Crete Retreat

Duration9 Nights
StyleHoneymoon Tour
When to GoApril to Oct
Price GuideFrom $5,415 Per Person

Focusing on the largest and one of the most diverse islands in Greece, this luxurious Mediterranean getaway promises a seamless adventure with private transfers, private tours, and intimate hotels filled with authentic character. Explore spectacular coastal beauty, rich culture, and history, starting in picturesque Chania with its significant Venetian influence. You'll learn about Crete through its local flavors, tasting traditional dishes in charming villages on a food tour, and embark on a private boat tour visiting stunning beaches and an intriguing UNESCO heritage island, once a military stronghold. You'll tour ancient Knossos Palace, where the Minoan civilization and its remarkable advances come to life, and explore Heraklion Museum, with many of its treasures, concluding in Athens, the birthplace of Western Civilization.

At a Glance

Days 1-3

Chania, Crete
- Fly to Chania
- Private Chania Villages Culinary Tour
- Private Boat Tour to Balos Beach and Gramvousa Island

Days 4-5

Rethymno, Crete
- Private transfer to your hotel in Rethymno with Lake Kournas Enroute
- Private Old Town Rethymno cultural and food tasting tour

Days 6-8

Agios Nikolaos, Crete
- Private transfer to Agios Nikolaos hotel with guided tours to Knossos and Heraklion Museum En route
- Private Guided Tour of Spinalonga on a Traditional Wooden Kaiki wtih Cretan lunch
- Day at leisure

Day 9-10

Flight to Athens+ Departure

Meet Our Expert

Nora

Greece Specialist

While I’ve traveled extensively across Europe, Greece has always had a special place in my heart. Now based in Athens, I have a total wonderlust for creating luxury Greece trips, making sure my passion for culture, food and wine is shown throughout the process.

CALL US ON: +1 844 879 7838

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What's Included

Domestic round-trip flights from Athens to Crete
Private luxury transfers throughout
9 nights in 4 or 5-star hotel with breakfast
Private Chania Villages Culinary Tour
Private Boat Tour to Balos and Gramvousa
Private Lake Kournas visit en route to Rethymno
Private Old Town Rethymno Cultural & Food Tasting Tour
Private guided tour to Knossos Palace and Heraklion Museum
Private Spinalonga Guided Tour via traditional wooden kaiki with Cretan lunch
24/7 support provided throughout your trip by our friendly, professional staff
Full financial trip protection is included

What's Not Included

Roundtrip international flights
Any optional tours mentioned in the itinerary
Travel visas - your consultant will advise of any required visas and how to obtain them
Travel insurance - we strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as you have booked your trip

