White River Cottages

Makriyialos, Eastern Crete

Location
The cottages are 1km inland from Makriyialos at the end of a small track, in a secluded valley by Crete's southeast coast.

By Air:
The airstrip at Sitia has been upgraded to accept international flights in summer, but you will more likely fly to Heraklion (or Iraklion), 2 hours (130km) away.

By Boat:
There are daily overnight ferries from Piraeus (Athens) to Heraklion, and less frequent, slower sailings from Piraeus to Sitia.

From Heraklion Airport/ Port
It's a 2-hour (130km) drive via Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra. If you choose not to hire a car you can catch a taxi from Heraklion - note it's best to agree a price before accepting the ride - or catch a bus to Aghios Nikolaos or Ierapetra and a taxi from there.

By Car:
Hiring a car will allow you to explore the area better – Holiday Autos are usually the cheapest, and you can book online.

Detailed directions to the houses will follow when you confirm a booking through our site.

More on getting to Greece and getting around.

Airports:

  • Heraklion, Nikos Kazantzakis 130.0km HER

Other:

  • beach: 1.0 km
  • shop: 2.0 km
  • restaurant: 2.0 km
Save to favouritesPrintMailWhite River CottagesMuch of eastern Crete has suffered from modern development, but there’s one little area – like Asterix’ village in those comic books – which has resisted the invasion of mass tourism. It’s a pine- and olive-studded valley surrounded by rocky peaks, just inland from Makriyialos beach. At the end of this is a small hamlet of old [r:GR034:stone houses], tastefully restored by local man Vangelis Mavrakis, and rented by the night or week to couples and families seeking the ‘real Crete’. They are simply and rustically furnished, with sitting-dining room, kitchen and 1 or 2 bedrooms. A short drive away are the beaches and harbour town of Makriyialos, the gorges of Pefki and Perivolakia, the palm-shaded beach of Vai, and the Minoan palace of Zakros. All in all, it’s a kind of coastal equivalent of [h:GR005:Milia] mountain hamlet in western Crete, along with which it would make an excellent 2-centre introduction to this fascinating and varied island. If only there were more places like these in Greece!

Book this hotelRates from 77EUR

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