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Cover for about us page filiko tours virginia and nikos

OUR STORY

Two Passions & A Dream

Filiko Tours

Why Filiko

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Virginia horse riding in the sea

The Essence of Filiko Tours

At Filiko Tours, we believe that travel should be more than just sightseeing; it should be an immersive experience that connects you deeply with the place and its people. Our name, "Filiko," meaning "friendly" in Greek, embodies our philosophy. We aim to be more than just a tour company – we strive to be your local friend in every Greek island, guiding you through the hidden gems and authentic experiences that make each destination special.

A Local Friend Experience

Imagine arriving in a new place and being welcomed by a friend who knows all the best spots – the cozy cafes where locals gather, the secret beaches away from the crowds, and the family-run tavernas serving dishes bursting with flavor and tradition. That's the Filiko experience. Our tours are designed to make you feel at home, providing warmth, hospitality, and insider knowledge that transforms your trip into something truly unforgettable.

 

Benefits for Travelers

Choosing Filiko Tours means opting for an experience that goes beyond the ordinary. With us, you're not just another tourist; you're a valued guest exploring Greece's rich culture and breathtaking landscapes with the help of a knowledgeable and passionate local guide. Our commitment to personalized service ensures that every tour is tailored to your interests, making your journey both unique and memorable.

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View of mykonos beach from filiko tours

Why Here

The Significance of Crete

Crete is not just one of Greece's most beautiful islands; it holds a special place in the heart of Filiko Tours. Our journey began in Crete, a land rich with history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Crete was the perfect starting point, not only because of its intrinsic charm but also because of its deep personal connection to one of our founders, Virginia.

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Unique Locations
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Beautiful view of mykonos from filiko tours

Virginia's Family Ties and Hospitality Background

Virginia's roots in Crete run deep. With family ties stretching back generations, she always felt a calling to return to her ancestral home. After years of managing luxury hotels across various Greek islands, including Mykonos and Santorini, Virginia decided it was time to create something truly special. Her extensive background in hospitality and her intimate knowledge of the island's hidden treasures formed the foundation of Filiko Tours.

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Photo of a wild beach Filiko Tours

Why Now

A Personal Mission to Serve and Delight

For Virginia and Nick, Filiko Tours is more than a business venture; it's a heartfelt mission rooted in their own desires and passions. After years of experiencing the bustling city life, they yearned for something more fulfilling and genuine. They wanted to create a space where they could share the hidden wonders of their beloved islands with others, not just as guides but as friends.

 

A Deep-Seated Need to Connect

The founders’ vision for Filiko Tours comes from a deep-seated need to connect with people on a personal level. They understand the joy and fulfillment that comes from exploring a new place with someone who knows and loves it intimately. This desire to foster meaningful connections and share their knowledge of Greece’s most enchanting spots is what drives them.

Creating Joy Through Shared Experiences

Virginia and Nick believe that the most memorable travel experiences are those filled with warmth, authenticity, and personal connection. They wanted to offer travelers the kind of experience they would cherish themselves – one where they felt welcomed, cared for, and truly at home. This personal commitment to making others happy through shared experiences is at the heart of Filiko Tours.

 

Our Vision for the Future

Their journey is about more than just business; it's about spreading joy and creating lasting memories for every guest. Although Filiko Tours started with small, intimate tours in Crete and Mykonos, the vision has always been grand. Virginia and Nick dream of expanding this personal touch to every Greek island, ensuring that every traveler has a local friend to guide them, making their journey as special and memorable as possible.

Our Story

Virginia and Nick’s story is one of passion, dedication, and a shared dream. Virginia, with her deep roots in Crete, always felt a strong connection to her ancestral home. Having spent years managing luxury hotels across the Greek islands, she accumulated a wealth of knowledge and a profound appreciation for authentic hospitality. Her dream was to return to Crete and share the island’s hidden treasures with the world.

