THE SHEPHERD’S SHELTER (MITATO) & SECRET AGIA PELAGIA CRYSTAL COVE – “ANCIENT CRETAN TRADITIONS WITH TIMELESS MOUNTAIN SECRETS”

Excursion Description

Private Tour

Experience the authentic ancient atmosphere of rustic Crete on the slopes of Psilorítis - at 848 m above sea level every Friday, where age-old terraces, thyme-scented winds and stone mitata keep the memory of generations. Our private day at the Shepherd’s Mitato is not a simple tour but a living performance: you step into a world where honest work and food made by ancient recipes are at the centre, and you leave with real impressions and handmade products as keepsakes.

The day begins with a comfortable VIP transfer in a Mercedes-Vito and a short stop in Anógeia - the village of musicians and craftsmen - so you can feel the local rhythm. From there we climb to the stone mitata: handcrafted shepherd shelters built with thick walls and carefully designed ventilation, following techniques that recall the island’s long rural history. Inside the mitato you will encounter a working seasonal household: from milking sheep and goats to making graviera, myzithra and anthotyro - and this is not only a demonstration but a hands-on experience. You milk the animals, knead curd and take part in turning milk into cheese - and if you wish, you can take your own handmade cheese home as an edible memento of the day.

We gather the season’s garden gifts together - tomatoes, cucumbers, greens and rare mountain herbs grown without chemicals - and turn them into fresh salads and mezze that dress the table. Walks along the trails surrounding the mitata reveal endemic flora and, with a little luck, local wildlife - from the native “krikri” to other woodland inhabitants - while gentle plateau hikes deliver views worthy of your best photo album.

In season you will witness and join unique workshops: sheep-shearing (an entertaining, physical ritual), early spring vineyard care, traditional threshing on the open floor (July–August), and the autumn kazani - the communal tsikoudia (raki) distillation (September–October). On the threshing floor and around the mitata you will learn age-old agrarian techniques and feel the same bond with the land that Cretans have practised for generations.

The day’s culmination is a generous family feast inside the mitato. Meat is prepared using a time-honoured technique inspired by ancient Minoan and local traditions: using a specially constructed two-metre framework set along the walls of the fire (the traditional antichristo method), the meat is slow-roasted next to glowing coals so it keeps its juices and absorbs a deep smoky aroma. The result is supremely tender, richly flavoured meat - quite possibly one of the most memorably delicious pieces you’ll taste. The table groans with mezé, hot and cold salads, aromatic potatoes, cheese delicacies, homemade preserves and house-pressed natural wine - poured freely - all served in a warm, family setting with songs, stories and the hosts’ hospitality.

After this authentic mountain feast and a relaxed siesta, the tour continues with a short scenic drive down to a secret crystal cove near Agia Pelagia - a sheltered spot known to locals for its clear, turquoise waters and peaceful atmosphere. Here you’ll have time to swim, snorkel, relax on the rocks or beach, and wash away the mountain dust before the final private transfer back to your accommodation.

This day is a synthesis of crafts, flavours and nature: you will learn cheesemaking, taste freshly harvested vegetables, participate in seasonal rites, savour an unforgettable feast and finish with a swim in crystal-clear water. At the end you receive a small Volanna Travel gift - a little piece of Crete to take home. Come for the history, stay for the taste and the sea - live one day like an ancient Cretan shepherd.