With Elena's for Easter lunch & much more in Crete!
Then the time is ripe again for us to slowly start our travels again and the first trip will be the much sought-after Easter trip from 15/4-23 to 22/4-23 .
As when we previously (before the corona) organized trips, these are group trips where you can take part in all the organized excursions if you want to and freely.
However, there is only one charter departure to Crete from Denmark that is just in time to experience the fantastic Greek Easter. For some it's lucky and for others not so lucky, because this trip is only organized from Copenhagen , no matter what, it's a trip most people won't want to miss.
The technical travel organizer is Apollo Rejser, Amager Strandvej 390, 4., 2770 Kastrup, CVR. 17435930, Member of the Rejsegarantifonden no. 0830, to whom you are transferred when booking a trip.
Discount codes for use when purchasing goods at Elenas CANNOT be used when booking travel.
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What comes with:
- Flight (Novair) from Copenhagen 15/4-23 at 07:20, hand luggage + 1 pc. checked baggage (20 kg) per traveler
- Direct transport to/from the hotel from the airport
- Accommodation in double rooms at the 3-star Hotel Atrion, Agia Marina ( see video of the hotel here )
- Large breakfast buffet and dinner buffet every day
- Traditional Greek Easter lunch with, among other things whole roasted lamb (incl. drinks)
- 3 x sumptuous lunches (incl. drinks)
- 1 x party dinner (incl. drinks)
- Excursion trips to:
Midnight mass and Easter celebration in the old church of Agia Marina
The ancient city of Aptera
Margarites Village (the town known for its ceramics)
Agia Triada Monastery (with accompanying wine tasting)
Mountain trip to Drakona
Chania old town with plenty of opportunities for shopping
In addition, there are 2½ days of "free days" where you can relax by the pool, go out on your own or perhaps just enjoy it with a good book in the shade of the large palm trees that surround the hotel.
On Saturday, after the dinner buffet, the trip goes home again after a week full of experiences, good impressions and perhaps new acquaintances.
As on the outing, we fly back home with Novair and land in Copenhagen on 23/4-23 at 02:15
Throughout the trip, it is Elena's founder and founder, Michael Halle, who is the host and guide , so you are in safe hands 24/7.
Through countless trips and longer stays on Crete, Michael has a great knowledge of life before and now on the beautiful island and knows God and every man on especially the western side of Crete, which the trip goes to.
Almost EVERYTHING has been upgraded
Based on the many positive feedbacks we received on our previous group trips, we have adjusted and adapted the trip so that there is plenty of time for everything and so that you can have the best holiday imaginable.
Almost everything has been upgraded at the same time, so that we now live in a comfortable 3-star hotel , use a 4-star VIP bus for our excursions, have more lunches and have room for more participants. We expect to have up to 20-25 guests on this tour. In fact, you only have to provide lunch yourself for 3 days - the rest is included in the price. And the price, yes, that's the only thing that hasn't been upgraded. It is largely unchanged compared to before.
Practical information
At the bottom, under practical information, you will find a direct link to our co-organizer Apollo Rejser , who is responsible for the booking itself. This ensures that you are of course also insured through the Travel Guarantee Fund. Press the link "Book travel here" at the bottom of the page.
A deposit of DKK 1,400 must be paid per travelers (+ possibly additional order of cancellation insurance/travel insurance, if desired). The remaining part must be paid no later than 60 days before departure. Payment specification appears when ordering.
We reserve the right to cancel the trip and thus refund the full amount paid if the trip cannot be completed due to lack of registration, force majeure or other external circumstances. Any cancellation due to lack of registration will take place no later than 60 days before departure, after which the trip will not be canceled for this reason. Conversely, travelers will also be notified earlier, as soon as the minimum number of participants has been reached and the trip is carried out as planned and will not be canceled due to lack of registration.
We point out that travelers follow all possible Corona restrictions, which will be communicated by direct mail to all travelers.
Meeting time on departure is no later than 2 hours before departure.
The trip day by day
Saturday
On arrival in Crete, you will be assigned rooms and have the opportunity to unpack and just get a little and safe much-needed rest, before we gradually start up during the afternoon with a welcome and information meeting, after which a large dinner buffet awaits at the hotel.
At the end of the evening, we go together to the old church of Agia Marina, where we participate in the Midnight Mass and the Greek Orthodox Easter Day celebration, with all its intricate rituals and traditions.
After the tour, we go back to the hotel for a good night's sleep, so that we are ready for the big Easter lunch on Sunday.
Sunday
We start the day with a hearty breakfast in pleasant company and otherwise spend the morning as we each wish. It could be that you just want to stock up on something to keep in your room, want to see the surroundings, or just relax and enjoy life.
In the afternoon we go together to Arhondiko, which is a small, very traditional tavern, where the owner Christos has prepared the classic Easter lunch with, among other things, whole roast lamb on a skewer, which has already been put on the grill early in the day and has been spinning for several hours.
After the gigantic Easter lunch, there is just a little time to beat the stomach and maybe rest before the dinner buffet might tempt those who haven't had enough for lunch.