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Chania
Upon arrival at the airport in Chania, you’ll be welcomed by our driver for a seamless private transfer to your boutique hotel in the heart of the city. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours, but we highly recommend a stroll around the Venetian harbor. Incredibly alluring day and night with the sparkling lights reflected on the water, you might walk to the lighthouse to stretch your legs while taking in the view. Or, simply grab a table at one of the many restaurants with front-row seats for sunset views of the lighthouse and harbor.
Accommodation Options:
- Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa
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  Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa
  Highlights
  Set within a magnificent 17th-century mansion
  Beautiful spa
  Courtyard for outdoor dining
  Generous free breakfast buffet featuring local specialties
  Roof terrace with a bar and hot tub
  Turndown treats
  Overview
  An atmospheric boutique hotel, Casa Delfino is located in the heart of Chania’s historic centre along a cobbled street close to the Venetian harbour. It’s housed within a 17th-century mansion and provides a home-away-from-home kind of feel, ideal for everyone from solo travellers and couples to families with children. It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, historic sites, and museums, as well as being close to sandy beaches and hikes in the Samaria Gorge. The candlelit spa has a steam room and hot tub along with a menu of treatments and massages. Guests can start their day with an extensive complimentary breakfast featuring many local specialties, enjoyed in the courtyard or indoor dining room. The rooftop terrace is a popular spot to sunbathe, relax in the hot tub, or grab a cocktail from the bar to sip while watching the sun go down over the harbour.
- Ambassadors Residence Boutique Hotel
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  Ambassadors Residence Boutique Hotel
  Highlights
  Old Venetian Harbor views
  Historic character
  Welcome bottle of wine
  Private romantic dinners
  Free breakfast
  Massages available
  Overview
  Set within an 1890 neoclassical building, the Ambassador’s Residence Boutique Hotel is within walking distance of popular Chania attractions and multiple cafes. It hosts 13 double rooms, junior and senior suites, all themed by the various materials used to renovate the building in the 1980s. With the minimal capacity, an intimate stay with exceptional service is ensured. All rooms offer abundant natural light, free wi-Fi, minibars, coffeemakers, and flat-screen TVs. The upper floor suites are the most impressive with large windows, high ceilings, and terraces with gardens where guests can relax with a panoramic water view. Special extras are provided such as a welcome bottle of wine, while a delicious free breakfast is served in a nearby harbor view café and a limited room service menu is available. Private romantic dinners can be arranged in the harbor or even on a yacht.
Day 2
Private Culinary Tour of Chania Villages
Combining local foods and charming Chania villages, begin this tour at a local olive mill. Notice the aroma reminiscent of fresh-cut grass as you observe how olive oil is made from harvest to your plate. Venturing to a distillery in a traditional village, discover how Raki, Crete’s most famous spirit, is produced. Head to Embrosneros village in the White Mountains foothills for a tasting of local bread and other bites at a bakery, before visiting a traditional cheese factory to learn about the production process. A tasting of cheeses with local honey and rusk is included with your finale, a traditional lunch in Fres village.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Traditional Cretan lunch
Experience Included:
Culinary Tour of Chania Villages in Apokoronas
Day 3
Private Boat Tour to Balos Beach and Gramvousa Island
A private Comment start half-day boat tour will bring you to idyllic beaches and a mysterious island, complete with snorkeling gear. Immerse yourself in the stunning scenery of famous Balos Beach with ivory sands and stunning turquoise water before continuing to historic Gramvousa Island. Admire the picturesque views as you sail under the Mediterranean sun, watching for “secret” beaches tucked into secluded coves along the coast. Once on Gramvousa, relax on the beach while admiring the view of the iconic Venetian fortress, and swim or snorkel around a shipwreck. On the return, relax while gazing out at the incredible beauty with a backdrop of your favorite tunes.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 4
Private Transfer to Rethymno Hotel wth Lake Kournas En Route
Our driver will provide a private transfer from Chania to your hotel in Rethymno, just over an hour’s drive away. En route, stop to visit Lake Kournas, Crete’s only natural freshwater lake. Located at the base of the White Mountains, the sparkling aquamarine waters are surrounded by lush hills and fertile plains, providing a place of exceptional natural beauty and mystique with connections to enduring myths. Relax along the shores with an optional Cretan lunch overlooking the lake or explore it on a water bike before continuing to Rethymno, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Experience Included:
Visit Lake Kournas en route to Rethymno
- Veneto Hotel
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  Veneto Hotel
  Highlights
  Centrally located in the Old Town of Rethymno
  Rooms with historic character, some featuring balconies
  Wine cellar with over 150 wine labels
  Quality Cretan Cuisine-certified restaurant
  Massages and beauty services upon request
  Veneto Hotel is housed in a 15th-century Venetian mansion in Old Town Rethymno, providing an ideal location near historic sites, shopping, dining, and the beach. It hosts 12 rooms and suites, all uniquely designed while blending the traditional Venetian architecture with modern amenities. Some suites have full balconies or large patios, while some of the standard rooms have smaller Juliette balconies. All include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, minibars, air-conditioning, spacious bathrooms, toiletries, and robes and slippers.
  
