• Return BA flights from London Heathrow*
• 7x nights' bed and breakfast accommodation**
• 2x dinners and 4x lunches with drinks
• Guided walking tour of Chania Old Town & waterfront
• Omalós Plateau wildflower walk with an expert guide
• Visits to Imbros Gorge, Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete, Polyrinia, Aptera, Armeni & Knossos
• Lassithi Upland Plateau wildflower walk with an expert guide
• Services of ECT Tour Manager
• Local guide with wildflower and archaeological expertise
• All transfers while in Crete

*You can also opt to arrange your own travel and join the tour in Crete

**You have the option of city view rooms or upgrade to rooms with a sea view

Day One 

07:05 – Depart London Heathrow on British Airways flight BA654 for Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis.

13:10 – Arrive Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis.

14:30 – Depart Chania Airport and transfer by private coach to 3* Porto Veneziano Hotel. Check in on arrival.

After check in we will meet in the hotel lobby for a guided walking tour of Chania Old Town and waterfront. A mix of Cretan, Venetian and Ottoman elements, the beautiful narrow streets of the Old Town offer a taste of the island's history. Many of the preserved and restored mansions have been turned into bustling taverns, tempting restaurants and local shops.

Evening  - we will gather for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day Two

Breakfast at the hotel (from 7am)

Morning - depart the hotel by private coach to Omalós Plateau for an exploratory stroll with an expert guide. A flat piece of land ringed by high peaks at an altitude of 1200m, the Omalós Plateau is a green oasis among the harsh terrain of the White Mountains and each spring it bursts into bloom.

Your guide will lead a gentle walk and point out flora, including asphodels and native tulips. The area is also known for its abundant wild herbs such as oregano, thyme and the native herb known as 'dittany of Crete'. We will stop at a kafeneon before the walk for coffee or a cup of traditional mountain tea. Made from different species of the Sideritis plant genus, Greek mountain tea – tsai tou vounou – has been known since ancient times.

After the walk, we will drive on to the nearby Xyloskalo entrance to the Samarian Gorge. Stretching for 16km, the Samarian Gorge is the longest in Europe and one of the most impressive in Greece. The entrance at Xyloskalo offers incredible panoramas stretching out across imposing snow-capped peaks and deep ravines. After time spent enjoying the landscape and atmosphere of the gorge’s surroundings, we will head to a nearby taverna for lunch.

Afternoon - return to the hotel in Chania

Evening at leisure

Day Three

Breakfast at the hotel (from 7am)

Morning - depart hotel by private coach for the Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete.

Literally born out of the ashes of a devastating fire 20 years ago, the gardens are unique in Europe and are now a haven of natural tranquillity.

"Visitors stand in awe before the burnt olive tree that proudly stands its ground at the front yard of the park," says the Garden's Chairman and co-owner Petros Marinakis."That olive tree, burned up in the 2003 fire, is so much more than a mere memory site. To our mind, it is a symbol of hope for everything that can start anew when all seems to be lost.”

The garden is constantly evolving as new varieties of plants and trees are planted, creating new paths and experiences. We will spend the morning here and our visit includes a discussion with the creators of the garden and lunch at the restaurant. The vegetables, herbs, and fruit used in the typically Cretan dishes come from the park and the views from the spacious balconies are not to missed!

Afternoon - we will drive on to the archaeological site of the ancient city of Polyrinia, near Kissamos. Polyrinia (the name means 'many sheep' and spellings vary) was a city state that flourished from the 6th century BC to Roman times and was the most important classical city of Western Crete after Kydonia – today’s Chania. The archaeological remains combine with wonderful views of the Bay of Kissamos, olive groves, and rolling hills which at this time of year are carpeted in a mass of wildflowers.

After departing from Polyrinia, the day continues with a stop at Ano Vouves, reputedly the world’s oldest olive tree! There is a family-owned café here where we can have a coffee/ice cream before returning to Chania.

Evening at leisure

Day Four

Breakfast at the hotel (from 7am)

Morning - depart by private coach for the southern entrance of the Imbros Gorge for a short walk and time to explore.  We will visit the fascinating collection of WW2 memorabilia at the Askifou War Museum en route.

The 8km long Imbros Gorge was the main route used by Allied Forces when they evacuated the island in late May 1941, after a devastating defeat in the Battle of Crete. This history mixes with rich flora and fauna. Birders should keep an eye out for the threatened bearded vulture, golden eagles, Bonelli’s eagles and griffin vultures, amongst others. Trees and plants to look out for include trachea pine, Mediterranean cypress, plane trees and kermes oaks, while the delicate pink and white flowers of the oleanders line the gorge after rain and wild herbs such as sage and dittany cover the cliff sides.

From here we continue (by coach) to Hora Sfakion, a picturesque seaside village at the end of the gorge known as the embarkation point for British and ANZAC forces during the evacuation of Crete.

After a stroll through the village (and perhaps even a swim!) we will sit down for lunch at a local taverna.

Mid-afternoon – depart Hora Sfakion and return to the hotel.

Evening at leisure

Day Five

Breakfast at the hotel (from 7am)

Morning - check out and depart by private coach for the archaeological site of Aptera. 

Located above the Bay of Souda and inhabited since Minoan times, Aptera became an important trading post and one of Crete's greatest cities. Its inhabitants were skilful archers and fought as mercenaries bringing back wealth to their land. The highlight of the modern archaeological excavations is certainly the Roman theatre. However, at this time of year, the site is also blooming with an abundant display of wildflowers growing amidst the rambling ruins.

