The Experience at Fyllo Organic Farm

At Fyllo Farm, herbs such as dittany, malotira, sage, and oregano are cultivated with care and respect. A visit here provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity:

• Tour the Fields: Stroll through the fields where herbs are grown using traditional and organic methods.
• Herb Tasting: Enjoy herbal teas made from fresh or dried herbs, paired with local delicacies.
• Creative Workshops: Participate in hands-on activities like creating herbal blends, aromatic oils, or botanical cosmetics.
• The View from the Farm: Take in the stunning views of the lush slopes and the peaks of the White Mountains, adding an unforgettable touch to your visit.

Omalos: Nature and Tranquility

Omalos, with its unparalleled landscape at an altitude of 1,200 meters, is a destination that combines the tranquility of nature with the authentic charm of Crete. Forests, valleys, and mountains offer moments of relaxation and exploration, perfect for those who cherish the peace and beauty of the natural world.

Why Choose This Experience

A visit to Fyllo Farm is an opportunity to connect with Crete's rich tradition of herbs, while its proximity to the Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete makes it an ideal addition to your day. Blending education with hands-on engagement, this experience promises to leave you with lasting impressions, filled with aromas, sights, and feelings that showcase the heart of Crete.

1. Lakki: Tracing History and Tradition

The historic village of Lakki, nestled on the slopes of the White Mountains, is renowned for its role in the Cretan Revolution and its traditional architecture.

• What to See: Old stone fountains, traditional houses, and the Revolution Monument.
• What to Do: Wander through the scenic streets and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.

2. Fournes: The Village of Wells

Fournes, with its flowing waters and old wells, is a perfect stop for relaxation and a refreshing break.

• What to See: Small stone bridges and the old Church of Saint Nicholas.
• What to Do: Walk along the local paths and enjoy views of the green landscapes.

3. Skines: A Paradise of Olive Groves

Skines, surrounded by endless olive groves, combines agricultural life with the tranquility of the countryside.

• What to See: Cobblestone streets and small chapels.
• What to Do: Explore the olive groves and learn about traditional cultivation techniques.

4. Karanou: The Heart of Nature

Karanou stands out for its unique trails, such as the Kydonia Trail and the Water Trail, which showcase the natural beauty of the area.

• What to See: Trails winding through quince trees, streams, and traditional landscapes.
• What to Do: Enjoy a walk and discover the area’s rich vegetation.

5. Meskla: The Village of Springs

Meskla, with its natural springs and lush vegetation, offers a haven of serenity.

• What to See: The village square, the springs, and the old Church of Saint Nicholas.
• What to Do: Explore the trails surrounding the village and enjoy the picturesque scenery.

The Scenic Routes Connecting the Villages

The roads connecting these villages are filled with natural beauty. Olive groves, cypress trees, and hills covered with wildflowers create a captivating backdrop. Viewpoints along the way offer opportunities for stunning photographs and peaceful moments.

Why Discover the Villages Around the Botanical Park

These villages are living testimonies to Cretan tradition, brimming with history and natural beauty. Visiting them offers an authentic experience, bringing you closer to the heart of Crete and the charm of its countryside.

The Kydonia Trail: A Journey into the Past

The Kydonia Trail winds through orchards filled with quince trees, olive trees, and other fruit-bearing plants, showcasing the authentic agricultural life of Crete.

• Route: The trail follows old cobblestone paths leading to traditional fields that have been used by locals for centuries.
• Points of Interest: Historical sites such as old processing facilities and small chapels testify to the area's rich history.

The Water Trail: A Refreshing Oasis

The Water Trail follows the natural flow of water through Karanou, offering coolness and tranquility to visitors.

• Route: The path features small waterfalls, springs, and streams, weaving through lush landscapes filled with plane trees and oaks.
• Points of Interest: Natural water basins and traditional watermills highlight the importance of water to the local community.

Gorges Full of Life and History

The area around Karanou is home to small yet striking gorges:

• Karanou Gorge: Ideal for hiking, with steep cliffs and natural shade, it offers unique opportunities for exploration.
• Boriani Gorge: A more secluded destination, perfect for those seeking peace and a deeper connection with nature.

