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YOUR journey
J² crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. We are guided by a simple but powerful concept: No two trips are the same; each experience should be personal, meaningful, and backed by superb service. Travel is not just about the places you visit, but the connections you make along the way.
IMPORTANT Please register for the post-trip after registering for the main-trip.
Active 
Archaeology 
Art & Culture 
Food & Wine 
Heritage
Program Itinerary
DAY 1
THE JEWEL OF THE AEGEAN SEA
Wed. Nov 5, 2025
- Fly from Athens to Heraklion, Crete. Enjoy your adventures in Crete.
- Known in the Bible as Kaftor and throughout the ancient Mediterranean as "The Island of Heroes," Crete offers us stunning natural beauty, a history dating back to the dawn of Western civilization, and a local culture known widely for its open-arms hospitality, known as "philoxenia."
- Explore Palace Hill at Knossos, the heart of Minoan civilization and its myths. Coins discovered on site by archeologists remind of the tales of the celebrated Labyrinth of Knossos, home of the monstrous bull-like Minotaur, the Athenian hero Theseus, and the master-architect Daedalus.
- The Palace at Knossos tells the story of an ancient civilization that may have been the inspiration for the legend of Atlantis. The royal palaces, vast storage facilities, eye-opening frescoes, and ceremonial chambers reveal an advanced and groundbreaking people who left their imprint on Crete and throughout the classical world.
- Check into the hotel in the town of Heraklion.
- Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and serves as its historic capital and administrative center. A historic port city since ancient times, its streets, architecture, and cuisine reflect the legacy of sailors, traders, and conquerors who passed through its shores. Their footsteps still echo today in "the city of Hercules," where history meets the present at every turn.
- Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Heraklion
Meals: Dinner
DAY 2
IN SEARCH OF JEWISH CHANIA
Thu. Nov 6, 2025
- Follow the seaside road with your departure from Heraklion to Chania.
- The harbor of Chania is an eclectic patchwork of neighborhoods and architecture revealing the Roman, Italian-Venetian, Turkish, and contemporary stories of the buzzing port.
- From the Venetian harbor, we will walk the picturesque alleys of Chania's Jewish Quarter, the home of the small Jewish community whose roots date back to the days when the Temple in Jerusalem was still standing. The community was wiped out during the Second World War.
- Visit Etz Hayyim Synagogue, the last remnant of Crete's Jewish heritage. Learn about the synagogue's history, and a little-known branch of the Jewish people known as Romaniote Jews, a Greek-speaking ethnic Jewish community. They are one of the oldest Jewish communities in existence and the oldest Jewish community in Europe.
- Meet with a member of the local havurah, who act as caretakers of the synagogue as a place of prayer and recollection. The diverse group includes observant, conservative, reform, reconstructionist and secular Jews, while other members are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, and agnostic.
- Enjoy lunch on your own in Chania’s harbor.
- Return to Heraklion in the evening for free time.
Overnight: Heraklion
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3
BETWEEN THE SEA AND THE CLIFFS
Fri. Nov 7, 2025
- Spend the day exploring the unspoiled villages, micro-harbors, and rocky cliffs of Eastern Crete.
- Explore the Lassithi Plateau, a fertile breadbasket that has nurtured apples, pears, peaches, and walnuts for generations. This picturesque region is dotted with over 1,500 windmills, creating a stunning backdrop against the lush, green countryside.
- Discover the Dikteon Cave, a natural wonder and ancient cultic site celebrated as the birthplace of Zeus, the mighty "Thunder Bearer" and king of the Greek gods. According to Homer, this legendary cave is where Zeus's mother hid him to save him from his father, Cronus.
- Stop by a traditional village and learn about Cretan culture and crafts. Cretan culture has long traditions of pottery-making and glazing, frescoes painting and design, and weaving with wool. Get a sense of the ingenuity and sophistication of local craftspeople and artisans.
- Enjoy a group lunch featuring local specialties. Try a refreshing liqueur, a local goat cheese, or a chopped salad with fresh, wild herbs.
- Return to Heraklion in the late afternoon.
- Celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat services at the hotel, followed by Friday night dinner. Shabbat Shalom.
Overnight: Heraklion
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
A CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
Sat. Nov 8, 2025
- Enjoy a free day to relax, and explore Heraklion at your leisure. Bring back a souvenir and a good story to remember your Crete journey.
- Recommendation: Sail on a cruise from Heraklion port and taste the seasalt just like the sailors who dared the Aegean depths.
- Recommendation: The Heraklion Archaeological Museum offers some of the finest examples of the remnants of the many peoples who called Crete home through the ages. A rooftop coffee shop has an 180 degree view of the port and the sea beyond.
- Recommendation: Walk from the Morosini (or Lions) Fountain along the green boulevard toward Dedalou and Dikeosinis Avenues for shopping, people-watching, and taking in contemporary Heraklion.
- Convene toward evening for a reflection and sharing session and a group havdalah to usher out the Shabbat and welcome a new week.
Overnight: Heraklion
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5
TAKING IT ALL BACK HOME
Sun. Nov 9, 2025
- Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flights back to the U.S. Travel safely.
Meals: Breakfast
RATES & LODGING
Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
participants
10+
Cost p/p in double room
$2,695
Cost p/p in single room
$3,255
Heraklion: GDM Megaron, Historical Monument Hotel
- Nights: 4
- Room Category: Run of the House
- Hotel Website
What to expect
- 4 nights' accommodations.
- 3 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator and a local guide, in a luxury, air-conditioned vehicle.
- 1 Group flight from Athens to Crete.
- All departure transfers to Heraklion airport.
- Daily breakfast & 2 dinners.
- The J² adventures App available on the App Store & on Google Play (active 7 days before your departure and throughout your trip).
- Water on the bus.
- Porterage at the hotels.
- All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
- Credit card fees.
- International flights.
- Touring on Saturday.
- Gratuities are excluded. For groups of 9-19 participants traveling to Greece: We recommend the following guidelines for tipping (amounts are in US dollars): J² Expert Educator: $14 | Local Guide: $12 | Driver: $6. Amounts are per day per person.
- COVID related expenses, including tests.
- Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
- Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc. are added to the program, an additional fee may be required.
- Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d’hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified.
- US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable.
- Please review our terms & conditions (T&C’s) or request that we send you our full T&C’s. Until you do that, here is the small print, and other stuff you may want to know:
- Validity | All prices quoted are based on exchange rates as of the proposal date and are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and are based on shared twin room occupancy.
- How to Make a Reservation | The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or contact us by email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required in order to complete the registration process.
- For any assistance with this registration process or other trip-related queries, please email Customer Care: [email protected].
- Payments | The balance of your payment is due June 1st, 2025, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date. Various payment options are available as follows:
- Credit card | We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online via a credit card or by wiring funds via your bank.
- Domestic bank wire transfer | Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice. Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by email. The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary’s name on the wire transfer.
- J² Adventures reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.
- Cancelation Policy | All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
- Cancelation fees | Cancelations made before June 1st, 2025 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 119 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.
- Cancelation fees may also include: Hotel or supplier cancelation fees. J² Adventures reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits.
- Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
- Please click here to view our full terms (T&C’s). These T&C’s apply to all reservations created within J2 Adventures.
DISCOVER NEW WORLDS.
JOURNEYS.
A family vacation to Israel. An adventure of a lifetime traveling with friends to Morocco. A trip to Poland or Portugal with your community. What do these trips have in common? No matter where you go, you will come back with a fresh perspective and appreciation of the place you visited as well as a heightened awareness of your identity as part of the global Jewish community.
Stuff.
We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.
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