  The Veneto Restaurant has been recognized for its quality of ingredients and service, with a menu based on traditional Cretan recipes using organic vegetables and other ingredients from local producers, such as fresh fish from the Cretan Sea and meat from nearby farms. All can be enjoyed with one of the over 150 wine labels from the 600-year-old stone-built cellar. Seating is offered in a romantic medieval-style setting indoors or outdoors in the courtyard.
  While facilities are limited due to hotel size, there is a unique art shop featuring hand-selected items designed by Greek artists and creators, while massages, manicures, and pedicures are available upon request.
- Rimondi Boutique Hotels
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  Rimondi Boutique Hotels
  Highlights
  Intimate hotel set within a Venetian mansion
  Whirlpool tubs
  Luxurious spa
  White marble hammam
  Two outdoor pools
  On-site restaurant
  Overview
  This boutique hotel is made up of two complexes, the Palazzo Collection and the Estate Collection. Each one has its own pool and is partially housed in a mansion dating to the Venetian period and renovated with Renaissance-style touches. There are lavish features throughout the property along with an impressive list of luxurious amenities. There are 33 rooms, including the Master and Spa Suites in the Palazzo Collection which are some of the most enticing, with whirlpools and gardens for enjoying quiet contemplation. Each one includes flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and DVD players, minibars, and bathrooms with upscale toiletries. The grounds include a heated outdoor pool and there’s a fabulous terrace with an area for relaxing and soaking up the Mediterranean sun. The spa has a white marble hammam and offers stress-melting massages.
Day 5
Private Old Town Rethymno cultural and food tasting tour
This private tour combines local Cretan delicacies with Old Town Rethymno’s rich culture and historic landmarks. You’ll explore after the heat of the day has begun to fade and the beautiful light of dusk falls over the port. Your expert guide will bring you to highlights, many of which were built by the Venetians, from the Venetian Harbour and the imposing Fortezza Castle that overlooks Rethymno to Rimondi Lion’s Fountain. Enjoy delicious island bites throughout, perhaps Apaki and Dakos, emphasizing Crete’s rustic flavors. Your guide can provide recommendations for dining and drinking afterward, allowing you to continue this tasty experience into the evening.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Experience Included:
Private Old Town Rethymno cultural and food tasting tour
Day 6
Private Transfer to Agios Nikolaos Hotel with Knossos Palace Tour & Heraklion Museum En Route
During your private transfer to Agios Nikolaos, explore UNESCO-listed Knossos Palace, going back in time to the peak of the Minoan civilization. Europe’s oldest city, built around 2000 BC, your expert guide will reveal tales of its history and myths, focusing on Crete’s prehistoric period. You might be surprised to see pipes from its advanced, ancient plumbing and drainage systems still visible today.
After exploring, marvel at the artifacts in Heraklion Archaeological Museum that were uncovered from the palace, revealing thousands of years of history, including the Bull Games fresco, Phaistos Disk, and a clay tablet, for an authentic glimpse of life during ancient times.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Accommodation Options:
- St. Nicolas Bay
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  St. Nicolas Bay
  Highlights
  Prime location with panoramic Aegean views
  Spacious rooms, suites, and Thalassa villas blend contemporary desMany rooms feature large terraces or balconies and select suites include private heated pools
  5 restaurants on site
  Spa with an indoor heated pool, Turkish steam baths, and saunas
  Yoga and Pilates sessions
  Overlooking Mirabello Bay, St. Nicholas Bay Resort is made up of Cycladic-style buildings housing 137 rooms and villas, nearly all of which offer sea views. Many are along the seafront and come with their own private outdoor hot tubs or pools. Standard amenities include 50″ Smart TVs, minibars stocked with premium brands, Nespresso machines with free tea and coffee, and Marble bathrooms with robes and slippers, toiletries, and beach towels.
  You’ll have a wide range of dining choices with something for nearly every diet and taste, all focused on ingredients from the resort’s private gardens and local sustainable farms. The poolside Minotaure is ideal for intimate candlelit dinners, while The Labryinthos serves traditional Greek fare with a modern twist. The Blue Bay has an all-day menu featuring drinks and light bites with seating on the jetty right above the water. Bars include the seafront Bonatsa for cocktails and music. The Greek kafeion overlooks the sea and often hosts bouzouki bands that play Greek classics.
  The resort has its own private sandy beach and a fabulous spa for indulging in a variety of facial and body therapies. It also has an indoor heated pool, Turkish steam baths and saunas, and a beauty salon.
- Minos Palace – Crete
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  Minos Palace – Crete
  Highlights
  18 rooms
  Some sea-view suites
  Private beach
  Full-service spa
  Beachfront dining
  Minos Palace is an adults-only hotel boasting stunning panoramic vistas from just outside Agios Nikolaos in eastern Crete as is the only luxury property on the island that offers 360-degree sea views. It has its own stretch of beach, a beautiful infinity pool, a spa and multiple dining options.
  Overview
  Located just over a mile from the cobbled streets of Agios Nikolaos with its seaside taverns, Minos Palace offers a luxurious stay that includes a magnificent, large dark-bottomed saltwater infinity pool surrounded by loungers and day beds where guests can gaze out at stunning views of the glistening expanse of the Aegean Sea. Look forward to taking advantage of the private beach, taking part in fun water sports, strolling through fragrant gardens or even taking a yoga class. After a day of play, the hotel’s spa offers a perfect spot for pampering and relaxation, including massage. The property also hosts a library, tennis courts and billiard tables. All accommodations extend out onto furnished terrace or balconies and come with either a partial or full sea view. For the ultimate stay book one of the sea-view suites that comes with a private pool as well as separate sleeping and living areas. Dining is enjoyed at the high quality Kulinarium beach tavern overlooking the bay, or in the Amalthea restaurant which services a variety of Greek staples and international fare, with some sea view tables.
