“Enjoy the protective effect of the Cretan diet”
8 Day Cooking Vacation in Vamos, Crete
Aegean Flavours cottage, Vamos, Crete, Greece
Authentic Crete Cooking Vacation Greece
Enjoy this authentic cooking vacation at Crete, the southernmost point of Europe at the crossroad of three continents and five seas. It is a Greek place, with a unique blend of elements from the creative assimilation of various cultural forms in a natural frame of astonishing beauty. Experience this protective effect of the Cretan diet for human health, which has a significant influence on several body functions. Whether you come to Crete for the sea and the sun, the culture, food, and traditions, the peaceful seaside villages of South Crete, or the dramatic landscapes, there is always something for everyone.
Highlights
- Greek cooking lessons
- Amazing food tour in Chania
- Cretan cheese and bread-making tour
- Opportunity to explore the charming village of Vamos
- Winery tour followed by a wine tasting
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast and dinner
6 days with instruction
Group size: 2-12 participants
Airport transfer available:
Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport) (US$ 66 per person)
Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport) (US$ 66 per person)
Airport transfer included:
Chania International Airport ("Ioannis Daskalogiannis")
Accommodation
You will be provided with seven nights accommodations at a week-long unforgettable culinary program in Vamos, a village near Chania in Crete based on a double room occupancy, daily breakfast, meals, and activities/excursions mentioned in the program.
Small cottage
Small Cottage with AC, central heating, fireplace, and facilities like TV, DVD player, fridge, toaster, boiler, coffee pot, small oven, two hot plates, hairdryer, and wireless internet. You will also be provided with maid service for change of sheets and towels after three nights of stay. Pets are allowed on request.
Big cottage with two levels
First level is a large traditionally furnished sitting and dining room with fireplace and central heating, comfortable sofa / bed (for two persons), fully-equipped kitchenette, TV and AC, and a nice veranda, wooden steps leading up to the second level: bedroom with two single beds, a comfortable bathroom with bathtub, another veranda with a wonderful view to the old neighborhood of Vamos, and the white mountains (Lefka Ori). The cottage accommodates a maximum of four people.
- Bathroom: 1 (bathtub)
- Beds: 2 singles and 2 sofa beds
Program
When you refer to the Cretan diet, you should take into consideration that the diet in question was applied under specific social conditions and constituted an inextricable part of a general lifestyle. Apart from the specific choice of food, there were probably numerous other factors that contributed to the beneficiary effects of this diet on human health.
The protective effect of the Cretan diet on human health was attributed to its high monounsaturated fat content, due to the daily use of olive oil, as well as to low saturated fat, due to the low consumption of red meat. At present, it is well aware that this particular nutritional scheme possesses important additional features since it is a diet that, when applied in sufficient quantities, provides all the necessary micro-constituents (i.e. vitamins and minerals), and is rich in Omega-three fatty acids, vegetable fibers, antioxidants, and various phytochemicals, which have a significant influence on several body functions, and a beneficial effect on your health.
Cretan food has become internationally recognized in recent years as a distinctive dietary regime with great enduring gustatory and nutritional value. Scientific studies have shown that the Cretan dietary model - fundamentally based on the consumption of pure, natural products shields the human organism against diseases and leads to longevity.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Pick up at arrival time at Chania international airport or port and transfer to the cottage in the heartland of Crete in Vamos, near Georgioupolis. Enjoy welcome drinks followed by some free time to settle in. Tonight's dinner will feature contemporary Cretan cuisine and will be served by your hosts at a Vamos tavern.
Day 2: Cooking class
After breakfast during your free morning, you will have an opportunity to take a stroll around the charming village of Vamos or even take a bus or taxi to Georgioupolis. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, enjoy with Chef Koula in the Cretan countryside with a glass of wine in your hand, cooking at ease in our kitchen, and then devour the delicious foods you have just created! The lesson will take place at an Old Olive Mill. Dinner included.
Day 3: Visiting local producers
Today, you visit olive oil, honey, cheese, bread, and jam producers. A day to remember for the rest of your life. You will also have the opportunity to see the last person on Crete to make sheep and goat bells. After lunch, you will visit a young couple who collect Cretan herbs, very beneficial for your health. Lunch included.
Free afternoon for personal activities (suggestions: you can go and relax on the beach in Kalives or trip to the beautiful town of Rethymno). Dinner (included).
