4 May 2024 - 11 May 2024
Still places from Copenhagen but only a few available from Billund
It is once again time to present you Elena's increasingly traditional and coveted Easter trip to Crete. This time it is about the Easter Tour 2024, and just like the last times we have held the Easter Tour, it is important to be quick on the keys if you want to secure a place on the tour.
As Easter in 2024 falls later than usual, we have the option of taking guests from both Billund and Copenhagen.
There will be a departure from Billund on Saturday 4 May 2024 at 16:30 and from Copenhagen Saturday 4 May 2024 at 07.35
So regardless of whether you come from Billund or Copenhagen, everyone should be able to be ready for the midnight service in St. Spyridon Church in the old Agia Marina, where a week full of experiences begins.
Similar to the Easter tour 2023, we have room for around 34 guests and also similar to the tour in 2023, Anne and Michael from Elenas will be with us as hosts and tour guides.
The Easter tour 2024 is largely a repeat of the Easter tour 2023. A little has changed, as can be seen from the tour description below, but we will not change everything that our guests think is really good, just for the sake of changing it. Elena's Easter trip has also become a tradition, and you don't just change things like that too much.
The first tickets have already been pre-ordered by guests who have been there before.
What comes with:
- Flight (SAS Charter) from Copenhagen 4/5-24 at 07:35, hand luggage + 1 pc. checked baggage (20 kg) per traveller, or
- Flight (Sunclass Airlines) from Billund 4/5-24 at 16:30, hand luggage (max 6 kg) + 1 pc. Checked luggage (total max. 20 kg per traveller.
- Direct transport to/from the hotel from the airport
- Accommodation in double rooms at the 3-star Hotel Atrion, Agia Marina ( see video of the hotel here )
- Large breakfast buffet and dinner buffet every day
- Traditional Greek Easter lunch with, among other things whole roasted lamb (incl. drinks)
- 3 x sumptuous lunches (incl. drinks)
- 1 x party dinner (incl. drinks)
- Excursion trips to:
Midnight mass and Easter celebration in the old church of Agia Marina
The ancient city of Aptera, Doubiana, Tsivaras, Kalives and Koumos with lunch at Elena's
Agia Triada Monastery (with accompanying wine tasting)
Mountain trip to Drakona
Chania old town with plenty of opportunities for shopping
In addition, there are inpatient "days off" where you can relax by the pool, go out on your own or perhaps just enjoy it with a good book in the shade of the large palm trees that surround the hotel.
On Saturday, after the dinner buffet, the trip goes home again after a week full of experiences, good impressions and perhaps new acquaintances
The trip day by day
Saturday
On arrival in Crete, you will be assigned rooms and have the opportunity to unpack and just get a little and safe rest and maybe a trip to the pool, after which a large dinner buffet awaits you at the hotel. If you are traveling from Billund, you will not arrive until the evening, so you have just time to unpack at the hotel before we all go together to the old church of Agia Marina, where we will participate in the Midnight Mass and the Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday celebration, with all its intricate rituals and traditions.
After the tour, we go back to the hotel for a good night's sleep, so that we are ready for the big Easter lunch on Sunday.
Sunday
We start the day with a hearty breakfast in pleasant company, after which there will be a welcome meeting where we will talk about the week's programme. After that, there will be an opportunity to get some provisions to keep in the room, see the surroundings, or just relax and enjoy life.
In the afternoon we go together to Arhondiko, which is a small, very traditional tavern, where the owner Christos has prepared the classic Easter lunch with, among other things, whole roast lamb on a skewer, which has already been put on the grill early in the day and has been spinning for several hours.
After the gigantic Easter lunch, there is just a little time to beat the stomach and maybe rest before the dinner buffet might tempt those who haven't had enough for lunch.
Monday
After our regular breakfast buffet, we are picked up in our VIP bus, which first takes us to the Agia Triada monastery on Akrotiri, which was built in the 17th century. Here we will see the fantastic monastery from the inside and finish with a wine tasting in the monastery's cellar between giant oak barrels filled with wine, before we head further up into the mountains where we will experience some of the most authentic aspects of Greek food culture. In Drakona, we are going to have lunch at Dounias, where the words "from farm to table" really come into their own. Everything is made from scratch with completely fresh organically grown ingredients and the meat served is from free-range animals from Dounia's own lands in the mountainous but also lush area that lies right up to the tavern, where the clay pots simmer outside over an open fire, while the scent of the tastiest dishes spread and tantalize one's taste buds.
Eating at Dounias is not just food – it's an experience you'll never forget.
If you are still hungry after this trip, there is of course the buffet at the hotel to end the day.
Tuesday
The first day without any real program other than that, like all other days, is a large breakfast buffet at the hotel. Otherwise, the day is free to enjoy life and relax, go for walks, go to one of the nearby towns or whatever you fancy. This is also where you can see or revisit some of the other beautiful places found in western Crete.
Smaller guided tours can be organized to a limited extent by prior agreement if desired for a separate payment, or car or scooter hire can be arranged to get around on your own.
The evening is rounded off with a dinner buffet at the hotel for those who wish.
Wednesday
After the joint breakfast buffet, we are picked up again by our VIP bus, which takes us to the ancient city of Aptera, 15 km east of Chania, which, with its breathtaking location 200 meters above the entrance to Souda Bay, has been around since 1400 BC. with an open view over the entire Souda bay, has been able to protect against enemy intrusion. When you walk around the ruins and on the narrow stone-paved roads and paths, you easily get your thoughts back to ancient times and the life there was. An age and a place that amazes in many ways with both its architecture and comfort.
Aptera is believed to go all the way back to the Minoan period, i.e. at the same time as Knossos, so after visiting Aptere, it is very natural to continue to de Douliana on Apokoros, where we will experience one of the very interesting and well-hidden churches ( also called cave temples) that are built into the rocks and where, on a short walk, we will enjoy the beautiful nature in the lush valley that leads us to this magical place.
The trip continues to Kalyves where we offer lunch at none other than Elena Taverne. One could be tempted to say that it has something to do with Elena's, and who knows...
We finish with a little detour around Koumos, for a real stone house, but not of that kind, but just expect, before the trip goes back to Atrion where dinner awaits.
Thursday
When we have all had breakfast and are ready, the bus will take us to Chania, where we will tour the old town with all its unique places, architectural diversity, walk through the Turkish and Byzantine quarter, see the sights, the beautiful Trimatiri Cathedral, through the leather street with all the stalls, have the opportunity to shop and perhaps enjoy a frappe or Greek coffee at a sidewalk cafe, before we gather for lunch at To Xani by the Synagogue, where we are treated to several delicious dishes from Cretan cuisine and ancient real Chania delicacies. To Xani ranks as one of the absolute best places to eat in Chania.
After this, the trip goes back to the hotel after another day with one on the experience.
Since we don't want our guests to go to bed hungry, there is of course a dinner buffet again at the hotel, if it is eventually possible to squeeze in a bit more.
Otherwise, the evening is intended for relaxing shared fun for those who want to.
Friday
Again we meet (as we now come up) for a breakfast buffet, after which it is a day off for most of the day.
The only drawback is that we meet in the evening for the big celebratory dinner at Romeos Taverna, where everyone will go together.
Saturday
On top of a week with several activities and a lot of impressions and experiences, there are probably many who would like to enjoy the last day in the sun and just relax until the trip goes to Billund and Copenhagen again.
We have to be out of our rooms during the morning, but there will be the possibility of storing suitcases, the possibility of a shower and toilet, as well as all facilities in the hotel are available all day, until we are picked up by our bus and drive back to Chania airport.
Practical information
At the bottom, under practical information, you will find a direct link to our co-organizer Apollo Rejser , which is responsible for the booking itself (When you travel from Copenhagen. This ensures that you are of course also insured through the Rejsegarantifonden. Press the link "Book a trip here" at the bottom of since.
If you are traveling from Billund, you must contact Elenas directly on tel. 70231201 or email: michael@elenas.dk where the plane ticket must be ordered separately. The rest of the journey (stay, transfer, husband and excursions) is then booked by Elenas with Apollo, for which that part of the journey must be paid for.
A deposit of DKK 1,400 must be paid per travelers (+ possibly additional order of cancellation insurance/travel insurance, if desired). The remaining part must be paid no later than 60 days before departure. Payment specification appears when ordering.
We reserve the right to cancel the trip and thus refund the full amount paid if the trip cannot be completed due to lack of registration, force majeure or other external circumstances. Any cancellation due to lack of registration will take place no later than 60 days before departure.
Meeting time on departure is no later than 2 hours before departure.
The technical travel organizer is Apollo Rejser, Amager Strandvej 390, 4., 2770 Kastrup, CVR. 17435930, Member of the Travel Guarantee Fund no. 0830.
What does it cost?
The price for this trip is from NOK 11,495 (if you travel from Copenhagen) and a total of NOK 12,295 (if you travel from Billund)
(The price is per person for 2 people in the same room on the same booking)
If a single room is desired, there is a supplement of NOK 1,995 per person. person
ATTENTION If departure from Billund is desired, the journey must be booked directly with Elenas on 70231201 or email: michael@elenas.dk
Discount codes for use when purchasing goods at Elenas CANNOT be used when booking travel.
Inspirational photos from previous trips
...Click on an image to enlarge...
