VEG:FOOD AND CULTURE Crete: 5 days PROMOTIONAL OFFER

CRETE

Traveling escape the vegetarian / vegan way

GreekVegetarianLifeStyle

We offer a unique opportunity to experience at first hand authentic Cretan regional cooking techniques and recipes that have been developed and handed down over generations.

All of the ingredients you will use are bought each morning from local open market and so you will be working with fresh fruit and vegetables in season. Throughout our cooking you will learn about the ingredients and the traditions around the dishes  You will learn the passion of the Cretan kitchen and, importantly, have a lot of fun and enjoyment doing it.

Sincerely

George Portokalakis

  LIFESTYLE

A VERY SPECIAL TRAVEL DEAL FOR THE

Vegetarian & Vegan society

5days / 4 night’s

Nutritional – gastronomic wanderings – food and wine…

$1.280,00 / £847,00

BASED: on minimum 2 persons

 

We believe that the most authentic way to experience and understand the heritage of Cretan Culture/ Nutrition / History/ Way of life and its People, is in the company of a local scholar, walking through streets which are alive with religion, art and history, immersing in the architecture, learning about the life, traditions, and customs of Cretan people, past and present.

You will sample some of the finest meals as well as fruit and vegetables in the world.

You will drink selected spirits (ouzo – raki - liquors) and wines that will elevate your spirit and help you relax, and relish the excellent traditional cooking in some of the less obvious restaurants that we will point you out.

Follow PORTO Club  Vegetarian way lead, come on a route of adventure, travel and wonder as you explore the mysteries, flavours and customs particular to various Cretan regions on our unique & authentic Cretan  vegetarian food holiday.

We can promise you we will not be part of any tourist trail or the “sheep following” mentality.

Our aim has always been to offer quality not quantity, so PORTO Club remains small but perfectly formed.

 

Vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture Holiday Start Days- All arrivals are on Fridays on set dates
- Arrival will depend on your flight but times can be flexible
- It may be possible to arrange vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture holiday on other date for groups of 2 or more, to check availability, contact us with your preferred date
- Vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture Holidays are for 4 nights/5 days
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please contact us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible

 

Suitability- Vegetarian Food, Wine and Culture holidays are suitable for all
- Non-vegetarians are welcome on the holiday but they must be aware no meat will be used during the food tours
- Please specify what type of vegetarian diet you follow at the time of booking
- Minimum age 8 (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)
- Your host is Greek but speaks excellent English so all cooking classes are taught in English

 

Package includes:

Accommodation: 4 nights hotel accommodation at fine 3*** hotel city centre at city ofHeraklion

Arrival, Greeting and Traditional Cretan Dinner

Transportation: Airport / hotel day of arrival and hotel / airport day of departure

5 days chartered vehicle with English speaking driver known the culture of Crete, the vegetarian principles and nutrition for all the drives / tours / visits of the island

Fuel

Tours:

Region of Heraklion Culinary and cultural Tour

Region of Heraklion Culinary tour, the palace of Knossos, walking and tasting Heraklion

Region of Rethymnon food and cultural tour

A visit to the monastery of Arkadi

A visit and walk the old city of Rethymnon

Meals:

4 breakfasts, 3 lunches on selected spots during the cultural drives, 4 dinners

Do not include:

Entrance fees at archaeological / historical sites – guiding – tips, anything not mentioned above or bellow

 

ITINERARY

Day 1.Friday

Arrival the airport of Heraklion. Reception at the airport. Transportation to the hotel. Accommodation at hotel OLYMPIC 3*** / center of Heraklion city. Dinner at traditional restaurant with variety of Cretan vegetarian Mediterranean specialties (Dinner)

 

Day 2. Saturday

The palace of Knossos / city of Heraklion

Today we visit the palace of Knossos. When visiting the island of Crete someone must see the ancient palace of Knossos, built 3.500 years ago. Combination of archaeologicaldiscoveries and food tasting: Start at 9 am. Visit takes 1 ½ hour. After the palace wedrive back to the city and visit the Saturdays open farmers market. Visit will take an hour or so and ending the visit we walk the central market of the city taste special cheeses in a small cheese shop, and having break for lunch accompanied with ouzo (anise) with a variety of vegetarian dishes at one of the traditional Mezedopolion of the street. We end our walk after lunch visiting and taste the famous “loukoumades” Cretan style doughnuts sprinkled with honey and sesame. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

 

Day 3.

