Villa Epidote

Villa Epidote enjoys a wonderful position just above the fabulous Falasarna Beach on the west coast of Crete. It is a fantastic location where you will totally relax. You can easily explore Crete’s other amazing beaches and head to Kissamos or Chania for entertainment and fabulous dining opportunities.
 
With its fabulous array of flora and fauna varieties, the enchanting Falasarna is a wonderful paradise beach with glistening white sand and crystal clear water. There are several companies offering watersports including Falasarna Activities which offers wakeboard and jet ski tuition. At the northern end of the beach, there are ruins of the ancient Grecoroman city of Falasarna. Falasarna actually consists of five beaches with the main beach called Pachia Ammos. Livadi is another of the long beaches, a good choice for snorkelling. Livadi is surrounded by important wetlands with ponds and many birds.
 
Like Falasarna, Elafonisi has also been named one of the world’s top beaches. It is connected by a sand bar to an island nature reserve with pink sands, wildflowers and unusual rock formations. There is no shade on the island but there are delightful little coves and pockets of sandy beach as well as being home to more than one hundred rare plants including summer sea daffodils and winter-flowering Androcymbium rechingeri. You may even see rare loggerhead sea turtles and you will definitely enjoy picture-perfect sunsets. Elafonisi is often featured on postcards, combining its turquoise waters with its pink sand and lagoon.
 
On the Gramvousa peninsula, in the protected ‘NATURA’ area of Balos Bay, Balos’ glistening white sand, rare species of flora and fauna and turquoise sea are incredible. It is a brilliant beach for families with idyllic scenery and shallow water that will meet every expectation to the fullest. Beyond the rocks at the boundaries of the lagoon, the water is deeper and ideal for snorkelling. Eleonora falcons, shags and cormorants nest in the caves and the area is a shelter for protected monk seal and loggerhead sea turtles. You will think you are in the Maldives or somewhere as it is so beautiful. Balos can be reached by car or you can take a boat trip to the beach from Kissamos. North of Balos, in Cape Korykon, there are remains of the small Roman town of Agnio with the temple of Apollo and the picturesque chapel of Agios Sostis.
 
The buzzy tourist resort of Kissamos, on the edge of the Gramvousa peninsula is within easy reach. Kissamos is also known as Kastelli Kissamou in reference to the former Venetian fortress that used to dominate the town. Kissamos enjoys many tavernas, beaches and plenty of shops. Surrounding the town are fertile olive groves and vineyards. The main beach is Mavros Molos which is sprinkled with trees, sunbeds and parasols. The Archaeological Museum of Kissamos is located on the main square, Stratigou Tzanakaki, boasting an impressive collection of local discoveries from a wide range of historical eras. A little further north of the main port of Kissamos is the quaint, colourful Old Port of Kastelli Kissamou which is brimming with brightly coloured fishing boats, a photographer’s dream.
 
Further along the coast from Kissamos is the lively resort of Platanias. Platanias is a large tourist resort which boasts electric bars and nightclubs so if you are looking for a buzzy night out you can head there. Next comes the lively Agia Marina where you will find a gorgeous beach, glorious sunsets and excellent feasts at its many restaurants.

Almost 60km from the villa is the charming and picturesque Old Town of Chania. Though further away it is worth the trip. Its atmospheric 14th century Venetian harbour, old port, narrow, cobbled shopping streets, colourful bougainvillea and waterfront restaurants make this a top-notch evening out. The views are breathtaking, especially at sunset with the Venetian lighthouse in the background. You can walk along the harbour wall to the lighthouse.
 
Samaria Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe at 16km which would take roughly six hours to pass along the whole gorge. Otherwise, you can drive to Chora Sfakion and take a boat to Agia Roumeli and walk a few kilometres at the end of the gorge. The Imbros Gorge is also very beautiful and takes approximately two hours. You can combine this walk with swimming in Fragokastelo Beach.

Read more about Chania

Head to the West side of Crete to find some of the best beaches and most charming villages in the island. Indulge yourself by visiting the unique Balos lagoon and jumping into its turquoise waters, or have a truly Cretan dining experience in one of the many tavernas by the sea and taste the delicious seafood on offer.

Find more about Chania and the rest of the Southernmost island in Greece with our travel guide below.

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How to reach Chania

There are two ways to reach Chania: either by flight or by ferry.

By plane: Chania Airport (CHQ) is only a 20 minutes ride away from central Chania. During the summer months, frequents overseas and domestic flights are performed. In most of the cases, there are available buses that connect Chania city and most of the villas. You can also hire a car from one of the many rental companies at the airport, or alternatively get a taxi to bring you right to your doorstep.

By ferry: If you choose to do an island-hopping trip and use the ferry as a method of transportation, then the closest port is in Souda, only 8km from the centre of Chania. Only ferries from Piraeus in Athens or Heraklion in Crete. Heraklion port has a wider choice: you can also take a ferry from other Greek islands like Santorini, Mykonos or Paros, but you will have to take a longer bus ride to reach your villa. You can easily book your ferry tickets using the link below or the booking engine.

Book your ferry tickets to Crete here >>