While this may sound cliché, I truly believe things have a way of working out. On a recent cruise around the Greek islands, our itinerary was changed at the last minute due to high winds. The ship was supposed to port in Mykonos, Greece, a vibrant island known for its lively nightlife. However, high winds meant we had to re-route to Crete, the largest of the Greek islands.
While many cruisers were upset at this itinerary change, I found myself embracing the change, a skill I’ve learned from traveling. Here’s how this last-minute Greece detour became my favorite experience of my trip.
Changing plans with limited notice
Emily Caldwell / The Manual
Though we had initially planned to do a cooking class in Mykonos, the last-minute detour left us with few options. By the time we got to port in Crete, it was already around 11 A.M., which meant most tours were booked for the day. Many popular tours in Crete, such as a visit to the pink sand beach, require an early start to the day as they are a good distance drive from the port.
It’s not the easiest to figure out what to do in this scenario, especially when in a foreign country. Rather than getting stressed, I took it upon myself to call every tour operator in the area. After many “we’re booked” responses, I found an open spot last minute with Uncharted Escapes for a private tour of the White Mountains. This was a much different activity than what we had planned to do in Mykonos, but a new adventure nonetheless.
The beauty in spontaneity
Emily Caldwell / The Manual
The experience began with a private off-road vehicle picking us up from the center of Chania. From here, we embarked on a long, scenic drive up into the mountains with stunning views of Crete. Along the ride, our tour guide stopped to show us local fruits grown in Crete, such as avocados and oranges. He also pointed out interesting facts in nature, like the way the injured maple trees in Crete join arms to help one another. We stopped to see goats along the way and explored various Cretan villages.
The journey also included a unique visit to a secluded shepherd’s hut, known as a Mitato. Here, we learned about the lifestyle of Cretan shepherds living up in the mountains and learned how Cretan “Graviera” cheese is made. This unexpected part of a nature-focused tour was awesome, bringing food, nature, and culture together to provide an engaging learning experience for travelers like me. Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without trying authentic Cretan foods at a local Cretan family tavern.
This last-minute Greece detour reminded me of the importance of “going with the flow” while traveling. I had no idea what to expect when we signed up last-minute for the White Mountains of Crete tour. In most cases, I’d have researched way before ever booking. Instead, I found the beauty in spontaneity and hopped along for the ride — only to find that this experience quickly became my favorite memory of the trip. You’d be surprised how many detours are a blessing in disguise.