Vegan Travel Club Greece
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We require a depositof US$400 per guest. |
itineraries
PRE TRIP SANTORINI: WEDNESDAY, May 8TH TO SATURDAY, 11, 2024 $1,899.- per person SAVE $125 for sharing room
Day 1 - Arrive in Santorini
Depending on what time you arrive you can check-in or drop off your bags at the hotel. You have free time to get acquainted with the area of Fira before we meet as a group for a Vegan Food and Wine Tasting Experience.
Meals: Welcome Dinner with wine tasting
Accommodations: UmaRay Suites
Day 2 - Lost Atlantis Experience and Akrotiri Archeological Site
After a delicious vegan breakfast we will explore the “Lost Atlantis Experience” The Greek philosopher Plato comes to life in an animated hologram. Converse with him and ask him about his philosophy and the theory that Santorini could be the origin of the Atlantis myth. Next we’ll head over to Akrotiri Archeological Site where we’ll have a guided audio tour. Now it’s time for lunch together as a group at the black beach. The night is free.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: UmaRay Suites
Day 3 - Volcano, Hot Springs & Thirassia Day Cruise From Fira
This is a full day. Your first stop will be the legendary volcano of Santorini. A 20-minute boat ride away, lies the Nea Kameni jetty. Walk to the volcano’s ridge with your guide, who will tell you about the history and the geology of the site. Explore the volcanic island for 1.5hr before hopping on the boat to your next stop, the island of Palea Kameni. Stop here for 30min at a distance of 30 meters from the shallow waters of Agios Nicholaos’ beach and enjoy the hot springs. Your last stop for the day is the island of Thirassia.
Stay here for 2 hours, explore this quaint little village and treat your tastebuds to authentic Santorinian cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch on Boat
Accommodations: UmaRay Suites
Day 4 - Flight to Crete together
Day 1 - Arrive in Santorini
Depending on what time you arrive you can check-in or drop off your bags at the hotel. You have free time to get acquainted with the area of Fira before we meet as a group for a Vegan Food and Wine Tasting Experience.
Meals: Welcome Dinner with wine tasting
Accommodations: UmaRay Suites
Day 2 - Lost Atlantis Experience and Akrotiri Archeological Site
After a delicious vegan breakfast we will explore the “Lost Atlantis Experience” The Greek philosopher Plato comes to life in an animated hologram. Converse with him and ask him about his philosophy and the theory that Santorini could be the origin of the Atlantis myth. Next we’ll head over to Akrotiri Archeological Site where we’ll have a guided audio tour. Now it’s time for lunch together as a group at the black beach. The night is free.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: UmaRay Suites
Day 3 - Volcano, Hot Springs & Thirassia Day Cruise From Fira
This is a full day. Your first stop will be the legendary volcano of Santorini. A 20-minute boat ride away, lies the Nea Kameni jetty. Walk to the volcano’s ridge with your guide, who will tell you about the history and the geology of the site. Explore the volcanic island for 1.5hr before hopping on the boat to your next stop, the island of Palea Kameni. Stop here for 30min at a distance of 30 meters from the shallow waters of Agios Nicholaos’ beach and enjoy the hot springs. Your last stop for the day is the island of Thirassia.
Stay here for 2 hours, explore this quaint little village and treat your tastebuds to authentic Santorinian cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch on Boat
Accommodations: UmaRay Suites
Day 4 - Flight to Crete together
Main tour to CRETE: SATURDAY, May 11 TO SATURDAY, May 18 2024 $3,195 per person, single supplement $550
Day 1: Crete
Arrive in Crete, pick-up your transfer from the Chania airport (CHQ) to the hotel. Check-in and relax until our welcome
dinner. We will have a Itinerary briefing proceeding into a greet and meet over a welcome drink and dinner.
