Onar

Rooms

Onar's subtle design brings out the best in the surroundings by reflecting the natural world as much as possible in its décor. So expect to find wooden beams, brushed concrete floors, natural fibres, splashes of modern art on the walls and colours that, like the turquoise throws and white bedsheets, echo the blue skies and brilliant sand outside. It's simple, but it packs a punch.

There are 14 houses of varying sizes; the 1-bedroom Houses for 3 guests, the larger 2-bedroom Villas for 5 guests, and the newer Dream Hillside Villas, Sunrise Hillside Villas and Privilege Villa. They all have modern bathrooms and private patios plus a living room, kitchenette, fireplace and large picture windows. All have views of the river or sea; Sunrise, Privilege and some of the Hillside Suites have a private pool; the two-storey Family Villa has a large veranda and garden.

The one thing we should highlight is the simplicity of life here: kitchenettes lack ovens (excluding the Family Villa which has a full kitchen), there's no formal reception, and you're a long way from supplies (25km, half of it on a rough track). Each house does have a limited internet connection, satellite TV, a DVD player and a mini HiFi, but keeping in touch with the outside world isn't really the ethos; instead, the desert island feeling means that you really do get away from it all.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• WiFi

Eating

Food at Onar follows the wonderful Greek tradition of eating fresh food bursting with flavour in the shade outdoors. The hotel serves up a delightful a la carte breakfasts which incorporate fresh ingredients, like seasonal fruit, homemade jam, local honey, eggs from the village, olives, feta cheese, traditional cookies and bread.

Nights are spent drinking wine and chatting with other guests beside the fire in the central building. Mediterranean fare is on offer for lunch and dinner, and three-course menus include Greek salad, stuffed tomatoes or peppers, chicken with baked potatoes, meatballs, moussaka, spinach pie and fish on the grill.

The closest taverna is in Vourkoti, about 8km away on an unlit dirt road, so it is easier to eat out at lunchtime than in the evening. The nearest market is in Hora, about 25 km from Onar, and there's a supermarket at Andros port, just across from the ferry.

Each house has a basic kitchenette with a small fridge and the basics to prepare snacks, but note that they don't have cooking equipment.

Features include:

• Chef on request
• Fridge
• Kids' meals
• Kitchenette
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options
• Welcome hamper

Activities

• Relax, relax, relax. Give in to the surroundings and peace and give yourself a break. Sunbathe under the plane trees or wander to the beach - just do the bare minimum
  
• Explore Hora (also called Andros), the island's main town, which hosts summer art events and is home to the distinguished Goulandris Museum of Modern Art
  
• Go hiking. There are some excellent routes, for example from Hora to the monastery of Panachrantos, perched below the falcon-shadowed cliffs 2 hours above the valley
  
• Take a jeep to Vitali beach, one of our favourite beaches in the world, on the island's east coast. It's shingly with exceptionally clear water
  
• Between September and October, ask for a day trip to be arranged to experience either wine pressing, raki distillation or olive pressing
  
• Head to Paleopolis to see the island's highest waterfall (spring only) and, down at sea level, the scant remains of an ancient sunken city
  
• From the nearby village of Strapouries, you can follow a stone walled kalderimi (mulepath) onto the plateau of Mt. Petali, and then cross country to its 1000-metre summit (sometimes shrouded in mist)
  
• Take a boat tour around the coast. Mateo can again suggest fantastic beaches nearby to visit, including one which is often home to migratory Eleonoras falcons - great for bird-watchers. Boats for 5 can be hired without a license, or you can join daily boat trips
  
• With a rented jeep or motorbike, head south to Korthi, visiting the ruined Venetian castle of Paliokastro atop its wind-battered hill; the explore the lush, terraced villages of Korthi's interior. Mateo can mark places of interest on maps for you to find yourself, or arrange a guide if necessary

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Yoga

Kids

We think that Onar is great for children and would make a fab family holiday spot. It might not necessarily have all the mod cons and comforts you'd expect (be prepared to bring them with you – there's no shop nearby for example) but the access to nature is unparalleled and there's a natural swimming pool. Older children and teenagers will love the opportunity to run, swim, climb, explore and hide.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The two-storey Superior Family Villa is the best for families with two bedrooms, sleeps up to 5 (with a sofa bed in the living room), and has a full kitchen with veranda and garden. The slightly smaller Family Villa can also accommodate up to 5 guests. There are plenty of options for families with one or two children. Note that there are no bathtubs.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Hospital: 40 minutes
• Doctor: 40 minutes
• Shop: 40 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Onar is situated at the edge of a large natural park, on the east coast of the island of Andros, the most northerly island in the Cyclades. It's roughly 3 hours east of Athens (1-2 hours by ferry, then about an hour across the island to Onar).

By Air and Sea
Fly to Athens International Airport and jump in a taxi to Rafina port, around 40 minutes away to the east. There are regular daily ferries to Andros taking 2 hours (typically going at 7.30am, 5.30pm and 7.15pm). If you miss the ferry through flight timings, we'd recommend overnighting in Athens and taking the early ferry the next day. You can also fly to Mykonos and catch a ferry from there (taking 2.5 hours). Once you've arrived on the island, it's a good 45-minute car or taxi journey to Onar.

Car Hire
A car is almost essential, both to reach the place and to get around. Be warned, the roads are poor and you will want to factor this in if you're a nervous driver. Onar is at the end of a long and very rough dirt road, about 30 minutes from a tarmac road. You may prefer to rent a jeep or other 4x4. Andros has few car hire companies (most visitors are Athenians who bring their cars with them) but there are a couple of outlets in Gavrio and Batsi, or you can hire a car in Athens or Mykonos and bring it over - see our car rental recommendations.
Private transfers to and from Onar can be arranged for an extra fee.

Island-hopping
Greek Island-hoppers will be glad to hear that Andros is connected by regular ferry services to Tinos (1.5 hours) and Paros (4 hours), in addition to Mykonos.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.