One-day tours - Professional travel companion

There is plenty to discover in the area around Elounda itself! The fishing village of Elounda is protected by the surrounding mountains and offshore islands in the idyllic Mirabello Bay. This area was already inhabited in Minoan times. Back then, the city-state was called Olous and is one of the 100 most important ancient sites in Crete. Hundreds of years ago, the Venetians built a fortress and many churches in this area whilst Elounda played an important role during the Ottoman occupation and the World Wars...

Until a few decades ago, grinding stone, the so-called Naxos stone, was mined here, salt was extracted from the salt pans of the Elounda lagoon and grain and charoupi were ground in the stone mills. And even today, the inhabitants of Elounda go out in winter to harvest olives or take their cutters far out into the blue Aegean to feed their families with freshly caught fish.

As you can imagine, the tours that we can experience together here can be very varied and diverse. I would be happy to put together a daily programme or even several according to your wishes and needs. Here you will find just an idea...

The millennia-old history of Elounda

We can hike together to the ancient city of Naxos (Oxa) and enjoy the breathtaking panorama of the entire Mirabello Bay. After a visit to a small taverna, we can also admire some stone mills, the salt pans and an early Christian mosaic as well as discover some remains of the city of Olous.

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Kalidon, Spinalonga, Kolokitha, Kolokithia, Glaronisi??! Which island is which?!

The different names alone raise questions! And where did the German military have their large arsenal of weapons here and can you still see traces of the final explosion? And how can it be that you have to swim 20 minutes from one island to the other and 4 hours back? And how did the people suffering from leprosy live here in the last century? And what was the significance of the Venetian fortress island in its time of prosperity? And...? So many questions! Why not explore it yourself? Most visitors head for Spinalonga and rightly so!

And if there are no more boats, I can ask the fishermen who can take us there. Of course, a boat trip around the varied offshore island landscape can also be a great refreshment on quieter days. No, not in the mood for boat trips? Then how about a short or longer hike on the peninsula off Elounda?

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And we continue with the mountain world around Kritsa and Kroustas

‘In winter, life takes place in the mountain villages’. In the mountain villages of Kritsa and Kroustas, it feels like everyone who lives within a 50-kilometre radius has relatives or acquaintances. And there are always reasons to visit them, especially in winter. But people don't just chat and dance here, they also work hard. Olives and citrus fruits need to be harvested, raki distilled, sheep sheared and cheese made, traditional Ntakos baked and carpets woven...

The mountain villages also have a lot to offer in terms of landscape and history: The Dorians built their city of Lato here on Minoan ruins, which is comparatively so well preserved and gives us so many clues about life back then that it no longer takes much imagination to immerse yourself in antiquity.

And if you are interested in medieval frescoes, you will also get your money's worth in this area.

Hiking enthusiasts alike: whether you want to head uphill along a (dried-up) river course into a gorge where you can savour the different scents of the local plants and marvel at the caves of birds of prey in the rock faces or even the birds themselves, or whether you fancy exploring a pine forest with remnants of Minoan agriculture, there's plenty to discover here in hiking boots.

Kritsa's cultural treasures and breathtaking nature

We start by admiring the early Christian frescoes before exploring ancient Lato on the paths of the Dorians. After getting lost in Kritsa and gaining a few insights into village life in eastern Crete, we can take a short but rewarding look into the gorge. On request and depending on the weather conditions, we can also go on a longer hike here.

.Depending on the time of year, we can also go on a botanical walk with a local expert in the gorge or in the mountains (Due to his expertise I struggle a bit with the translation, but each time I get better :)) and take a tour of his botanical museum.

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Unique Kroustas with a culinary experience

Kroustas is known for its varied, traditional food. Before the evening feast, how about a hike in the woods with marvellous views of Mirabello Bay, accompanied by local musicians on some days?

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‘And what do you do in winter?’

Making cheese? Bake Ntakos? Distil Raki? Press olive oil? Weave carpets? Olive wood carving? You can gain an insight into these and many other handicraft activities or even take part in them. Whether we can experience one or the other depends on the season in which you would like to visit us. You can contact me and express your wishes and I will tell you when it would be possible; or you can simply tell me when you would like to be here and I will let you know what is possible at that time. The same applies to all kinds of festivities.

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Day trip to the northwest or east of Elounda

Recent history of Eastern Crete

You may have already heard of the ‘Spinalonga leper colony’. I would be happy to organise a boat trip and a circular walk on this special island for you. After meandering through the often lonely but cosy little villages on the other side of Plaka and perhaps even greeting a few people collecting chorta, we visit a cave (don't worry, there is always daylight here) that was both a place of refuge and doom for thousands of locals during the occupation of Crete. Beautiful and sad at the same time. On the way back, I naturally look for a cosy taverna, and with a lucky chance we can even feast to the traditional Laika tunes.

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Along the beautiful coastal road eastwards

Today, eastern Crete is the rather unknown part of the island. Thousands of years ago, however, this area flourished and has left us some interesting traces. Two of the oldest archaeological sites on the island are located not far along the beautiful coastal road of north-east Crete. We can explore these before taking a hike through the Richtis Gorge to a resting place by a waterfall that is particularly lush in the cooler months.

This tour is a longer day tour and can be part of our round trip in eastern Crete. Go to the round trips here

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A bit of this, a bit of that...

These tours are suggestions so for you to get an idea of the possibilities of a day tour. You are also welcome to ask me to put together other day tours or a day tour package for you. It's best to contact me directly with your questions and ideas here

Transport and catering

You are welcome to join me in my car for up to 6 people. Alternatively, you can also follow me in your own car.

Depending on your choice of programme, I will recommend that you take some food with you on the trip. We can organise this together. Tavernas are not always open (especially during the cold season) or not every day. However, I will always do my best to find a nice restaurant or a family home where we can enjoy the delicious traditional Cretan dishes. I will be looking forward to it!

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Elounda and the Bay of Mirabello