Crete is a wonderful place for ‘foodies’. In the first place we have the wonderful ‘Mediterranean diet’ but with a huge focus on local produce. Then of course we have the fruits of the seas surrounding the island. Include fabulous olive oil and a burgeoning wine industry and the scene is set for a great value week-long gourmet food holiday and feast of tasting.
| Standard room | Deluxe room | |
| Spring Foodie week: 7-14 May 2024 | sold out | €1660 |
| Autumn Foodie week: 8-15 October 2024 | €1479 | €1660 |
All Club Mistral* members are entitled to a 5% discount on accommodation. The price does not include flights or travel insurance.
*Club Mistral membership is free and open all visitors to this page to join here. By joining we will also enrol you into our database for out weekly emails about Member’s’ offers.
Our Flavours of Crete Week is a celebration of the senses as we take our single holiday guests on a journey through the authentic components of the island’s healthy Mediterranean diet. In a feast of the finest food and drink solo travellers get the opportunity to discover at first hand what gives the Cretan people their famous vitality and longevity. We’ll be providing important insight into how to boost your immune system and cook tasty dishes made of seasonal, organic ingredients, with delicious “foodie” twists and flavours at every step of the way.
Tuesday – arrival and enjoy your first dinner of our Mistral hospitality
Wednesday – Visit the ancient olive tree of Vouves, considered to be the oldest in the world, then head to a local Cretan olive press where you will learn about the olive oil production, sample taste and learn and how to recognise the authentic extra virgin olive oil. Lunch at a renowned local traditional restaurant
Thursday – morning forage in the hotel garden to pick fresh produce, followed by a hands-on cooking class where you will learn some of the basics of the Cretan cuisine. Lunch, meze style, including the dishes prepared by you, paired with local wine
Friday – visit the local farmers market followed by a trip to a local winery where you will taste a variety of awarded wines paired with local cheeses
Saturday – Tour the Botanical Gardens of Crete, where you will discover fruit-bearing trees, herbs, spices, medicinal and decorative plants thriving under the Cretan sun. You will sample local herbal teas, take a leisure walk among the citrus trees, tropical plants and aromatic herbs and attend an on-site cooking class followed by lunch
Sunday – Free day! Optional, you can visit a real Cretan apiary in the morning, experience a journey within the magic world of the Honeybee and taste honey raki and other apiary products. In the evening, visit the Venetian Harbor of Chania then dine and wine at one of the best waterfront restaurants overlooking the lighthouse
Monday – visit the famous Falassarna beach then head to a fishermen village on the western side of the island where you will learn how to prepare the famous Kakavia fish soup, considered a delicacy among Cretans, followed by a sumptuous fish lunch by the sea
Tuesday – Depart and take the memories and flavours of Crete with you
Overall we will be highlighting the provenance of the food and showing why the island’s wonderful culinary offering is considered the healthiest on earth. During the week we organise cooking classes where you will see how to prepare some Cretan specialities. We will also tell you all about olive oil production, its history, and its role in the Mediterranean cuisine. We will meet artisan producers, visit the local farmers market, call in at a winery and taste amazing Cretan wines paired with cheese. Last but by no means least we will show you a little paradise of native and self-sown Cretan and Mediterranean herbs, trees, and plants at the Botanical Gardens of Crete.
Coupled with that, we will meet producers and restaurateurs who have, like the Mistral, been awarded the Cretan Quality Agreement mark as champions of the island’s cuisine and culinary traditions, sourcing local produce, exclusive use of extra virgin olive oil and traditional Cretan cooking. In addition, each evening that we dine in the Mistral hotel restaurant the emphasis will be on “homegrown, home-made,” Cretan dishes.
A highlight of the week sees guests enjoy an excursion to one of the fabulous beaches for a refreshing swim before enjoying a sumptuous fish lunch centred on the famed Kakavia fish soup, which we will learn how to cook.
There will be gifts to take away with you at the end of your stay with a bottle of our finest extra virgin olive oil and a recipe book of our favourite dishes so you can recreate them once you get home. Flavours of Crete is a mouth-watering opportunity to sample, savour and learn more about Cretan food and drink and, perhaps, kick start a healthy, savoury and immune boosting diet to follow for life.
Our Flavours of Crete weeks runs in May and October but rest assured – as well as enjoying the best of Cretan cuisine and learning how to cook some of our dishes, there will also be plenty of time to relax by the pools, enjoy our spa facility or visit the Venetian harbour town of Chania.
Read our blog post about Flavours of Crete here
The Flavours of Crete week was my first ever “solo” holiday and it was fabulous! Not only was I with a group of like-minded people but every day had a fun, interesting and foody theme. Kitchens, vineyards, gardens, markets and amazing lunches and dinners with a new group of friends. It was more like visiting chums than a hotel stay. Thoroughly recommended.
When I travel I like to immerse myself in the local culture, meet new people, and visit local points of interest. My stay at the Mistral for its “Flavors of Crete” met all three objectives. The Mistral staff were warm and welcoming, the daily outings were well planned, and the hotel and surrounding areas were absolutely lovely. I’m already planning for my return visit.
The week is filled with trips and activities showcasing the best of the Cretan food, starting with the olive oil up to the special fish soup or wine tastings. Expect to learn, eat and drink in good company and have fun with other solos. For the price, this week is a bargain.
We had different well planned activities every day – transport was comfortable and everything was at a relaxed pace. I’ve got lovely memories of the varied and interesting places we visited and the food and wine we shared was really exceptional. So many highlights but loved the Olive groves in the mountains, the fish soup at the stunning beachside tavern, the beautiful botanical gardens and of course the cooking lesson with Mama at the Mistral. It was a privilege to learn recipes from such a fabulous traditional cook and join in the family banter. I highly recommend this holiday.
A great way to have a relaxing holiday, see the amazing Cretan countryside, partake of delicious food and wine and share the week with excellent company. Not to forget a visit to the local farm and an in-house cookery class. What more could you ask for.
