Crete FAM #2 I April 18 - 21, 2018 I Page 1 of 4

Crete FAM #2 I April 18 - 21, 2018 The Place of Greek Gods, Myths and Legends

WHERE: Crete WHEN: April 18-21, 2018 This FAM requires a minimum of 25 participants. ITINERARY AT A GLANCE:

• Wednesday, April 18 o Athens – Rethymno (FLT OA306 Depart Athens at 9:55AM)

• Thursday, April 19 o Rethymno – Chania – Argyroupoli - Rethymno

• Friday, April 20 o Rethymno – Margarites – Mandalos – Melidoni - Rethymno

• Saturday, April 21 o Crete – Athens (FLT OA303 arrives Athens at 10:00AM)

COST (includes air to/from Crete):

Occupancy Price* Double Occupancy $852 Single Occupancy $1,047

WHAT’S INCLUDED*:

• Bus transportation from and to the airport in Crete. • All transfers to Rethymno, Chania and Heraklion city sightseeing tours • DBL rooms in Caramel Grecotel Boutique Resort • Services of a professional licensed guide lecturer • Winery tour (Heraklion), cooking workshop (Chania), pottery workshop tour (Rethymnon) • Lunch and Dinners, as mentioned in the below program. • Entrance fees to archaeological sites/museums • Airfare (OA 306 G 18APR 3 ATHHER HK40 0955 1045/ OA 303 G 21APR 6 CHQATH HK40 0910 1000)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:

• Minimum of 25 registrants required. • Travel insurance is not required but is highly recommended. • Your registration is non-refundable unless the FAM is cancelled by ASTA or the Supplier. • Valid passports are required but Visas are not needed. • Transportation to/from the Athens airport is not included, approximate cost is $20. • Have questions? Contact Don McGahee at Don@asta.org.

Crete FAM #2 I April 18 - 21, 2018 I Page 2 of 4

Crete is the largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. Crete is, after all, a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures that you will probably need a lifetime to uncover! “The mystery of Crete runs deep. Whoever sets foot on this island senses a mysterious force coursing warmly and beneficently through their veins, sensing their soul beginning to grow” wrote Nikos Kazantzakis, Crete’s most celebrated author, in Report to Greco. On the south side of the Aegean this island is mystical, warm and welcoming, pure and generous. Crete captures the spirit of Greece, and enchants everyone who visits it. Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Ierapetra, Malia, Hersonissos, Sitia, Sfakia: an island with numerous destinations and thousands of vibrant images. Crete captivates and seduces the senses with its impressive and majestic landscape, with its open-hearted and vivacious spirit, its rich history, its world-famous cuisine and its hospitable people.

HOTEL: CARAMEL GRECOTEL BOUTIQUE RESORT Video: http://caramel.grecotel.com/video.html

FULL ITINERARY:

Day 1 – (departure 09:55 am – arrival time 10:55 am) Arrival at Heraklion Airport -Visit to the Minoan Palace of Knossos (25 min from the airport), the second popular site of Greece after Acropolis and the main building of the oldest civilization of Europe. With our guide, we will see the oldest throne of Europe, the Labyrinth –home of the mythical creature of Minotaur, as well as the royal apartments of Knossos. - We continue by coach through the oldest wine country of Europe, to the south of Knossos and we arrive at the winery. We will taste the ancient varieties mentioned in the pharaonic texts of Crete, as well as recent renown varieties. - We are heading to the West of Rethymno, the university seat of Crete and only complete Venetian and Ottoman city of the Mediterranean (1 hr 10 min). Walking tour of the historical city of Rethymno, its maze-like streets lion fountain, workshops, palazzos and beautiful venetian port (1 hr and 20 min with stops). - Arrival to the Caramel Grecotel Boutique Resort. Dinner to the hotel.

Crete FAM #2 I April 18 - 21, 2018 I Page 3 of 4

Day 2 - Breakfast at hotel. Departure to the city of Chania (1 hr 10 min). We will visit the hill Prophet Helias for panoramic photo of the beautiful venetian port of Chania. We are dropped off at the covered market, for spices, herbs, fruit –a sample of what the land of Crete in abundance has to offer. We continue on foot to the old Venetian port of Chania. We will visit what used to be the old Jewish Ghetto with one of the oldest synagogues of Greece, the roman catholic Christian quarter, the Greek orthodox Christian quarter and Ottoman quarter and the old venetian port (guided city tour of Chania, approx. 1 hr). - After our break in the beautiful city of Chania, we continue by coach to Argyroupoli (40 min). Set in land a village today with fresh water springs, Roman aqueducts and mosaics, venetian residencies, we gander on foot enjoying the view of the high sun kissed mountains covered still with the winter snow as we in the distance see the crystal blue sea. We will have the opportunity to see a modern Penelope with her very old looms still weaving dying with natural dyes textiles. The famous Greek giagias (grandmothers) doing bobbin lace. - We arrive to the veranda of Petros and Dina for a cooking workshop of the renown Cretan diet! Wild fresh greens, fresh vegetables, salads, homemade cheese, antikristo (meat cooked on a spit opposite the fire) a recipe of the Minoan era, cheese puffs and wild green puffs, stuffed vegetables and homemade sweets with honey and yoghurt. - Lunch at Argyroupoli and return to the hotel for a Cretan night and dinner (at tavern Ancient Lappa). We will realize why in ancient texts, Crete is the land of milk and honey!

Day 3 -Breakfast at the hotel. We will visit the country side of Rethymno, further south inland. We will drive through the oldest and largest olive field of the eastern Mediterranean up to the holly Monastery of Arkadi (25 min). - Renaissance and Baroque in the island of Crete, but for the Cretans is the symbol of freedom as well. We will drive under the highest mountain of Crete (2456 mt above the sea level), and the birth place of Zeus: the view is breath-taking. - We will visit Eleftherna museum, dedicated to the heroes, warriors and sorcerers of the Homeric period, all finds from the burial site of ancient Eleftherna. Crete of king Minos, but also Crete of the heroes, such as Achilles and Idomeneas of Homer! - The village of Margarites is a pottery center. We will visit a workshop and see the evolution of pottery from the antiquity until today. After pottering around, we will have lunch in the village square at Mandalos, in one of the cafenion-tavernas of a Margarites under the mulberry trees. - The sacred cave of Melidoni in antiquity is our next visit but it also was chosen as a revolutionary center for the Cretans. One of the many places of Crete that is connected with the long history of the island to reclaim its freedom. - Return to the hotel. - Dinner at Prima Plora restaurant.

Crete FAM #2 I April 18 - 21, 2018 I Page 4 of 4

Day 4 - Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the Athens International Airport (our flight departs on 09.10, airport of Chania).