Discover Chania with Apostolis Panigirakis: Licensed Tourist Guide & Professional Historian

Welcome to Chania through the eyes of Apostolis Panigirakis—your licensed tour guide, professional historian, and local storyteller offering deeply immersive private tours in Crete that blend authenticity, scholarship, and heartfelt hospitality.

Are you visiting Crete and looking for the best walking tour in Chania with a licensed local guide? Experience the beauty, history, and hidden gems of this ancient Venetian port city with Proper Cretan Guide, a trusted travel agency led by expert historian and certified tour guide Apostolis Panigirakis.

Planning a trip to Crete and craving an authentic taste of local culture? Join a Walking Food Tour in Chania City led by Proper Cretan Guide, a trusted travel agency run by licensed guide and local historian Apostolis Panigirakis.

Discover the flavors, history, and street life of Chania’s charming Old Town while enjoying hand-picked tastings, all guided by a local expert.

An Insider’s Journey: Aptera with Apostolis Panigirakis

Meet Your Guide

Apostolis Panigirakis is a genuine Cretan local—born and raised—holding a degree in Contemporary History (BA & MSc in Tourism). With extensive experience guiding private tours around Chania and Crete, his passion for history and deep-rooted knowledge of archaeology make him a standout guide for exploring ancient Aptera.

World War II left an indelible mark on the island of Crete and Greece as a whole, shaping the history and memories of countless families across the globe. Among the most poignant chapters is the Battle of Crete, a fierce and pivotal conflict involving Allied forces—especially the ANZAC troops from Australia and New Zealand—and Axis powers. For history enthusiasts, veterans’ families, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this dramatic period, there is no better way to connect with the past than through an expertly guided tour.

Svake godine milijuni putnika prije potvrde rezervacije u Google upisuju „je li sigurno unajmiti privatnog turističkog vodiča“. Zabrinutost je razumljiva: susrećete neznanca u nepoznatoj zemlji, ponekad mu unaprijed plaćate i slijedite ga izvan utabanih staza. Ipak, privatni vodič jedan je od najboljih načina za autentično upoznavanje destinacije. Ovaj vodič detaljno odgovara na pitanje sigurnosti i objašnjava kako rezervirati s povjerenjem — osobito kada koristite provjerenu platformu poput GuidesFinder-a.

Ako u Google upišete „how to find a local tour guide“, dobit ćete milijune rezultata, ali samo će vas nekolicina provesti od prve ideje do stvarnog susreta s nekim na terenu. Potražnja za autentičnim lokalnim iskustvima nikada nije bila veća: nedavna industrijska istraživanja svrstavaju raznolikost i kvalitetu lokalnih aktivnosti — uključujući vođene ture — odmah iza sigurnosti i troškova pri odabiru destinacije. Ankete također pokazuju da se gotovo dvije trećine putnika pri planiranju itinerara oslanja na lokalne stručnjake.

Ukratko, putnici aktivno traže lokalne specijaliste — a vodiči su spremni dočekati ih. Ovaj vodič točno pokazuje kako povezati te točke.

Photo by Diego F. Parra

When it comes to Croatia, a whole range of very pleasant associations comes to mind. For some, it is the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, others are impressed by its centuries-old sights, and some cannot forget the taste of truffles, pršrut and local wine.

The vast majority of the population of the coastal regions of Croatia works in the tourism industry: in the catering industry, in the hotel business, and also organizes private tours in Croatia. From luxury private tours to private tours to national parks and private city tours - the choice is truly impressive.

Come with us and let's try to figure out together why this truly wonderful land is so popular among tourists from all over the world, leaving such a rich aftertaste for its guests.

Mass tours are gradually becoming a thing of the past, giving way to exclusive tourism arrangements. It can now be confidently said that the most interesting and unusual tours are organized by local travel guides. This is due to their high mobility and flexibility, as well as their willingness to tailor the itinerary to their clients' interests. A colorful story about a place of interest, told by a local guide who is truly passionate about their work, is an experience worth having at least once in a lifetime.

How to find local tour guides?

Allow us to offer you some advice from our experience.

What do you personally expect?

Determine your expectations and match them with your capabilities. Be as honest as possible when answering the following questions.

What exactly interests you? Do you need a historical tour, cultural tour, or a wine tour? Maybe a gastronomic tour with the opportunity to taste new dishes? Or do you seek adventure? Well-planned in advance, of course, which is fundamentally important.

