“An agrotourism settlement in the mountains of southern Crete, with rustic cottages, tranquil pools and a great taverna”
The 22 stone cottages are centred around a taverna serving authentic Cretan home cooking, the adjoining main and kids' pools, plus an adults-only pool (for over 16s) in a 'quiet zone'. Popular with local Greeks, Eleonas is also a working farm. They grow their own fruit and vegetables, produce olive oil, and keep goats and chickens. Guests are welcome to help feed the animals, and can also take cooking lessons or learn how to milk the goats and make cheese. It’s a great choice for those searching to escape commercial tourist resorts and urban chaos, and a fantastic set-up for families, who are as warmly welcomed as everyone else. One of our favourite finds in Crete.
Information provided by Eleonas (Crete) on 08/01/2021.
Cleaning and hygiene
Rules and measures in line with the new enhanced health and safety protocols set by the Greek authorities and recommended by the National Public Health Organisation (EODY). Highly visible stations with alcohol-based hand sanitiser plus PPE in reception, restaurant and cafe and in rooms. Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfection of public spaces including steam cleaning for high-touch areas. Additional staff training. Use of PPE. Safety protocol in-room leaflet provided. Linen changed every 3 days.
Common areas
Physical distancing in place throughout.
Food and drink
Restaurant operating with reduced capacity and socially distanced tables. No food from outside the hotel permitted to be consumed on the premises. Room service available at no extra cost. Breakfast 0800-1100; lunch 1300-1600; dinner 1800-2200.
Facilities
Numbers of bathers in the swimming pools restricted, social distancing respected.
Policies
The cancellation terms regarding CoViD-19 for the summer season 2021 are free cancellation. All deposits can be used for future reservations.
Other
Check-in and check-out times extended (1100 and 1500). Cashless payments.
Highs
- Within walking distance of a lovely lake and a dramatic gorge for picturesque hikes
- Ideal for families: cots, and sofabeds in the cottages; a kids' pool; a safe environment for older kids to run free; farm animals to feed and bikes
- We love the newer stylish stone cottages - each with a private plunge pool or hot tub
- A good base for visiting the archaeological sites of Phaestos and Gortys, and the unspoilt beaches of Crete’s glorious south coast
- Exceptionally good value for money
Lows
- Not a lot going on in Zaros, so Eleonas could feel rather isolated and sleepy (a high for some)
- Unless you want to go into Zaros, you'll eat all meals at the 2 tavernas (they are very good but could get repetitive)
- You really need a car to explore the surrounding area, unless you’re a mountain bike fanatic
- The nearest beach is a 30-minute drive away
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Boutique Cottages
- 22 cottages
- Restaurant + bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Closed: 4 Mar 2021 - 24 Mar 2021
- Heated Pool
- Spa Treatments
- WiFi
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Beach Nearby
- Off-street Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
The 22 warm and homely stone cottages are pitched on a hillside amidst beautiful olive groves. Each has a wooden beamed ceiling, terracotta tile floor and traditional Cretan furniture - mainly wooden, with simple one-colour fabrics. Outside, you'll find a small seating area looking out beyond the olive groves to the mountains. Honeysuckle, bougainvillea, roses and vines adds to the feeling of privacy.
Single-storey Stone Cottages have a bedroom, a living area with a single sofabed and open fireplace (logs supplied free of charge), a small kitchenette and bathroom with tub. Mezzanine Cottages are double-height with a wooden mezzanine-level master bedroom and balcony. The Two Bedroom Mezzanine Cottages have a double bed, 2 single beds and space for extra beds in their living rooms. The open-plan single-storey Deluxe Cottages with Jacuzzis have Jacuzzi tubs in their bathrooms and are best suited to couples.
We have yet to see the newer Philippos and Olympia stone cottages - more stylish and each has its own private outdoor heated pool - plus the Deluxe Suite Cottages with Hot Tub - which are great for romance with a private terrace complete with hot tub apiece.
With fresh mountain air and total peace and quiet, we slept extremely soundly. We liked the idea of visiting between autumn and spring, to light the log fire and cosy up for a few days.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Barbecue
- CD player
- Central heating
- Coffee maker
- Cots Available
- DVD player
- Extra beds
- Fireplace
- Fridge
- Hairdryer
- Hifi music system
- Phone
- Radio
- Safe box
- Satellite TV
- Toiletries
- WiFi
Eating
One of the highlights of staying at Eleonas is the food, prepared from mostly home-grown produce. Meals are served at the central taverna, which is popular with Greeks from across the island, and a 5-minute walk from the furthest cottage. You can either eat inside by the log fire, or out front on the stone terrace surrounded by geraniums, with mint scenting the air, and cats idling in the sun.