 

Nick, a successful CEO of a tech company, found himself yearning for a change after years of city life. The fast-paced tech world had left him longing for a more meaningful and fulfilling pursuit. Together, they envisioned a life where they could combine their strengths and passions to create something truly special.

 

The Inception of Filiko Tours

In 2024, Virginia and Nick made the bold decision to leave behind their established careers and move to Crete. They wanted to create a tour company that was different from the rest – one that offered travelers an authentic, heartfelt experience of Greece. Filiko Tours was born out of this dream, starting with personalized tours in Crete and soon expanding to Mykonos.

 

Challenges and Milestones

The journey was not without its challenges. Building a business from the ground up required immense effort, dedication, and a lot of learning along the way. However, their passion for sharing the beauty and culture of Greece kept them going. Each satisfied customer, each glowing review, and each new friendship formed was a milestone that reaffirmed their mission.

 

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Virginia and Nick see endless possibilities for Filiko Tours. They dream of expanding to every Greek island, offering the same warmth and personalized service that has made them beloved by so many travelers. Their ultimate goal is to ensure that every visitor to Greece can experience the country through the eyes of a local friend, creating memories that last a lifetime.

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Filiko Tours founders Virginia and Nick

They Said About Us...

I went with a few friends and we had a lot of fun. I loved the narrow alleys that we had to navigate and how the clues were setup. We had the guide with us for help if needed but we were really good so we didnt need much :) The little food prizes we had were so tasty but I wanted more! Overall it was a great experience and I'm looking forward to another game next year. Especially if is run by Virginia. Thank you!
Sephiroth, Treasure Hunting in Rethymno Old Town: Pirates Vs Corsairs
This tour was beyond amazing to say the least. Victoria and Nik are the perfect tour guides. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Ask them anything. Very relaxed and not rushed from one spot to the next. The restaurant/food choices are perfect. The walk through and around the shops give you a look into old Crete. There isn’t a single bite that will disappoint with a wonderful treat at the end.
Tianna, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
The food tour was a highlight of our trip. Amazing fresh local dishes and a friendly, informative guide who made me feel like an authentic local. Five stars! A big thank you to Virginia for being so welcoming and an excellent host. I highly recommend this experience to anyone passing through!!
Matthew, Traditional Food Tour in Rethymno
We went on the trip july 2024, and we had a nice walk with Virginia, who took us through several nice Tavernas and bakeries. We tasted several traditionel greek dishes, desserts and wine. Virginia explained a lot about greek traditionens and the history of the city of Rhetymnon. We can highly recommend this tour for those who visit Crete for the first time and those who have a good knowlegde of Crete. Think you from Thomas and Louise, Denmark
Thomas, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
An absolute gem! Virginia took me and rest of the group to local eateries, where we ate delicious Greek dishes and sweets. The insights into local traditions made the experience even richer. This tour is perfect to discover the authentic flavors of Crete. Highly recommended!
Charalampos, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
Me and my husband had a fantastic time on the food tour! The food was delicious and we had a lot of fun too. Thank you for everything Virginia! Highly recommended!
Aggeliki, Traditional Food Tour in Rethymno
Het is een echte aanrader! je gaat naar leuke hotspots voor de locals en proeft daar ook lokaal eten wat door de hele vriendelijke tourguide is uitgekozen. het was super gezellig en je krijgt leuke weetjes te weten.
Teun, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
Superbe visite Virginia est au top elle nous a emmené dans tous les meilleurs restaurants locaux. Nous nous sommes balader au coucher du soleil dans la vielle crête. Foncez une expérience à vivre dans son séjour en Crète. Nous sommes reparti avec des sacs pleins de gâteaux. Merci à Virginia 🥰
Ilona, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
