Blue Ways Koufonisi Island with meal

Blue Ways Matala Beach Time

Blue Ways Chania – Kournas Lake - Rethymno

Blue Ways Knossos - Lassithi

Blue Ways tour in Santorini

Blue Ways Cretan Night

Join also our very interesting optional tours or rent a car and follow our itinerary by your own!!!

 Maritimo Beach Hotel is a seafront 4-star hotel in Sissi, just 45 km from Heraklion International airport. This family-friendly hotel features 2 swimming-pools, a restaurant with Cretan & international cuisine, a spa & wellness center, and a variety of other services & facilities that allow you to enjoy the authentic Cretan hospitality.

Hotel Facilities & Anemities
·24-hour reception
·2 Swimming Pools with Sea View
·Free parking
·No-smoking rooms
·Laundry (extra charge)

·Safety deposit box
·Currency exchange
·Luggage storage
·Docton on call 24/7
·Children's playground
·Free sunbeds & umbrellas
·Business center 24/7
·Concierge & travel services
·Spa/Wellness center (extra charge)
·Free Wi-Fi
·Restaurant
·Air-conditioning
·Bar
·Games room
·Meetings/banquet facilities

Pets
no pets are allowed in the hotel.

Check-in time is after 15.00
Check-out time is 11.00

Note
*some services require extra charge, payable locally.

Food & Beverage

The hotel operates on All Inclusive basis:

Restaurants
·MAIN RESTAURANT THOLOS

Operating hours:
7:30 – 10:00 (breakfast)
12:30 – 14:30 (lunch)
18:30 – 21:30 (dinner)

Bars

Main Bar

Guarantee of activities

Flexibility in Itinerary

Arrival any day of the week

Connection with nearby airports

Possibility of extension your stay

Many more organized daily tours available

 Arrival in the airport or Port of the island and transfer to the hotel. Contacting the activities company in order to prepare your stuff for the tours you have book.

Rest day free

Length of Tour: approx 30 Km/ 4-5 hours

Means of transport by Bus 51 seats / weekly program

Location: South Crete

Type: Boat - Island

Children 5-12 discount: 50% Discount

Children 0-4 discount: Free

06.30 Transfer from hotel to the meeting point of excursion

19.00 return to hotel – free afternoon

Technique: difficult, level 1 / easy (family friendly)

Overview

The ship, shall depart from the small, wind-protected port of Makrys Gialos in Ierapetra to Koufonisi island. Makrys Gialos is a lovely seaside village, 38 kilometers south of Siteia, and 25 kilometers east of Ierapetra, in the southeastern part of the prefecture of Lasithi.  

The island of Koufonisi is Wildlife Refuge. Koufonisi island is a habitat of stunning natural beauty, included in the European initiative NATURA 2000.
 Because of the preservation of its natural environment, there is not infrastructure on the island and it is not suitable for people with walking disabilities.

 Length of Tour: approx 50 Km/ 5-6 hours

Means of transport by bus / weekly program

Location: South Crete

Type: Beach

Children 5-12 discount: 50% Discount

Children 0-4 discount: Free

08.30 Transfer from hotel to the meeting point of excursion

17.00 return to hotel – free afternoon

Technique: difficult, level 1 / easy (family friendly)

Overview

This tour is the most suitable excursion for swimming and relaxation all the day on the famous hippies beach in Matala.This is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Crete and certainly the most famous beach of south Heraklion prefecture. It is famous for the carved caves in the rocks and the hippies of the ‘70s.People used to live in those Caves and there are a few survivors still in Matala from that era.

You have plenty of time to discover the hippie’s caves, to swim in the clear crystal waters of Matala, having lunch on the taverns which are located on the beach and enjoy your coffee relaxing and sunbathing under the warm sun. Before we arrive in Matala, we make a short stop in Kaliviani Monastery; it is a relatively new monastery which was built on the ruins of an older one. Kaliviani is a typical example of a foundation that offers help and charity to poor and needy people. In 1956, the bishop Timothy Papoutsakis created a Christian Foundation based in the monastery. He built an orphanage, hospice, and housekeeping school for girls, elementary school, kindergarten, summer camps, workshops of weaving, knitting and making vestments, etc.

