7 Villages Of Apokoronas, Lunch

7 Villages of Apokoronas, Lunch, 8 hours, rated 4.7 across 354 traveller reviews.

Overview

This full-day tour from Chania spends eight hours in Apokoronas, the rural region east of the city, visiting a string of villages that are awkward to reach without a car. Pickup and drop-off from set locations in the Chania region is included, and transport is an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide who stays with the group all day. Travellers who reviewed the tour repeatedly said they could not have done the route on their own, which is a fair summary of its main appeal.

The day runs roughly like this: a scenic drive through the countryside, a stop at a village kafeneio for Greek coffee with an explanation of how it is made, a short nature walk, then Vrises, where the group sees the Mikis Theodorakis Theatre and the Church of St. Antony, built into the rock. After that comes a small bakery for bread, olive oil treats and Cretan biscuits, and finally a traditional lunch back at a village kafeneio.

Lunch and all tastings are included, as are entrance fees, so the only spending on the day is optional tips. It suits travellers who want villages, food and local conversation rather than beaches or archaeological sites. Pets are not allowed and unaccompanied minors cannot join.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupPickup and drop-off from specific locations in the Chania region. The listing asks travellers to give precise details of their hotel location, and a final voucher arrives by email the day before the tour.
2. Scenic village driveThe day begins with a drive through Apokoronas, passing villages and countryside scenery on the way east of Chania.
3. Greek coffee stopA stop at a traditional kafeneio for a cup of Greek coffee, with a demonstration of how it is made.
4. Nature walkA gentle walk through the surrounding countryside before the tour continues.
5. Vrises villageA visit to Vrises to see the Mikis Theodorakis Theatre and the Church of St. Antony, set into the rock.
6. Local bakeryA stop at a small bakery for freshly baked bread, olive oil treats and Cretan biscuits.
7. Traditional lunchLunch at a cozy kafeneio in one of the villages, included in the tour price along with all the day's tastings.
8. Return transferDrop-off back at the pickup locations in the Chania region at the end of the eight-hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this day out.

• What to bring. The listing recommends comfortable shoes and a sun hat. There is a nature walk plus time on your feet in the villages, so footwear matters more than it might seem.
• Food and drink. Lunch and all tastings are covered, from the Greek coffee to the bakery stops. Several travellers singled out the lunch in the village square and the bread with olive oil at the bakery as highlights of the day.
• Group and guide. Reviewers often mention a small group in a comfortable mini-van, with guides who share history and local knowledge freely. The pattern of praise for the guides is consistent across reviews.
• Pace of the day. Eight hours with multiple stops, but nothing strenuous. The walk is described as gentle in the listing, and reviewers describe the transport as comfortable throughout.
• Photos. The route passes villages, countryside and a church set into the rock, so bring a camera or keep the phone charged.
• Before you go. Give accurate hotel location details when booking, since pickup depends on it. The final voucher arrives by email one day before the tour.

Common issues. The listing's own review summary notes that some travellers wanted clearer details on exactly which stops are included, so it is worth checking the itinerary on the booking page before you go. Gratuities are not included and are optional. Pets and unaccompanied minors are not allowed. Reviewers also mention that these villages are hard to reach without a car, which is the point of the tour.

Common Questions