Tour Itinerary and Highlights

We start our tour in Athens, the city dedicated to Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom. Here we'll learn about the foundational myths of the Greek pantheon and their enduring appeal to storytellers today. We'll explore the streets of Athens like a local, discovering the ancient city's stories and secrets while sampling the best of local produce.

Then we head to the charming island of Hydra, once home to a famous bohemian community of artists and writers including musician Leonard Cohen and Australian writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston. Hydra has since become an important literary pilgrimage for many Australians, and continues to inspire artists and writers today. 

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Next, we fly to Crete, the largest of the Greek islands and the heartland of ancient Minoan civilisation. Crete has a deep and multilayered literary and mythological history: not only was it the birthplace of Zeus, but also Ariadne and the Minotaur, who inspired Kate's recent novel, The Crimson Thread. Crete has been home to many Greek literary giants such as Nikos Kazantzakis and Pandelis Prevelakis, but its landscape, culture and stories have inspired countless other writers who travelled to its fabled shores. Crete is also a significant site for many Australians due to the experiences of the ANZACs stationed there during WWII - also a connection close to Kate's heart, and a story woven into her novel.

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Our expedition through Crete begins in the port-city of Chania, known for its 14th-century Venetian harbour, Egyptian and Ottoman influences, and vibrant waterfront life. Chania is our gateway to Western Crete and the legendary Lefka Ori (White Mountains) where we will learn about the myths, history and customs of the Cretan land and its people - both of which remain a major source of literary inspiration.

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Next we travel east to the magical coastal towns of Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, which combine the local feel of a fishing village with the electric atmosphere of a cosmopolitan port. Here we'll discover some unusual stories about the region's dark history (and some romantic, frivolous ones too!)

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We end our tour in Heraklion, famous for its multicultural Old Town along with its ancient cultural and archaeological sites. The most important of these is Knossos, a palace dating back to the 7th millennium BC, which served as the ceremonial, political, religious, cultural and economic center of the Minoan civilization. The palace is also famous for its association with the myth of Ariadne, Perseus and the Minotaur, along with the labyrinth, which many believe Daedalus built under Knossos.

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Please note: this tour is designed for adventurous travellers keen to discover the secrets of Greece off the beaten track. A moderate level of fitness is required as we will be on the move most days and there will be a lot of walking, sometimes in hilly terrain. We will also be undertaking a short hike through Imbros Gorge in Crete.