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Advanced Courses on Life Sciences

Greece – Crete (Gerakári)

Alexander Hotel

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands. The landscape is characterized by three mountain ranges reaching over 2,000 m in altitude, fertile valleys and plateaus, several gorges and beautiful coastline. The island has had a rich cultural history, notably dating back to the Minoan civilization approximately 4,000 years ago.

Where to stay:

The courses will be held at Alexander Hotel, a small modern hotel in the heart of Gerakári village. All buildings are built with respect to the surrounding mountainous landscape. Rooms offer beautiful mountain and village views. Participants can relax and interact in communal areas, such as living rooms where guests can play table games, the swimming pool (open May-Oct), the tennis court, and the gym. There is free Wi-Fi connection in all communal areas.

Participants have the optionto stay at the venue at a friendly rate during the course (check Accommodation in the course webpage). This option is strongly recommended, particularly because other accommodation options in the area are limited and public transport is scarce.

Why there:

We organise courses in Gerakári, a quiet village in central-western Crete. The village is built on the slopes Mt. Kedros, just east of Mt. Psilortis, in the beautiful valley of Amari.

This is an area of untouched nature and culture, ideal for hiking, climbing, bird-watching and traditional local activities. We want participants to focus on the content of the course, without distractions. By being in this isolated and serene environment, participants and instructors can interact and network more efficiently, while also taking time off to relax taking quick walks in the village and surrounding nature.

Crete is easily accessible all year round. You can find several flights from numerous European destinations to either Heraklion or Chania airport. There are also ferries travelling from Athens to Heraklion or Chania daily. For those participants that have taken the Accommodation Package, transportation will be provided from Heraklion to the venue and back before and after the course, respectively. It takes approximately 1hr 50min to the venue from either Heraklion.