One can go up the rocky, cone – shaped mountain called “Soros” from the village Patsos or from the plateau “Gious Kambos” from the side of Gerakari. On the day when the Transfiguration is celebrated the pilgrims have a Mass for His Sake every year on the peak. In various spots on the mountain we find sage of excellent quality.
The ascent can start from the village Meronas to the twin peaks of the mountain of “Holy Spirit” where the cognominal small church is situated (at a height of 1.000 m.) where every year a Mass takes place and a little higher to the peak “Sopata” (1.100 m.). The position of the mountain gives the possibility of vast visibility to all directions. The well-known herb ”dictamo” of Crete (dittany) is grown on the mountain, usually on steep and hard to reach spots.
The mountain is situated between Psiloritis and Kedros. The ascent to the peak can begin from the villages Amari, Opsigias or Monastiraki. The climbing is relatively easy and lasts about 2 hours. The small church of St Dimitrios is found at a height of 800 m. above the village Opsigias. On the east side of the slope at the same height, there is a cave “Bana” near a small spring, which was a place of worshiping the ancient God Pan.
As we move on towards the peak after about half an hour, we come across the shaped platform where skydiving from the slope begins (to five) and its diving and landing on the plain of the village Sholi Asomaton gives a spectacular sight. On the peak the stone church of Lord – Christ is built. The panoramic view embraces all the area of the Municipality and goes up to the Libuan and the Cretan Sea.
A silent harmonious agreement is accomplished in this fascinating place with the unique natural beauty. The gushing springs, the thick and lush vegetation, the endemic plants, the temple of St. Antonios which is located inside a cave, the birds look-out-post, the small caves, the geological breach in relief, entrance and capture the visitor.
The flute of Pana’s son and the Nymphs’ songs, according to mythology, echoed here and Kranaios Hermes, the favourite God of the Cretans, was worshiped here.
The Byzantine Temples are scattered among the villages and inside them. The carved wooden screens, the icons and the special architecture are impressive. They prove the prime height of the area during the period of their building. They reveal above all the great timeless, devoutness of the inhabitants.
Let us show you the traditional way of making bread and let’s bake it together afterwards in the wood oven! It will be the best bread you have ever tasted, for sure. You will then enjoy the bread you made yourselves with an amazing meal that we will prepare for you!
10:00 Meet at the a specific meeting point and start our way to the village Thronos.
10:45 Arriving in the village and enjoy a warm welcome from the owners and the staff of the place, Lambros (the father) Maria and Eleutheria (daughters) , Haroula, Dimitra (staff). Breathe fresh mountain air, feel the energy of nature, relax with the songs of birds and taste a homemade lemonade and of course raki!
11:15Â Place woods in the wood oven so as to be ready for baking the bread.
11:30 We are ready to mix the flour with water and “prozimi”, the Cretan homemade yeast and make our loafs of bread! Women in the past years had to spend about two hours in order to knead the bread for their family! But we are lucky as we have Dimitra, who will show us tricks in order to have perfect loafs! We will then wait for the bread to rise.
12:15 We will watch the procedure of taking the burning woods out of the oven, cleaning the oven and help Dimitra to put the loafs in the wood oven. While the bread is baking, we will visit the Old Byzantine church of the village which has amazing frescos!
12:50 Our bread is ready now and it smells so good! Enjoy fresh warm bread with olive oil!
13:30 Time for a typical Cretan lunch in taverna Aravanes! Enjoy your meal, bread, wine, fruits and desert.
14:50 It’s time to leave Thronos! In order to remember us we will give you a loaf of bread for your friends back home! Don’t worry, homemade bread can be kept in the fridge for a couple of days!
Includes: lunch, wine, fruits, desert.
We can arrange transfer from your hotel and back with a small extra charge.
Minimum participants: 4 persons
Children under 10 years old: free of charge.
Children over 10 years old: 30€
Adults: 55€
For more information please contact us.
Did you know that women in the past used ash to clean and sterilise their clothes? A different way of using ash, olive oil soap, hot water and herbs! Once you have completed your lesson, you will enjoy a tasteful meal with wine!
10:00 Meet at the the specific meeting point and start our way to village Thronos.
10:45 Arriving in the village and enjoy a warm welcome from the owners and the staff of the place, Lambros (the father) Maria and Eleutheria (daughters), Haroula, Dimitra (staff). Breathe fresh mountain air, feel the energy of nature, relax with the songs of birds and taste a homemade lemonade and of course raki!
11:15 It’s time to bring the clothes at the area where women used to wash them in the past! We will need a bid basket with holes and a special thick fabric for the ash. We will start a small fire in order to boil water and to collect the ash from the woods.
12:00 Hot water is ready but first we have to pre-wash the clothes with handmade olive oil soap and water from the spring! Then we will put them in the special basket, and put the ash and the hot water! We will leave the clothes until the water gets cold and we will return back after lunch.
13:00 Enjoy a traditional meal in the family taverna Aravanes
14:00 We will return again to our laundry area and we will take the clothes out of the basket! They are so clean and smell so good! They have been sterilized and they are suitable for people who have sensitive skin!
15:00 After bringing the wet clothes back, we leave them in the sun to get dry. Another natural method of sterilization!
