CreteTravel

Our View

Artemis Studios is blissfully set away from the Samaria Gorge entrance, on the outskirts of Agia Roumeli and 50m from the pebble beach, the family-run Artemis has 12 self-catering studios accommodating up to five persons. Agia Roumeli is much more than the exit of Samaria Gorge, discover it.

A place of calm and friendliness ... a place to forget the world.

Agia Roumeli is so much more than the exit of Samaria Gorge and most visitors don't stay longer to explore this lovely area. They don’t know what they’re missing!

Agia Roumeli is spectacular and unique, nestled between breathtakingly high and wild mountains, bordered by a long beach of fine pebbles leading into crystal-clear turquoise waters in which to wade and splash with the deep blue Libyan Sea stretching out before you to the horizon. A place to truly relax and switch off the outside world. Walking and hiking trails traverse unspoilt and protected nature and lead to the Samaria Gorge National Park or historical ruins.

It is truly possible to spend weeks discovering all this beautiful area offers, or relaxing into its slow charm, and our best option for accommodation is the family-owned Artemis Studios.

Artemis Studios is blissfully set away from the Samaria Gorge entrance (therefore it is a quiet place) on the outskirts of Agia Roumeli and is only 100m from the pebble beach. It offers 12 self-catering studios, each accommodating up to four people.

The Viglis family offers guests a warm and gracious hospitality and has an intimate, detailed knowledge of the area as the family originates from the village of Samaria. They also offer one of the best organised activities in the area: Samaria Experience.

The delightful and tastefully decorated large studios, with stylish wood furniture and quality fittings, are quietly positioned and away from the main tourist route into Samaria Gorge and the ferry landing.

Each air-conditioned studio is suitable for 2-4 persons and has a living-room with an attractive dining corner. It has a pretty, built-in kitchenette with a practical work bench, a shower/WC, and one or two balconies. A wooden staircase leads to a sleeping gallery with either one double bed and one single bed or two built-in double beds, depending on the unit.

Each kitchen is equipped with refrigerator, cooking hobs, kettle, frying pan, dishes, glasses, and cutlery.

Small groups are welcome and there is a shaded outdoor veranda under pine trees located a few minutes’ walk away where small workshops (yoga, for example) could be run.

Why We Like It

- Agia Roumeli is a small, secluded and calm village located 56km south of Chania Town, on a wide half-moon bay at the exit of the Samaria Gorge.

- Don't miss the pleasure of tasting the delicious food at the Viglis family's Artemis Restaurant. Local ingredients and traditions. Dishes cooked in clay pots in the wood oven are particularly worthy.

Good to know

- The best view is the corner room on the second floor with a great sea view!

- The only way to reach the village is either on foot through the Samaria Gorge or the coastal paths or by ferry from either Chora Sfakia via Loutro or Paleochora via Sougia.

- You could enjoy delicious food at Artemis Restaurant with 10 % discount.

The Studios

Artemis Studios offers 12 delightful and tastefully decorated large studios.

Each studio is suitable for 2-4 people (max. 5 people, but not ideal) and has a living-room with an attractive dining corner. It has a pretty, built-in kitchenette with a practical work bench, a shower/WC, and one or two balconies. A wooden staircase leads to a sleeping gallery with either one double bed and one single bed or two built-in double beds, depending on the unit.

The studios have excellent interiors of stylish wood furniture and quality fittings with individual air-conditioning.

Each kitchenette is equipped with refrigerator, cooking hobs, kettle, frying pan, dishes, glasses, and cutlery.

Eating

It has a pretty, built-in kitchenette with a practical work bench so you can prepare your own breakfast and small meals.

Breakfast (extra charge) is available at Artemis Restaurant.

The owners of Artemis Studios have their own family-run restaurant at Agia Roumeli as well. The Artemis Restaurant offers traditional Cretan food and specialties such as local goat and lamb meat from the mountains.

Roussos Viglis, the owner, follows old recipes from this region and his specialties are prepared with skill and patience using hand-formed clay pots in a wood oven or over an open fire.

Whenever the weather conditions allow, they also have fresh fish from the Libyan Sea. The fish soup served is much appreciated and brings the mouth-watering smell of the sea right to your table.

Kids

Kids are welcome at Artemis Studios.

Children up to 2 years old stay for free.

Studios are spacious enough to accommodate up to 4 people.

Children need to be supervised at all times as there is a steep staircase that reaches the open gallery-style bedroom from the ground floor.

Activities

Agia Roumeli is peaceful, small, and feels like a village somewhere ... nowhere. It is located between the ravishing blue Libyan Sea and the steeply rising mountains at the exit of Samaria Gorge and is built on the ruins of ancient Tara, once famous for its oracle and destroyed by an earthquake in 66 AD.

Tarra was a small but independent city and cut its own coins depicting a wild goat's head and arrow on one side and on the other, a bee. It was a great religious centre with temples to Apollo, flourishing in the Roman period. Legend has it that when the Romans discovered the temple of Vritomartis, protector of flocks, they dedicated it to their corresponding goddess, Roumilia. Later, when Christianity prevailed, she was renamed St. Roumilia, or Agia Roumeli.

A great destination for relaxing on the pretty beach of fine pebble right by the village, enjoying the clear sea and the dramatic mountain backdrop. One can have this lovely beach more or less to oneself both before noon and in the late afternoon. In the midday hours, it is shared with the Samaria Gorge walkers, but the beach is long and within just a few minutes’ walking distance there is peace and quiet.