The Journey to the Trails: A Nature-Filled Adventure

The road to Karanou winds through small villages and olive groves, with changing landscapes that captivate visitors. Scenic viewpoints along the way provide opportunities for photos and moments of relaxation. The trails are also suitable for families, as their short distances and easy paths make exploration accessible to all.

Why Visit Karanou

The trails and gorges of Karanou offer a unique chance to connect with the nature and history of Crete. Whether you enjoy peaceful hikes or exploring the significance of water to the region, a visit to Karanou is an experience that blends authenticity with natural beauty.

Small Villages with Big Stories

Starting from the city of Chania, the route passes through traditional villages such as Fournes and Skines:

• Fournes: A historic village known for its running waters and serene landscapes. It is perfect for a short stop to enjoy the view of the verdant slopes of the White Mountains.
• Skines: A small paradise filled with olive groves and fruit orchards. Here, visitors can witness the authentic Cretan rural lifestyle.

A Landscape That Changes with Every Turn

As you approach the Botanical Park, the scenery transforms. The green slopes and hills covered with oak trees, cypresses, and chestnut trees create a breathtaking backdrop. Viewpoints along the way offer opportunities to capture photos that showcase the diversity and beauty of the Cretan landscape.

Scents and Sounds of Nature

The route is infused with the aromas of thyme, dittany, and sage. The sounds of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves create a natural soundscape that soothes the soul, inviting visitors to connect more deeply with the serenity of nature.

A Journey Worth Taking

The journey to the Botanical Park is not just transportation; it is a trip that enriches the senses and provides a deeper understanding of Cretan nature and culture. By enjoying this unique route, you will arrive at the Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete full of impressions, as the path leading to it is an integral part of the overall experience.

The Story of the Winery

Founded in 1993 by Ted Manousakis, the winery was inspired by his deep love for the Cretan land and its traditions. The vineyards are cultivated using organic methods, ensuring the highest quality and authenticity of the products.

The varieties grown, such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Roussanne, reflect the unique microclimate and character of the region. The wines, under the label “Nostos,” are renowned for their balanced flavors and complexity, showcasing the best of Cretan terroir.

The Visitor Experience

A visit to Manousakis Winery offers a combination of education and indulgence:

• Vineyard Tours: Discover the secrets of the Vatolakkos vineyards, learning about the grape varieties and cultivation techniques that make these wines exceptional.
• Wine Tastings: Sample the exquisite “Nostos” wines in a welcoming setting, paired with simple local accompaniments that enhance their flavors.
• Winemaking Presentations: Learn about the wine production process through interactive presentations and discussions with the winery's experts.

The Journey to the Winery

The road to Manousakis Winery is filled with natural beauty, winding through olive groves, cypress trees, and traditional villages. Along the way, scenic viewpoints offer stunning vistas of the Cretan countryside, making the trip an opportunity to combine exploration of the landscape with the enjoyment of fine wine.

An Authentic Experience

Manousakis Winery offers more than just wine; it provides a complete experience that captures the essence of Crete. From the vineyards and flavors to the history and tradition, every visit deepens your connection to Cretan culture and nature.

Whether you’re drawn by the rich history or the delightful wines, Manousakis Winery promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of Crete’s winemaking heritage.

Start your day with an exploration of the trails at the Botanical Park, discovering the rich Cretan flora and aromatic plants. Continue your experience at Manousakis Winery, savoring fine wine tastings and learning the secrets of winemaking.

The Nature of Omalos

The Omalos Plateau is situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters in the heart of the White Mountains. In winter, the snow-covered peaks create a magical setting, while in spring and summer, the landscape blooms with wildflowers and traditional crops.

The area is renowned for its rich flora and fauna, home to rare species of birds and plants, making it an ideal destination for nature observers. Its geological formation, featuring flat expanses surrounded by steep cliffs, provides fertile grounds for agriculture and grazing, making Omalos a source of high-quality local products and an excellent destination for nature lovers.

Xyloskalo: The Gateway to the Samaria Gorge

At the edge of the plateau lies Xyloskalo, at an altitude of 1,230 meters, which serves as the main entrance to the Samaria National Park. This spot offers breathtaking views of the steep slopes of the White Mountains, with the Gigilos Peak, standing majestically at 2,080 meters, dominating the horizon.

