Because you just can't see too many Greek Islands, we're spending the day sailing to the Saronic Gulf to visit three: Hydra, Poros and Aegina.
Viaggio European Tours
Join Artist Jill Badonsky in the Greek Islands this October!
Nourish your creativity where the Greek Muses inspired the mortals.
Meet Jill
Hi! I’m the author/illustrator of three books on the creative process, creator/director of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching Training, and a creativity workshop leader who teaches retreats in New Mexico, at the Omega Institute, and wherever they’ll let me bring my crayons.
My specialty is removing the pressure behind the creative process. I make finding a creative voice and the generation of creativity, easy and addictive and experiences away from home fun and filled with creative surprises.
Find your creative soul alongside kindred spirits, experience being a creative kid again with playful adventures.
Creativity Workshop
Arriving in the enchantment of a country you've always wanted to visit is a natural aphrodisiac to a heightened sense of creativity. I will capitalize on that energy and teach you loose and easy methods of generating sketches adding simple watercolor painting, effortless creative writing that captures the feel of the adventure, and smartphone photography.
My approach uses intuitive techniques that inspire fresh directions, free your creative voice from rigid standards, and will capture the enchantment of Greece with a joy-filled experience of creative flow.
Chania, Crete
With everything from snow-covered mountains to palm tree-lined beaches, ancient walled cities to little mountain villages, Crete is the largest island in Greece, and boasts its best year-round climate.
The diversity of Chania's land and warmth of its people makes it a spectacular place to explore. Viaggio Tours has chosen Chania (with its own international airport) on the northwest coast of Crete, as a perfect base for Jill's Greek Island Creativity Retreat.
What We Love About Chania
It is an authentic Greek Island. Being not as famous as some of the more well-known (crowded) islands, Chania is surprisingly unspoiled, uncongested, and caters to local daily life. The Cretans are not as focused on marketing to tourists as they are to welcoming them as guests on their island. They are proud of their food, culture and history, and want to share it with you. And we at Viaggio Tours, are happy to be able to bring you there.
Our Program in Chania
We'll spend seven nights in this gorgeous harbor town, in the same perfect 4* hotel the whole time. Just unpack once and make yourself at home.
We'll enjoy a full program of Jill's Art Classes and excursions, and have time to discover Chania with its stunning waterfront lined with cafes and restaurants, an old town of colorful winding cobble-stoned streets perfect for wandering, a covered market, great shopping and beaches. Chania has so many fun activities within easy reach.
Wine and Olive Oil Tastings
With over 300 native grape varieties, the ancient Greeks considered wine an integral part of their lives. And I know some of my guests do too!
With that in mind, we'll be picked up at our hotel for a vineyard excursion, traveling through the mountains to visit an award-winning winery and take a guided tour of the facilities.
We'll not only get to taste several of Crete's local wines served with traditional Cretan snacks, but we'll also get to sample several local olive oils and learn about the differences and how they are produced.
Botanical Gardens
Botanical Garden Restaurant
We'll visit Crete's enchanting Botanical Park and Gardens. Because of its conversion of climates, there is a greater variety of plants and unusual fruit trees than I've seen anywhere. We can do an optional one or two hour stroll on well marked trails, and/or have lunch at their excellent restaurant with ingredients from their vegetable gardens, and herbs and fruits coming from the park.
Jill's "En Plein Air" class that day will take place in either the restaurant, or the Greek Amphitheater. How fun!
Archaeological Museum
This impressive museum, housed in a former Venetian Monastery has a vast collection of statues, coins, pottery and other artifacts, all found during excavations around the city. It's worth the visit just to see this building's stunning interior!
Venetian Lighthouse
It's a beautiful and easy walk from the cafes and restaurants of the Venetian Harbor, along the sea wall to the lighthouse. We'll do that stroll together one morning.
"It takes a lifetime to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her”
~Henry Miller
What's Included for the Art Students
-
Seven nights at our lovely 4* hotel in the heart of the city, all rooms include private balconies, free wi-fi, mini-bar, bottled water, safe, robes, and slippers
-
Full program of Art, Writing and Photography Classes by our Special guest Author/Artist, Jill Badonsky, at great venues in and around Chania
-
Daily extravagant hot and cold breakfast
-
Welcome dinner & waterfront farewell dinner
-
Excursion to the countryside to visit a local vineyard for a tour, wine tasting and olive oil tasting
-
Excursion to the Botanical Gardens of Crete for a Plein Air Art Class, leisurely hike on well-marked trails and/or optional lunch. Entrance fees included.
-
Visits to the Venetian harbor, Chania's Old Town, Covered Market and Archaeological Museum
-
Visit to the lively Minoos Street Saturday Morning Market
-
Optional guided seaside walk along the seawall to the lighthouse (pictured above)
-
One free day to explore locally, shop, go to the beach, or choose from several optional excursions including the Palace of Knossos, hiking the Samarian Gorge, or a day trip by ferry to Santorini Island
-
All excursions are by private transportation
-
All hotel taxes and service fees
-
Your English-speaking guide/host
Waterfront Cafes make perfect pauses to your day. And a great spot for an art class with Jill!
Non-Participant Option
We offer a "Non-Participant" rate for guests who would like to accompany one of the artists and enjoy our full program of touring including the hotel and all included meals and activities listed above, with the exception of Jill's classes.
The guide will be happy to help you organize activities while the artists are in class. Our hotel is in a perfectly central location, so you are minutes from restaurants, cafes, shopping, beaches, museums, etc.
The Non-Participant discounted rate $2500 pp for double occupancy, or $2900 for a private single.
Seven Nights, Oct 22-29, 2022
$3100 pp double occupancy
$3500 private single room
Extra nights are available if you would like to arrive a day or two early, or stay an few extra days after the tour. Conveniently, Chania has its own international airport.
Prices are in US Dollars, and our tours are land only, meaning they begin and end at our Chania hotel. All programs are subject to change and please note that space is limited. Please see our Reservation Form for our Terms & Conditions.
Not Included: Flights, airport transfers, meals or drinks not mentioned, tips, optional excursions, travel insurance, and any other items not specifically mentioned as included.