unlock the asterion's experiences
Feel like a local. Become one with the people, the land, and the nature. Connect is to bring together people or into contact so that a real or notional link is established
Vision, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Get connected with all five senses at once. Experience practical contact with and observation of facts or events.
During travelling you may experience the craziest, most exciting things, that will eventually become great life stories to tell. Unlocking experiences can provide you with happiness and satisfaction for the rest of your life.
frosini's garden
Another great option would be to visit this family-owned restaurant which is a combination of a traditional cretan farmhouse, colonial style semi-outdoor seating arrangement, an organic cretan garden and a chilled summer vibe, while cooking in traditional wooden stoves and iron cauldrons!
You start by picking the raw materials from their garden, then preparing the meal which you will have the Cretan way! You will learn recipes that you can even create at the comfort of your home!
While the food is being cooked you will also have the chance to visit a small local winery, and after the meal is done what better way to call it a day than to try amazing traditional sweets accompanied by our local spirit- raki!
winery tour
A family owned award winning winery with a legacy spanning over 80 years, the Karavitakis family has created a boutique winery in Pontikiana village in Chania, Crete.
The estate consists of 150 acres of vineyards both private and contract ones with carefully selected terroirs for each and every variety.
They produce award winning wines from local grape varietals, international ones while experimenting with rare varieties from around the world.
The winery features modern equipment, 2 winetasting areas and a small church is nestled between beautiful vineyards and olive groves on the hilltops of Kolimbari area, just 30 minutes out of Chania.
With a selection of various wine tasting experiences available, as well as a selection of "mezedes" these tours are ideal for everyone. From the experienced wine connoisseur to an amateur wine lover!
cooking experiences
Follow us to the extraordinary journey through the cretan flavors and taste the real cretan way of life.
Up in the high peaks of the White Mountains, you will prepare some traditional and extremely tasty home-made dishes, using only healthy organic Cretan ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables picked from the garden, dairy products and the most aromatic herbs.
You will have the chance to walk around our vegetable gardens to see, feel, smell, touch and taste the pure products of Mother Earth.
Your host will also reveal the secrets of local herbs, how the Cretan olive oil affects the people's health and useful tips about the local products you will use. You will prepare a traditional Cretan recipe with your own hands and learn how Cretans cook.
After the magnificent cooking experience, you will taste delicious Cretan wine paired with local cheese just like heaven on earth. The view of the mountain is breathtaking right out of our window.
Later on, you will prepare some appetizers like "Ntakos" and "Tzatziki" and of course, the popular Cretan Cheese-pies "Kalitsouni". You will definitely love the bread-making as well. Meanwhile, the meal will be ready.
You will taste your own dishes, paired with fruity local wine and taste some traditional jar desserts at the end. The healthy Mediterranean diet and the famous Cretan cuisine have already been revealed in front of your eyes.
botanical park
Nearly 20 hectares of land are waiting to welcome you, full of fruit trees from all over the world, herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants, in a park different from others, where the land's formation and the region's microclimate make it a paradise for hundreds of plants and animals!
In the midst of this colorful and vivid landscape stands a burnt centennial olive tree, a memorial and a reference to the dismal fires of 2003, the park's history, and origin. It lies just 18 kilometers outside the city, on the feet of the White Mountains. It is ideal for visitors of all ages, combining enjoyments that only Crete can offer!
No matter how you consider your visit here, whether as a scenic trek, or an interesting tour of nature's paths, the Botanical Park is the ideal alternative proposal for a day's escape from the city's noise and the fashionable beaches.
The dramatic scenery here is composed of rare samples of the local flora and fauna, as well as tropical and subtropical species from all over the world, with new samples added daily, changing the look of the Botanical Park and providing visitors with a motive to enjoy it over and over again!
This adventure in nature which lasts one to two hours, follows paths of unique natural beauty and provides visitors with the opportunity to get acquainted with the numerous different plants and trees that grow on the two hundred square kilometers of the well-designed planted hillside.
cooking lessons in the botanical park
The cooking experience in botanical park is a unique and immersive way to learn about the local cuisine of crete.
Visitors have the opportunity to learn cretan recipes from women who hail from nearby villages and have perfected their craft over generations.
The experience begins with a guided tour of the Botanical Park, where visitors can marvel at the wide variety of plants and trees on display.
Following the tour, participants are led to a designated cooking area where they are introduced to their hosts - the women who will be teaching them the secrets of Cretan cuisine.
visit to the olive tree museum
In the village of ano vouves kissamou chania, visitors can witness the oldest recorded olive tree in the world, a natural monument proclaimed by the general secretary of the region of crete.
According to estimates, the age of the olive tree falls between 3000 to 5000 years old and it still bears fruit to this day. Its base was once a wild olive tree before being domesticated by humans through the tsounati variety.
The bole of the tree, shaped by time, stands proud with a circumference of 12.5 Meters and a diameter of 4.6 Meters.
guided visit to chania's old town
Take a guided tour to the old town to experience first-hand the city's long and rich history and its well-preserved venetian architecture, which can be seen throughout the town.
There, you can admire the well-preserved mansions that adorn the ancient town of Chania, which have been converted into Cretan taverns, local shops, and restaurants.
Be sure to visit the aristocratic neighborhood, full of beautiful Venetian buildings that are worth seeing.
Among them is a fortress called Firkas that stands at the southernmost point of Topanas, at the entrance of the harbour. It was built in 1629 and now houses the Naval Museum of Chania and a summer theatre.
One of the most important historical sites in Chania is the 16th-century Venetian lighthouse, which is the landmark of the town and lies at the extreme end of the pier. It is the first thing a visitor sees while reaching the port.
visit to the archaeological museum of chania
The Archaeological Museum of Chania, located in the historic district of Chalepa, is a magnificent building that covers 12 acres of land and offers a breathtaking view of the seafront.
The museum, designed by architect Theofanis Bobotis and partners, consists of two linear masses, symbolizing the vestiges of civilization beneath the ground. It is a recognizable landmark for the whole city and was constructed to international standards for public buildings.
The museum's permanent exhibition showcases the rich archaeological heritage of the Chania region.
The exhibition starts with the earliest human presence in Chania and continues through prehistoric settlements and historical cities. It explores social and administrative organization, religion, entertainment, war, trade, and daily life.
Visitors can see reconstructions of public and private life from the Minoan past of West Crete, the coming of the Mycenaeans, and the importance of the palatial centre of Kydonia.
