Halepa Monastery off-road adventure with cheese making from Rethymnon

4.5

Agrotourism Enthusiasts

Sport lovers

Location: Rethymno, Crete, Greece

Activity: 4x4 Off-roading, Agro Tour

Languages spoken: English, German, Greek

Duration: 7 hrs

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation: 550 m

Minimum age: 7

Person (13+)

99.00 €

Child (7-12,99)

79.00 €

Total price 99.00 €

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Good to know: You can only buy this activity for 8 persons at a time. If you require more places, kindly place more orders.

Duration: 7 hrs

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Available from: 01/04/2025

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Highlights

Enjoy Cretan Villages and the best panoramic view of Psiloritis Peak
Visit a honey factory and taste local honey
Visit to an original shepherd’s hut or else “Mitato”
Experience a live the cheese making process and taste local cheese
Lunch with traditional Cretan platters
Embark on semi private safari tour for up to 6 or 8 persons per vehicle

All about the trip

Combine some of the most unique panoramic views, visit a honey factory and taste, drive through traditional Cretan villages and find out all about the lifestyle of a Cretan shepherd by exploring an original shepherd’s hut called ‘’Mitato’’ with a small group of 6-8 people in each vehicle. Learn about the history and the traditions of the Island, meet the locals, explore the wildlife of Crete, embrace the renowned Cretan hospitality and taste the delicious Cretan cheese and cuisine.

Our day starts from Rethymnon city heading south east through coast line road until Melidoni Village and Apithano Honey factory where we make our first stop for a guided tour in the factoiry and tast some honey. After our morning stop and driving through the traditional villages of Milopotamos (Melidoni, Apladiana, Doxaro, Agridia Tsaxiana) and areas with dense vegetation, fresh aromas and unique views. The amazing route and views continue until we reach the historic Halepa Monastery, that used to be a refuge for Cretan rebels during civil wars where we make our second stop. The unique view from the monastery will inspire you to take pictures, combining the highest mountain tops of Crete with the beautiful valley.

Afterwards our amazing off-road route continues and on the way up to the shepherd’s hut called “Mitato” the panoramic views will take your breath away. If we are lucky, we will get to marvel up close some wild eagles and goats and take some photos. The road will lead us up to a traditional Shepherd’s hut where you will find out all about the lifestyle of a shepherd and the cheese making process.

Leaving the shepherd’s hut and already working up our appetite we will soon arrive at a traditional Cretan tavern in Axos village, where we are going to introduce you to Cretan cuisine and heartfelt hospitality with plenty of local platters. Enough time will be provided after lunch for those who wish to enjoy a cup of coffee. On our way back we will follow an asphalt road that will lead us to the city of Rethymnon.

What is included in the price

Free hotel pick up and drop off
Premium off-road vehicles (7 or 9 seater) driven by multilingual escort-drivers
Lunch with traditional Cretan platters
Entrance fees for Honey factory and tastings
A visit to an original shepherd’s hut “Mitato” and cheese making process
Liability Insurance and local taxes

What is not included in the price

Coffee or beers or refreshements in tavern
Gratuities

The trip is not recommended to people suffering from car sickness, having mobility or kinetic or back problems, pregnant women or for children younger than 7 years old as we don't provide baby seats, or people taller than 195 cm or heavier than 130 kg. Alcohol consumption is not allowed to minors under age of 18 years old. Uncharted Escapes reserves the right to make minor changes in the program when considered necessary, for example, in case of unfavorable weather conditions. This can be done without any prior notice.

Instructions

Please let us know during the booking of this activity if you require a vegetarian lunch or if you have any food allergies.

Pick up times per area:

8:30 Georgioupoli

8:35 Kavros

9:00 Rethymnon

9:15 Platanias

9:25 Adelianos Kambos

9:30 Stavromenos

9:45 Panormos

our starts at 10:00 am

What to take with you?

Don’t forget your face masks, comfortable shoes, for example trekking shoes or sandals, camera, sun protection, etc. During spring and autumn, we advise you to bring a jacket.

Itinerary

	08:00 -09:45 Pick ups
	09:45-10:00 Drive to Melidoni Village
	10:00-10:45 Honey Museum visit
	10:45-11:25 Drive to Halepa Monastery
	11:25-11:45 Monastery visit
	11:45 - 12:00 Drive to Axos Gorge (off road)
	12:00 - 12:10 Axos Gorge Vultures photo stop (off-road)
	12:10 - 12:15 Drive to the Shepherd's Hut
	12:15 - 13:30 Shephard’s Hut & cheesemaking stop
	13:30 - 13:35 Drive to Axos Village
	13:35 - 15:00 Lunch Stop
	15:00 - 15:40 Drive back to pick up points
Time schedules may vary depending on group size and weather conditions

Where do we meet and where will the trip end?

Meeting place:

We arrange hotel pick-up and drop-off in Rethymno. Please let us know during the booking of this activity your hotel name for pick-up and drop-off.

Meeting place information:

Outside your hotel .Please let us know during the booking of this activity your hotel name for pick-up and drop-off.

Final destination:

Outside your hotel .

Cancellation Policy - Medium

Cancellation more than 10 days prior to the starting date. Clients are automatically refunded the full booking price.
Cancellation within 4 to 10 days prior to the starting date. Clients are entitled to a 50% refund of the booking Price.
Cancellation less than 4 days prior to the starting date. No refunds.

The full Terms and Conditions are available on our website.

This activity is organised by Malaxianakis Emmanouil - Uncharted escapes, Mesologgiou 1, Chania, 73131, Greece, +30 6983830830, info@unchartedescapes.com.