A visit to Xyloskalo is perfect for those looking to explore the Samaria Gorge or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The Samaria National Park Information Center provides visitors with insights into the unique flora and fauna of the gorge, as well as its history and geology, making it a meaningful and enriching stop.

The Journey: An Experience in Itself

The road to Omalos is a journey that blends natural beauty with authenticity. Travelers pass through traditional villages like Fournes and Lakki, enjoying panoramic viewpoints that reveal the distinctiveness of the Cretan landscape. The route offers moments of tranquility, with vistas that capture the charm of the Cretan countryside.

Why Visit Omalos

Omalos is a destination where natural beauty meets history and tradition. Whether you choose to explore the Samaria Gorge or simply enjoy the stunning views and serene landscapes, the plateau offers experiences that leave a lasting impression on every visitor.

The Cretan diet is a time-tested successful model that promises longevity and good health. The six core elements of the Cretan dietary model form the heart of one of the most studied and esteemed dietary patterns worldwide. Rooted in the island's rich culinary traditions, these elements highlight the importance of consuming whole, minimally processed foods, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and using olive oil as the main fat source. Specifically:

Olive Oil: Cretans consume a significant amount of olive oil daily, unique globally for its high olive oil intake. Studies show an average Cretan consumes about 25 liters of olive oil annually.

Wild Greens, Fruits, Vegetables, and Legumes: These foods form the diet's foundation. The island's biodiversity allows almost universal consumption of wild greens, cooked in various ways and enriched with olive oil. Remarkably, Cretans know how to distinguish poisonous from edible wild greens, knowledge passed down through generations.

Locality and Seasonality: Especially in villages, more than in cities, people following the Cretan diet philosophy are aware of local and seasonal produce, adjusting their diet accordingly, aligning with this rationale.

No Fixed Recipes: There are no fixed recipes for many reasons. After the Minoan period, due to various dominations over Crete through centuries—Roman, Arab, Venetian, and finally Ottoman—Cretans primarily focused on survival. Though Crete joined modern Greece about a century ago, its residents remained economically challenged, emphasizing primary needs over culinary experimentation. Adaptation to local and seasonal availability was necessary; for example, the abundance of wild greens due to the island's rich biodiversity became the preferred choice.

Wine: An accompaniment to lunch and sometimes dinner. The historical bond between Cretans and wine production dates back to Minoan times, making wine an irreplaceable part of the Cretan diet.

Daily Walking: The average Cretan walks 10-15 km per day, embodying the diet's philosophy: olive oil, local and seasonal ingredients, vegetables, legumes, fruits, wild greens, no strict recipes, a glass of wine, and daily walking. Meat wasn't always a dietary staple, even historically, and many families today still consume meat only once a week.

By embracing these elements, we strive to promote a healthier lifestyle through the Cretan diet's philosophy. This approach could nutritionally enrich our world.

At the Botanical Garden, we aim to connect visitors with both the local economy and society. Supported by a restaurant and a local product promotion center, efforts are made to advocate a healthy lifestyle via the Cretan diet philosophy, reinforced by research attesting to the Cretan cuisine's nutritional quality. Experience the Botanical Garden's restaurant, certified with the "Cretan cuisine quality mark" by the regional company, and combine your visit with authentic local flavors, stunning views, and fresh food using local ingredients, herbs, and fruits from the park.

"For the first time in human history, humans are disconnected from their natural environment and Mother Earth. It's the first era where living in a technological milieu, surrounded by the stimuli of a virtual reality, dominates our spaces, from homes to offices, with gadgets like TVs, computers, and smartphones shaping our lives. It's a time when people visit supermarkets, choose from endless product varieties without knowing their origin or production process, and some even wonder if oranges grow on large trees or bushes, or underground like potatoes.

These thoughts overwhelmed me when in 2003, a wildfire, sparked by a power cable, ravaged the area around the Botanical Park, destroying 150,000 to 200,000 olive trees from the Venetian period. Crete harbors some of the world's oldest olive trees, including the oldest in Vouves, dating back 3,500 years. Yet, in a moment, a whole history, a civilization was turned to ash; the area was utterly devastated, both economically and environmentally."

- Petros Marinakis

Thus, the idea was born to create a Botanical Garden where visitors could connect with nature and explore local and global flora. Spread over approximately 150 acres owned by four siblings, the Botanical Garden of Crete, led by Petros Marinakis, offers an immersive experience in the diversity of plant life.

