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Intrepid and Avis hosted TTG Sustainable Travel Ambassadors in off-the-beaten-track areas of Crete, where the experiences were so special the agents were moved to tears. TTG’s Madeleine Barber reports
Something bizarre is happening. Looking around the dinner table at a group of fed-and-watered TTG Sustainable Travel Ambassadors, I see the agents’ smiles are wide and all eyes are fixed on a dancing shepherd – a 70-something, white-haired, crook-carrying shepherd who is kicking his legs and waving his arms in a jig more advisable for someone quite a few decades his junior. As we watch the impressive – and totally impromptu – scene, we sip raki and clap to the plucky melody of the Cretan lute and lyra that locals Yannis and Stelios are strumming some of the island’s most traditional tunes on.
This is how we’re spending our evening at Alonia Guesthouse, which is one of the many locally run accommodations we’re staying at during the TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes fam trip hosted in partnership with Intrepid, Avis and the Greek National Tourism Organisation. The family-run, bothy-style guesthouse sits in the foothills of Crete’s White Mountains, in the remote village of Agios Ioannis that has a grand total of 15 residents. You can’t get more off the beaten track than this.
“It’s eco-tourism at its finest,” says Molly Cofman-Nicoresti, industry partnerships manager at Intrepid, explaining the tour operator has partnered with non-profit organisation MEET to bring this unique experience to its customers. “Our Highlights of Crete tour allows travellers to discover the real Crete by visiting its quieter corners,” she adds.
We’ve embarked on a condensed version of this itinerary and built in a couple of days to explore the island at our own pace in Avis’ hybrid vehicles. “Having a car has such a beneficial impact on the destination because tourists drive through towns and villages that would otherwise go unseen and enjoy local businesses that are often overlooked,” explains Sophie Nelson, travel and partnerships manager (international) at Avis Budget Group. “Bringing tourism to these rarely visited parts means the local community can thrive.”
One experience Intrepid has incorporated into Highlights of Crete is a cooking class in suburban Chania. Greeted by Anna and Eleni of Soul Cooking Workshops with a cooling lemonade made using fruits from the tree in Anna’s back yard, which is where the class is taking place, we swiftly get stuck in to crafting kalitsounia. These are Cretan cheese and herb pastries that require mixing mizithra and anthotyro cheeses with spinach, leeks, onions, parsley, fennel and mint, before rolling the concoction into rounds the size of golf balls and encasing them in pastry made from flour, water, olive oil and a secret ingredient: raki.
Happily chatting away to Anna and Eleni as we coat our creations in an egg yolk glaze and sesame seeds, we discover the duo work together at a desk job but run the cooking classes as a side gig. “We love cooking and we love meeting new people, so it was Anna’s idea to combine the two,” says Eleni with a smile.
We meet more friendly locals during the tour at Dourakis Winery, where owner and winemaker Adonis tell us his business, which was founded by his father in 1988, produces 250,000 bottles of organic wine every year, with only 10% of these exported. Using 60% solar energy to do so, his goal is to make it to 100% in the coming years and eventually pass the business on to his children. We savour a crisp white, floral rosé and fruity red wine alongside a homemade lunch of Greek salad, fava bean dip and stuffed peppers. It’s a feast for the senses and a trip highlight for many of the Ambassadors, who are astounded by how rewarding engaging with locals is, for both themselves as well as the business owners.
“This trip has drummed in that sustainable travel isn’t just about being as eco-friendly as possible,” says Annika Nickson of Not Just Travel. “It’s about connecting with the communities around us when we travel and putting money into local businesses such as shops and restaurants; and making a conscious choice to do so.”
Of course, environmentally-conscious experiences are just as important as the socially-conscious, and so our trip features plenty of outdoor adventures led both by knowledgeable local guides and, for our road trip portion of the tour, ourselves.
We pile into three hybrid Avis vehicles to make the 90-minute journey from Chania to Elafonisi Beach, which we soon discover is a little slice of heaven. Tucked into the far south-west corner of Crete, it’s miles from the hustle and bustle of the cities and the perfect place to lounge on pale-pink and sugar-white sand, swim in the turquoise shallows or try windsurfing, stand-up paddle-boarding or kayaking.
Intrepid’s Water-to-Go sugarcane bottles eliminate the need for plastic bottles when travelling. The built-in filter tackles all viruses and bacteria as well as bad tastes and smells, so any water source becomes viable for rehydration.
If clients are keen for active experiences, flag that Intrepid’s Highlights of Crete tour features a hike of Samaria Gorge. Our local walking guide, Anna, who also runs a nearby boutique shop, meets us in Agia Roumeli, a small town at the foot of the canyon only accessible by boat or on foot. We follow her – and the river – past 500-year-old farm buildings and grazing livestock to “The Gates”, which at only four metres wide is the narrowest part of the gorge. We only see a handful of other hikers en route and are fascinated by the 174 endemic plants that thrive here, while the morning air is fragrant with thyme.
This hike would be my favourite outdoor adventure of the trip if it weren’t for a short swimming stop we make at Marmara, or in English, Marble Beach, at the foot of Aradena Gorge. Our wonderful Intrepid guide from Athens, Aris, who has been at our side for the duration, gives strong swimmers a tip: “If you swim along the coast here and turn left into the first cave you see, there’s a surprise waiting,” he says pointing east. Three of us navigate our way there and are met with the most striking scene. Sea-weathered marble cliffs give way to a cave in which light bounces from sky, to marble, to ocean, making the water an almost fluorescent aquamarine. At the rear is a rift just wide enough to float through into the next cave and as we do we realise it’s one of those “pinch me” moments.
This is the experience I share as my trip highlight during our farewell meal at Chania’s seafront tavern Thalassino Ageri, while others talk of the lasting memories they’ve made and their new connections to the people and landscapes of Crete. The TTG Sustainable Travel Ambassadors are in fact so moved by their experiences that we see a few tears of happiness. TTG’s mission to educate them on why travelling Smarter, Better and Fairer is superior is, dare I say, accomplished.
When it comes to suggesting Intrepid’s Highlights of Crete tour to your customers, consider this expert advice from those with first-hand experience
VALUE: Emphasise how much clients get for their money, says Not Just Travel’s Annika Nickson: “Food, drinks and experiences are all included – the only time we’ve paid extra is when we’ve supported local businesses with purchases. It’s incredible value for money.”
COMFORT: Reassure clients that travelling sustainably doesn’t have to mean going back to basics, says Travel Guru’s Karen Turner. “You don’t have to sacrifice luxury or your comfort. I’ll be looking at sustainable travel
a little bit differently going forwards.”
EXPLORE: Explain there’s more to Crete than first meets the eye, says Rachel Tredwell of Tredwell Travel, adding: “People think of Crete as a beach destination, but there is so much more to it.”
ADAPTABLE: Tell customers the trip is “really for everyone”, advises Intrepid’s Molly Cofman-Nicoresti. “It’s for everyone from a solo traveller in their 60s to a couple in their 30s hoping to see more than just touristy spots. The minimum age for this trip is 15, but if families want to take younger children, suggest our Crete Family Holiday.”
Watch the fam trip highlights and hear the Ambassadors' selling tips in this round-up video:
Find more advice and tips for selling sustainable travel at ttgmedia.com/sustainabletravelheroes.
