Hiking in Elounda Bay & Spinalonga Visit: A Mindful Living Tour
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port
Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece
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activityLevel
Moderate Activity
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excursionType
Information Not Currently Available
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$140
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals not included
Walk with your guide along a seaside road in Elounda Bay, with views over Mirabello Bay and the island of Spinalonga in the distance. Watch for old windmills and some salt pans -- the locals used the latter to produce sea salt naturally.
Crossing over the small bridge which connects the mainland with the island of Kolokitha, you will reach the end of the asphalt road and head down a country path. Your hike will take you past some beautiful small churches and the stunning coastline.
Next, it's a short island hop by boat to the intriguing island of Spinalonga -- the 'island of tears'. In the early 1900s, this fortified island was chosen as the site of a leper hospital and colony. Sufferers who were sent to live on the island survived on state funding and charitable donations. Their wretched life did not weaken their will to live a full life, so they organized a village, married, had children and created a thriving community hidden away from the rest of the world. Entering the island by way of Dante's Gate, follow your guide along the main street of this ghost town. Complete with shops, houses and a small, it seems like a normal Cretan village until its haunting past is explored. Within the walls of the Venetian fortress, contemplate the sad and, thankfully defunct, last leper colony in Europe.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. As an extension of Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, this Mindful Living tour is designed to deliver an experience that contributes to mind and body wellness. You are invited to visit the on-board spa to speak to the Mindful Living coach to learn more about Dr. Weil and our holistic wellness program.