Day 4: Olive oil, wine tasting, and cooking class
You start at 10 in the morning, after breakfast, from the local olive oil pressing factory where the specialist will demonstrate the olive oil producing process. The taste of pure local oil is followed by the explanation of the secrets of Cretan virgin olive oil. Continue on to a winery: You will share the passion for Cretan wine and you will discover all the wineries. The tour is followed by a wine tasting, sampling quality Cretan wines (served with some traditional meze), while the hosts will answer all of your questions. Lunch included.
In the afternoon, another delicious moment will start with your second Cretan cooking class waiting for you. You will have for dinner the dishes you prepared with your chef.
Day 5: Food tour in Chania
Aegean Flavours will take you this morning to the famous town of Chania for an amazing food tour. This food tour combines a walking tour through some of the most picturesque parts of Chania while stopping to taste authentic traditional foods at shops along the way! You will enjoy a unique blending of local food culture, tradition, and history as you explore Chania with all your senses! After this, free time in the town where you can take the opportunity to do quality shopping or to have lunch in a great tavern in the port or in the narrow streets. Lunch included. You will be back at your accommodation in the afternoon. Dinner included
Day 6: Free day
Free day for your activities. There is an optional walking guided tour you can do in the morning. It is a walk in the mountains meeting history and nature. Aegean Flavours can suggest and organize different wonderful options upon your request; for instance excursion in the south of Crete in the Lybian Sea, to Samaria Gorges, or to Knossos Palace in Heraklion. Lunch on your own. Dinner included.
Day 7: Last day of cooking class
Free morning for personal activities (suggestion: Kournas Lake near Georgiopoulis). In the afternoon, enjoy the week's last cooking class. You will have the pleasure for the last time to see the legendary chef at the Old Olive Mill and enjoy cooking with her. After the class, a tremendous goodbye dinner will be offered. Dinner (included).
Day 8: Departure day
Breakfast at the cottage. Transfer to the airport or port of Chania.
Note: Transfers to and/or from the Airport or Port of Heraklion will be at an extra cost. The transfers to and from the port or airport of Chania are included in the price. All the cooking classes and all activities last for approximately 4 hours.
Location
Crete is the southeast point of Europe at the crossroad of three continents and five seas. It is the meeting point of different populations, from ancient and disparate cultures of centuries. It is a Greek place, with a unique blend of elements from the creative assimilation of various cultural forms in a natural frame of astonishing beauty.
The island offers amazing variety, combining snow-capped mountains, rolling hills covered with olive trees, and over 1000 kilometers of varied coastline. Crete has far more endemic plants than any other island in Europe.
Crete is also a mix of large tourist resorts, small fishing villages, remote settlements, and cities such as Chania, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno, and Heraklion which have been inhabited for almost 8000 years. Whether you come to Crete for the sea and the sun, the culture and traditions, the peaceful seaside villages of South Crete, or the dramatic landscapes, there is something for everyone.
Distances
- Supermarket and bakery, 200 meters
- Tavern, 50 meters
- Cafe, 20 meters
- Bank with ATM, 300 meters
- Gas station, 250 meters
- Nearest beach, 6 kilometers
Features
Activities
- Cooking classes
- Mountain walking
- Wine tasting
General
- Beach
- Fireplace
Services
- Hair dryer
- Wireless internet
Food
You will be provided with daily breakfast and dinner.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Visit Kournas Lake near Georgiopoulis
- Take an optional walking guided tour (a walk in the mountain meeting history and nature)
- Take an excursion in the south of Crete in the Lybian Sea, to Samaria Gorges, or to Knossos Palace in Heraklion
What's included
- Transfer from / to Chania Airport or Port on a modern minibus or taxi
- 7 nights at a premium quality Cretan Cottage with daily breakfast made solely of local ingredients
- All dinners
- 3 Greek cooking lessons taught by one of the most awarded chefs of Crete at an old olive oil mill
- Meals (with wine) after the cooking classes eating what you made with your chef
- 1 wine tour and olive oil tour (with lunch included)
- 1 cheese making tour and breadmaking tour (with lunch included)
- 1 food tour in Chania (with lunch included)
What's not included
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, and excursions that are not listed in the program
- Travel insurance, personal expenses, tips
- Transfer from and / or Heraklion port or airport (it can be offered at the rate of 60 EUR per person each way)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
HER
Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport)
89 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 66 per person
CHQ
Chania International Airport ("Ioannis Daskalogiannis")
14 km
Transfer included
Airport: Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport)
Airport transfer available:
Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport) (US$ 66 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Chania International Airport ("Ioannis Daskalogiannis")
Airport transfer included: Chania International Airport ("Ioannis Daskalogiannis")
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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