Greece highlights tour, Athens, Peloponnese & Crete
Highlights
Athens tour | Arcadia | Hiking in Lousios gorge | Ancient Olympia | Visit traditional vineyards, olive groves and honey farms | Palace of Nestor | Kalamata | Hike in Kardamyli | Kato Zakros and Sitia on Crete | Monastery of Toplou | Xerokambos and Hohlakes villages | Minos | Spinalonga Island |Description of Greece highlights tour, Athens, Peloponnese & Crete
This fabulous fortnight invites you to self drive around the ancient sites of Athens and Peloponnese prior to boarding a ferry to the port of Heraklion on the island of Crete whereupon you'll pick up a new hire car and continue your journey. Flights are also available.Expand your horizons as you discover archaeological and natural treasures on the mainland before travelling to the Greek archipelago’s largest island where a whole host of highlights and cultural comparisons await.
The balance between a couple of days in Athens, five days in Peloponnese and a week on Crete really conjures up a legendary adventure; perfect for travellers who like independence but also enjoy following an itinerary and staying in accommodation that’s been organised in advance.
Optional guided tours, hire car options, detailed map and route notes, and support services, when needed, add to a uniquely personal tailor made trip which also includes gorge hikes, honey tasting and visits to vineyards.
From the Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens to Ancient Olympia and Nestor’s Palace, this tour unveils the developments of democracy one site at a time, culminating with a magical week on the island of Crete.
Traditional villages, river gorges and the myths and legends of the Minoans add to olive groves, the port town of Sitia and a series of beautiful beaches, to make time spent on Crete absolutely unforgettable.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comDeparture information
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
In our travels, we select hikes through unknown natural trails, we explore caves, climb mountain peaks, discover the ancient civilization of this land as well as its contemporary expression by those who keep the exuberant past alive.The locations we select to visit are often significant habitats for sensitive flora and fauna species.
We collect all our rubbish or other objects that don’t belong to the location and enjoy the scents and views of herbal and other plants. We only photograph them but do not separate them from the soil that nourishes them. We avoid lighting fires and smoking and we take our rubbish with us.
When we depart all that we leave behind is our footprints and all we take with us is our memories.
Some of the areas we propose to visit are protected areas and listed as UNESCO world heritage.
We collaborate with small local and often family run hotels or apartments harmonized with the environment and local architecture. Where available we collaborate with eco friendly and sustainable hotels.
During our hikes and walks if drinkable usually in villages we use water coming from water springs or from the village taps.
We suggest everyone to keep their own metallic water bottles and if they do not have, we can supply them.
We collaborate with small, local companies that renew their rental fleet and keep all controls in accordance with the Greek state regulations.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our vision is to contribute as much as we can to the indigenous growth of our land that excites us with its authenticity and exuberance, this land that we never stop discovering.
Respecting customs and the lifestyle of people in the traditional and truly hospitable places is a necessary condition for experiencing every trip as fully as possible.
We always advice our guests to interact with the locals, to ask them information (typically in the kiosks), to get involved in the local, traditional festivities, feasts and celebrations that we can suggest and to experience different customs and traditions all year round.
Of course our guests are met and welcomed at arrival by our helpful and friendly colleagues, trustful persons that stand by and are available during the whole time of one's trip and are glad to have a personal communication. Our colleagues make suggestions in order for our guests to experience a place as a local.
Guests get to taste typical products from producers and growers that are committed to continue traditions or methods outside the massive production (In Chandras, Crete: cretan herbs).
Our guides are locals who we empower with selected training opportunities abroad now and then.
Our excursions are organized by specialists on the theme of each journey: geologists, biologists, anthropologists, archaeologists or people who have had “hands-on”experience in activities that are now disappearing from modern life.
Our guides always try to raise awareness about local social, political and environmental issues during the tours.
The heads of Petassos Travel themselves are active members of the Speleological Association of Crete participating in expeditions for the exploration and recording of caves and promoting the study of the caves of Crete. They are also active in the area of empowerment of local communities as well as mobilized against the excessive building of wind farms and the desertification of Crete.
In our travels, we select hikes through unknown natural trails, we explore caves, climb mountain peaks, discover the ancient civilization of this land as well as its contemporary expression by those who keep the exuberant past alive.The locations we select to visit are often significant habitats for sensitive flora and fauna species.
We collect all our rubbish or other objects that don’t belong to the location and enjoy the scents and views of herbal and other plants. We only photograph them but do not separate them from the soil that nourishes them. We avoid lighting fires and smoking and we take our rubbish with us.
When we depart all that we leave behind is our footprints and all we take with us is our memories.
Some of the areas we propose to visit are protected areas and listed as UNESCO world heritage.
We collaborate with small local and often family run hotels or apartments harmonized with the environment and local architecture. Where available we collaborate with eco friendly and sustainable hotels.
During our hikes and walks if drinkable usually in villages we use water coming from water springs or from the village taps.
We suggest everyone to keep their own metallic water bottles and if they do not have, we can supply them.
We collaborate with small, local companies that renew their rental fleet and keep all controls in accordance with the Greek state regulations.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our vision is to contribute as much as we can to the indigenous growth of our land that excites us with its authenticity and exuberance, this land that we never stop discovering.
Respecting customs and the lifestyle of people in the traditional and truly hospitable places is a necessary condition for experiencing every trip as fully as possible.
We always advice our guests to interact with the locals, to ask them information (typically in the kiosks), to get involved in the local, traditional festivities, feasts and celebrations that we can suggest and to experience different customs and traditions all year round.
Of course our guests are met and welcomed at arrival by our helpful and friendly colleagues, trustful persons that stand by and are available during the whole time of one's trip and are glad to have a personal communication. Our colleagues make suggestions in order for our guests to experience a place as a local.
Guests get to taste typical products from producers and growers that are committed to continue traditions or methods outside the massive production (In Chandras, Crete: cretan herbs).
Our guides are locals who we empower with selected training opportunities abroad now and then.
Our excursions are organized by specialists on the theme of each journey: geologists, biologists, anthropologists, archaeologists or people who have had “hands-on”experience in activities that are now disappearing from modern life.
Our guides always try to raise awareness about local social, political and environmental issues during the tours.
The heads of Petassos Travel themselves are active members of the Speleological Association of Crete participating in expeditions for the exploration and recording of caves and promoting the study of the caves of Crete. They are also active in the area of empowerment of local communities as well as mobilized against the excessive building of wind farms and the desertification of Crete.
1 Reviews of Greece highlights tour, Athens, Peloponnese & Crete
Reviewed on 27 Sep 2018 by Maureen Rae
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Everything! Crete is so diverse with so much history. We really just saw a little bit. Our visit to Spinalonga was memorable. Although busy with parties of
tourists it is a very special place with a special history.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
There is so much to do and see in Crete. Impossible to do in one visit. Concentrate on just a few things or one particular region.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I hope so. We booked everything through a local Cretan agency. Used a local car hire company, local guides and stayed in smaller accommodation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful. We loved Crete and the people. The operator, who booked most things for us, were amazing.
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