I was on Kim’s amazing six-day tour of the Asheville area. We covered so much ground in that time. You really need that time to see the city and the highlights of the surrounding area, which I would never have found on my own. It amazed me that she was able to coordinate the touring part with meals, events, and activities. Our van driver was very knowledgeable too. Scheduling of activities ran very smoothly and not rushed, yet we got to do and see so much. I can’t imagine how much planning goes into this trip. Thank you, Kim.
Athens and the Acropolis
Ancient Picturesque Villages
Wild Countryside and Coastal Scenery
Discover Europe's Oldest Civilization on this Athens and Crete Vegan Tour
You’ve surely seen the iconic photos of Greece, including Athens and its islands. Cretans are descendants of Cretan-born Zeus, the god of hospitality and father of all ancient Greek gods. With a profound love for their homeland, as well as their traditional ways and customs, this is a culture absolutely worth discovering. Where else can you experience high mountains, caves and ravines, plateaus and valleys, cedar forests, and a stunning coastline? Crete is a crossroads of peoples and civilizations influenced by Minoans, Mycenaeans, Ottoman Turks, Arabs, and Venetians, which have all shaped the island’s identity over 50 centuries. In addition to quaint towns and villages, you’ll see incredible archeological sites.
Why You’ll Love This Tour!
The Parthenon and a vegan food tour in Athens
Mountains, gorges, exquisite beaches, and archeological sites
Traditional vegan-friendly cuisine made with local produce
Click the Tabs to Find Out More
Essential Info
Essential Info
Price
$6818 USD/per person
*A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the tour cost, along with a registration form, are required in order to join the tour. Your space is not guaranteed until both of these are received.
Dates
October 9th – 19th, 2026
Tour duration
10 nights/11 days
Group size
8-12 people
Included
- 10 nights accommodations
- 10 breakfasts
- 9 lunches
- 10 dinners
- Sightseeing and activity admissions (except free time)
- Transportation between activities
- Arrival transfer
- All logistics are taken care of for you
Not included
- International Airfare
- Airfare from Athens to Crete
- Travel insurance
What to bring
Comfortable shoes
Travel insurance is highly recommended for any unexpected emergency expenses.
About your guide
Kim Giovacco and a local Cretan guide will lead this tour
Trip Overview
Our tour starts with a private transfer from Athens International Airport (ATH). If you arrive early and your room isn’t yet ready, you will be able to store your bag at our centrally located hotel. We will be staying in the Plaka neighborhood, with its narrow pedestrian-only streets and a village atmosphere within the city, in the shadow of the Acropolis. We’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the city’s popular vegan restaurants.
On our first full day, we’ll visit the Acropolis in the morning, and then have a vegan food tour beginning in the late afternoon. On Day 3, we will fly to Crete for the main part of our tour.
Day 4 will be spent discovering Heraklion. On Day 5, we will have a boat ride and explore around Elounda. You will explore Crete’s northern coast and picturesque Rethymnon on Day 6.
On Day 7, we will transfer to Chania, Greece’s most beautiful old town. Day 8 will take us to a gorgeous lagoon and island on western Crete, followed by a family-run cooking lesson at a traditional countryside farm.
On Day 9, we will visit the southernmost town in Europe. We will visit Chania’s mountainous areas and gorges on Day 10. On our final day, we will have breakfast and then head to the airport.
Itinerary
You will have a private transfer from Athens airport to our hotel in the picturesque Plaka neighborhood. Arrive any time during the day because our first activity will be a welcome dinner. You can store your bags at the hotel if you arrive before check-in time. In the early evening we’ll get acquainted in the hotel lobby and then walk to our dinner at a vegan restaurant.
Monday, our first full day, we will experience the Parthenon early to avoid the crowds. After lunch and a bit of free time, we’ll gather for a vegan food tour in the late afternoon, and this will serve as our dinner. This will be a great opportunity to sample the city’s many vegan options since our time in Athens is limited.
Meals Included
Day 1: Dinner
Day 2: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
On Day 3 we’ll depart for the airport and take a one hour flight to Heraklion (HER), Crete. This is the largest island in Greece, and also one of the most vegan-friendly areas. Yet, it’s not heavily populated with tourists. We’ll meet our local Cretan guide (he’s vegan too!) and have a group orientation and Greek language lesson before dinner.
Day 4 will start with a free morning in Heraklion to relax, explore, or go shopping. If you enjoy museums, there is a terrific Archaeological Museum, the Historical Museum, or the Venetian Fortress. After lunch we’ll ride to Knossos, the ancient home of the Minoans, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete. It’s also thought to be Europe’s oldest city. Upon returning to Heraklion we’ll have a group dinner.