From here we depart for another archaeological site at Armeni. The largest known Minoan cemetery in Crete, Armeni was created between 1600 and 1150 BC. Excavations began in 1969 and today you can explore several dozen rock-cut burial chambers of different sizes and depths – some are more than 10m long and a few meters deep. The cemetery is also popular with wildflower lovers and at this time of year, we should  - with luck - find many wild orchids in bloom. 

We then begin our journey eastwards across the island to the village of Spili, where we will have lunch* at a local taverna. (*Please note, lunch is not included in the tour price.)

Spili is famous for its 16th century Lion's Head fountain (which is fed by spring water), and for the wildflowers which carpet the surrounding plains. Between 25 and 30 species of orchid grow here, including Anacamptis pyramidalis (the Pyramid orchid), Ophrys candica, Ophrys kedra, Ophrys phaedra, Orchis boryi and many more.

Mid-afternoon – depart Spili and drive on to Rethymno for a short walking tour and perhaps an ice cream, before making our way to Heraklion.

Early evening - arrive at Heraklion and check in to Ibis Styles Heraklion 

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day Six

Breakfast at the hotel (from 7am)

Morning - depart by private coach to the archaeological site of Knossos. Dating back more than 4,000 years, Knossos is the birthplace of Europe's oldest civilisation, the Minoans, and is thought to be Europe's oldest city. Knossos flourished for approximately 2,000 years, boasting large palace buildings, extensive workshop installations and luxurious rock-cut cave and beehive-shaped (or 'tholos') tombs. The famous Palace of Knossos was built on the Kephala Hill and, according to tradition, was the seat of the wise, mythological King Minos. The palace is connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Ikaros.

Early afternoon - we return to Heraklion for an independent lunch followed by free-time. Alternatively, you can opt to visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum where the major finds from Knossos and other of the island's important sites are on show. The wealth of pottery, weapons, wall paintings, inscriptions and sculptures demonstrate the extraordinary sophistication of Minoan culture.

Evening at leisure 

Day Seven

Breakfast at the hotel (from 7am)

Morning - depart by private coach for the Lasithi Upland Plateau. This is the largest of the upland plains that are characteristic of the mountain ranges of Crete. At around 840m, Lasithi is a high plateau, but the whole area is flat and crossed with tracks and quiet, rural lanes making it perfect walking country. 

Wildflowers cover the ground - look out for Anemone coronaria (poppy anenome), wild Gladiolus, Cretan Cistus, Daucus carota (wild carrot), Silene vulgaris (bladder campion), Lavatera and an abundance of wild grasses. We will spend a couple of hours exploring the area around the entrance to the Cave of Diktaion (which is currently closed for renovation).

Also known as the 'Cave of Zeus', this is one of a number of caves believed to have been the birthplace, or hiding place, of Zeus and is famous in Greek mythology as the place where Amalthea nursed the infant Zeus with her goat's milk. Archaeological findings here attest to the site's long use as a place of cult worship.

We then stop at a hidden gem of a mountain taverna for our Farewell Lunch.

Afternoon - return by private coach to the hotel

Evening at leisure

Day Eight 

Breakfast at the hotel (from 7am)

Morning - at leisure to explore Heraklion.

13:00 - check out of the hotel and travel by private coach to Heraklion Aiport N. Kazantzakis for your return flight to the UK. 

16:45 - depart Heraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis (HER) on British Airways flight BA0697 for London Heathrow

18:50 - arrive at London Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 5

Outbound flight 

Saturday 10th April

07:05 - depart London Heathrow Terminal 5 on British Airways flight BA0654 

13:15 - arrive Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis.

Flight time: 4 hours 10 minutes.

Inbound flight

Saturday 17th April

16:45 - depart Heraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis on British Airways flight BA0697

18:50 - arrive London Heathrow Terminal 5

Economy Plus Luggage Allowance

• 1x 23kg checked bag up to 90x75x43cm
• 1x 23kg cabin bag up to 56x45x25cm
• 1x 23kg handbag up to 40x30x15cm

Chania: 3* Porto Veneziano Hotel - 4x nights

Set on Chania's Old Venetian Harbour in the heart of the beautiful Old Town, this charming hotel with its pretty wrought-iron balconies, boasts views of the port, the Cretan sea, the historic Old Town and the majestic White Mountains. It is also just 5 minutes walk from the popular Koum Κapi Beach and 9 minutes from the Archaeological Museum of Chania. The streamlined bedrooms feature balconies and soundproof windows, and have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes and minibars, as well as tea and coffeemakers. There is an intimate cafe/bar with a garden, a lobby lounge and a terrace where blossom blooms. The hotel, which has been awarded Green Key certification, is one of the few to have invested in a complete geothermal heating and cooling system.

Option to upgrade your rooms to enjoy a sea view!

Heraklion: 4* Ibis Styles Heraklion Central - 3x nights

Ibis Styles Heraklion Central offers a bright, contemporary stay in the heart of Heraklion, with easy access to the city's main sights and nearby seafront. The contemporary rooms feature modern furnishings and amenities including walk-in showers, soundproof windows, climate control and premium bedding. A generous breakfast buffet offers both hot and cold dishes such as made-to-order eggs, cereals and both fresh and dried fruit and nuts. They also have a Cretan section of local specialities such as dakos, olives, honey, traditional cheeses and pastries such as myzithropitakia and kalitsounia. 

Option to upgrade your rooms to enjoy having a sea view!