Holidays in Kamilari

An introduction to Kamilari

Giving you the best of coast and countryside … and, some would say, the best of Crete … holidays in Kamilari are totally tranquil, idyllically idle. Ditch the watch – this place is timeless. Forget the glad rags – Kamilari holidays range from rustic to stylish simplicity.

An archetypal Cretan village, its narrow streets clamber up a steep hillside, colourful cascades of bougainvillea tumbling over whitewashed walls. There are just a few shops, a pair of tavernas and a couple of kafenions – where the local men spend hours over a game of backgammon, an ouzo and a plate of olives. And like many an island village, the calendar is littered with local festivals – celebrating everything from saints' days to the grape harvest and raki … the island's firewater. Unlike many an island village, the views from Kamilari are to die for … the patchwork of fields and orchards that make up the Messara Plain. There's a sandy beach five minute drive away. And exploration within easy reach includes Roman and Minoan ruins, a sprinkling of sleepy villages and several secluded bays.

So where do you stay? Self-catering holidays in Kamilari are in a selection of villas and cottages that are contemporary classics – blending Cretan traditional style with mod-cons like air-conditioning and private pools. Look at the Metochi Cottage for an intimate honeymoon hideaway. Or focus on the Knossos and Phaistos Villas for family houses of character.

But don't leave it till the last minute. Holidays in Kamilari are a select few.

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