Botanical Park
7 hours
The tour starts from your resort of stay
First stop: Orthodox Gonia Monastery
Gonia Monastery is located by the sea, a short distance north of the town Kolymbari 25 km. west of Chania. It was built in the 13th century adjacent to a cemetery, but it was rebuilt between 1618 and 1634 in its present location, with Venetian influences in its architectural design and adornment. Gonia Monastery played an important role in Cretan history, it resisted to various conquerors of Crete and so it was destroyed many times by various conquerors (eg Turks and Germans) during the Venetian domination. The Monastery was one of the most impressive fortified monasteries of Crete despite the numerous disasters suffered in the years as well as of the Ottoman domination in the period of German occupation in the second world war. It managed to preserve many relics such as icons, old books and historical documents, vestments and other valuable church treasures. You can see all the exhibits at the monastery museum.
Second stop: Ancient olive tree and museum of Vouves
The olive tree in the village of Ano Vouves is probably one of the oldest olive trees in the world, it still produces olives today. The exact age of the tree cannot be determined, the scientists from the University of Crete have estimated it to be over 3,000 years old. The trunk has a perimeter of 12.5 m (41 ft) and a diameter of 4.6 m (15 ft). In 1997, the tree was declared a protected natural monument, and in October 2009, the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves was inaugurated in a nearby 19th-century house, displaying the traditional tools and process of olive cultivation. The aim of the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves is to preserve and promote all the characteristic aspects of the olive oil production. In the museum special emphasis was put on preservation and promotion of all those elements that where part of everyday life of Cretans until the middle of last century (the 50’s). It is visited by approximately 20.000 people every year from all over the world.
Third stop: Botanical park
Just 18 kilometers outside the city of Chania, at the foothills of the White Mountains is located the botanical park, an area which has reborn from its ashes after the great fire of 2003. Walking in the Botanical Park offers spiritual tranquility and visual pleasure, while getting acquainted with flora and their different compositions. Nearly 20 hectares of land are waiting to welcome you, full of fruit trees from all over the world, herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants in a park different from others, where the land’s formation and the region’s microclimate make it a paradise for hundreds of plants and animals. It appeals to visitors of all ages, combining enjoyments that only Crete can offer. Enjoy your meal and relax on the spacious balconies of the restaurant, taking in the majestic view and food prepared with ingredients coming from the vegetable garden as well as herbs and fruit coming from the park.
Trip duration approximately 7 hours
Extras to be paid the day of the trip:
Entrance fee for the Botanical park
Ages from 13 and over: 6,00 €
Ages from 6 to 12 years old: 4,00 €
Ages from 5 years old and under: FREE
Gonia Monastery entrance fee: 2,00 € per person
What to take with you
Comfortable walking shoes
High Sun protection
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Long-sleeved shirt for those who have very sensitive skin
10% discount is offered for online prepayments of private excursions
Excursion Terms
Private daily trips with versatile planning
(Different groups/prices depending on the number of passengers)
All the daily trips have standard prices included the vat, their valid is for pick-ups from Chania city center up to 10 km within the city perimeter zone. In case where your accommodation is located outside of the 10 km perimeter zone, then when you will fill in the reservation form, then automatically will be displayed our new offer for your excursion with the increased costs based on the new kilometer distance.
All groups concerns specific number of passengers. Every extra hour of delay of the predetermined time program has a different charge for each passenger group category.
For example for the group category of 1-4 passengers: A trip that has designed to last 5 hours and by your decision in the end last one extra 1 hour then the final price will be the value of the trip + 30,00 euros, for the groups of 5-10 and 11-19 passengers every extra hour of delay will be charged with 40,00 euros per hour, for the group of 20-30 passengers the charge is 50,00 and final for the group of 31-50 passengers the charge is 50,00 euros per hour.
If you wish to have guided tour by an escort it will be extra 50,00 € (The value of the trip + 50,00 €). If you wish to have guided tour by an official certified guide it will be extra 150,00 € (The value of the trip + 150,00 €).