Language is a key factor if you want to get the most out of your interaction with a personal tour guide. Let's face it, you probably don't want to strain your memory trying to recall the German you never quite mastered in school, especially if you are fluent in Spanish, for example. You get the point.

“How far am I willing to go in search of the unknown?” This is an important question that hints at your level of physical fitness. Of course, a personal travel guide is very attentive to their guests' wishes and will take them into account, but there are objective factors such as the length of the route, elevation gain, and so on. Your honest answer to this question will help avoid many unpleasant situations.

How can I find my guides?

So, the main and, believe me, not the easiest part is done: you've determined your desires. Now it will be much easier to find your guide since you already know exactly what you want.

On the GuidesFinder website, you can easily find tourist guides that best match your requirements. Thanks to the convenient filter system on the homepage, based on geography, age, experience, and language, you will have no trouble finding a guide that is perfect for you. Try it right now—find your guide on GuidesFinder and send them a message by clicking on the envelope icon. That's it! All that's left is to wait for a response from the guide to discuss all the details.

Social networks are another good option for finding a private guide. Of course, it will take much more time than the previous option. You will need to subscribe to various travel communities and then explore many different options. But why not, if you have plenty of time and patience?

Good old reviews from friends, acquaintances, relatives, and humanity in general can be effective if your tastes, expectations, and preferences (see the first point of the article) fully match the impressions of, for example, your friend's cousin. What he liked may not necessarily appeal to you.

Of course, we can't overlook Google. It's very simple to type “find a guide” into the search bar and be flooded with information. The downside is that you'll have to sift through this flood on your own, trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. But, as with the previous option, with enough time, effort, and patience, almost anything is possible.

Checking documents and discussing details

Once the second stage is behind you, there is just a little left to do. But this “little” does not mean “unimportant.” Quite the opposite. You need to check the chosen candidate's documents and make sure they have the necessary permits and certifications, especially if activities as a private tour guide require licensing in your chosen destination.

Congratulations! You are on the home stretch. Now you just need to discuss all the details with your chosen private guide, get answers to your organizational questions, make payment or prepayment as agreed, and start packing your bags.

We hope that this simple system of just a few steps will significantly ease your search for the perfect tour guide. Remember to take advantage of the convenient filter on GuidesFinder to get a tour guide that suits you best, whether it’s а city guide personal, a gastronomic tour, a wine tour, or an excursion to national parks.

The world is even wider than you think—time to find out for yourself!

C’est l’histoire merveilleuse de David Alleno, gardien d’origine italienne du très chic cimetière de la Recoleta à Buenos aires. Nous sommes en 1881, Davil Alleno commence à 16 ans a travaillé dans ce cimetière, il est charge de l’entretien et des différents travaux de maintenance. Le jeune David est passionné par son travail et son rêve est d’avoir son propre caveau dans ce cimetière. Il faut savoir que le cimetière de la Recoleta est exclusivement dédié à la bourgeoisie locale car le prix des parcelles est très élevé. David n’est pas découragé, au contraire il se met à economiser sous après sous, peso après peso, se privant même de manger. Après quelques années d’économie, il arrive enfin à réunir la somme nécessaire et s’achète sans tarder une parcelle de terre dans le cimetière, il construit de ses mains un caveau sans l’aide de personne. David n’a jamais fondé de famille et vivait très modestement mais la chance va enfin lui sourire ! Sa grande sœur gagne le gros lot à la loterie nationale et choisi de partager ses gains avec toute sa famille. David reçoit une part des gains et aussitôt s’achete un billet de bateau (et oui les vols Air France n’existe pas encore) destination de Gêne en Italie. Labas il retrouve un sculpteur nommé Achille Canessa, un vieil ami de son père. Il lui confie une photo de lui prise au cimetière et en tenue de travail et le charge de la réalisation d’une statue grandeur réel en respectant scrupuleusement les éléments de la photo . En 1910, David embarque pour Buenos aires avec l’emcombrante statue à son effigie. Une fois arrivé sur place, il informe la direction du cimetière qu’il renonce à son poste de gardien. Peut-être était-il pressé d’inaugurer son caveau ? David rentre chez lui et là c’est le drame, il se suicide! Les circonstances du drame ne sont encore bien connues mais je vous invite à réserver une belle journée de visite avec moi pour connaitre la suite !! maxguideargentine@gmail.com