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CULINARY TRAVEL

DETAILS COMING SOON...

WHAT'S INCLUDED

One-of-a-Kind Cooking Classes

Cooking classes take place in beautiful outdoor areas by the sea and in verdant plains set at the foot of Crete’s mountains. Expect to taste many local, seasonal products, fresh herbs, and magnificent extra-virgin olive oil. Chef Nicholas will illustrate timeless techniques; Isabella will share the cultural background behind each recipe and will introduce us to local experts. You will have the option of participating hands-on or lying back and enjoying the process while sipping a glass of wine. 

Crete's Top Restaurants and Wine, Cheese & Olive Oil Makers

Among the places we will visit are a top zero-waste bistro, a family-run farm-to-table restaurant, and a taverna whose cook prepares dishes as if she’s cooking for her own family. We will forage edible wild greens that grow around this time of year and enjoy delicacies that some Cretans don’t even know about, like the grape caviar that is only ripe in May! And we will meet with some of Greece’s top wine, olive-oil, cheese, and herbs experts.

May 12 -18, 2026

MEET ME IN CRETE!

Join Chef Nicholas and food and travel writer Isabella Zampetaki on a culinary and cultural tour of Greece. Eighteen lucky guests will  experience a 7-day journey featuring luxurious visits to a carefully curated selection of restaurants, wineries, and olive mills, as well as cooking classes where Nicholas and local cooks teach you vibrant, authentic, regional recipes. 

HOTEL DETAILS

A hotel
Domus Blanc Boutique Hotel, Chania

Domus Blanc — a meticulously restored 19th-century mansion — is a historic estate that revives the elegance of Crete’s Belle Epoque. 

A pool on the island of Kythira
Pnoe Breathing Life Resort, Crete

Pnoé is an elegant, adults-only designer beach resort that blends sophisticated relaxation with a focus on wellness. 

TRAVEL INFORMATION & TOUR DETAILS

Crete is easily accessible with just a one-hour flight from Athens. A group transfer from Heraklion Kazantzakis International Airport (HER) is scheduled for approximately 3:00 PM on arrival day. On the final morning of the tour, a group transfer will be arranged from our hotel in Chania to Chania Daskalogiannis International Airport (CHQ) around 11:00 AM. Finalized transfer times will be confirmed in early May 2026.


This curated journey is tailored for seasoned travelers and passionate lovers of Greek cuisine. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform us at the time of registration.


Participants should be prepared for daily walking of 1 to 3 miles. The itinerary may be subject to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances; however, any adjustments will be thoughtfully planned to maintain the quality and integrity of the experience.


By registering, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to all Terms & Conditions.
What’s Included in the tour package:

  • Six nights’ luxury accommodation

  • Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner with wine

  • Cooking classes with Chef Nicholas and culinary demonstrations by local experts

  • Curated excursions, including entry to the archaeological sites of Knossos and Aptera

  • All group ground transportations during the tour

  • Group airport transfers: from Heraklion Airport on arrival and to Chania Airport on departure


What’s not Included in the tour package:

  • National and/or international flights arriving in Heraklion (HER) and departing from Chania (CHQ)

  • Beverages before or after meals

  • Gratuities for guides and hospitality staff

  • Travel insurance

  • Entrance fees to museums visited during free time in Heraklion and Chania


Payment Information: To avoid processing surcharges, payments should be made by wire transfer. Credit card payments incur an additional 3% fee applied to the deposit amount. Before registering, please read our full Terms & Conditions. Contact us for more details at info@herbsinherpockets.com.

OUR  ITINERARY

Day 1
Tuesday, May 12 – Heraklion

  • Free time to enjoy the beach or your private heated pool at Pnoe Breathing Life Resort

  • Food storytelling and welcome dinner, featuring a selection of artisanal products from all over Crete

 
Day 2
Wednesday, May 13 – Heraklion

  • Visit Knossos, Europe’s first organized city and discover traces of people who loved good food and nature back in the 2500 BCs

  • Wine tasting at one of Crete’s internationally acclaimed family wineries and a cooking class among the vines

  • Free time to walk around Heraklion and/or visit its acclaimed archaeological museum

  • Evening raki and meze in a traditional village kafeneio, with a cooking demo by the local women’s association

 
Day 3
Thursday, May 14 – Heraklion

  • Visit an artisanal cheesemaker who strives to maintain local breeds of sheep and specializes in aged graviera cheese

  • Cooking with a wood-fired oven at the top of Europe’s southernmost mountain range with the man who brought an abandoned village back to life

  • Optional hike/horse ride on the mountain slopes

  • Dinner cooking class in chef Nicholas’ suite

 
Day 4
Friday, May 15 – Chania

  • A morning with one of Crete’s top foraging experts and a picnic lunch on the beach

  • Check in at Domus Blanc Boutique Hotel, which used to be the historic home of the French consulate

  • Free time to explore Chania and its iconic old harbor and enchanting alleys

  • Dinner in a zero-waste bistro that buys its produce from dozens of small farmers across Crete

 
Day 5
Saturday, May 16 – Chania

  • A guided visit to the olive oil farm where the world’s first high phenolic olive oil to be certified as a food supplement is produced

  • Olive oil tasting of monovarietal and naturally scented extra virgin olive oils and a farm-to-table lunch

  • Free time to explore the old city of Chania with an optional visit to the Folklore Museum

  • Bites and stories from Chania’s Belle Epoque

 
Day 6
Sunday, May 17 – Chania

  • Explore the ancient city and charming theatre of beautiful Aptera

  • Visit a verdant organic herb farm where Nicholas teaches us how to make a light and crunchy Sfakiani pie

  • Enjoy a festive dinner in the heart of a traditional village

 
Day 7
Monday, May 18

  • Optional visit to Chania Archaeological Museum

  • A last surprise on a famous turquoise beach

  • A fond farewell and transfer to Chania Airport

 

Crete is a big island! In order to minimize time spent on the bus, we are starting our tour at the Heraklion International Airport (HER) in the east and departing from Chania International Airport (CHQ) in the west.

Interested in a Culinary Journey?

E-mail us at vasiliki@kythiraNP.com

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COST

$10,000 per person, sharing a double room. Single supplement + $2,500. Deposit $3,000 due upon registration. Airfare is not included. See our Terms & Conditions. Contact us for more details at info@herbsinherpockets.com.

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