Sunday

Arkadi monastery, city of Rethymnon, Argyroupolis natural springs
- After breakfast, take a drive through the vineyards and small villages of the Heraklion region
- Visit the 16th century monastery of Arkadi, and Margarites – a small village famous for producing ceramics
- Next  you’ll visit the city a Rethymnon a city seeped in history and an attractive place to wander through its narrow streets and marvel at Venetian and Turkish architecture that house its restaurants, cafes and shops
- After browsing the shops and a coffee break where you can mingle with the locals, you’ll drive to the natural springs of Argyroupolis a site boasting attractive cascades and an idyllic setting for lunch where you’ll enjoy Cretan vegetable and cheese specialities
- After lunch you’ll return to Heraklion
- Dinner at traditional restaurant at the heart of the city. You’ll enjoy local vegetarian specialties along with some raki and local wine (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

 

Day 4.

Monday

Spend the day with locals and the city of Heraklion

We drive to a village near Heraklion. We visit small fine quality family wineries, depending the season we may have the chance join the way to make the Cretan snap (spirit) Raki or Tsikoudia drink Raki and home made chemical free unique wines and spend the day with the locals join them on their daily life and  having lunch at a home tasting unique home made tastes. Back the hotel afternoon.

Dinner at local traditional restaurant in the centre of Heraklion with variety

of vegetarian / vegan specialties. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

 

Day 5.

Tuesday

Fly back home

Breakfast and drive to the airport of Heraklion for the flight back home

 

Booking conditions

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Payment

All prices listed are in US$. If you are paying in a different currency, your price is locked in with US$. but the price in your currency will depend on the exchange rate at the time your deposit is charged, then again when your balance is due. If you would like to lock in a price with a currency other than US$, you can do so by paying the full amount at the time of your reservation.

35% of the total is due at time of booking to secure your spaces. The balance is due 60 days before your tour begins. 

Cancellation

If you booked more than six months in advance. your deposit is refundable within 50 days of the time you place your reservation.

If at the time of cancellation, it is more than 180 days in advance of the vacation, and also more than 50 days after you made your deposit, your deposit is non-refundable, but we will be happy to apply 100% of it toward any of our other vacations anytime within the next 12 months.

If at the time of cancellation, it is between 180 and 90 days in advance of the vacation, your deposit is non-refundable, but we will be happy to apply 40% of it toward any of our other vacations anytime within the next 12 months.

Once the Full Balance is paid (60 days or less before the start date):

If at the time of cancellation, it is between 60 and 14 days in advance of the vacation, your deposit is non-refundable, but we will be happy to apply 40% of it toward any of our other vacations anytime within the next 12 months.

If at the time of cancellation, it is between 14 and 0 days in advance of the vacation, your deposit is non-refundable, and we unfortunately cannot apply any portion to future vacations.

These cancellation terms reflect times that we must pay out expenses for your trip on your behalf. At times that we no longer offer refunds, we have already paid out the associated costs, and refunds are not available to us. Because of this, we are unable to bend these terms. 

Accepted payment methods

Bank wire, Credit card

We accept Amex, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa

Pricing information

Alumni discount is available. Please contact us.

Gratuities/tips

In Crete, tipping drivers, guides, etc. is customary but not mandatory. Our guides, host, driver, etc. all happily accept tips, but they are never expected. We have seen guests leave huge tips for our staff, and we have seen guests leave no tip at all. Either way, both of those guests are equally appreciated.

 

NOTICE:

SOLO TRAVELERS CAN BOOK THE TOUR ON PRIVATE - TAILOR MADE  BY PAYING THE COST OF TWO PERSONS.

When you book , reserve space for two persons.

 

PORTO CLUB Travel services:

Contact: Tel: 0030 2815 002754 – 0030 2810 317358 Cell: 0030 6975 735774

Email: info@portoclub.gr: