Sitia – Zakros – Toplou
This tour can be organized as a full day tour (duration 12H ) starting from Heraklion. We propose though to choose this tour as a part of a round trip on Crete. More time available, means more fun and a complete experience. We can start early from your location (your hotel) and drive towards Sitia. On the way there we can stop for a coffee at the village Kavousi or Tourloti ( depending on traffic on the way). A sort stop at Sitia, and we will continue for Zakros. A short stop on the way back at Toplou monastery is a must . The itinerary and the exact stops can be decided together with our guests – in order to enjoy the day and the experience.
Toplou
Moni Toplou is a monastery of the 15th-century located in a dry and barren area in the Lasithi regional unit. It is about 6 km north of the village of Palekastro and 85 km east of Agios Nikolaos. The monastery was originally called Panagia Akrotiriani (Virgin Mary of the Cape), after the nearby Sidero cape. Its current name literally means “with the cannonball”, thus called by the Turks for the cannon and cannonballs (Turkish: top) it had in its possession for defensive purposes.
Toplou monastery is one of the most significant monasteries in Crete, dedicated to Panagia (Virgin Mary) and St. John the Theologian. It was founded around the mid-15th century, probably on the ruins of an earlier convent. The monastery was plundered by the knights of Malta in 1530 and shattered in 1612 by a strong earthquake.
Zakros The Archeaological site
The Palace of Zakros, the most isolated of all the Minoan Palaces, is located on the east coast of Crete, south of Palaikastro. Its position shelters it from the dangerously strong north winds that pass Cape Sidero on the northeast tip of Crete. It was the last of the major palaces to be discovered and is smaller than the other three at Knossos, Malia and Phaistos.
The Palace of Zakros probably acted as the Minoan gateway to the east and this view is supported by various movable finds on the site which had come from the Middle East. The Palace was surrounded by the town, of which only a part has so far been excavated.
We will have the opportunity to visit the magnificent palace and see the place where the artifacts were discovered.
The gorge of Zakros nearby: The entrance to the gorge of Zakros is located outside the village of Pano Zakros just 99 kilometers north-east of Agios Nikolaos and 39 km south-east also from Sitia.
Inclusions : Transportation with our company vehicles, guiding services, coffee stop and lunch at a local taverna, all taxes and VAT 24%. ( the lunch includes two starters, salad and main course – bottle of water), the cost of the ticket of Toplou monastery is included .
Exclusions : Personal expenses and gratuities, Tickets of Zakros palace – please add the number of participants , ( additional information – age and country of origin) to prearrange the right tickets and have them ready on the date of issue . Remember that for any reduced tickets you are solely responsible to provide the proper documentation (ID or passport)