Meals: Welcome Dinner
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 2: Mountains of Chania
We will start our first day exploring the mountain village area of Chania. We will experience the real countryside. Stopping for a visit to Skines village to have a cup of local mountain tea at the house of a very special vegan who keeps pigs to save them from slaughter! We’ll have a vegan lunch with a view of the valley. Next we’ll stop at the Botanical Garden for a tour before heading back to our hotel. Dinner on our own in town.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 3: Southern Crete, Paleochora
After breakfast we will start our journey to Paleochora. The distance between Chania and Paleochora is 75 kilometers. Along the drive through the mountains we will experience the wild beauty of the unique Cretan scenery. The picturesque town is located on a small northern peninsula surrounded by two exquisite beaches with sand and pebbles. We will spend time on one of our favorite beaches just a few km further away and then come back to town to enjoy its authentic Greek feel. We will have a full day.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 4: Chania Old Town
We will spend the morning in the beating heart of the region, Chania town. The scenic old town is centered around a Venetian Harbour, where we will have a guided tour of the archaeological museum. Then we are free to go for a stroll, enjoy a drink with a view, or try one of the many restaurants with vegan options. There are plenty of things to do including; Chania market, Marina and lighthouse, Firkas Fortress, Maritime museum of Crete, the Cathedral of Eisodion tis Theotokou, the Church of Agios Nikolaus and Hassan Pascha Mosque and lastly shopping, in our opinion, Chania is the best place in Crete for shopping. In the evening the group will meet for dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 5: Rethymnon and or Knossos Palace
Morning drive down the coast to the town of Rethymnon. We’ll have a walking tour of the old town and stop by the old Venetian fortress for some amazing views of town, free time to explore and get something to eat before we proceed to Knossos palace. The ancient home of the Minoans, Knossos, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete. It’s also thought to be Europe’s oldest city. We’ll have a guided tour before checking into our hotel proceeding into dinner as a group.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel to be announced
Day 6: Elounda and Spinalonga Island
Elounda is a small tourist town that sits by the coast, along a scenic cliff top road. It has a picturesque marina, plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants, a beach, and a long promenade that leads to an island. We will have time to explore before catching our boat to Spinalonga Island. It was one of the last remaining leper colonies in Europe, with many of the building ruins preserved for you to see today. It’s also the site of a 16th Century Venetian fortress. Hike up to the top of the fortress walls for amazing views of the entire bay! We will return to our hotel for dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel to be announced
Day 7: Lasithi Plateau olive oil and wine
We’ll be driving to the scenic mountains of the Lasithi Plateau, which is just outside of the Heraklion resort area. This is your chance to get a sample of life in the Cretan countrywide. Our first stop is at an olive oil producer for a tasting and next to a local wine maker. Wine tasting and cooking lessons together in the countryside. A great way to end the week.
Meals: Breakfast and cooking lesson early dinner
Accommodations: Hotel to be announced
Day 8: Transfer to airport
Day 1: Crete
Arrive in Crete, pick-up your transfer from the Chania airport (CHQ) to the hotel. Check-in and relax until our welcome
dinner. We will have a Itinerary briefing proceeding into a greet and meet over a welcome drink and dinner.
Meals: Welcome Dinner
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 2: Mountains of Chania
We will start our first day exploring the mountain village area of Chania. We will experience the real countryside. Stopping for a visit to Skines village to have a cup of local mountain tea at the house of a very special vegan who keeps pigs to save them from slaughter! We’ll have a vegan lunch with a view of the valley. Next we’ll stop at the Botanical Garden for a tour before heading back to our hotel. Dinner on our own in town.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 3: Southern Crete, Paleochora
After breakfast we will start our journey to Paleochora. The distance between Chania and Paleochora is 75 kilometers. Along the drive through the mountains we will experience the wild beauty of the unique Cretan scenery. The picturesque town is located on a small northern peninsula surrounded by two exquisite beaches with sand and pebbles. We will spend time on one of our favorite beaches just a few km further away and then come back to town to enjoy its authentic Greek feel. We will have a full day.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 4: Chania Old Town
We will spend the morning in the beating heart of the region, Chania town. The scenic old town is centered around a Venetian Harbour, where we will have a guided tour of the archaeological museum. Then we are free to go for a stroll, enjoy a drink with a view, or try one of the many restaurants with vegan options. There are plenty of things to do including; Chania market, Marina and lighthouse, Firkas Fortress, Maritime museum of Crete, the Cathedral of Eisodion tis Theotokou, the Church of Agios Nikolaus and Hassan Pascha Mosque and lastly shopping, in our opinion, Chania is the best place in Crete for shopping. In the evening the group will meet for dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, and Dinner
Accommodations: MYRION BEACH RESORT & SPA
Day 5: Rethymnon and or Knossos Palace
Morning drive down the coast to the town of Rethymnon. We’ll have a walking tour of the old town and stop by the old Venetian fortress for some amazing views of town, free time to explore and get something to eat before we proceed to Knossos palace. The ancient home of the Minoans, Knossos, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete. It’s also thought to be Europe’s oldest city. We’ll have a guided tour before checking into our hotel proceeding into dinner as a group.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel to be announced
Day 6: Elounda and Spinalonga Island
Elounda is a small tourist town that sits by the coast, along a scenic cliff top road. It has a picturesque marina, plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants, a beach, and a long promenade that leads to an island. We will have time to explore before catching our boat to Spinalonga Island. It was one of the last remaining leper colonies in Europe, with many of the building ruins preserved for you to see today. It’s also the site of a 16th Century Venetian fortress. Hike up to the top of the fortress walls for amazing views of the entire bay! We will return to our hotel for dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel to be announced
Day 7: Lasithi Plateau olive oil and wine
We’ll be driving to the scenic mountains of the Lasithi Plateau, which is just outside of the Heraklion resort area. This is your chance to get a sample of life in the Cretan countrywide. Our first stop is at an olive oil producer for a tasting and next to a local wine maker. Wine tasting and cooking lessons together in the countryside. A great way to end the week.
