Holidays for single people

The Mistral Hotel holidays for single people provides exclusive unstructured holidays for the discerning solo traveller.  Your holiday will be hosted by the Mistral Team who between them, have a wealth of knowledge of the island, its culture, history and amenities.
We are pleased to be able to offer a good range of events and excursions for your holiday but there is no pressure to join in any activities - it's entirely up to you!  We also have a "Plan B" for rainy days!

Falasarna/Sfinari Fish Lunch

This very special, exclusive trip every Thursday is what the Mistral Hotel is famous for!

First, we visit the beautiful sandy beach of Falasarna on the west coast with its stunning turquoise, clear waters.  Here, we have a few hours to swim, sunbathe, enjoy a refreshing drink and maybe visit a nearby Hellenistic archaeological site.

Then, we drive south to the idyllic, beachside village of Sfinari where the Baladakis family will serve a lunch of fresh fish, lobster, Kakavia (fish soup), organically produced vegetables and plenty of village style wine known as Marouvas.

The Baladakis family will encourage you to watch the food being prepared in the kitchen.  Everything (except the beer) is produced locally - the vegetables from the gardens, seaweed from the rocky shores, fish and lobster caught by the son Nikos, tomatoes and cucumbers from the family's greenhouses, salt gathered from the rocks, goats cheese, olives and olive oil.

The lunch and the goodbye are always long but our guests agree this is their favourite day!

Gramvousa Island and Balos Lagoon

A wonderful and relaxing boat trip (around 1 hour) to the uninhabited tiny pirate island of Gramvousa.  Be shipwrecked for the day, swim, snorkel or explore the ruins of the Venetian Fortress perched high on a plateau and marvel at the breathtaking scenery or simply soak up the sunshine.

The boat then takes you to the paradise of Balos Bay with its warm shallow waters and stunning pink sand. The beautiful Balos Lagoon is where Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their honeymoon on the Royal Yacht    Britannia.

Elafonissi Beach

This is a chance to visit one of the most stunning lagoons you will ever see!  Travel to the South West of the island through some of Crete's most green and fertile countryside, stopping en route at the impressive Cave of Saint Sofia with its stalactites and stalagmites, then onto the beautiful Monastery of Chrissoskalitissa with its legendary golden step.

The beach of Elafonissi is one of the best in Europe.  The sand is tinted pink from the millions of crushed shells and the water is a clear turquoise blue.  The warm waters are so shallow that you can walk out the Elafonissi (The Deer) Island.

Samaria Gorge

Walk the longest and most stunning gorge in Europe which starts from the Omalos Plateau at a height of over 1,200 meters.  An opportunity to experience the beautiful flora, fauna, scents and awesome sights of the 600m sheer cliff sides.  Towards the end of the Gorge, traverse the "Iron Gates" where the cliffs narrow to just 2 meters wide.  At the end of this 17km walk, you reach the village of Agia Roumeli and can reward yourself with a refreshing dip in the Libyan Sea.

Not for the fainthearted!  You must be determined and have a good level of fitness to complete this six hour walk.

Knossos Palace

Have the myths and legends surrounding this world famous archaeological site brought to life.  See the story behind Sir Arthur Evans excavations at the beginning of the 20^th Century and wonder over the 4,000 year old Minoan artifacts that he discovered.

From here, onto the Archaeological Museum in the island's capital of Heraklion.  On the return journey, you will stop at an olive press to see how olive oil is made from the harvests.

Wine Tasting Lunch and Cookery Class

Wine is culture - it contains more than just alcohol.  Firstly, the heart and soul of its maker as well as the special character of the land, climate and the traditions that the grape variety carries through time.

In the last twenty years, the world of Greek wine has undergone dramatic changes.  Hundreds of new wines and new estates are producing world class quality wines.

Join Vassilis to share in his passion for Cretan food and drink.  As well as enjoying a variety of tasty traditional dishes, you will learn why the Cretan diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world.