The Botanical Garden of Crete is now considered one of the most significant botanical gardens in Europe, unique in its kind, with the following characteristics:

• It is the only one specializing in fruit trees, herbs, spices, and medicinal plants.

The Botanical Garden adopts a completely different approach, deviating from the academic gardens typically cultivated in greenhouses. It is a garden where cultivation is carried out naturally, within a forest, embracing permaculture - the concept that everything is recycled, preventing any soil processing, such as soil folding, etc. A small percentage of the fruit trees is left in the ground to enrich the soil's pH and microorganisms. Planting is done on stone walls and terraces. Currently, a unique ecosystem has been created, in absolute harmony and balance, as it was before the use of chemicals and monocultures. Visitors connect with nature, contributing to their psychological boost, visual pleasure, and ultimately their mental uplift and health. It offers a circular route, approximately 2.5 km long, with a 1,250m descent and 1,250m ascent on a spiral path.

• The Botanical Garden of Crete stands out for its unique biodiversity, fully integrated with the region's microclimate and that of Crete.

The Garden is home to plants from three different climate zones: alpine, Mediterranean, and tropical. Despite the lack of winter protection, plants from all three zones coexist. Specifically, in the Chania plain, tropical fruit trees have been grown in recent years (mango, lychee, guava, papaya, etc.) without winter protection. Moving upward, we encounter the Mediterranean zone with numerous olive trees, and starting from 650-700 m, the alpine zone begins. In essence, the Botanical Garden's area combines tropical-temperate, Mediterranean, and alpine zones simultaneously.

This phenomenon is unique and not commonly found globally! It is primarily due to the island's geographical location, as Crete is surrounded by three different continents at equidistant ranges. Moreover, the significant mountain mass of the White Mountains and the consequent water flow throughout the Botanical Park area, combined with increased atmospheric humidity, collectively contribute to the balanced coexistence of the three climate zones, maintaining all conditions for the flourishing of plants in such a limited area!

Crete boasts the richest flora in Europe, hosting the world's most endemic plants relative to its size. Over 200 endemic plant species exist solely on this island. Although the Botanical Garden is a private initiative, it remains a garden of senses with a different philosophy – not so commercial – aiming to reconnect humans with their natural environment.

• The Botanical Garden seeks to connect visitors with both the local economy and society.

In this way, the Garden is supported by a restaurant and a center promoting local products. These efforts aim to highlight a healthy lifestyle through the philosophy of the Cretan diet, which research and studies have repeatedly proven to be nutritionally superior.

Visit the Botanical Garden of Crete for a unique experience! Contact us for more information.

Besides, it is the main characteristic of all Cretans; opening their home to every foreigner, offering them what they have.

Cretan hospitality owes its meaning to these roots.

Cretans are as such distinguished for this characteristic; they are special people. And it is the reason that the island attracts more and more people every summer.

They make you feel immediately welcomed, offering their help, their advice and their knowledge, but also generously sharing their food.

The tradition of hospitality in Chania and Crete has a centuries old history and is traced back to the core of the Minoan Civilization.

Today, however, the traditional hospitality has evolved and has become more organized and professional, satisfying every need of the traveler.

Crete is still home to the most authentic hospitality, with roots in the historical tradition of centuries.

So, do not be afraid of the traditional treat in the restaurant when you ask for the bill and do not be surprised if a stranger treats you to a tsikoudia in a cafe.

Coming to Crete, you automatically partake in the beautiful ritual of traditional hospitality with a history of centuries.

Is it tsikoudia or raki, then? No matter how one may call it, the traditional drink of Crete has the same taste and encloses the whole tradition of our island. It is the drink of welcome and treat.

From the first days of October until the end of November, after the harvest and the presses of the must, comes the production of tsikoudia.

Using what is left from the pressed grapes, the rakokazana are lit and its preparation begins.

As for the festivities that take place around the Cretan cauldrons at the time of distillation, they are such that enough quantity does not even reach the barrels for storage!

The production of tsikoudia in Crete is, among other things, an activity of great emotional and economic importance.

In the life of the Cretans, tsikoudia is a point of reference and an integral part of their famous hospitality.

The soul of Cretan soul in a bottle! Tsikoudia!