Breakfast is an impressive buffet spread: freshly squeezed orange juice, homemade yoghurt and cheeses, various types of homemade pita, fritule, freshly made bread, cakes and biscuits, local honey, and homemade jam and marmalade.
Lunch and dinner menus feature authentic Cretan cuisine, and you can have full meals or snacky options. We had delicious katsohiri (homemade goat's cheese), followed by a rich kokkinisto (cockerel stewed in red wine and baby onions), and finished with a small carafe of raki.
Each cottage has a small kitchenette. Upon arrival, you’ll find a welcome carafe of raki, some Greek coffee, Greek mountain tea and a bowl of fruit. The kitchenettes are for preparing snacks and coffee rather than meals, but parents will find them extremely useful. Handily, there are 3 supermarkets in Zaros.
Features include:
- Bar
- Barbecue
- Children's meals
- Coffee maker
- Fridge
- Organic produce
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Vegetarian menu
Activities
- Swim in the pools, then join a cookery demonstration (4-12 people) to learn about local cheese making and how to bake bread, pita and other traditional Cretan dishes
- Walk to Lake Zaros, ringed by eucalyptus and pine trees, and home to fish, ducks and turtles. It’s overlooked by a waterside taverna and a restful café, and there’s a small playground for kids
- Hike up the Gorge of St Nicholas - an easy enough 2-hour walk, following a path and clambering over rocks in parts. Enthusiastic hikers might continue up a steep path to Rouvas Forest and the Church of Agios Giannis. Ask for a map at reception before setting off
- Hire a mountain bike (Eleonas has 20) and wind your way through olive groves to Zaros, a sleepy Cretan village with two churches, a handful of cafes and tavernas, bank, post office and watermill
- Visit Phaestos archaeological site, where the ruins of a Minoan palace date back to 1600BC, or Gortys (13km), which incorporates Greek temples, a Roman forum and amphitheatre, and a Byzantine basilica
- Spend a day in Heraklion on Crete’s busy north coast. Explore the pedestrian-only Venetian-era old town, and visit the excellent Archaeological Museum and the Crete Historical Museum
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Archery
- Cooking classes
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Mountain biking
- Playground
Kids
A lovely retreat for families, with lots of space and rural surroundings. The heated outdoor pool and farm animals are bound to amuse, as are the sandy beaches nearby. All ages are welcome.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
We'd recommend the Cottage with Attic if you're a family of 3 or a 2-Bedroom Cottage for families of 4 or more. If you're 2 adults and 2 kids, then opt for the cottages with private outdoor heated pools (they have 2 single beds and 1 kingsize). All cottages have simple kitchenettes.
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available - request in advance (additional cost).
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
- Baby bedding
- High chair
- Baby bathtub
- Pushchair
- Bottle warming
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
Each cottage has a basic kitchenette (with hot plate, crockery and fridge). The taverna is great for families, serving a kids menu, high tea, half portions and takeaways. There are cafés nearby and a supermarket 1.5km away.
Kids Activities on site:
- Kids pool (heated during shoulder season)
- Main pool (heated during shoulder season)
- 2 soft playgrounds
- Playroom
- Children's DVDs
- Farm animals: goats, rabbits, chicken
- Football court
- Table tennis
Kids Activities nearby:
- Lake Zaros, 1km away, has a big outdoor playground plus fish, ducks and turtles
- Kamihis Farm Experience (5km) - become a farmer for the day, look after chickens, bees and goats, ride the donkey, make cheese and traditional Cretan pies
- The beach is a 30-minute drive away
- There are hiking and mountain biking paths nearby - hire bikes from Eleonas
Families Should Know:
There's a mobile phone signal everywhere in the property. As the settlement is built on a hill, there are a number of steps to be aware of.
Distances:
- Airport: 55 minutes
- Doctor: 20 minutes
- Shops: 3 minutes by car (Zaros)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Eleonas lies on the southern slopes of Mt Psiloritis, 1.5km outside the peaceful village of Zaros, and 42km southwest of Crete’s capital, Heraklion.
By Air:
Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis (45km) lies northeast of Zaros. It is served by daily flights from Athens the year through, and by charter flights from most European capitals in summer. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.
From the Airport
You could catch a taxi, but we'd recommend hiring a car (see below).
By Sea:
Heraklion port lies 42km northeast of Zaros and is served by daily overnight ferries from Athens’ port, Piraeus, on the Greek mainland.
By Car:
To explore the region better, you really need to hire a car - see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Greece and getting around
Airports:
- Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis 45.0 km HER
Other:
- Beach 25.0 km
- Shops 1.5 km
- Restaurant 1.5 km