Discover the beauty surrounding Rethymno as you cycle along the coastline. Just before you start the journey uphill, you will make your first stop at the Arsani Monastery. From there you will continue uphill through the olive groves, passing small picturesque villages before making your next stop to the village of Amnatos. There you can admire the mansion of Sanguinazzo, where you will discover above its main door the inscription which states "Initium sapientiae timor Domini". Your next stop is the Arkadi Monastery, which boasts a rich and prestigious history. You can learn about the resistance of the local people and the heroic acts of the monks, which will help you understand the significant role they played during the Greek revolution against the Ottomans. Following the monastery, you will be spoiled with a selection of traditional dishes in a traditional taverna. Due to the elevated location, you will also have breathtaking panoramic views over Rethymno and the Mediterranean Coast whilst you dine. Following lunch, you'll ride towards Pigi Village and make a final stop at Adele, before slowly making your way back to your starting point.

See Crete on a guided tour that combines history and craft for a hands-on experience. Visit the most historical spots on the island, learn their history, and enjoy a pottery lesson and olive oil tasting. Visit the Museum of Ancient Eleftherna, Melidoni Cave, and more. Start by getting picked up from your accommodation in Rethymno, then arrive at the most important monastery of Crete: the Monastery of Arkadi. Explore the museum where many icons, monastic relics, and weapons reveal the monastery’s history. Enjoy an hour of free time. Next, visit the Museum of Ancient Eleftherna with its historical findings from Homer’s era. This is the first archaeological site museum in Crete. The museum hosts the whole history of Eleftherna from 3000 B.C. to 1300 A.D. Afterward, enjoy a tour of the pottery workshop “TSIKALARIO” in the village of Margarites to learn about the art of pottery and create your own ceramic. The tradition of pottery goes back many generations in this villa. Later, visit Margarites village where you will have free time for lunch or a walk. Next, head to an olive oil manufactory. Learn how Cretan people made olive oil in the past and see the evolution up to today. Take part in an olive oil tasting before heading to the next stop, Melidoni Cave. Lastly, arrive at Melidoni, also called “Gerodospilios,” a historic cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. This 220-meter altitude cave was used for religious ceremonies and as a place of worship. Learn the cave's archaeological and historical significance before heading back to Rethymno.

First we collect you by bus from your hotel and drive to the monastery of Arkadi. Before we set off on our bikes you will have a chance to visit the historic and very famous monastery. Arkadi played a very important part in Crete's history of resistance against the Turks and you will also be able to see a fascinating collection of icons, weapons and clerical items in the museum. We then get on our bikes and cycle through stunning scenery, olive groves and orange trees, passing through the villages of Amnatos, Kyrianna, Loutra and Asteri. Here you will get a glimpse of how Cretan people still live and work in the traditional way. We then pass through Hamalevri and eventually arrive at Stavromenos and then Scaleta. We will stop for a coffee break at the lovely village of Scaleta, next to the beach, just before we load all the bikes back to the trailer and drive to Margarites pottery village. Just outside the village we get back on the bikes and you will get a chance to explore this beautiful location, which has been famous for its pottery for centuries. Then we'll meet up and have a relaxing snack in the picturesque countryside and under a carob tree. After the snack we cycle down to Perama, before hopping back on the bus to drive to Melidoni and visit the famous cave. The history of this amazing archaeological site goes back thousands of years and it is said to be the mythical home of Talos, the giant bronze protector of Crete. From here we get back on the bus and visit a sandy beach, where you can swim or just laze in the sun, before we take you back to your hotel at the end of a perfect day.

Explore the nature of Crete on this long hike through fields and flowers. Follow a guide through the beautiful scenery of Crete, see sheep and goats, and enjoy a picnic with the guide while taking in the landscape. Be picked up from your hotel in the Rethymno district at around 9:00 and arrive at the imposing Monastery of Arkadi to begin the hike. Open 11 fences during the hike and enter 11 different pastures, each one with its own story to tell. Follow shepherd's paths, explore Cretan nature off the beaten tracks and learn all the little secrets and traditions of Cretan agriculture. Experience the hike in three different stages, beginning with the first part of the hike, which is quite easy. Enjoy the sensation of leaving behind the view of the sea and going towards the mountains, and on clear days, see the highest peak of Crete, and in the springtime, walk through green fields and countless flowers. Stop for a small picnic prepared by your guide for the second part of the hike, and eat the same snacks as the shepherds while admiring the magnificent view of the sea from above while feeling the cool breeze. Finish the second part of the hike at a small church, which is open to the public most of the time. Move out of the easy path for the third part of the hike where the path becomes more difficult, follow the E4 (European Path Network), and pass unmarked fields. Visit an abandonned church as well as a newly built one, built inside a rock. Open the last fence and feel free and calm, full of beautiful memories to bring back home. Return to the car at the end of the hike and end the journey in a small kafeneio, a typical Greek café, where the food served is homemade and suitable for all preferences (vegetarian friendly). Relax and enjoy, the charm of the café and the owner's kindness is more than enough to make you feel at home.

Meet your private driver to start this wonderful private tour in Crete. Village of Margarites: We have the first visit at day by visiting Margarites village, which is famous for its traditional pottery. You can watch local potters at work and buy handmade souvenirs to take home. Arkadi Monastery: From Margarites, head to the Arkadi Monastery,  it has been designated by UNESCO as a European Freedom Monument. This 16th-century monastery is a symbol of Cretan resistance against Ottoman rule and is known for its beautiful architecture and religious significance. Built at 12th century, at an altitude of 500 meters, on a fertile plateau with olive groves, vineyards, pines, cypress and oak trees Walking tour at Rethymno: Start your tour at the Venetian Fortezza, a 16th-century fortress that overlooks the town and the sea.  Walk down the hill to the Old Town and enter through the Venetian Loggia, a beautiful building that once served as a meeting place for the Venetian nobility. Today, it houses the Town Hall. From the Loggia, head to the Rimondi Fountain, a 16th-century fountain that was once the main source of water for the town. The fountain is decorated with carvings of lions, dolphins, and mythical creatures. Walk along Arkadiou Street, which is lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants.  Take a left turn onto Vernardou Street, which is a picturesque street lined with small shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, and local products. Continue to the Nerantze Mosque, which was built by the Ottomans in the 17th century and is now used as an art gallery. The mosque has a beautiful courtyard with a fountain and a garden. Walk along Paleologou Street and admire the Venetian and Ottoman-era buildings, which are adorned with colorful facades, wooden balconies, and ornate doors.