Luminous
School of Creation
Arrival
You arrive through narrow village paths,
stone walls and
small turns
that don't immediately reveal where you are going.
That's the idea.
The first clue is already waiting for you —
a small card,
a red ribbon,
a question to follow.
From the first moment,
the day is yours to discover.
The clues lead you to Cretan Gea Farmhouse in Xirosterni.
Something shifts when you arrive that way.
Not everything here is meant
to be seen from the start.
How the day unfolds
The day is a journey through the farmland of Cretan Gea —
and through more than 4,000 years of food culture.
You move between different places on the land:
An ancient olive tree.
A traditional stone threshing floor.
A wood-fire clay oven.
A ceremonial space beneath the open sky.
At each one, you connect with ancient hymns, myths and stories
of the Minoans and the world they lived in —
and you find what you need to cook.
In the organic vegetable garden, you gather the last fresh, seasonal ingredients —
horta, herbs, and what grows that day.
You carry everything back.
Then you cook.
How the Minoans experienced food
The Minoans had a deep connection with the natural world.
For them, food was not separate from the sacred —
it came from the Goddess,
it grew from Mother Earth,
it was offered in ceremony with gratitude,
prepared in community and shared with care.
They ate what this land produces:
olives, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, figs, roots,
seasonal fruits, fish, eggs, soft goat cheese, meat and wild herbs.
No tomatoes, no peppers, no cucumber —
those arrived centuries later.
What remained is cleaner, more alive,
and rooted in what Crete actually is.
This is the foundation of what is known today
as the Mediterranean and Aegean diet —
one of the healthiest eating traditions in the world.
And it was already here.
What you cook today is not a reconstruction.
It is a remembering.
From the Minoans we inherit not only nourishment,
but a way of being —
where food is sacred,
simple,
and waiting
to be remembered in our hands.
Cooking together
The food is prepared slowly,
in connection with everything that was gathered.
Eleni opens her kitchen and shares the way food has been prepared and lived here —
with her hands,
with patience,
with the pleasure of making something real.
You cook together:
kneading,
stirring,
tasting,
laughing.
Your senses are fully in it —
the smell of herbs,
the warmth of the fire,
the texture of the dough under your fingers.
Sotiris brings the stories when they naturally arise —
Minoan culture,
the mythology of the land,
what this place has held.
Marieke holds the flow of the group,
sensing the rhythm
and creating space for whatever wants to happen.
You leave with more than a cooking experience.
You leave with the knowledge of how to make this food yourself — recipes,
techniques,
and a connection to a tradition that you can take home
and share anywhere in the world.
What you make together,
you taste differently.
The Minoan inspired Menu
Depending on the season and what we discover together,
the meal may include:
a Welcoming Treat upon arrival
Fire-cooked Meat or Poultry
or, for vegetarian / vegan groups:
Ancient grain dishes
Trahana
— fermented wheat with milk, slow-cooked with herbs
or Bulgur,
infused with local wild herbs
fresh seasonal Salad with Garden Greens
Polisporon
Slow-cooked legumes with nuts, dried fruits and local honey
All ingredients are locally sourced.
The meal is prepared together as part of the experience.
We are happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan or other dietary needs —
just let us know in advance.
Included Drinks:
Wine (1 litre per 4 people) · Water · Seasonal fresh lemonade
Optional Add-On:
Live music with ancient Greek instruments.
Ask us about availability when you book.
A deeper layer
The locations you move through are not just practical.
The olive tree that has stood for over 1,300 years.
The wheat circle.
The hearth fire.
These elements carry deep meaning in the tradition of this land —
and in the ancient world,
they were each connected to a Goddess:
Athena at the olive tree.
Demeter at the grain.
Hestia at the fire.
At each place, there is a moment.
Sometimes a spoken Hymn.
Sometimes a short story.
Sometimes just a breath and the smell of the earth.
Nothing is required.
Everything is offered.
The day invites you to feel —
not to perform.
Who this is for
This experience adapts to the group.
Families
with children are very welcome —
the discovery trail,
the ingredient hunt,
the garden
are all naturally engaging for children,
and the cooking is hands-on enough to keep everyone involved.
Children under 5 years join for free.
Children 5 –13 years: special family pricing — see below.
Adult groups
often move more slowly, with more space for conversation and the deeper layers of the day.
Incentives
This experience works beautifully as a team-building day —
grounded, creative and genuinely different.
Each group finds its own rhythm.
Practical Information
Duration
6–6.5 hours
Group Size
4–14 participants
(more upon request)
Price
Adults (13 + years) €310 p.p. incl. 24 % VAT
Children 8-13 years €232 p.p. (75% of adult price) incl. 24 % VAT
Children 5-8 years: €155 p.p. (half price) incl. 24 % VAT
Children: 0-5 years: free
Minimum Booking
€700 (private experience) incl. 24% VAT
Location
Xirosterni, Apokoronas (Crete)
Languages
English / German / Greek
Upcoming Dates & Time-Periods
The experience is available as private experiences
and can be arranged for couples, families or groups.
All around the year available
In case of weather, there is a beautiful indoor space available.
Check Booking & Cancellation Policy below
Booking & Cancellation Policy
Reservations for the Minoan Table – Treasure Hunt & Cooking Experience must be made at least 4 days in advance.
To confirm your booking, a 30% prepayment is required. Your reservation is secured once the prepayment is received and you receive a confirmation email with full details.
Cancellation & Changes
Refund Window
You may request a full refund of your 30% prepayment within 14 days
of making your booking.
After 14 Days from Booking
The 30% prepayment becomes non-refundable.
Rescheduling
If you are unable to attend, you may request to move your booking to a new date, subject to availability.
Late Bookings (Within 14 Days of the Experience)
For bookings made within 14 days prior to the experience, the 30% prepayment is non-refundable from the moment of booking.
Important Note
We prepare each experience with care, sourcing fresh local ingredients and organizing the journey in advance. This policy allows us to hold the experience with integrity for all participants.
In case of force majeure (such as extreme weather or unforeseen circumstances), we will offer you the option to reschedule your experience.
Contact
For any changes or requests, please contact us at:
5d@luminous.school