Sip on the best Cretan and Greek wines which have been carefully selected by Vassilis, soak up the atmosphere and be merry!

Then, join us in the kitchen for a cooking demonstration where you will see, smell and taste the night's dinner.  Learn how to make stuffed tomatoes,  tzatziki and Cretan small cheese pies to impress your friends at home.  Take a complimentary bottle of family olive oil as a memento and think of us every time you drizzle it on your salad!

Chania Harbour Evening Meal

There is no dinner served at the Hotel on a Sunday.  So, why not join Vassilis or Adonis for a sumptuous meal at the Petridis Taverna situated on the historic Venetian Harbour in Chania.

You will have the chance to enjoy a couple of hours shopping around the Harbour before the meal or you can take a sunset cruise on the MS Irini (weather permitting).

Watercolour Painting Classes

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at watercolour painting but not had the opportunity or courage?

Our local artist, Anne Edwards, is highly qualified in teaching this form of art and has exhibited all over the world.  She will guide you through a two hour session covering the basic techniques and giving you inspiration for your own masterpiece!

Scuba Diving

Slip on scuba gear and discover a Crete that is as beautiful below the water as it is above.  Fun Dive is a PADI Diving Centre located in Platanias which caters for the beginner and the experienced scuba diver.

The interesting volcanic formations of the seabed, clear waters, mild weather conditions and high temperatures provides an ideal environment for diving in a safe and entertaining way.

The Diving School has courses of several days for the PADI Open Water Diver qualification or you can spend a half day snorkeling around the islet of Agios Theodorou. 

Horse Riding

Discover green hills, goat tracks and gallop along sandy beaches on horseback!  Zoraida's Horse Riding School is located in the coastal village of Georgioupoulis, around one hour from the Mistral.

There is a choice of beachside, countryside or mountain rides (depending on your ability) for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders. 

Santorini

An ideal opportunity to visit this magical island.  The volcanic eruption of Santorini has made this famous island unique.  You will see lava layers mixed with sand and soil, cliffs with layers of red and black rock on which villages with white washed houses and churches with blue domes are perched.                        

In 1967, a city buried by a volcanic eruption in 1500BC was found on Santorini.  Archaeologists believe this may be the "lost" City of Atlantis.

Visit Akrotiri, the famous Pompeii of the Aegean Sea and the traditional villages of Pygos and Oia.  Taste the world famous local wines and relax at the magnificent lava beach of Kamari.

Greek Night

Every second Friday, the Mistral hosts an entertaining Greek night with live Greek music and professional dancers.

The tradition of Greek music goes back thousands of years and is part of a national heritage treasured by the Greek people since this gift was entrusted to them by Apollo.                                      

The songs vent a dramatic expression to glorify joys, to wallow in sorrows and above all, to record inspirations, history and Greek legends and folklore.

The lively Pidiktos dance involves lots of jumping and leaping and is indicative of the rugged mountain terrain of Greece.  The raising of the legs and leaping in the air are expressions of a dancer leaping over the mountains.

The smoother Syrtos is a flowing, dragging dance and is usually seen in the coastal regions of Greece and, of course, the islands.  This dance characterises the more peaceful landscape and lyrical moods of the seashore.

Cultural Events

Throughout the season, there are many festivals and cultural events that offer a taste of authentic Crete.  Where possible, we will attend some of these events.

3^rd May: Festival of St Athanasios at Mouri village

21^st May: (or closest weekend): Commemorations of the 1941 Battle of Crete

24^th June: Festival of St Ioannis at Fres and Therisso

June: Cherry festival at Karanou village

26^th July: Pilgrimage from Kissamos to Gramvousa and Balos

July: Naval week in Chania Harbour

1^st-10^th August: Agricultural August - exhibition of products at Chania Marina

6^th August: Metamorphosis of Jesus the Saviour

20^th August: Honey festival in the village of Afrata

September: Sardine festival at Souda and Nea Chora

October: Chestnut festival at Prasses and Elos