The villages and islets of northwestern Mirabello Bay are the stars of this exclusive full day excursion, which dives deep into Cretan culture, history and cuisine. You'll begin with a tour of Spinalonga island and then spend time in the harbour town of Plaka, as well as the charming village of Fourni. Veta, one of our local guides, says: ‘This tour combines history, nature and traditional food. You get to see how the locals live in remote villages, away from the coastal resorts'.
The short boat trip from Plaka to the teardrop-shaped islet of Spinalonga is one that many people took only once. Centuries of history are buried within the walls that encircle this former leper colony, which led to it being dubbed the ‘Island of the Living Dead'. A guided walk will show you around the 16th-century Venetian fortress and the roofless houses of the former colony, which closed in the 1950s.
You'll then sail back to Plaka. After some free time to explore this pretty port, head inland to Fourni – a whitewashed village nestled among orchards and dominated by a large Orthodox church. Stroll its flower-filled cobbled streets dotted with stone houses, dinky chapels and shaded squares. Plus, you'll get to learn how olive oil is produced while directly supporting the local economy. Then we'll drop into a family-run taverna and sit down for a traditional Cretan lunch, prepared with local sourced ingredients and washed down with regional wine.
