Halepa Monastery off-road adventure with cheese making from Rethymnon

Minimum age: 7

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

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

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