15:30Â It’s time to leave village Thronos, having lived a unique experience, a taste of the past that doesn’t exist any more!
Includes traditional meal with wine fruits and deserts.
We can arrange transfer from your hotel and back with a small extra charge.
Children under 10 years old: free of charge.
Children over 10 years old: 30€
Adults: 55€
For more information please contact us.
Learn how to prepare and cook traditional Cretan recipes using Cretan olive oil and vegetables from Aravanes’ garden, make pies as well as bake in the wood oven! You can then enjoy the meal you have prepared with wine, overlooking the Amari valley.
10:00 Meet at the the specific meeting point and start our way to village Thronos.
10:45 Arriving in the village and enjoy a warm welcome from the owners and the staff, Lambros (the father) Maria and Eleutheria (daughters), Haroula, Dimitra (staff). Breathe fresh mountain air, feel the energy of nature, relax with the songs of birds and taste a homemade lemonade and of course raki!
11:15 Let’s go together to our vegetable garden to collect tomatoes, zucchini and greens!
11:45 Start preparing our lunch, stuffed vegetables or zucchini with eggs in tomato sauce, or Cretan pies.
12:30 The food is ready to be cooked. We will light a small fire to cook it the traditional way.
13:00 In the meanwhile you will have the chance to visit with Lambros the Byzantine church of 11th century, Panagia and admire the rare frescos.
13:00 The food is ready and delicious! Enjoy your food and a variety of local starters, local wine, homemade bread, fruits and desert!
14:30 Our lesson is complete! We hope you enjoyed it! We are more than grateful having met you!
Duration: 3 hours
Children under 10 years old: free of charge.
Children over 10 years old: 25€
Adults: 50€
For more information please contact us.
Explore the surrounding area of Aravanes and let us show you the therapeutic herbs and the greens of the area, that locals use in their every day life, as well as the animals of the area. You can walk around the Amari valley and visit the Byzantine churches and the old monasteries of the area, accompanied by an experienced guide who has lived all his life in Amari.
A tasteful traditional meal with wine will be ready for you once you finish your tour in taverna Aravanes.
10:00 Meeting at a specific meeting point and departure to village Thronos.
10:45 Arriving in Thronos .
11:15 Start our tour with an experienced local guide. The tour lasts about 3 hours with several stops for rest and photos. During this walk we will visit fields with herbs and flowers, old churches and an old monastery and we will see a monumental olive tree of 1.300 years old!
14:30 Return to Thronos and enjoy a delicious Cretan lunch in taverna Aravanes.
15:30 Time to leave this beautiful area!
You should have: comfortable clothes and shoes, hat.
We can transfer you from your hotel and back with a small extra charge.
Duration: 4 hours
Children under 10 years old: free of charge.
Children over 10 years old: 30€
Adults: 60€
Minimum participants: 4 people
For more information please contact us.
Ida is the highest mountain of Crete, so climbing to its top, is a lifetime experience. This is a 20-hours tour and you will be escorted by two experienced guides. An amazing tour that will allow you to admire the starry Cretan sky and feel the beauty of the sun while rising from the top of Ida.
18:00 Meet with two experienced local guides. Departure from village Thronos and arrive in the area Toumpotos Prinos at 19:30. We will prepare our dinner there by cooking meat in fire and taste a variety of other Cretan food. We will then rest around the fire until 01:00.
01:30 Start climbing at the top with some stops for rest and for taking photos.
05:30 We are at the top! Enjoy the sun rising and breath fresh Cretan air! Don’t forget to take photos! Have a light breakfast!
08:30 We start returning back with some stops for rest and photos.
11:00 We are back in Toumpotos Prinos.
12:30 We arrive at village Thronos.
13:30 Our tour is now completed! You may be tired, but you will will be for sure excited! You have seen the whole Crete from above, you have lived unforgettable moments and have made new friends! It was a unique experience!
You will need:Â warm clothes and comfortable shoes.
This tour is suitable for people without health issues.
Includes personal bag with fruits, nuts, chocolate, coffee, tea, water, bread, cheese and egg.
Dinner at Toumpotos Prinos.
Price: 120€ per person
Minimum participants: 5Â persons
Difficulty: Medium
For more information please contact us.
This is a 7-hours tour in the caves of the mountain and in traditional places where locals make cheese. The tour also includes an experienced guide who speaks English and lives in the area. An amazing meal will be ready for you, prepared in the oven, after the visit to Ida.
11:00 Meeting with an experienced local guide at village Thronos and departing to the area Pana.
12:00 Arriving to Pana and enjoy a tour in the cave of ancient God Pana and a tour to a mountain cave where locals make cheese, called “Mitato” and we will also meet the man who makes the cheese. We will walk in the area for about 50 minutes admiring the fauna and flora of the area.
14:30 Arriving in the area “Papa Lako” and prepare our lunch. Time to enjoy our lunch, get some rest, walk around for a while and shoot some photos.
17:00Â It’s time to leave this wild and amazing area.
18:00 Arriving in Thronos, tired but excited and full of new experiences!
Includes transfer from the village to Psiloritis and back.
Personal bag with fruits, nuts and water.
Lunch at the mountain.
We can transfer you from your hotel and back with a small extra charge.
Price: 80€
Minimum participants: 5Â persons
For more information please contact us.
