Travelling in a nine-seater van, you'll roll through nine tucked‑away Apokoronas villages far from the tourist radar on this small‑group tour. The quiet backroads lead you past olive groves, vineyards and stone houses as you dip in and out of Armenoi, Neo Chorio, Pemonia, Fres, Tzitzifes, Nipos, Vafes and Vryses. It's a scenic journey that shows off the region's rural charm and slow‑paced way of life, all set against the backdrop of the White Mountains. Giorgos, one of our local expert guides, says, “Apokoronas is where you feel the real Crete – peaceful villages, warm people and unspoiled landscapes. It's the Crete we grew up with, still doing its thing.”
Your next stop is the Holy Mary of Two Rocks Church, a tiny landmark hidden between two natural rock formations that most people never stumble across. It's a lovely spot to pause, soak up the countryside and enjoy the stillness before the route winds deeper into Apokoronas. The scenery then shifts from rolling farmland to rugged hillsides dotted with traditional homes and family‑run farms.
Then, it's on to Arevitis for a proper taste of rural Crete. At a traditional sheep farm, you'll wander through a garden bursting with local produce before joining a hands‑on cheese‑making session with your hosts. You'll try the fresh cheese you've helped create, tuck into warm Cretan snacks and sip homemade raki – the island's traditional spirit – while hearing stories about the land, the animals and daily life in the mountains.
