Elissos Travelling Philosophy

04/11/2026

🫒🌿 It's olive harvest season in Crete!

Every November, olive groves across the island come alive as families and local producers begin one of Crete's most important agricultural traditions.

The season begins with the harvesting of green olives, used to produce agourelaio, an early-harvest olive oil celebrated for its intense flavor and characteristic peppery finish.

As the olives gradually ripen, the harvest continues through winter, producing oils with different aromas, flavors, and characteristics.

Although modern equipment has made harvesting more efficient, much of the tradition remains unchanged. Families still gather beneath centuries-old trees, spread nets across the ground, and bring their freshly collected olives to local mills.

✨ For travelers, the olive harvest offers a wonderful opportunity to discover Crete beyond its beaches and archaeological sites.

At Elissos Travelling Philosophy, we believe that understanding a destination begins with its people, traditions, and everyday practices.

Discover the fascinating history of Cretan olive oil, from its Minoan roots to today's olive groves and tasting experiences.
🔗 https://www.elissos.com/olive-oil-experience-crete/

03/11/2026

Most visitors to Crete have never heard of Diktynna, yet pilgrims once traveled to the far end of the Rodopou Peninsula to honor her.

Also known as Britomartis, or “sweet maiden,” she was traditionally regarded as the daughter of Zeus and Carme. She was a virgin goddess of mountains, hunting, fowling, and fishing nets, worshipped across western Crete, especially around Kydonia and the Rodopou Peninsula.

Her best-known myth begins with King Minos, who pursued her for nine months. Cornered on a cliff, she leapt into the sea and was caught in fishermen’s nets. In the version told by Pausanias, Artemis then made her a goddess.

Her story also traveled. On Aegina she was known as Aphaia, and writers increasingly linked her to Artemis. On Crete, however, her cult kept its own identity.

It is an old story about refusing, and about being carried by the sea rather than captured by it.

Meet Diktynna, the West Cretan goddess of nets, hunters, and the sea. Explore the goddess traditions of Crete with us: https://www.elissos.com/tour-customization/

02/11/2026

Taking students to Crete in spring 2027? Now is a good time to start planning.

Every educational tour we design is built around the group, and that takes time.

We start with your students’ area of study and the time you have on Crete. From there, the program might become a historic study week, a mythological multi-day itinerary, or an art tour that combines sites with art activities.

Then come the decisions that shape the trip:
🏛️ Which major sites and museums does the group need to see?
🧭 Which less-visited sites fit the subject? Some are harder to reach and can involve long walks, so they need to suit the group.
🎶 Which workshops fit your students: ancient Greek theater, chorus work, or ancient Greek music on accurate replicas of percussion instruments?

Throughout the trip, your group is guided by officially licensed guides, trained for three and a half years at the state Guides’ School.

Planning a school, college, or university trip to Crete for 2027?
See how we design learning-led group tours: https://www.elissos.com/our-services-crete-elissos/ or write to [email protected]

31/10/2026

Crete's landscape holds remarkable traces of its ancient religious traditions. From Minoan palaces and mountain sanctuaries to caves associated with powerful female deities, the island offers an opportunity to explore the relationship between mythology, archaeology, and the natural world.

🏛️ At Knossos, the legend of Ariadne intersects with an intriguing Bronze Age reference to the "Mistress of the Labyrinth."
🌿 At the Eileithyia Cave near Amnisos, archaeological discoveries and ancient written sources reveal a place associated with the goddess of childbirth for thousands of years.
⛰️ On Mount Juktas, the remains of a Minoan peak sanctuary tell us about the offerings and ceremonies that once took place high above the surrounding landscape.

At the Dikteon and Idaean caves, mythology connects the mountains of Crete with Rhea, the mother who protected the infant Zeus.

Yet much about Minoan religion remains uncertain. Were the female figures depicted in ancient art representations of one Great Goddess, several deities, or women participating in religious ceremonies?

In our latest article, we explore these questions alongside the actual places where ancient Cretans practiced their beliefs.

You'll also find a suggested 3–5 day itinerary connecting museums, archaeological sites, caves, and mountain sanctuaries, with practical advice for planning your visit.

📖 Read the full article:
https://www.elissos.com/goddess-tour-crete/

Discover a different perspective on Crete through the history, mythology, and cultural traditions that continue to shape our understanding of the island.

Plan a goddess tour of Crete: sacred caves, peak sanctuaries, Minoan goddess sites, what you'll see, how to get there, and a 3-5 day route.

30/10/2026

🌿 Kato Symi: A mountain sanctuary with more than 2,000 years of sacred history.

About 74 kilometers southeast of Heraklion, in the mountainous region of Viannos, Kato Symi reveals a side of Crete that deserves greater attention.

The village sits at approximately 780 meters above sea level, surrounded by a remarkable natural landscape of pine forests, fruit trees, freshwater springs, and the Blavopotamos River. Its surrounding woodlands connect with the wider Selakano Forest, making this part of southern Crete as interesting for nature lovers as it is for history enthusiasts.

But higher in the mountains, at approximately 1,200 meters, lies something truly extraordinary: the Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Krya Vrysi.

Archaeological evidence traces religious activity here from around 2000 BCE into the 7th century CE. Across these centuries, generations of worshippers brought votive offerings, while the sanctuary's religious traditions evolved from Minoan practices to the worship of Hermes and Aphrodite.

Kato Symi also carries a more recent and difficult history. In September 1943, the area suffered devastating German reprisals following local resistance activity during World War II. Today, the landscape preserves memories of both ancient devotion and modern resilience.

From archaeological remains and traditional mountain villages to forest trails and natural springs, this corner of Viannos reveals just how many layers of history Crete holds.

