Gastronomy tour and wine tasting in traditional villages
Description
Discover the most authentic and fresh Cretan food in villages between Chania and Rethymno. We will visit traditional villages where we will taste local cheese, honey ,olive oil, smoked meat, fruits, Greek sweets and herbs •We will drink Greek coffee made the traditional way in hovoli (fire that hasn’t been completely extinguished and remains hot) •You will have visit the best cheese factory in western Crete.You will also try the perfect ice cream that my friend makes and the delicious yoghurt. •We will have two meals in two different villages.The first taverna is at a mountain.The second taverna is above lake Kournas and has a fantastic view!Both are family owned and use products from the village or their own! •You will have the pleasure to witness the Cretan hospitality yourselves This is not just a food tasting experience but also a great opportunity to discover the traditional villages of Cretan countryside. The experience can take place also in the morning between 9.00-14.30
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit to a traditional coffeehouse, surrounded by beautiful trees, streams and have the opportunity to enjoy Greek coffee made the traditional way, ( slow cooked in hot sand )which gives an enhanced flavor to the coffee.
Enjoy traditional ice cream from sheep milk that can only be found in Chania. Have the opportunity to taste the unique flavor of carob that is not found anywhere else in the world. Try the Cretan cheese “graviera” from which the traditional dish “saganaki” is made. The cheese shop owner will offer you the traditional Cretan drink “raki” that is up to you to try as it is quite strong.
Visit to an old church, at least 500 years old with a huge history and beautiful interior and exterior. It also has a gorgeous garden with various flowers, trees and herbs. Trees like apricot tree, fig tree, banana tree, carob tree, walnut tree, quince tree etc.
Beautiful village with river passing through
We will stop at a modern Olive oil mill and the producer and friend, Antonis, will guide us through the place and explain to us the process of Olive oil making. You will have the chance to ask him any questions you may have. Then you will try virgin olive oil, olives and you may buy any souvenirs or traditional products like oil, olives, handmade cooking pots etc that are offered at the beautiful exhibition there is.
1st meal at the stunning lake of Kournas with a unique view of the sea, lake and mountains. You will have the opportunity to taste traditional Cretan dishes like “tsigariasto arni” ( lamb cooked with oil and wine) “anitchristo arni” (lamb slow cooked in fire) “ntolmadakia” (grape leaves stuffed with rice) “kolokithoanthous” (zucchini flowers stuffed with rice) “imam baildi” (eggplant cooked with garlic onion, fresh tomato sauce, cream cheese and olive oil) and various other dishes. Also, you will have the opportunity to taste 4 local wines.
2nd meal, completely different dishes, such as chicken cooked with grape juice, pork meat with tomato sauce and peppers, smoked pork with oregano and sage , mushrooms marinated with beer and various others.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The remaining hours are allotted for the travel time.
- Age restriction is 18 years old and above for alcoholic beverages.
- There are vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food options.
Reviews(59)
The tour with Yannis was a fantastic trip through several villages where you got lots of information about the history of the place, good local food and drinks. A lovely trip with good tastes!
Our guide was fabulous... very friendly and knowledgeable. It was a highlight of our time in Chania. Incredible food and lots of wine and beer. Multiple stops at beautiful villages and lake. A must do experience!
This a great experience with a local guide who is very knowledgeable and takes you to picturesque places for delicious food. Make sure you are hungry as there is plenty of food on offer. It is also great way to visit the countryside of Crete.
Yannis was excellent he had lots of facts and informationto share. This was such a unique experience traveling to villages we would have otherwise never visited. We tried new and foods and enjoyed a tour of the olive oil factories. The lake we visited was absolutely beautiful!
We did two tours with Yannis - the gastronomy tour and the Balos day. Both were incredible. From start to finish, Yannis and his wife made sure we were happy and that all of our needs were met. We got to see some of the real Crete, saw some stunning views and ate plenty of delicious food. Yannis also gave us lots of advice and tips for our remaining days of the holiday and took some brilliant photos of us so that we can share our memories.
If you want to experience the honest, rugged and delicious food of Crete, this is the tour for you. Eat where the locals eat, eat what the locals eat, and eat how the locals eat, from your coffee to afternoon icecream. BOOK RIGHT NOW! P.S. don't eat breakfast, or dinner the night before.
The best tour we have ever been on! This tour is absolutely fantastic! Yannis is incredibly pleasant, welcoming, and very friendly. My girlfriend and I took this tour together, and the whole trip felt incredibly warm, cozy, and interesting. This is all thanks to Yannis, who is truly passionate about his work, carefully planning and organizing every single moment for his guests. You can really feel how much Yannis loves Crete and how eager he is to show you the hidden gems of this beautiful island that you wouldn't see on any other tour. We visited so many places that I’m sure we would have never discovered on our own. And rest assured, you will not go hungry! The food was absolutely magnificent. We had spent almost a week in Chania before this tour, but it was on this exact day, thanks to Yannis, that we truly discovered the brilliance of Greek cuisine! We also tasted delicious wine and bought local olive oil that you just can't find in the city. The trip was highly educational and engaging; Yannis knows so much and can answer any question you might have. The best part was that we didn't feel like typical tourists on just another crowded Cretan excursion. Throughout the entire tour, we felt like we were visiting a close friend who was genuinely happy to see us and welcome us into his home. To top it all off, at the end of the evening, I proposed to my girlfriend, and it was absolutely unbelievable! Yannis found out about it at the very last minute, but he clearly has a lot of experience with this, so he adapted quickly and helped me pull it off flawlessly. I want to say a huge thank you to Yannis for this wonderful day. Rest assured, he will take great care of you and make this day the most memorable part of your entire trip to this beautiful island! We will never forget this fantastic tour and will definitely book with Yannis again!
We are a family of four (parents + twins, aged 8) who traveled to Crete as part of a cruise. We’ve been to Greece multiple times, but never Crete. We all agreed that this excursion was our favorite day on our cruise!! Yannis was a FABULOUS guide. It felt like he was a long lost friend we were visiting, and he was showing us around his island. Fantastic conversation, so knowledgeable, incredible food, and such a pleasant way to spend the day. We’d love to come back to Crete and spend at least a week exploring the island. I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Yannis for ANY ideas or suggestions. Thanks for such a fun day!
The day was fun. Come hungry, that means don’t eat breakfast! Loved our private tour it made for a relaxing day. Yannis is very passionate about his country and was able to share his love of the culture and food. We would definitely recommend him!
Yanni brought humor and insight to the local area of Chania. Started with a local vibe at a coffee shop and opted for cold coffee. It was some kind of good. The food was outstanding and plentiful. Actually, the food was abundant and the wine, beer, and raki. We had a great time and highly recommend this tour.
