AMKE Photoxenia aims to support and promote modern photography and is included in the register of institutions of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

The goal of Photoxenia is to create a network of cooperating agencies in Crete, for the consolidation of photographic tourism and the development of the art of photography. These synergies aim to create the ideal conditions for photographers, for a special virtual narrative.

From 2015 to 2022, twenty photographers were hosted in hotels in Crete, as part of the art residency network, Photoxenia, and the photographic book <> was published with the support of the Region of Crete and the auspices of the French Institute of Greece. From 2023, it collaborates with the festival of Niort, Villa Pérochon and the Athens Photo Festival, for exhibition exchanges and hosting photographers in Crete.

Cretan vibes is the brainchild of three generations - my grandma Urania, my mom Stella, and me, Marianna. Yet, our team extends beyond, encompassing the entire family! Today, our farm thrives under the care of the 3rd generation. Our dream is to share the richness of Cretan culture and the virtues of the Cretan diet, offering a familial experience to our guests. We achieve this by providing a 100% hands-on cooking adventure and by guiding you through our family farm, unraveling the mysteries of extra virgin olive oil, Cretan vegetables, and herbs. Our experiential tours are carefully crafted for those who are open to discovering and savoring authentic Cretan recipes passed down through generations. It's an invitation for those who genuinely wish to immerse themselves in the authentic Cretan culture and way of living.

In addition to celebrating our culinary heritage, we are deeply committed to sustainability. We take care of our environment by composting organic waste, using solar energy, recycling, and respecting the natural rhythms of the season. These eco-friendly practices are at the heart of our farm life, helping us preserve the land for future generations while staying true to our values.

EDU Eirini Flemetaki is a lifelong learning institute specialising in the English language and alternative, experiential forms of education based on the culture and traditions of Crete. It organises guided tours of the city of Chania and one-day excursions to southern Crete, offering authentic experiences that allow visitors to get to know the area, whilst also running courses in traditional Cretan cooking and wine tasting through educational workshops on traditional techniques. Its aim is to provide unique learning experiences that combine the language, culture, gastronomy and authentic hospitality of Crete, fostering a meaningful connection between participants and the region and its traditions.

EDU Eirini Flemetaki is a member of the Rural Tourism Cluster epaithros+, as it shares the cluster’s vision for alternative activities that promote health, personal development and well-being through a connection with nature, culture and the joy of creative experiences.

In Sisarcha, a small village at the foothills of Psiloritis, near Anogeia, within the Milopotamos's vicinity, this old stone-built coffee house, which was built stone-by-stone and established by my grandfather Andreas Aerakis (a.k.a. Ninandreas) and my grandmother Eleni Kouvidi, was the nascence of our family, our life and our record career...

Stelios Aerakis, the eldest son of my grandfather, was raised with the principles of the genuine traditional music of Anogeia and generally of Crete. As far as Cretan music and record industry are concerned, he played the laouto and he cooperated with Nikos Xylouris, Psarantonis, Vasilis Skoulas and many other significant Cretan grand masters of the 20th century. In 1974, he established the first record store in Heraklion, while, at the same time, he was the exclusive authorized representative of Columbia Music Records in Crete. In 1976, he created the “Aerakis-Cretan Music Company” record company which evolved into the “Aerakis-Cretan Musical Workshop” record company, sealing the whole record evolution of Cretan music with the quality and the innovation of that time. Stelios Aerakis along with Michalis Aerakis's cooperation, who is his brother and my father as well, forged their own path and they created, beyond doubt, a bright name in the field of Cretan music publication and production.

Eventually, deploying his experience and knowledge, Michalis Aerakis created the highly recognized “Seistron Music Editions” in 2001, combining different discrete elements, old and new, words and notes, music and books. He did his part in building the glorious castle of our tradition. Consequently, in my turn, I picked up the torch passed to me from my family, and I started taking steps little by little into the field of music record industry, in the hope of elevating it to new heights.

Preserving this precious cultural heritage of this field since 2009, I decided to give life back to my grandfather's coffee house and name it “Rural Record Store”, in order to unite all the experiences I gained as a child and as a teenager, as well as to marry the sensations of the traditional coffee house with the music productions which we have in our track record since 1975. Furthermore, this will be the place where our work will be exhibited and various record and book presentations will be hosted. Also, our guests and visitors will have the opportunity to become familiar with the Cretan music and hospitality through our vivid tradition and the flavors of the seasonal local viands, so that the real core of Cretan lifestyle will be revealed to them.     

Future is something from the past.

The “Social Cooperative Enterprise of Collective and Social Benefit of Anogia” with the distinctive title “N-IDEA Cooperation”, is based in Anogia, Rethymno and was founded in November 2017. The company was established by 7 members from the area of Anogia and its main purpose is the collective and social benefit and the sustainable development. The activities aim, among others, at the production of products and the provision of services related to culture, environment, ecology, education, with services of public benefit, the promotion of local products, the preservation of traditional activities - professions, the protection of common goods, the protection and restoration of the natural environment, biodiversity and geodiversity, the strengthening of locally supported agriculture or livestock, the process of reducing waste production at local level, the production and promotion of independent cultural creation and finally, real estate management with social and environmental criteria. “N-IDEA Cooperation” includes infrastructures such as: the Shepherd's House (theme park), a Music Study Area (material digitalization for artists) and the Archeological Information Center (exhibition of data and information from the excavation of Idaion Antro and Zominthos).

Vouryia is an alternative tourism travel agency based in the Attica region, offering authentic agritourism and culinary experiences that connect travellers with the people, traditions and landscapes of rural Greece. Through culinary stories, seasonal activities and hands-on encounters with local producers, guests discover the stories behind the food, culture and heritage. Rooted in the principles of slow tourism, Vouryia encourages meaningful travel by fostering genuine connections with nature, family-run farms, artisans and local communities, creating memorable experiences that celebrate sustainability and Greek hospitality.

We chose to become a member of the epaithros+ Cluster because we believe in the power of collaboration to showcase the Greek countryside, local cuisine and its people, whilst promoting a model of authentic and sustainable tourism.