Reservations are accepted no later than 2 days before the desired day trip.
The design of all private daily trips has been made by our company with out to commit our clients in terms of the starting time and the stops that we recommend for the trip destination that you will choose. Requested changes will be accepted as long as we are informed about it the day of the reservation. Last minute changes are not accepted.
The daily trip rates relates only to your transport, anything else such us official guides, escorts, entrance fees to museums, archaeological sites, boat tickets, meals, drinks etc.. are not included. (Αfter request we can undertake full package trips: Hotel accommodation, arrival – departure transfers, excursions, meals, entrance fees tickets, guiding, etc…) Choose the suitable group category according the number of passengers.
CANCELATION FEES FOR PREPAYMENTS:
Cancellation which will be made from 10 days prior the day trip/transfer or last minute will subject to 100% cancellation fee of the total value. No refund.
Cancellation which will be made from the 11th day until the 21st day before the day trip/transfer will subject to 30% cancellation fee of the total value.
Cancellation which will be made from the 22nd day until the 30th day before the trip/transfer day will subject to 10% cancellation fee of the total value.
Cancellation which will be made from the 31st day and hence before the trip/transfer day will refund the full amount paid. The only charge that you will object is the bank detention taxes.
FAQs
If your pick up point is out of the 10km perimeter zone but is on the way to your desired trip there is no extra charge. On the other hand if your pick up point is out of the perimeter zone and not on the way for the trip then when you will fill in the reservation form, automatically will be displayed our new offer for your excursion with the increased costs based on the new kilometer distance.
A private trip can be designed according to your preferences just for you, more over the pickup/drop-off point will be your resort of stay. On the other hand if you participate in a mix group the program is standard according to the company’s schedule and cannot be amended. For the participants of the mix groups the meetings points are specific. If your resort of stay is far from these specific meeting points the expenses for your transport in order to go from your accommodation to these meeting points (and vice versa) are not provided from our company.
If you choose a private trip there are plenty ways of payment, you can prepay online throughout our website, you can pay direct to the driver at the end of your trip with cash or alternately you can come to our office. If you prefer to participate in a mix group then the payment of your ticket can be made only online or alternately you come to our office. (Reservations are accepted no later than 2 days before the day trip).
Escort is the person who will be with you from the time boarding to the vehicle until the end of the trip to the drop-off point – your resort of stay. The escort doesn’t have the right to have entrance in museums or archaeological sites.
On the other hand an official guide is the person who has university certified education. Only the official certified guides are allowed to have entrance at any site no matter if it will be archaeological or not. Since the daily trip that you will choose includes museums etc…
No, if your resort of stay is not out of the 10 km perimeter zone of Chania city center, if don’t exceed predetermined time duration or if you don’t want an escort/official guide.
All the vehicles of our company have in the windscreen the logo our company (Edem Travel Agency) more over the escort/official guide/driver will be informed about your name.
Of course but having first discussed about it with us through email
When the number of passengers is up to 4 the trip is usually made by Mercedes taxi , for groups of 5-10 & 11-19 passengers the trips are usually made by Mercedes Sprinter while for groups of 20-30 & 31-50 category the trip is made by coach such us Mercedes, Setra ,Neoplan etc.
Some excursions such us Samaria gorge, Balos Gramvousa cruise, Spinalonga, Botanical park and Agia Triada Monastery have specific pick-up time and you can not start your excursion at any time due to specific boat time departures, specific opening times to the museums, monasteries and etc..
If the day of the excursion the client doesn’t come to the meeting point at the pre-agreed meeting time, the driver of our company is obligated to wait maximum 10 minutes, after that time the driver will depart and No refund will be given. In that case the company has no responsibility for carrying out the excursion.
You can request total refund up to 48 ours before your arrival to Crete, in order to refund your money we need: Bank Name, Swift Code, IBAN number, Account’s owner name & reservation voucher number.