The next day we will catch a boat to Spinalonga Islet. This was one of the last remaining leper colonies in Europe, with many of the building ruins preserved for you to see today. It’s also the site of a 16th-centure Venetian fortress. If you like, you can hike to the top of the fortress walls for amazing views of the entire bay. Alternatively, you may easily stroll the ruins of the islet’s old settlement at sea level. We’ll then enjoy a beachfront lunch, and after that a wine and raki (local spirit) tasting. Our group dinner will be back in Heraklion.
Meals Included
Day 3: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
On Day 6 we’ll check out of our Heraklion hotel, then drive along the Northern coast of Crete to the picturesque town of Rethymnon. We’ll have a guide tour of its ancient Venetian fortress and enjoy fantastic city views, then stroll down the quaint alleys of old Tethymnon town to reach our lunch restaurant. You’ll then have some free time in the old town to explore its market. Upon arriving in Chania, we’ll check in to our hotel and have a late dinner in Chania Old City.
Day 7 we will start our day by exploring the regions’s beating heart, Chania Town. The scenic old town is centered around a Venetian harbor, where you will enjoy a guided historical walking tour. You’ll then have some free time in the picturesque old town for relaxation, shopping, or further sightseeing. After lunch at a family-run restaurant, we’ll visit the Archaeological Museum, where you’ll learn about Crete’s turbulent history. We’ll then walk back to town, enjoying ocean views and learning about Chania’s modern history and architecture. Our group dinner will be in Chania Old City.
On Day 8 we’ll start by learning about the extraordinary history of Maleme village and see the German Military Cemetery. Then we’ll board a small boat at one of Crete’s western ports, and have a light lunch onboard. We will visit stunning Balos Lagoon and Gramvoussa Island and if you wish, you can hike up its breathtaking Venetian Fortress. Otherwise, you may stay on the boat or walk on the beach. Then we’ll visit a traditional farm in the countryside and enjoy a family-run cooking lesson and dinner, a glorious way to end the day.
Meals Included
Day 6: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
On Day 9 we’ll experience the marvel of Southern Crete. We will cross the White Mountains to reach the side of Crete facing Africa. Here the light is different, and time runs slower. This will be a chance to immerse yourself in an an extraordinary and unique experience at the southernmost point in Europe. After a refreshment stop in the historic village of Askyfou, we will start our descent to Chora Skafion. There, we’ll cath a boat to tour some of the famous secluded beaches and whitewashed villages of Southern Crete. We will have a group lunch and enjoy the marvelous landscape ahd the beaches until the late afternoon. We’ll return via boat and board our bus back to Chania Old City for our group dinner.
Our last full day, we will start our day by driving to the 16th-century monastery of Saint Kyriaki. There are about 130 active monasteries on the island of Crete; visiting one is the last we can do as mindful travelers. We’ll learn abou the Christian Orthodox religion, which constitutes one of the main pillars of contemporary Greek culture. The landscape is filled with small natural caves where many Orthodox ascetics lived in the past centuries. We will visit at least one of the many caves in the monastery area. Then we’ll continue our tour by exploring Chania’s lush mountainous areas. We will experience the countryside, passing through and stopping at different inland villages and significant natural and historical landmarks. We will drive through the breathtaking gorge of Therisso and reach Zourva village and enjoy a cup of the local mountain tea infusion with a traditional local snack as an appetizer. At the botanical garden, we’ll have our vegan lunch with a view. After lunch, you’ll have time for an optional self-guided walking tour in the garden. We will finish this tranquil day with a short olive oil tasting in the restaurant. Our farewell dinner will take place in our hotel restaurant. The next day, our tour will end after breakfast.
Meals Included
Day 9: Breakfast and dinner
Day 10: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 11: Breakfast
Good to Know
Amount of walking: 5 miles per day (approximate)
Please plan to fly into Athens International Airport (ATH).
You will also need to purchase a flight from Athens (ATH) to Heraklion (HER).
We will let you know when to do so.
Please plan your departure from Chania International Airport (CHQ).
Previous Guests Praise Veg Jaunts and Journeys
A little extra payment for your time! Thanks so much for all the help and research, it decreased my stress a lot to work with you. Our trip was so great! Excellent recommendations, and we can’t thank you enough! The resort was a real treat, very very nice. La Gomera was the perfect counter balance. Our stay at the inn was magical-charming, cozy and perfect. Thank you so much for the great recommendations!! It really did make for an amazing vegan honeymoon and vacation!
I love having a vegan travel agent. Thank you so much for thinking of these details. It will be great to have this all planned out and all I have to do is execute the plan.
