Kritis Eleonas
Olive and citrus harvest on the foothills of the White Mountains
About this host
Crete is the largest olive-producing island in the world and the foothills of the White Mountains are where a significant part of that harvest happens. Kritis Eleonas — Cretan Olive Grove — sits at 400m, looking south over the Libyan Sea, surrounded by terraced groves of Tsounati olives and a small citrus orchard that comes into its own in November and December. The work combines olive harvesting from October with clementine and lemon picking from November. The rhythm shifts between the deliberate, sustained effort of olive raking and the lighter, more fragrant work of citrus picking.
The story behind this place
Maria and her husband Nikos returned to her family's land after a decade running a restaurant in Heraklion. The transition was not easy but she says the harvest weeks — which they started running three years ago — were what made it feel worthwhile. Nikos does the cooking; Maria runs the farm.
Crops & season
Harvest window
October – December
Open for groups
Olive harvest
19 October 2026 – 26 October 2026
Olive and citrus mix
16 November 2026 – 23 November 2026
Lighter week — good for mixed-fitness groups
Accommodation & meals
farmhouse
Traditional Cretan farmhouse with three rooms. A separate annexe sleeps four more. Shared courtyard with outdoor kitchen.
Meals included
Breakfast and dinner with the family. Cretan food — dakos, fresh cheese, lamb on weekends.
Good to know
Mixed terrain — some steeper olive terraces, flatter citrus orchard. October can still be warm (20–25°C); pack light layers for evenings. This is a sample listing to give you an idea of the kinds of hosts on the platform.
Trip details
- Group size
- 6–14 people
- Season
- Oct–Dec
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Accommodation
- ✓ Included
- Meals
- ✓ Included
No payment required — we'll match you personally.
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