What to do and see in Rethymnon Prefecture, Crete: The Best Cooking Classes

We specialize in creating unique experiences, such as organizing excursions to remote traditional villages, so to give to our visitors the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their culture and habits. We invite you to witness the activities of the genuine Cretan life, such as harvesting soil and producing traditional products like wine, raki, cheese, traditional rusks, honey, olive oil... the list goes on! We always try to give our guests a warm experience, therefore most of our excursions are in small groups; that is because we value the personal feeling that mass tourism fails to deliver. Apart from daily trips to villages and natural landscapes, we give our guests the opportunity to organize a trip that will suit them 100%. By getting in contact, we can discuss and design the perfect one-day or multi-day trip for you. Therefore, we can personalize every experience depending on the taste, the wishes and the needs of each of our visitors.

Built with our own hands, this traditional stone-built Shepherd Shelter (Mitato) is located at 848m on a slope of the renowned Mount Psiloritis. In this welcoming Shepherd Shelter, we are ready to share with you our passion for the distinct Cretan traditions and lifestyle. The visit to the Shepherd’s Shelter offers a life-time experience to every visitor.

Discover local tastes, traditional recipes and more activities concerning the food culture!! The Cretan Gastronomy organise educational and evidence-based programs for children and adults. You can follow activities, like local products tasting , culinary demonstrations, cooking shows and lessons, olive oil seminars, wine tasting. Special during the winter, educational programs for schools and students. Join us and learn about the Cretan diet and its benefits. We have Info point about the Cretan Diet and the culinary culture & tourist information. We organise food- routes and visits in Crete, tailor program and transfer available. Participate in olive oil harvest and grape harvest, join a chesse maker, and more local festivities. Also, visit our library with free access to audiovisual material and wi-fi.

Every Saturday from 15:00 to 18:00 there is a collective cooking of traditional dishes. The first hour is spent in picking vegetables and herbs from the gardens. Courses: 45 Euros per person (Bread making + 2 seasonal dishes) (4-8 persons). The products that have been produced are incorporated into meal-dinner free of charge.

Cretan Cooking are traditional cooking lessons where visitors are invited to cook, taste and enjoy local recipes and prepare delicious dishes with the guidance and assistance of our professional cooks. All dishes are made of genuine, fresh Cretan products such as olive oil, vegetables, cheese, meat, etc. The course aims to show clear and simple ways of how to prepare and cook Cretan style dishes and are aiming to those interested in Cretan cuisine or to just cooking lovers. The courses are interactive, and participants will enjoy the cooking experience while finishing the adventure enjoying the wonderful lunch or dinner prepared in a friendly and casual atmosphere with local wine and bread, Cretan music and a traditional dessert.

Avli is a combination of all-suites hotel with a rustic fine dining restaurant, wine cellar, a shop with traditional products and a family-style all-day buffet. Created 32 years ago, in 1987, in an effort to optimize and upgrade the historic center of Rethymnon.

We are a company engaged in the transportation and procurement of tour packages, metting, adventure tours, holly trips, cooking classes