For those who want to dive or snorkel, there are cliffs and rocks at the western end of the beach. Gorgeous, pristine beaches are hidden away by the mountains west of Agia Roumeli. Due to the cliffs, these beaches can only be reached by boat or strenuous hiking and are rarely visited by anyone. Artemis Studios can assist you to approach them with a boat trip, if the circumstances allow it.

To the east, one can walk along the shore following a coastal path to the ancient Byzantine chapel of Agios Pavlos. This is the spot where St. Paul is said to have landed on Crete on his voyage to Greece. Further on, the path reaches Marmara Beach, the village of Loutro and, further still, Hora Sfakion. This is approximately a 7 hour walk from Agia Roumeli. From Loutro and Hora Sfakion, one can use the ferry to get back to Agia Roumeli.

Agia Roumelli is at the southern end of the Samaria Gorge. If you wish, you can easily hike the last section the gorge to the famous narrow point called "Portes".

Please have a look and book the 4-day programme to discover Samaria and Agia Roumeli, its nature and customs.

The nearby Loutro is the only natural harbour on the south coast of Crete. Loutro is peaceful - it is small and feels like a village even if 95% of the people here in the summer are visitors. Really, Loutro is a place to let days flow by as they will. When you meet people whose poetic utterances appeal – converse. When striding rocky paths is the urge – proceed. When the water beckons - shout back, get in. Eat, relax, enjoy.

At nearby Marmara Beach is the exit to Aradena Gorge. Walk through the gorge and, if you dare, you can also go bungee-jumping.

Or maybe you are a bird lover? Read more about bird watching.

You can also take the ferry into Sfakia (Chora Sfakia or Sfakion) and spend a half hour or a few hours there for a change of scene (be sure to check ferry schedules first).

A great option to explore perhaps some of the best beaches in Crete by sea is with a Sea Kayak. More information here.

Find more activities in Chania region, here!

House Rules

Check-in:
Check out: 12.00 pm
Minimum Stay: 3-7 nights, depending on the season.

Payment Policy: -

Cancellation Policy: -

MHTE: -

How To Get There

Agia Roumeli is a small, secluded village located 56km south of Chania, on a wide, half-moon bay at the exit of the Samaria Gorge.

By Air
From April through October there are direct charter flights to Chania (25 km from the hotel) or to Heraklion airport (143 km). Tickets can be bought in advance for almost all flights via our partner website.

Important
The only way to reach the village is either through the Samaria Gorge or by ferry from Chora Sfakia, Loutro, Paleochora and Sougia.

The more adventurous (and lucky) visitors could walk the path from Sfakia to St. Roumeli (7 hours). The picturesque village of Agia Roumeli provides all basic amenities, such as taverns with traditional food, rooms for accommodation, cafes, mini market, internet access and telephone.

The company ANENDYK runs a regular boat and ferryboat service on the South coast of Crete connecting the villages of Hora Sfakion, Loutro, Agia Roumeli, Sougia, and Paleohora.

The timetable is limited in the winter months but becomes a daily service at the beginning of April. Once Samaria Gorge opens to the public (generally at the beginning of May) the line Hora Sfakion – Loutro – Agia Roumeli and back runs about 2 -3 times a day. The route Paleohora – Sougia – Agia Roumeli is available once a day; starting from Paleohora in the morning and returning from Agia Roumeli in the afternoon.

The exact times as well as current ticket prices can be checked either on the company's website or by phoning the company in Hora Sfakion +30-2825091101 or on our own website.

The travelling time between Agia Roumeli and Hora Sfakion is about one hour and slightly longer between Paleohora and Agia Roumeli. The journey offers superb views of the wild Lefka Ori mountains and the coast.

Please note that the service may be delayed or cancelled if there are adverse weather conditions.

If you want to bring your car to the village, it is possible to take it by ferryboat from Hora Sfakion and Paleochora. However, you will not need a car in Agia Roumeli, so there is no need to rent a car just to get to the ferry departure point.

Why not simply take the bus from the North coast to Hora Sfakion? The buses are reliable and safe. You will find the timetable information for the district of Chania here.

You can also get to Paleochora or Sougia by car, bus or taxi, but bear in mind that there is only one boat a day - early morning - going to Agia Roumeli.

As we have mentioned, maybe the best way to access Agia Roumeli is on foot.

Because of the historical significance of Agia Roumeli, the village is accessible by numerous footpaths and trails. The best known is through Samaria Gorge and is easy enough if you if you are properly prepared for the 16 km hike.

Another route is via the ancient path which links the plateau of Anopolis to Agia Roumeli. You can reach Agia Roumeli in about three hours from the hamlet of Agios Ioannis. This is without doubt the most beautiful coastal walk in the whole of Crete.

Another easy path is the coastal path from Hora Sfakion, via Loutro and Agios Pavlos - this delightful walk takes about seven hours.

There are other ways to reach Agia Roumeli on foot as well. From Sougia, across the mountains from Omalos via Katsaromoura. However, these are best left to very experienced and fit hikers. It can be extremely difficult to navigate these areas, so we recommend that all hikers are accompanied by a local guide.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through CreteTravel.com

Facilities

Dining: The Kitchen is equipped with refrigerator, cooking hobs, kettle, frying pan, dishes, glasses and cutlery in order to prepare your own meals

Internet Access: WiFi access

Swimming Pool: Not available

Spa Treatments: Not available

Disabled Access: Not suitable

Pets: Not allowed

Languages Spoken: Greek, English, French, Italian, Swedish

Parking: Off site parking is provided