EXPLORING CRETE

This trip really lets you soak up the Cretan countryside, a lot of which is a patchwork quilt of sprawling vineyards and vast olive groves. Things kick off in the village of Peza the most important wine-growing hub on the island. The area produces around 70% of Crete's wines and it's been in the business since Minoan times. You'll have a chance to explore the vineyards with a guide before tasting some wines and nibbling on some local snacks. You'll then get in a coach and head to the village of Archanes. Made up of tiny cobbled streets bursting with fruit trees and flower-bedecked balconies, it's one of the most picturesque spots in Crete. There'll be time to explore the place before you move on to your final destination - Heraklion. Check out the Venetian fountain in Venizelou Square, with its water-spewing stone lions. Then pull up a chair and tuck in to a sweet pastry at one of the cafés lining its edges.