In the area

On our website we have collected a wide range of "things to do" or VACATION TIPS, but there is already an overview:

In the area around our holiday villa: explore the originals

Eat - taste and drink : what we tested ourselves and recommend:

Parasia taverna (2km), life music on Saturdays (reservations required), original Greek dishes +++
Bloumosifi taverna (1km) original Greek ++
Thalami restaurant ( Fish - on the waterside at Almyrida) ++
Elia & Thyme (pimped fish dishes - on the waterside at Almyrida) +++
Monica's (Gavalianos Cafenion in Gavalochori) we find the best and most recommended +++
Kolymbos taverna (Kalamitsi Alexandrou) 3km at the local square- nothing fancy but original +
Lemonadiko taverna ( mountain village of FRES) 30min - very original and not expensive +++
drinks at Kali Kardia (good harts) at the square of Vamos. (1km)
other hints a little further away but very recommended ; our favorites

Nature, sport and exercise

Our holiday villa MAQUIS is located in the middel of the POKORONAS province and this is know for its green nature as a result of the water coming from the "LEFKA ORI" mountains.

In the last couple of years many walking track have been marked in the immediate area. You can buy a folder in one of the tourist shops or just request us and we will send it to you. Here is the Facebook page Discoveronfoot

Myself I am a nerdy bicycle fan and I established many road tracks for you, both mount bike as road bike (without a lot of traffic), and there a many bicycle rentals in the area.
Yoga is a good way to relax and fully take in the amazing surrounding. On our plot we have established a special YOGA area for you with an amazing view. Many YOGA teacher are active in the area and they offer private lessons like the HOLON YOGA institute in the center of VAMOS.
Are you interested in organized events, just walk by the tourist office off VAMOS, they have a portfolio of activities and are very happy to help you out ( also see the information folder at our villa)
Surely not to be missed is WATERFUN
- Almirida (10min) has the best sandy beach for kids with a long laguna. Here is also a watersportsclub with SUB's, canoes of catamarans for rent. Or rent a little motorboat at Beanie . For the nerds, they can contact the Omega divers for diving (ref : Elephant cave)
- At just 20min drive there is the beautiful sweet water lake of KOURNAS, you can rent a pedalo of SUB and have a little lunch. From there it is just a few minutes from GEORGIOUPOLIS that you can visit (quire touristic) or just hangout in one of the cosy beach clubs on the kilometers long sand beach.

Walk the "Samaria" or one of the other GORGES

While being on Crete, many tourist will want to walk down a GORGE. Villa Maquis is well located because most of the gorges are in the area of the "LEFKA ORI", with the most famous one being the SAMARIA gorge. But there are other gorges not so difficult to walk and still as beautiful.

Samaria gorge is the most known (8 hours and for the more experienced hiker)
A beautiful alternative is the IRINI gorge (3 hours) and evenly beautiful or very close is the IMBROS gorge

Culture, heritage and cities

Crete is a mix of cultures because of the different occupations in the past. But you can still find settlements of the origin of the Western civilization - the MINOAN civilization (Knossos and Phaestos) but also of the Romain and OTTOMAN empires.

APTERA site in Kalyves with a small but beautiful amphitheater.

Why not visit a monasteri- AGIA TRIADA near the airport of CHANIA or ARKADI Monasteri near Rethymnon.
VAMOS turns into the center of JAZZ during the month of July, at different locations in the area renovated JAZZ artist from Crete, Greece and alll over the world are performing.
City trip to CHANIA (30min) or RETHYMNON (30min) surely is a must (see our website for a detailed report)
Close to our villa OLD OLIVE FACTORY (VAMOS) and the local museum of GAVALOCHORI.

The most beautiful beaches of Crete.

The most amazing beaches are located in the West side of Crete. Our holiday villa is well located in the area a-of CHANIA to visit these in a day trip.

Elafonisi beach - is a natural laguna and peninsulawith Crystal clear waters and amazing nature (2.15h)
Balos Beach - idem, shorter (1,5u) but more difficult to reach by road, so we recommend taking the boat or ferry from Kissamos.
Kedrodasos - a magnificent original piece of nature - nude beach (2,15h)
Seitan Limani - devils port haven- near Chania

Practical things and shopping

In VAMOS (1km) you can find all the basics:

Farmacy
Doktor or medical center - 24/7 presence.
Warm bakery
John the English butcher
different little shops

In Xirosterni there is a small shop on the corner.

For the big grosaries we usually drive over to Kalyves (10min)

vegetables Pripis at the corner
butchers (on the way to Synka)
supermarket SYNKA

CHANIA

Crete has 3 major cities, in the East Heraklion ( capital ) in the middle RETHYMNON and in the East : CHANIA.

A city trip to one of the most charming and picturesque cities CHANIA or RETHYMNON is a must. Take in some of the Greek culture in one of the many musea of in the archeological sire of APTERA (20min), or visit an orthodox monastery on AKROTIRI are one of the many things to do.

Our holiday home Villa Maquis is located in the middle of CHANIA and RETHYMNON both at 30 min drive. In both cities you will find a nice mix of cultures: more details you will find on our website here below:

Chania

The region APOKORONAS and VAMOS

The APOKORONAS is an ideal area for walking and discovering nature, but also to walk down in one of the many gorges known by hikers.

Our holiday home os located on rural Crete at 1,2 km from the typical Greek village VAMOS the center of the Apokoronas area. VAMOS has a typical center and many tourist are dropped here for a discovering walk through the car free center. Around the village square you will find several small cafenions and restaurants. Vamos was the capital of the Turkish occupier so many buildings still refer to that.

Location of the holiday home.

In between VAMOS and KEFALAS, at the end of a typical Cretan road, a gate opens to our 4900m2 plot. The villa has a surface of 280m2 and is privately located without immediate neighbors.

Positioned on a HILLTOP our villa offers breathtaking panoramic views both on the White Mountains (LEFKA ORI) and the bay of SOUDA and the Agean sea.