Matala is located at the exit of a small valley, which forms an enclosed bay with nice view to the islands of Paximadia. The beautiful sandy beach is 300m long, with fine gravel and crystal clear deep water. Moreover, the seabed is quite rocky in some places (especially in the central part of the beach) and waves are common, due to frequent west winds. Furthermore, there is a huge cave on the north part of the beach, from the top of which some people dive. The beach is very well organized with umbrellas, toilets, showers, lifeguard, first aids, beach volley courts, snack bars, water sports, excursion boats, a camping site, etc.

This is the best tour for swimming without paying any entrance fees, boat tickets etc and to also see for yourself the famous Matala.

 Length of Tour: approx: 150 Km/ 7-8 hours

Means of transport by Bus 51 seats / weekly program

Location: North Crete

Type: Boat

Children 5-12 discount: 50% Discount

Children 0-4 discount: Free

08.30 Transfer from hotel to the meeting point of excursion

16.00 return to hotel – free afternoon

Technique: difficult, level 1 / easy (family friendly)

Overview

First we will pass the Ida range that includes the highest mountain of Crete, Psiloritis (2453m high), then our tour will take us to the old town of Rethymnon. A graphic Cretan town, so characteristic and unique, that nothing similar is met anywhere else on the island of Crete. We will have time to relax at the beautiful scenery at the old port of Rethymnon.

Chania is our next stop, the capital city of the prefecture of Chania, which comes second in size on the island and is the sixth biggest city in Greece having approximately 65.000 residents. Its Venetian walls and harbor, narrow streets, and old buildings from the Venetian and Turkish period are mostly intact and take you directly to the past. The old harbor, where the small fishing boats can moor, is a perfect place to enjoy a coffee and observe the liveliness of the city. Here you can see the cross - shaped closed Marketplace and the leather - Market Street.

Next stop is the lake of Kournas, the only natural sweet water lake in Chania, where you will have your lunch. For those who want, there is a possibility to make a tour in the lake on pedals, or just walk around the lake and swim

Length of Tour: approx 50 Km/ 5-6 hours

Means of transport by Bus 51 seats / weekly program

Location: South Crete

Type: Historical

Children 5-12 discount: 50% Discount

Children 0-4 discount: Free

06.30 Transfer from hotel to the meeting point of excursion

19.00 return to hotel – free afternoon

Technique: difficult, level 1 / easy (family friendly)

Overview

The Minoan palace of Knossos was the seat of King Minos. It is the most important archaeological site on Crete . It is about 5 km from the center of Heraklion.

Inhabited from the 7th millennium BC , that is here developed the most ancient civilization of the Neolithic period. The first palace of Knossos is estimated to have been built in 1950 BC but destroyed by an earthquake , as the second palace built then .

Knossos was built in a very strategic point allowing it to control the hinterland and the ports of the region . Generally the palace of Knossos was the political , religious, administrative , commercial and military center of Minoan Crete . The basement of the palace was used as cellars or warehouses for various products marketed at that time . Also survived several frescoes that decorate scenes from the daily lives of residents then .

The palace of Knossos was discovered by archaeologist Minos Cretan Summer 1878. Excavations were completed later by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in 1900 to 1905 and the British Archaeological Society .

Lassithi

The Lassithi is the easternmost prefecture of Crete . The prefecture Lassithi can visit the cave of Zeus or otherwise Diktaion Cave. Is one of the most famous caves of Crete and Greece . The cave offers a spectacular sight . It is rich in stalagmites and stalactites . The myth says that Zeus was born here , and this cave is so famous since antiquity . Interestingly, in the prefecture of Lassithi also , and the nunnery Kera Kardiotissas , that the years of Ottoman rule was the core of resistance against the Turks. The monument has great historical and artistic importance

 Length of Tour: Full Day Trip

Means of transport by Bus 51 seats / weekly program

Location: Santorini Island

Type: Boat - Island Beach places

Children 5-12 discount: 50% Discount

Children 0-4 discount: Free

07.00 Transfer from hotel to the meeting point of excursion

21.00 return to hotel – free afternoon

Technique: difficult, level 1 / easy (family friendly)

Overview

Many reasons have made this dream island globally famous and many of us have seen magnificent picture of it.
Scientists relate Santorini to the mythical Atlantis.Also,June Verne has made Santorini famous  through his novels “Twenty thousand leagues  under the sea” and  “The mysterious island”.
Santorini is an ancient island,where the life of the volcano has significantly influenced the island's structure and the lifestyle of its inhabitans through-out history. Another reason that has made the island well known is the view of the “Caldera”,which is  one of the most fascinating  sceneries on the plane planet.