  Location:
  Less than a mile from Agios Nikolaos in the eastern part of Crete; one hour’s drive east of Heraklion ferries and just under an hour east of Heraklion International Airport.
Day 7
Private Spinalnoga Guided Tour via Traditional Wooden Kaiki with Cretan Lunch
Discover long, forgotten ways of life on a private tour to uninhabited Spinalonga Island, with a Cretan lunch included. This former military stronghold and leper colony tells a fascinating story you’ll learn more about from your guide, who brings it all to life. You’ll have time to explore on your own, perhaps contemplating what the crumbling walls of the abandoned fortress might have to say. But it’s not all about history, this is an opportunity to see one of the island’s two most visited sights and enjoy the secluded coasts and turquoise waters of Mirabello Bay on your private traditional-style, handmade wooden kaiki boat.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Traditional Cretan lunch
Experience Included:
Private Spinalonga tour on a traditional wooden Kaiki
Day 8
Day at Leisure
After many exciting days of touring, it might be time to relax. Agios Nikolaos is famous for its spectacular beaches like Ammos and Kitroplatia, with even more stunning options like Voulisma nearby, with fine golden sands and shallow turquoise water for swimming. Or explore more on your own.
Nature trails and authentic villages like Kritsa and Krousta are all within easy reach, or visit Lake Voulismeni with its sheer cliffs meeting vibrant cafes. Alternatively, let our travel experts create a safari trip to Lasithi Plateau, or head to Plaka in Elounda for a romantic cocktail or dinner overlooking Spinalonga.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 9
Flight to Athens & Optional Private Sunset Acropolis Tour
Saying farewell to Crete, a private transfer brings you to the airport to catch a flight to Athens. A private transfer is provided to your hotel in the city upon arrival. This evening, you might head to a beautiful Athenian rooftop for an Acropolis view at sunset. Or, watch a colorful sunset from Acropolis hill on an optional tour.
Walking in the footsteps of ancient philosophers like Plato, you’ll be awed by the 5th-century BC monuments, including the iconic Parthenon, and the view of the Greek capital laid out below. Your unforgettable finale? Watching the sun cast its orange glow over the city.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Accommodation Options:
- Elia Ermou
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  Elia Ermou
  Highlights
  Some rooms with Acropolis views and/or private Jacuzzis
  Luxurious spa with a Finnish sauna
  Salon services including hair, makeup, manicures and pedicures
  On-site dining in the rooftop garden
  Rooftop bar for sunset cocktails
  Complimentary buffet breakfast daily
  Overview
  This new hotel, opened in late 2018, is located in the historic Plaka neighbourhood, known for its enticing cobbled streets with neoclassical homes, shops, tavernas, and cafes. It’s also close to the Acropolis Museum and ancient Agora. The stylish rooms and suites provide state-of-the-art technology, some with private hammams, hydromassage tubs, and Acropolis views. There’s a luxurious spa complete with a traditional Finnish sauna that uses volcanic stones and a range of massage options. You can even sip sparkling wine and enjoy fresh fruit whilst indulging in a decadent chocolate-based treatment. There are full beauty services available and outstanding dining can be enjoyed in the rooftop garden. The rooftop bar is the place to be for sunset cocktails or anytime you want to take in a view of the Acropolis and Lycabettus hill whilst unwinding with a drink.
- Anthology Of Athens
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  Anthology Of Athens
  Highlights
  Located in the heart of Athens, directly beneath the Acropolis and across from the Temple of Olympian Zeus
  Combines contemporary luxury with classical Greek aesthetics
  Some rooms include private balconies offering panoramic views of the city
  Onsite Restaurant offering Greek Cuisine
  Rooftop pool, fitness studio & Balaneion Spa
  Anthology of Athens is a 5-star cultural boutique hotel located in the heart of Athens, directly beneath the Acropolis and across from the Temple of Olympian Zeus, placing guests within walking distance of historic neighborhoods and iconic landmarks. The hotel combines contemporary luxury with classical Greek aesthetics, featuring marble interiors, minimalist Italian furnishings, and rooms with private balconies offering panoramic views of the city’s ancient monuments. Its amenities include a rooftop pool, fitness studio, Balaneion Spa inspired by ancient bathing rituals, and the Botany Restaurant, which serves modern Greek cuisine with spectacular views.
  Emphasizing cultural immersion and sustainability, Anthology of Athens offers curated experiences, a library inspired by Greek heritage, and eco-conscious design certified by LEED Gold, embodying a philosophy of “well-living” that merges comfort, history, and the essence of Athens.
Day 10
Departure
We hope you’ve made many memories of a lifetime while taking advantage of the opportunity to truly understand Crete. Having explored some of the most alluring historical and natural attractions across the island, from Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos in Elounda, and even an intriguing island, you now know why Crete is a favorite among travelers.
Our driver will meet you upon checkout at your Athens hotel for the private transfer back to Athens International Airport. From there, you can catch your flight home or embark on further travels. After all, the sky’s the limit – just contact our travel experts for any assistance.