Villa Prinolithos will be a perfect hideaway, whether you want to explore Crete and its culture, study the indigenous flora, roam the mountainous villages, contemplate the Venetian architecture or simply relax in a peaceful setting and enjoy genuine local color.

Combining history, culture, a stunning coastline, exquisite cuisine and an unbeatable landscape, Crete, vast in size and spirit, creates an ideal holiday destination, whatever the season. No other Greek island has such a unique combination of attractions, sights & activities and a spectacular scenery full of contrasts and surprises.

The prefecture of Chania, at the westernmost of the island, is characterized by its great natural beauty. With endless sandy beaches, gorges, caves, endemic plants and animals, vast olive and orange groves and a combination of wild landscapes and crystal seas, Crete excites even the most demanding travellers. The mountainous inland hosts small picturesque villages that seem untouched by time, scattered churches, towers and castles. The whole of Crete is a particularly interesting archaeological site and its monuments witness its stormy history: Roman ruins, secluded monasteries, Minoan cities, Byzantine chapels, Turkish minarets are some of the picturesque scenes of Crete. The area is also a real paradise for the active traveller offering a large network of ancient trails and shepherd paths for the walker, a wealth of quiet back roads with stunning views for the cyclist and great underwater sites for the diver. The mild Mediterranean climate, the renowned Cretan diet, the acquaintance with local traditions and the warm hospitality of the Cretan people are always pleasant highlights.

Sights as the famous Samaria Gorge, the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the fascinating Falassarna beach, the villages of the White Mountains and the rugged beaches of the South, are all places you can visit on a day’s tour from our villa.

Villa Prinolithos is located in the province of Apokoronas, the beauty of which is comparable to Tuscany’s landscape, a fertile region lying east of Chania town. The area is known equally for its pretty traditional villages and verdant landscapes as it is for the recent introduction of eco-tourism. The property is located between the picturesque villages of Gavalohori and Vamos, both an excellent example of this, with carefully restored houses, narrow streets and traditional shops and eateries, capturing flavours of the past combined successfully with today's every day life. The whole area offers a variety of options for walkers and cyclists. The villa is less than ten minutes by car from the coastline of Kalives and Almyrida, both of which offer beautiful sandy beaches and water sports as well as the convenience of most facilities you might need during your stay such as supermarkets, bakeries, bank and a choice of tavernas, many ideally situated right by the waterfront. An organized Health Center is found at 1.5km from the villa.

Points of interest in Apokoronas – all at short driving distance from the villa (click on any sight for a slide-show)

Typical villages: though almost all villages in the area have a picturesque, traditional feel, highlighted ones are Vamos, Gavalohori, Maheri, Douliana, Kokkino Horio, Kefalas, Fres, Vafes.

Chapels: Agios Nikolaos in Maza, Panagia in Alikambos, Agios Ioannis in Stylos, Agios Nikolaos in Kyriakosalia, Karydi Monastery in Vamos.

Beaches: Almirida (a small sandy beach, fairly shallow water, nice for kids), Kera (pebble beach, quiet and tiny), Kalives (with 2 nice beaches, the one in the village and a quieter one to the west of the village), Kiani Akti (a quiet beach west of Kalives, with cooler waters because of the river flowing into the sea), Georgioupolis (sandy, open and 9km long, the currents can be strong, so be extra careful and watch children closely), Kera (pebble beach, quiet and tiny).

The lake of Kournas, the largest freshwater lake on Crete, with an interesting flora.

The archaeological site of Aptera, set on an impressive position with panoramic views of the Souda Gulf, with extensive ruins of this ancient Greco-Roman city and with ongoing excavations.