Top Heraklion Unique Experiences

Teaching yourself Cretan cooking would usually mean working from a recipe book. This village culinary experience from Rethymno and Heraklion lets you learn hands-on from a local cook, so you pick up authentic techniques from a master. As you prep and savor dishes such as ‘stifado’ stew, you’ll also experience a Cretan village house and rural life, and hear stories from the cook—all difficult to arrange independently.

Immerse yourself in Crete’s delectable, rustic cuisine—and leave the bustle of the city behind—when you sign up for this private, hands-on cooking class. Pick a time that works best for you, and meet your driver directly at your Heraklion hotel which then takes you to the village where you meet your guide. It’s a quick drive into the hills, where you’ll cook amidst the Mediterranean scenery. With your guide’s instruction, learn to prepare a number of traditional dishes, from dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves) to lamb with artichokes. Then, sit down to enjoy your multi-course meal, complete with wine.

Cherries, Churches and the Valley of Amari. A hidden paradise between the mountain Kedros and Psilorites. Explore the beautiful landscape at the springtime. For only a few months the year, the valley open it’s beauty. The first stop is at the ceramic pottery village Margerithes. After you'll visit the hidden valley and see a carpet of flowers, particularly orchids and irises including Orphys mammosa (Breasted orphrys), Orchis pauciflora (Sparsley-flowering orchid), Orchis italica, Orphys tenthredinifera, Iris cretensis, Hermodactylus tuberosus and Romulea bulbocodium. The great profusion of flowers is due to the limestone on which the plateau is situated. One of the highlights of this plateau is the extremely rare Tulipa doerfleri, and it occurs in in such great numbers that the fields are coloured red! Later filled up with the beauty of the flowers you'll have lunch in a traditional taverna After a good meal you'll visit Spili, the heart of Crete bevor heading back.

Experiencing Crete’s traditional rural lifestyle and villages independently is difficult without a hire car or the time to meet and chat with locals. This trip lays it all on for you: with a tour of various villages to uncover their daily life; a string of food tastings and cultural insights; and a home-cooked Cretan lunch conjured up by a local host. Rethymno and Heraklion hotel pickup and drop-off are included.