Crete is not a Greek island in the postcard sense. It is closer to a small country, with its own music, its own stubborn codes of hospitality, and a cuisine that predates classical Greece itself. From late March, that difference becomes especially clear – and you’re invited to witness it with a special Karma offer.
In Spring, the island shifts from its winter slumber to a new season of growth and renewal. Shepherds move their flocks down from higher ground, fresh mizithra and graviera cheeses reappear on menus, and wild greens – stamnagathi, radikia, vlita – are gathered daily rather than listed as heritage talking points.
Around Agios Nikolaos, olive groves and upland pastures begin to stir after winter. Bakeries reintroduce Easter breads scented with mastiha and orange; cheeses are made fresh for the season; bitter wild greens reappear on home tables. The calendar builds toward Orthodox Easter on 12 April 2026, the most important date of the year. Midnight services draw entire towns into candlelit streets, followed by the communal breaking of the fast – magiritsa soup, slow-roasted lamb, red-dyed eggs cracked and shared well into dawn. It is religious, social and deeply local.
Set above Mirabello Bay, Karma Minoan offers the perfect base from which to witness this moment. For Members booking before 31 December 2025, a 25% points saving applies for travel between 28 March and 25 April 2026 – the perfect time to witness one of the most unique festivals on one of Greece’s most singular islands.