We had this amazing toor with Virginia. It is a 'do it like a local' experience in the most traditional and picturesque parts of Crete.
Virginia is very a friendly person and organised the toor according to our needs.
See you soon again!
Niki, Traditional Food Tour in Rethymno
heerlijke tour. de gids brengt je naar leuke tentjes met smakelijke hapjes! zeker een aanrader! gids was verrassend spontaan en vriendelijk
Sanne, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
got to see different things around the old town, hosts were brilliant
Steve, Treasure Hunting in Rethymno Old Town: Pirates Vs Corsairs
This art tour was perfect. It really showcased the Greek culture. I loved the hands on parts of the tour. The gifts at the end were super nice as well. Totally recommend it!
Jacob, Rethymno Tradition: Lyra, Pottery, Leather, Wood & More Tour
Tour was excellent, great variety of delicious cretan dishes. Virginia was a brilliant guide, lovely and friendly, gave a great tour of the town with loads of interesting information as well went. Highly recommend, was like having an evening out with a friend full of good food and enjoyable conversation.
David , Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
Virginia is a great guide. All the workshops were very interesting and we got to participate in some of them. We also loved the small souvenirs they gave us! Definitely value for money!
Mary, Rethymno Tradition: Lyra, Pottery, Leather, Wood & More Tour
Hele leuke tour gehad met een gids waar de passie en liefde voor het eten van afstraalt. Ze wist ook veel te vertellen over het eten en het heeft ons een goed beeld gegeven van de griekse (kreta) keuken. Zeker een aanrader! Tip: Eet niet te veel van te voren want wij zaten erna pauper vol :)
Charlotte, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
Virginia was such an amazing guide! It was like having a friend in Crete who knew of all of the best local spots. She also was kind enough to give us more recommendations outside of Crete. The food tour was certainly a highlight of our trip!
Lisa, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
The food was amazing! We tried many flavours! It was also the first time I tasted snails and i have to say that I loved them. Virginia is such a warm person and we really enjoyed every minute of the tour.
Dimitra, Traditional Food Tour in Rethymno
C'était incroyable ! Virginia est tellement adorable. Nous avons fait le tour de la ville, tranquille au travers de super adresse choisies avec soins. Nous nous sommes régalés et nous retournons même manger dans les adresses conseillées. C'était tellement délicieux qu'on ne peut pas s'en empêcher. Mon compagnon parle peu l'anglais et elle a fait l'effort de lui parler le plus possible en Français. Un véritable amour, merci beaucoup pour tout Virginia
Marion, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
Diese Tour war großartig und nochmal besser als erwartet! Ich hatte so einen netten Abend mit meinem Tourguide Virginia und den anderen Gästen der Tour. Das Essen war super. Die besuchten Restaurants und Geschäfte waren auf den ersten Blick alle sehr unauffällig - aber das Essen dort kann sich sehen lassen! Ich durfte also die ganzen geheimen Perlen Rethymnos kennenlernen und dort locale Köstlichkeiten probieren. Die Tour war jeden Cent wert - und noch viel mehr! Es fühlt sich an als hätte ich eine Freundin auf Kreta gewonnen. Ich wünsche Virginia und Filiko Tours nur das Beste! Danke, danke, danke für alles!
Laura, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
The food tour was wonderful! Tasted so many delicious dishes and really liked the picturesque alleys we walked. My family and I had an amazing time with Virginia. Highly recommend! 10/10! 5 stars!
McNab, Traditional Food Tour in Rethymno
Mein Guide Virginia war der Hammer. Ein tolles Erlebnis mit leckerem Essen und mega guten Gesprächen! Gerne wieder. Danke dafür🫶🏻☺️
Anne, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
Virginia went out of her way to make this tour special for us. She thoughtfully selected every restaurant and had great variations of food from more unique items to more home style options. The route was easy to follow and avoided some high traffic areas. Virginia not only showed us greek cuisine but focused on Cretean cuisine which I appreciated. The conversation was lovely. I highly recommend this tour!
Angela, Rethymno Old Town: A Traditional Cretan Food Tour
Virginia was amazing super personable and got along with everyone in the group. She really showcased the Greek Culture. The food was delicious and so much of it. Great value for money.
Josefine, Traditional Food Tour in Rethymno