Eco
Paradise for nature lovers
Off the beaten track Crete
This small eco paradise is a real Local Hideaway! Maybe not for the true beach babes and boys, but just for the more adventurous and outdoorsy type of person. People also come from near and far just for the restaurant which serves delicious organic gourmet food.
Before I was planning my trip to Crete I had no idea that there were so many mountains on the island. So a Mountain Retreat was not what I was expecting. I couldn’t be more wrong: this Hideaway situated in the White Mountains at the west part of the island, is also listed by National Geographic in the top 25 best Eco Lodges in the world!
Eco Lodge? I hear you think….”goat’s woolly socks; herbal tea; no comfort – not for me!”
Well forget it, what a great place this is and a real recommendation while you are visiting Crete, perfect as a counterpart to a beach stay. Yes, goats are there and they have also herbal tea but the Greek come all the way from Chania for the gourmet food – I’ve been told the best on Crete – and the beautiful, perfect in harmony with the surroundings, decorated houses are more than comfortable. They have for instance orthopaedic mattresses on the beds – best sleep of all the hideaways I have stayed on Crete – a nice bathroom with hot shower and a private deck with beds.
Gourmet Food!
Some history: this is a 17th century settlement which is invigorated at the beginning of the 80s. They started to restore en rebuilt the houses with great precision and care respecting the environment, everything is done ecological. At the end the result was a small complex of houses, all different in size and interior but all with a lot of comfort, hot water, light, balcony or terrace and heating for the colder days. While Milia is situated at 500 metres height it’s much cooler here than at the coast, very convenient in the hot summer months but for the other months you really need the heating.
Old settlement!
Centrally located is the restaurant, also the reception area. It has a very cosy, warm and rustic atmosphere and a terrace with views at the majestic mountains, here you are literally surrounded by beautiful nature. A perfect starting point for hikes, there are plenty of them mapped out, bring a good outfit.
But you can also use Milia as a base to explore the most beautiful beaches of the island at the west coast. Elefonisi for instance, the famous beach of Crete, is only a short hour drive on a very scenic route and you have the advantage to arrive there early before the busses from Chania get there.
As mentioned people come from far and near for the restaurant, well I totally understand why. I had lovely food on the Island of Crete but here it was exquisite. The breakfast alone was cheering you up for the day and the lunch and diner menu daily differs and is prepared with local organic products. It’s an open kitchen so you peak to see all that lovely food prepared. For the near feature there are plans to organize cooking workshops and wine tasting sessions in the basement, a great idea because I was itching to join and cook with all these lovely fresh ingredients myself.
What I definitely like to mention are the kind people who work here. The manager Tassos is very helpful and hospitable and his co-workers are a close team with such a warm radiation… a real community feeling.
I can go on and on about this small eco paradise but it’s better to experience it yourself…It’s a real Local Hideaway! Maybe not for the true beach babes and boys but just for the more adventurous and outdoorsy type of person and also very suitable for kids from the age of four.
Crete, Greece
