City. This tour is designed for you to discover the ancient and traditional face of Crete. In our tour, we will visit the Knossos Palace and the historical Archanes Village. The Knossos Palace, built in 2000 BC and the capital of the Minoan Kingdom, is a magical structure. After our palace visit, we head to Archanes Village. This charming Crete village is famous for its streets and houses that still preserve traditional ways of life. You will better understand the spirit of the island by experiencing Cretan culture and lifestyle firsthand. After some free time, we return to our hotel.
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests wishing to participate can join the “Heraklion City Tour & Knossos & Archanes Village Tour” organized by the guide for an extra fee. After breakfast, we meet with our guide and start our tour. We will set off for the Heraklion City Tour. Upon arrival in Heraklion, we begin our tour from Plateia Elefterias, exploring the rich history and culture of Crete. Significant stops on this tour will include the Agios Titos Church, the grandeur of Agios Minas Cathedral, and the historical texture of the Ottoman Bon Marche Building, which are important structures reflecting the rich cultural texture of Crete. After visiting these special sites, we will see the Venetian Loggias, one of the important structures from Crete's Venetian period, showcasing the Venetian influence. Perhaps one of the most impressive moments of this tour will be the Venetian Harbor and shipyards. After the city tour, we will have free time to taste local delicacies and relax. Then, we will head to the Knossos Ancient City. This tour is designed for you to discover the ancient and traditional face of Crete. In our tour, we will visit the Knossos Palace and the historical Archanes Village. The Knossos Palace, built in 2000 BC and the capital of the Minoan Kingdom, is a magical structure. After our palace visit, we head to Archanes Village. This charming Crete village is famous for its streets and houses that still preserve traditional ways of life. You will better understand the spirit of the island by experiencing Cretan culture and lifestyle firsthand. After some free time, we return to our hotel.
Day 3: HERAKLION
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests wishing to join can participate in the “Rethymno & Chania Tour” organized by the guides for an extra fee. After breakfast, our tour begins as we head toward Rethymno, where you will witness the stunning beauties of Crete. Rethymno is like an open-air museum bearing the traces of both the Venetian and Turkish periods. Upon arriving in one of Crete's most dazzling cities, you will wander through streets intertwined with history. In Rethymno, we will see the Venetian Castle, Ibrahim Aga Mosque, Venetian Fountain, Nerazze Mosque, and the old Ottoman School among the places to discover. After exploring Rethymno, we will turn our route toward Chania, which hosts unique beauties of Crete. While heading toward Chania via Souda Town, you will enjoy a pleasant journey with magnificent views. In our Chania city tour, we will explore the Venetian Shipyard, the Lighthouse, Hunkar Mosque, Agios Nikolaos Church, and the Kastelli Muslim Quarter. Towards the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to shop at the Covered Bazaar. After the tour, return to the hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
After breakfast, free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests wishing to join can participate in the “Rethymno & Chania Tour” organized by the guides for an extra fee. After breakfast, our tour begins as we head toward Rethymno, where you will witness the stunning beauties of Crete. Rethymno is like an open-air museum bearing the traces of both the Venetian and Turkish periods. Upon arriving in one of Crete's most dazzling cities, you will wander through streets intertwined with history. In Rethymno, we will see the Venetian Castle, Ibrahim Aga Mosque, Venetian Fountain, Nerazze Mosque, and the old Ottoman School among the places to discover. After exploring Rethymno, we will turn our route toward Chania, which hosts unique beauties of Crete. While heading toward Chania via Souda Town, you will enjoy a pleasant journey with magnificent views. In our Chania city tour, we will explore the Venetian Shipyard, the Lighthouse, Hunkar Mosque, Agios Nikolaos Church, and the Kastelli Muslim Quarter. Towards the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to shop at the Covered Bazaar. After the tour, return to the hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
Day 4: HERAKLION
After breakfast, we complete our hotel check-out procedures and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests can join the “Elounda & Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos Tour” designed by the guides for an extra fee. Our tour will start at the harbor town of Plaka, where we will board a boat. After a short boat trip, we will first visit Spinalonga Island, which hosts one of the strongest castles from the Venetian period. After crossing to Elounda by boat, we will have some free time. Following that, we will see Agios Nikolaos, known for being a charming town with a lake inside and numerous legends surrounding its depth. We will explore this old fishing town overlooking Mirabello Bay and visit Voulismeni Lake, also known as the Bottomless Lake. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
After breakfast, we complete our hotel check-out procedures and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests can join the “Elounda & Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos Tour” designed by the guides for an extra fee. Our tour will start at the harbor town of Plaka, where we will board a boat. After a short boat trip, we will first visit Spinalonga Island, which hosts one of the strongest castles from the Venetian period. After crossing to Elounda by boat, we will have some free time. Following that, we will see Agios Nikolaos, known for being a charming town with a lake inside and numerous legends surrounding its depth. We will explore this old fishing town overlooking Mirabello Bay and visit Voulismeni Lake, also known as the Bottomless Lake. After the tour, we return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel.
Day 5: HERAKLION – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
After breakfast, we perform our hotel check-out procedures and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests can participate in the “Jumbo Shopping Tour” organized by the guides for an extra fee. We will evaluate our last day by visiting the Jumbo Store, which is popular in Greece for its wide range of options from toys to household items and known for its affordability. After the tour, we transfer to the airport. Following passport and check-in procedures, we will depart for Istanbul at 15:25 on Aegean Airlines flight A3434. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 17:00 local time. End of our tour.
After breakfast, we perform our hotel check-out procedures and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests can participate in the “Jumbo Shopping Tour” organized by the guides for an extra fee. We will evaluate our last day by visiting the Jumbo Store, which is popular in Greece for its wide range of options from toys to household items and known for its affordability. After the tour, we transfer to the airport. Following passport and check-in procedures, we will depart for Istanbul at 15:25 on Aegean Airlines flight A3434. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 17:00 local time. End of our tour.
- Aegean Airlines economy class flight ticket from Istanbul Airport to Heraklion and back to Istanbul Airport
- 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 (professional liability insurance).
- Personal expenses and hotel extras.
- All tours specified as optional activities in the program
- International departure fee (can be paid at relevant banks or the tax office at the airport).
- Lunch and dinner.
- City taxes charged by hotels.
- Domestic connecting flights.
- Schengen visa fee.
- Travel insurance package (including cancellation insurance).
- Prices are calculated per person in a double room.
- Hotel standards in Greece may be below those in Turkey.
- Hotel check-in times are between 15:00–17:00, and check-out times are between 10:00–12:00.
- 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 communicated 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 beds. Requests for changes in room type during the hotel stay are at the hotel's discretion.
- We kindly request that you check the prices before making a purchase.