Santorini is considered to be the lost Atlantis…
The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of a volcano activity during prehistoric times. The island itself owes its very existence to the volcano eruption.
The marvelous dry climate and unbroken sunshine create year around conditions which are perfect for observation, photographs and videos under an extraordinary variety of natural lights and colors while gives you the exceptional advantage of reaching the interior of the volcano by boat.

Taking the speed boat across and joining the professional guide who will let you in on all of the history is a firm favorite amongst holiday makers.

Enjoy the fabulous and breath- taking views!

The history of Santorini has the advantage of continuous evolution and configuration by itself.In the past the island was not a  part  of  the Cyclades island group and it used to be a single round island,called Strogili until the eruption.
The first habitants of Santorini were the Pre-Greeks who appeared around 3000 BC.In 1613 BC there  was  a huge explosion of the volcano.The Finios people  were driven there by the beauty of the island around 1300 BC.
Franks came to Thira in 1204 AD and named it Santorini.(Saint-Irene)

The island has been widely known for its unique breath-taking view, beauty and colours:  Black sand, white washed houses, red cliffs and the deep blue Aegean Sea.

 Length of Tour: Evening Fiesta

Means of transport by Bus 51 seats / weekly program

Location: Type: Entertainment

Type:  Taste of traditional cuisine 

Children 5-12 discount: 50% Discount

Children 0-4 discount: Free

18.30 Transfer from hotel to the meeting point of excursion

23.00 return to hotel – free afternoon

Technique: difficult, level 1 / easy (family friendly)

Overview

No Greek holiday would be complete without a taste of the culture amazing food and local wine so why not get yourselves ready for a traditional Cretan evening Greek style.
Not far away in the mountains above the coastal areas we find a small traditional village of Lower KAROUZANOS which is the venue for the Cretan night.

Dancers in traditional costumes greet us with a Raki and Meze before we start our walk around the village to see the local way of life and see for ourselves how they bake the local bread and prepare other dishes.

Our guide will then direct us to our seats at the venue for the start of the evening activities which will include a rich delicious buffet suitable for all tastes.

Red or white wine is also included and for those who don’t drink soft drinks are available. For those that wish to drink Whiskey ect, can purchase drinks from the bar at an extra cost.

The evening program includes dances from Crete and other areas of Greece. The dancers will also offer us the chance to join in the fun and teach us how to do Sirtaki the Greek way. 

 12.00 Check out from hotel and transfer to the Airport or to the main port of Heraklion.

Included

Accommodation in Asterias Village for 7 nights in DBL room on Half Board basis.
Arrival & Departure transfer from Heraklion Airport to Hotel or Heraklion main Port to Hotel and return.
All the transfers from hotel to Starting points of Excursions and return by the end of the excursions.
All taxes except accommodation tax which is paid locally by the arrival of the client in hotel.
All excursions during the 8 days stay

Exclude

Accommodation TAX which is paid locally to the hotel upon arrival.
Meals, food or drinks during excursions
Souvenirs
Tips

Useful information about itinerary:

Kindly note that this program is indicative and it is possible that we may change the series of islands & tours in order to provide the best of our services to you without removing any of the tour bookings.

For the final program you will be informed 15 days before your arrival at the destination with an informative note from Blue Ways Travel.

May/June/September/October

30-15 days before arrival 50% charge.

14 days before arrival 100% charge.

Non show and Early departure reservations 100% charge

July/August

60-31 days before arrival 50% charge.

30-15 days before arrival 75% charge.

14 days before arrival 100% charge.

Non show and Early departure reservations 100% charge.

Accommodation Tax rates:

Accommodation Tax is not including in any of the packages and is paid by the client upon arrival in the hotel:

1 & 2* stars hotel 0.50 euro per room/per day.

3* stars hotel 1.50 euro per room/per day.

4* stars hotel 3.00 euro per room/per day.

5* stars hotel 4.00 euro per room/per day.

Airport and Port that hosts this package:

Heraklion Airport and Port

Period A: 01/05 – 17/05 & 28/09 – 31/10

Hotel & Excursions: 679 euros

Period B: 18/05 – 03/07

Hotel & Excursions: 769 euros

Period C: 04/07 – 27/08

Hotel & Excursions: 933 euros

Period D: 28/08 – 27/09

Hotel & Excursions: 857 euros