Meals: Breakfast and cooking lesson early dinner
Accommodations: Hotel to be announced
Day 8: Transfer to airport
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Crete is perhaps the most famous travel destination in Greece, especially among those who seek the traditional side of Greek culture. Offering a unique and diverse landscape, a chance to come close to the local customs, native people with authentic hospitality, and the Cretan cuisine, famous worldwide for its taste and health benefits, Crete is a “must explore” for the conscious travelers of today.
There is an exceptional artistic production in traditional sectors such as pottery, embroidery, jewelry, etc and of course the very special Cretan Music. Arts and literature had always played a significant role in the life of the Cretan people. Famous painters like El Greco, Michael Damaskinos, writers like Nikos Kazantzakis, poets like Vincenzos Kornaros and Odysseas Elitis, composers like Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, and Giannis Markopoulos are Cretans or of Cretan origin. Today there are many important Cretans with significant contributions to all aspects of the cultural life in Greece. |
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This Tour includes:
- Welcome reception & cocktail proceeding into Dinner
- Daily buffet breakfast
- Two lunches and five dinners; including wine tastings, and cooking lessons.
- Seven night stay in 4 and 3 star hotels in Chania and Heraklion areas.
- Professional tour manager, Visitors' tax , Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Guided walking tours of towns Chania, Spinalonga Island and Rethymnon
- 1st class motor coaches
tour does not include:
- Travel protection insurance, each guest is required to have travel insurance for this trip.
- International airfare to Crete, Greece.
- Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes
- Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc.
Extra virgin olive oil, legumes, and vegetables still constitute the base of the local cuisine as they have done for thousands of years and make the Cretan cuisine renowned worldwide for its benefits on longevity and good health.
Frequently asked questions
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How many hours a day will we be walking or on a bus?
Every day we will be walking for a minimum of 3 hours. There will also be uphill streets and stairs. The bus rides vary in time of 20 minutes to 2 hours. I am traveling alone, will I be the only one? No, on average we have about half the group that are singles. Is there a single supplement? And why? Yes, there is. It's $550 for a private room. The reason we have a single supplement is because some hotels do not offer a single rate. So as a single person you are paying a full rate of the room instead of it being divided by two. How can I avoid paying the single supplement? We can match guests with same-sex roommates. We will connect you by email and you can see if you are compatible to share a room. Is my deposit of $400 refundable? No, we have limited space and need a commitment from each guest. Please note that the deposit of $400 per guest is NON-REFUNDABLE except in the case that the trip does not meet the minimum number of participants. The trip's go-status will be confirmed no later than January 15, 2024. How do I book my flights? As soon as the group is formed we will be sending out a confirmation email with all necessary information. You can contact our agent or if you are booking your own airfare, departure dates and airports will be listed in the confirmation email. How do we pack? We have a Zoom conference with the group before the trip to explain packing and general information, plus a packing list. Do I need Travel Insurance? Where can I purchase Insurance? We highly recommend Travel Insurance. Travel insurance is based on many factors and the price varies from person to person. You can get a quote from our agent Carol Symington, csymington@AAASJ.COM . Please mention your tour, the dates, price and that it is Tierno Tours. Is my flight included? No, This is a land package only. |
If booking your own airfare:
Pre and Main tour: Departure from USA or Canada no later than Tuesday, May 7, 2024 to Santorini Airport (JTR), Your domestic ferry from Santorini to Chania, Crete is included in the pre tour itinerary. Vegan Crete, Greece Tour ends Saturday, May 18, 2024 out of Heraklion International and Domestic Airport (HER) Main Tour Only: Departure from USA or Canada no later than Friday, May 10, 2024 to Chania International and Domestic Airport (CHQ), Vegan Crete, Greece Tour ends Saturday, May 18, 2024 out of Heraklion International and Domestic Airport (HER) Is an upgrade possible? Yes, in some of our accommodations upgrades are possible. Many times they are limited and we recommend that you contact us to reserve the room as soon as possible. You will be given a price and charged at the time of booking. All upgrades are non-refundable. Where are we staying? Base on availability we stay at one of the following hotels: How do I get from the airport to the Hotel? for the main tour please book your flight to arrive at Chania International Airport (CHQ). There are many international flights to Chania airport, direct or via Athens. Airport transfers are included. How much is the cost of the Transfer? Airport pickup (and drop-off) is in your price included. |
