Pesach in Kolymbari (Chania), Crete, Greece

1 program here.

Programs here

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Avra Imperial Resort

Greece

An Israeli operator serving the religious and charedi public returns for a tenth year to the Avra Imperial Resort in western Crete. Kashrut is glatt mehadrin, non-gebrokts, no kitniyot, with shmura matzah, under Rabbi Pinchas Leibush Padwa. Rabbi Ari Enkin is named as scholar in residence, and there are kids and teen programs.

Non-gebroktsGlatt meatShmura matzahNo kitniyot

Price: Price on request
Track record: 10 years at this hotel

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Getting there

Where are you flying from?

We found no nonstop flight from New York (JFK) in late April, so plan on one connection. A nonstop would take about 10.5 hours; with a connection allow several hours more.

Chania's flights from London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton), Paris Orly and Tel Aviv are all listed as seasonal; they normally run by late April, but confirm for your dates.

Most North American travelers fly to Athens and take a short connecting flight to Crete, or connect through a European hub such as Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich.

Routes come from each airport’s published route list, checked October 2026. Flight times are estimates from the distance. Airlines change schedules, so confirm before you book (route list we used).

From the airport

Chania International Airport (CHQ): about 45 minutes by carThe airport for western Crete; most flights other than Athens are seasonal.

Late April weather

Daytime highs are around 70°F (21°C) and nights around 55°F (13°C); the sea is cool at about 64°F (18°C), so swimming is brisk.

Good to know

Greece is 7 hours ahead of New York, and the currency is the euro.
A rental car is the best way to see western Crete.
Greek Orthodox Easter is Sunday, May 2, 2027, so the week before is Holy Week; some sites and shops will have shorter hours, especially on Good Friday.
US passport holders can visit for short stays without a visa, but Europe is introducing an online travel approval, so check entry rules for your passport.

Safety and travel advisories

What governments say about travel to this country. Nothing here is this site’s own judgment.

US State Department travel advisory for Greece

Level 1 of 4: Exercise normal precautions

The level is for the whole country, not for the hotel or its neighborhood. Level 1 is the lowest of the four and Level 4 the highest.
Advisory dated October 22, 2025; I read it on October 4, 2026. Levels change, so open the advisory before you book and again before you fly.

Read the US advisory UK government advice

This is the governments’ own wording, not a rating by this site. Israel’s National Security Council also publishes travel warnings for Israelis abroad. Ask the operator what security the program itself arranges, such as guards and entry checks.

Things to do on chol hamoed

Check opening times before you go; some places close or get very busy during the holiday.

Chania Old Town and Venetian harbor
City, about 30 min away
A beautiful harbor with a lighthouse, narrow lanes, a covered market area and waterfront cafes.
Good for kids, teens, couples, grandparents
Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Chania
Jewish heritage, about 30 min away
The only surviving synagogue on Crete, a restored 15th-century building in Chania's old Jewish quarter.
Good for teens, couples, grandparents
Gonia Monastery
History, about 5 min away
A 17th-century seaside monastery a few minutes' walk or drive from the resort.
Good for couples, grandparents
Ancient olive tree of Vouves
Nature, about 15 min away
An olive tree thought to be at least 2,000 years old, with a tiny olive museum beside it.
Good for kids, teens, couples, grandparents
Falassarna beach
Beach, about 40 min away
A long, wide sandy beach on the west coast with clear turquoise water.
Good for kids, teens, couples, grandparents
Balos Lagoon
Beach, about 35 min away
A shallow turquoise lagoon reached by boat from Kissamos or by a rough road and a hike.
Good for teens, couples
Elafonisi
Beach, about 80 min away
A famous pink-tinged sandy beach with shallow water, at the end of a winding mountain drive.
Good for kids, teens, couples
Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete
Nature, about 40 min away
A hillside garden of fruit trees, herbs and flowers with a walking loop.
Good for kids, teens, couples, grandparents

Pesach in Kolymbari (Chania), Crete, Greece

Programs here

Tour Plus

Getting there

From the airport

Late April weather

Good to know

Safety and travel advisories

Things to do on chol hamoed

Chania Old Town and Venetian harbor

Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Chania

Gonia Monastery

Ancient olive tree of Vouves

Falassarna beach

Balos Lagoon

Elafonisi

Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete

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