🏛️ Discover more of Crete's archaeological heritage, from its famous Minoan palaces to lesser-known ancient sites.
https://www.elissos.com/archaeological-sites-in-crete/

27/10/2026

🇬🇷 Ohi Day: Remembering the Women Who Carried the Mountain

On October 28, 1940, Greece rejected Italy's ultimatum, marking the beginning of its resistance to the Italian invasion.

Tomorrow, as we commemorate Ohi Day, we remember not only those who fought on the front lines but also the remarkable women of the Pindus mountains, whose contributions became an important part of Greek history.

🏔️ Through difficult mountain terrain, often in freezing conditions, women from local villages carried am******on, food, and essential supplies to Greek soldiers in places where vehicles and pack animals could not reach. Many also helped transport the wounded.

Their courage reminds us that history is shaped not only by those whose names appear in its accounts, but also by those whose determination makes collective action possible.

For Elissos Travelling Philosophy, these women represent values we deeply respect: resilience, solidarity, compassion, and the strength of the Divine Feminine.

🤍 Tomorrow, we will pause our regular posts to honor this important day in Greek history.

May we continue to remember their contribution and share their stories with future generations.

Discover the philosophy and values behind Elissos:
https://www.elissos.com/my-vision/

26/10/2026

Here’s why autumn is one of the best times for couples to plan a private trip to Crete. 🍂

The summer crowds have thinned and village life returns to its everyday pace. Late autumn is also when many Cretan families distill raki and prepare for the olive harvest, and with Elissos you can take part in seasonal moments like these instead of just driving past them.

How a custom Elissos trip works:
📝 Share your travel dates and what interests you both (history, crafts, food and w**e, nature, wellness)
🧭 We combine elements from our Mind, Body, and Spirit Fields into a schedule that fits
🏡 Accommodation and transfers can be arranged on request
🎓 Sites are guided by official licensed guides, graduates of the National Guides’ School of Greece

Prefer to start small? You can also book a single private tour, such as a guided visit to the Palace of Knossos, and build from there.

Visit our “Create Your Own Experience” page to send us your dates and interests.

24/10/2026

Was the Minotaur real? The short answer is no. The longer answer is far more interesting.

No skeleton, burial, or text has ever pointed to a half-human, half-bull creature. But the myth didn’t come from nowhere.

Our new article traces it back to three real things:
1️⃣ A palace that felt like a maze. Knossos had over a thousand linked rooms on several levels, with corridors that turn and stairways that double back.
2️⃣ A religion centered on the bull. Bull-leaping, bull sacrifice, and the stone horns of consecration that crowned Minoan shrines.
3️⃣ A political memory. Minoan Crete once held power across the Aegean, and early Athenians may have remembered paying tribute. Plutarch even noted that Athenian storytellers shaped the tale in their own favor.

Visiting Knossos this autumn? One tip from the article: see the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the palace on the same day. Seeing the original objects first, like the bull’s head rhyton with its rock crystal eyes, makes the ruins much easier to read.

Read the full article on the Elissos blog: https://www.elissos.com/the-most-famous-mythical-creature-of-crete-the-minotaur-2/

Who was the Minotaur of Crete? Read the myth, meet Pasiphae and Ariadne, find out where the labyrinth was, and see what Knossos shows you.

22/10/2026

Here’s what a half day of music, dance, and Cretan food actually looks like with Elissos.

Tastes & Sounds of Crete is a private half-day tour to a traditional village in South Central Crete.

Here’s how the day unfolds:

🏛️ Monastery of St. Irene
One of the oldest monasteries on the island, referenced in 16th-century manuscripts, with architecture and decoration that reflect its long history.

🎻 Museum of Traditional Musical Instruments
You’re welcomed with live traditional music and local treats. Lyre players perform, each instrument is introduced interactively, and you try simple Cretan rhythms and a few traditional dance steps.

🥧 Cretan pies, made by you
A short cooking demonstration in the museum’s yard, where your hosts show you how to make Cretan pies right there.

🧀 The village itself
A walk through its alleys, historic churches, and Byzantine frescoes, plus tastings of organic olive oil, w**e, and graviera cheese at the village’s oldest butcher shop.

🍽️ Lunch
A family-style meal at a traditional tavern, made with local organic ingredients.

Your licensed English-speaking guide, private premium transportation, museum entrance, tastings, and lunch are all included.

Planning a trip to Crete? Explore the full tour on our website or send us a message for a quote.

20/10/2026

What actually happened at the Thesmophoria? Here is the three-day festival, explained.

Every year in the month of Pyanepsion (roughly late October into November), married citizen women across the Greek world set their households aside to honor Demeter and Persephone. The timing was practical. This was when winter crops were sown, and the festival was meant to bring fertility to both the fields and the family.

Here is how the three days unfolded:

🌾 Day 1, Anodos (The Ascent): Women walked in procession to a hilltop sanctuary, the Thesmophorion, and camped there. The remains of piglets placed months earlier in underground pits (megara) were brought up and mixed with seed grain for the coming harvest.
🍂 Day 2, Nesteia (The Fast): Sitting on the ground on osier branches, they fasted and mourned, echoing Demeter’s grief after Persephone was taken to the underworld. The day closed with aischrologia, ritual crude joking that lifted the heavy mood.
🍇 Day 3, Kalligeneia (Fair Birth): The fast ended in a feast, with prayers for abundance, healthy children, and renewed land.

Not every city kept the same schedule. In Syracuse, the festival reportedly lasted ten days.
On our tours in Crete, stories like this open up bigger conversations about the role women played in ancient religious life.

Explore ancient women’s rites and Crete’s goddess traditions in our Divine Feminine Retreat. Write to [email protected] or visit www.elissos.com/tour-customization/