TOUR 3 – 29 JUNE 2017, THURSDAY                 

EXPLORE THE NORTH EAST CRETE!

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DIKTEON ANDRON  (Zeus Cave) – The Legendary Birthplace of Zeus

The Dikteon Cave (or Dikteon Andron or Dictaean Cave) is one of the most important and famous of the 3,000 caves in Crete and the 8,500 in Greece.

It  is one of the most important and famous cult places of Minoan Crete.  It is located in the high mountains on the island of Crete in Greece and is associated with the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus.  For centuries it was considered a sacred place of cult worship where offerings were made and few were allowed to enter.  The use of caves as cult places was one of the basic characteristics of the religion of the ancient Cretans, and Dikteon Cave was among the most important and sacred.The Dikteon Cave is found in the Mount Dicte range in East Crete, on the Lassithi Plateau.The Lassithi Plateau was inhabited as early as the Neolithic Period (6000 BC) and is one of the few sites in the Mediterranean where settlements arose at such high altitude (an average of 840 m. above sea level).The Cave lies at an altitude of 1025 m. on the northern slopes of Mount Dicte, which dominates the Lassithi Plateau and the whole of East Crete.

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ELOUNDA and Plaka

Elounda is located in east Crete, north of Agios Nikolaos and south of the seaside resort of Plaka, in the prefecture of Lasithi.

It is a coastal and popular tourist destination. Largely the VIPs are visiting it for its luxury seaside resorts.

Elounda was once a picturesque fishing village in the lovely Mirabello Bay. The inhabitants lived from farming, fishing, salt extraction from the Venetian saltpans, and emery mining. Once discovered by tourism, Elounda developed into a resort famous for its beautiful scenery and the luxury hotels which are still being built in the area. It is said to be the place with the most five-star hotels in Greece.

The village of Plaka is located in the stunning setting of the Mirabello bay, right opposite the island of Kalidon (Spinalonga), which we will take a great view of it from across.

   

AGIOS NIKOLAOS

Agios Nikolaos is probably best known as a tourist town that serves as a hub to the twenty or so small villages and farms that make up that part of Lassithi.

Agios Nikolaos, or just Agios as the locals call it, dominates the beautiful Merabello Bay, on the northeast coast of Lassithi Prefecture in East Crete.

Agios Nikolaos is set on the largest natural bay in Crete, Mirabello or Merabello Bay, named for the beautiful view (mira bella) of the sea from the town.

Agios Nikolaos is a medium-size town with a small-town feel, one that has lots to offer. You can walk and enjoy walking here, you have several distinct waterfronts – you can get to know it quickly and feel familiar with the place.

Agios Nikolaos was settled in the late Bronze Age by Dorian occupants of Lato.

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STALIDA

Stalis (or Stalida) is located 30km east of Heraklion, in the midway of Malia and Hersonissos. From a small seaside village set up by the residents of Mohos, Stalis is today a popular tourist resort, which is united with Malia town.

The heart of Stalis pounds in the 5km long coastal road, which has the most shops in the area. A walk along the beach in the afternoon is trendy.

It has a long, sandy beach and a variety of bars and tavernas and trendy beach clubs and cocktail bars.

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