Private Cretan Wine, Olive Oil & Cooking Experience, Chania

Your full-day exploration of rural Crete begins with a pickup in Chania, where you'll meet your private driver/guide, and set off into the countryside, winding through vineyards, olive groves, and villages as you enter the foothills of the Lefka Ori (White Mountains). Your first stop is at a traditional olive mill, where you'll see how olives are harvested and pressed before tasting a selection of extra-virgin oils. 

Next, you'll visit a family-run winery, hidden away in a tiny village, where you can stroll among the vines, see the sustainable growing methods, visit the traditional cave cellar, and learn how the island's limestone soils and Mediterranean climate have been producing wine since the Minoan Era. End with a tasting of the winery's finest vintages, including those crafted with indigenous grape varieties like vidiano and kotsifali.

The highlight of the day comes when you venture even deeper into the mountains to a traditional stone farmhouse, where you'll be welcomed into the family home for a hands-on cooking class. After a gracious welcome from your hosts, take a stroll around the garden, learning about local herbs and plants as you help pick ingredients for your meal. Then, it's time to step into the kitchen and start cooking.

The menu varies depending on the season, but you might start by topping local rusk bread with freshly diced tomatoes and cheese to make a dakos (Cretan salad), mix handmade yogurt with cucumber and garlic for a perfect tzatziki, or learn the secrets to a perfect kalitsouni (Cretan cheese pie), a delicious specialty of the island. When it's time to eat, sit down for a family-style meal on the scenic terrace, enjoying more local wine and convivial conversation as you savor the dishes you helped prepare. Save room for dessert and some strong Greek coffee, then say your goodbyes as you head back to Chania for the evening.