Monday
After our regular breakfast buffet, we are picked up in our VIP bus, which first takes us to the Agia Triada monastery on Akrotiri, which was built in the 17th century. Here we will see the fantastic monastery from the inside and finish with a wine tasting in the monastery's cellar between huge oak barrels filled with wine, before we head further up into the mountains where we will experience some of the most authentic aspects of Greek food culture. In Drakona, we are going to have lunch at Dounias, where the words "from farm to table" really come into their own. Everything is made from scratch with completely fresh organically grown ingredients and the meat served is from free-range animals from Dounia's own lands in the mountainous but also lush area that lies right up to the tavern, where the clay pots simmer outside over an open fire, while the scent of the tastiest dishes spread and tantalize one's taste buds.
Eating at Dounias is not just food – it's an experience you'll never forget.
If you are still hungry after this trip, there is of course the buffet at the hotel to end the day.
Tuesday
The first day without any real program other than that, like all other days, is a large breakfast buffet at the hotel. Otherwise, the day is free to enjoy life and relax, go for walks, go to one of the nearby towns or whatever you fancy. This is also where you can see or revisit some of the other beautiful places found in western Crete.
Smaller guided tours can be organized to a limited extent by prior agreement if desired for a separate payment, or car or scooter hire can be arranged to get around on your own.
The evening is rounded off with a dinner buffet at the hotel for those who wish.
Wednesday
After the joint breakfast buffet, we are picked up again by our VIP bus, which takes us to the ancient city of Aptera, 15 km east of Chania, which, with its breathtaking location 200 meters above the entrance to Souda Bay, has been around since 1400 BC. with an open view over the entire Souda bay, has been able to protect against enemy intrusion. When you walk around the ruins and on the narrow stone-paved roads and paths, you easily get your thoughts back to ancient times and the life there was. An age and a place that amazes in many ways with both its architecture and comfort.
Aptera is believed to go all the way back to the Minoan period, i.e. at the same time as Knossos, so after visiting Aptere, it is very natural to continue to Margarites, which is popularly known as the ceramic city. Here, the small pottery shops and workshops lie side by side and bear witness to the fact that since ancient times, Greek pottery has been and still is some of the most used kitchenware and decoration. In Margarites, there will be an opportunity to shop for some of the beautiful ceramics and take it with you, so that it can adorn your own home and bring back memories of a fantastic day in the footsteps of ancient times.
After sightseeing, shopping and maybe a little refreshment, the trip continues to Kampi, where we will have lunch at Stachy's with a view of the Diktamus Gorge. It is one of the most traditional indoor year-round eateries, with dull light fixtures in the ceiling, sparse decor and decoration, but with divine food as traditional as it always has been. It is also still mother herself who stands in the kitchen and likes to show off what she has in the pots and the oven, so that the teeth can really water. Like other lunches on the Easter Tour, Elena's is the host with everything paid for.
After an eventful day with many cultural and culinary impressions, we return to our base (Atrikon) where those who might need a late dinner can frolic at the buffet or perhaps just enjoy a drink at the pool bar.
Thursday
As usual, the day starts at the breakfast table, but it is up to each individual when they want to have breakfast, because Thursday is largely free to do whatever they want. The only downside to the day off is that we all gather in the evening for a celebratory dinner, which is held at Romeo's Taverna.
Should some wish it, there will be the possibility of smaller individual tours with or without a guide on Thursdays, similar to Tuesdays.
Friday
When we have all had breakfast and are ready, the bus will take us to Chania, where we will tour the old town with all its unique places, architectural diversity, walk through the Turkish and Byzantine quarter, see the sights, the beautiful Trimatiri Cathedral, through the leather street with all the stalls, have the opportunity to shop and perhaps enjoy a frappe or Greek coffee at a sidewalk cafe, before we gather for lunch at To Xani by the Synagogue, where we are treated to several delicious dishes from Cretan cuisine and ancient real Chania delicacies. To Xani ranks as one of the absolute best places to eat in Chania.
After this, the trip goes back to the hotel after another day with one on the experience.
Since we don't want our guests to go to bed hungry, there is of course a dinner buffet again at the hotel, if it is eventually possible to squeeze in a bit more.
Otherwise, the evening is intended for relaxing shared fun for those who want to.
Saturday
On top of a week with several activities and a lot of impressions and experiences, there are probably many who would like to enjoy the last day in the sun and just relax until the trip goes to Copenhagen again.
We will be out of our rooms during the morning, but as we will not be leaving until the evening, rooms will be arranged for storage, changing and showering.
Before we leave Atrion for this time, there will be a dinner buffet at the end before our VIP bus picks us up again to drive us to Chania airport.
What does it cost?
The price for this trip is from NOK 9,995
If you order up to and including August 2022, the price is NOK 9,495 (save NOK 500)
(The price is per person for 2 people in the same room on the same booking)
A deposit of DKK 1,400 must be paid per travelers (+ possibly additional order of cancellation insurance/travel insurance, if desired). The remaining part must be paid no later than 60 days before departure. Payment specification appears when ordering.
Technical travel organizer: Apollo Rejser, Amager Strandvej 390, 4., 2770 Kastrup, CVR. 17435930, Member of the Travel Guarantee Fund no. 0830.
Discount codes for use when purchasing goods at Elenas CANNOT be used when booking travel.
...The trip is sold out, sign up to be notified of the next trip...
Inspirational photos from previous trips
...Click on an image to enlarge...