- Length & Dates: 8 Nights | Nov 3 to 11, 2026
- Description: This theme-focused retreat is a chance to experience the Crete that few visitors see: Not the tourist mecca but the agricultural powerhouse. You’ll explore (and participate in!) the gathering and processing of Cretan olives and take home some of the oil that you yourself have harvested. We’ll tour an historic organic olive mill and dine at their cliffside estate. We’ll visit two historic vineyards and wineries, learn about the rich histories of the island’s viniculture, and enjoy the flavor of the Cretan wine renaissance. Mixed in will be some grove walks, a sunrise visit to Seitan Limani’s wild, pink-sand cove, a walking tour through Xania’s historic Old Town, and a cooking lesson from a local chef who will demonstrate how the great food we’ll eat during the week found our forks from the nearby farms, fields and mountains.
- Who Should Come: Foodies, oenophiles, and those who travel to take experiences into their heart rather than selfies on their phone. If you’ve never been to Crete or been here only during the tourist rush, this is a chance to meet and get to know—in the actual field—the island’s hard-working people, and to enjoy the island’s hospitality at its best, when Crete shares herself fully & on her own terms.
- Limitations: None 😊. This is a great itinerary for all ages, from older tourists to restless kids whose busy hands will love the active nature of the experiences.
- Highlights:
- Lodging among Crete’s olive groves at the beautiful Villa Koukouvayia. (Our home! ♥)
- Participating in the annual olive harvest’s community & camaraderie, & witnessing the creation of olive oil from tree to table.
- Visits to the historic Agia Triada Monastery’s vineyard on the Akrotiri plateau, and the Manousakis Winery in the orange- & avocado-filled valley of Moussouron.
- Tour and lunch at Biolea’s beautiful, organic olive-oil estate.
- Sunrise visit to the pink sands and blue water of Seitan Limani cove.
- Tour of Xania’s Old Town’s sites, from Bronze Age homes in 3,000 BC to fascist bombings of 1941.
- Cooking lessons from “Do it Like a Cretan’s” chef, Frini—our local expert in the history and preparation of authentic Cretan farm cuisine.
- Celebratory final hike to Milia’s hidden village & dinner at the village’s amazing farm-to-fork taverna.
- Cost: €1,850 | Group Size: 6 (min) to 12 (max) | Min Enrollment Deadline: 31 Jan ‘26
- Pricing Discounts & Options:
- Children under 2 years at time of arrival are free.
- 5% discount for groups of 3 or more signing up together.
- 5% discount for sign-ups received before 31 December 2025.
- €200 discount for sharing Villa Koukouvayia’s no-view “Swallow’s Nest” bedroom.
- $250/€350 discounts for accepting triple- or quad-occupancy accommodations when available.
- €500 supplement available for private room accommodations.
- €500 supplement available for Villa Koukouvayia’s luxury suite.
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👋 Welcome to Villa Koukouvayia!
Hi! We're Heidi and Richard. After 23 years on Crete and in Greece, we're excited to share our corner of the world with you.
We've crafted four unique, hassle-free retreats for 2026, combining adventure, history, culture, and, of course, amazing food and friendship.
The retreat dates start with the March Photographer's Collaborative and run through the November Olive Harvest.
Ready to explore? Get in touch and let the planning begin!
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