— ORANGERY VALLEY —
ABOUT
THE SETTING
The beautiful island of Crete is located at the southernmost point of Europe and lies between three continents. The visitor in Crete will encounter rare diversity and surprising variety in the landscape. The rocky wild mountains give way to fertile valleys, luscious green plains, stretches of unspoiled coastline, rugged but fruitful countryside and tropical sandy beaches with emerald green waters.
The island is full of gorges and ravines, the most important of which is Samaria Gorge which is also a national park. Wetlands and rare types of plants and birds await visitors to the island. All of Crete is dotted with antiquities, archaeological sites, museums and Byzantine churches. It offers hundreds of beaches with beautiful sand. The most organised beaches are located in the north of the island where the modern hotel resorts are situated, while the most unspoiled beaches can be found in the south facing the Libyan Sea.
The western part of the island (Chania Prefecture) is very green with noticeably diverse landscapes and long beaches stretching out to the north, west and south. The same prefecture boasts the grand White Mountains or Lefka Ori (2004 m). Some of the most beautiful beaches of this prefecture are Falasarna, Kedrodasos, Balos and Elafonisos. Crete offers a large variety of night life, festivals, rich and delicious local cuisine, an abundance of fish, quality local wines, athletic facilities, hiking, sailing and winter sports facilities on the Omalos Plateau.
THE LOCATION
The Orange Grove Valley (or in Greek Koilada toy Portokaleona) of the Chania Prefecture, located in the Lake Agia area on the way to the Omalos Plateau in the White Mountains or Lefka Ori (which is also the entrance to the Samaria Gorge). It is an area of outstanding natural beauty protected by NATURA 2000.
THE ESTATE
The estate on which the farmhouse is situated is in a green haven of 60 hectares with 2500 organically grown orange trees and is 13 km from the town of Hania. The Keritis River runs next to the estate, which springs from the White Mountains or Lefka Ori and flows to Platanias (a well-known seaside resort). Lake Agia and its wetland is just 1 km away. The estate has 2 wells, fruit trees, an organic vegetable patch and foot paths. It is enclosed by a stone wall and secured with iron doors. There are 2 permanent staff members who look after the estate and the farmhouse and wait on its visitors.
THE FARMHOUSE
The farmhouse is a one-storey building with a surface area of 140 m2.
It includes 2 bedrooms, a large living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a swimming pool.
A courtyard typical of Cretan houses forms the entrance and connects with the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom. The living room is 15 m x 6 m = 90 m2 and can easily host an additional 2 beds.
On the other side of the living room are the bedrooms, private garden and swimming pool which is approximately 25 m2. An umbrella, pool chairs and sun beds are available around the pool and the private area outside the bedrooms. There is access to the pool from the living room and the kitchen too.
RESIDENCE APPLIANCES
APPLIANCES
• fridge
• electric stove
• oven
• dishwasher
• washing machine
• satellite television
• internet access
• full set of home utensils
LIVING ROOM
• 2 couches
• 2 armchairs
• dinning set with a large table and 8 chairs
• fireplace
• 2 air conditioning units
BEDROOMS
• 1 double bed and
• 2 single beds
• large wardrobes
• dedside tables with lights
SWIMMING POOL
• umbrella and pool chairs
• sun beds
• divan
• 2 tables
• outdoor shower
The whole house is covered by a traditional roof. The garden in the entrance has a table with chairs for breakfast. Under the tall trees outside the house, there are 3 tables with benches and chairs for barbecues, a covered outdoor area (thatched roof) and a well.
GALLERY
THINGS TO DO
VILLAGES
-
Agia: lake and wetland with rich vegetation and rare birds. Offers coffee shops, restaurants, a supermarket, petrol stations and a bus stop (2 km)
Alikianos: has a health centre, bank, police station, post office and a
Citizen Service Centre (6 km)
Platanias: the largest and nearest tourist beach resort with a buzzing night life (5 km)
BEACHES
-
Gerani (13 km)
Tavronitis (19 km)
Kolymvari: fishing village (18 km)
Falasarna: a beach which stretches out as far as the eye can see with golden sand and turquoise water (40 km)
Elafonisos – Kedrodasos: a beach with pink sand, listed as a reserve (58 km)
Paliochora – Koudoura: a boat is available for transportation to beautiful Gavdos, at the southernmost tip of Europe (57 km)
Sougia (57 km)
Chora Sfakion – Loutro: exceptional route through gorges and beautiful mountain
(62 km)
BOAT TRIPS
-
Leaving from Kavonisi harbour, which is located in Kissamos town (Kastelli) at a distance of 30 km
From the estate you can visit historical Gramvousa and the beautiful beach of Balos
Boat trips are also available to the islands of Kythira and Antikythira, as well as to Peloponnisos (Gythio, Kalamata)
MOUNTAIN TRIPS
-
At a distance of 30 km from the estate lies the biggest and most significant gorge in Europe, the renowned Samaria Gorge and the Omalos Plateau of the White Mountains or Lefka Ori (height 2004 m)
ARCHAELOLOGICAL SITES
-
Knossos (144 km)
Polyrrinia (43 km)
Aptera (25 km)
Faistos (200 km)
MUSEUMS
-
Venetian Towns – Museums
Chania old town and harbour, museum
(13 km)
Rethymno - Fortetsa (60 km)
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
(140 km)
GUEST REVIEWS
