Activities
- The villas' caretakers could help you by providing you with valuable information for different activities and excursions. Please ask for them when you arrive.
- Also, Bleverde Villas offer art retreats that are designed to accommodate beginners and all levels of painting skills. For beginners, no previous knowledge of painting is required. Art retreats in Bleverde are a truly creative and insightful experience, regularly sold outs with frequent repeat participants.
- Gavalohori is a large old village with particularly interesting and well-preserved folk architecture. In this officially protected, traditional villages a lot of interesting buildings can be found, such as the 18th century two-roomed, arched olive oil press, the temples of Panagia and Agios Sergios, the old school and many residences. The village is of historical importance. It is named after the Byzantine family of Gavalodon. In the village, there are remains from the Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish periods, and artifacts found in Gavalochori proof that the village was inhabited in earlier times (Minoan, Neolithic and Roman times). In the village square of Gavalochori, there is a World war II memorial. In Gavolochori you can visit the Historical and Folklore Museum, which is housed in a building from Venetian and Turkish origin and has original stone arches. Here you can learn a bit about the history and the culture of the village. There are items of pottery, coins, costumes and weapons on display. Opening times are Mon-Sat 09.00 - 13.30 and 17.00 - 19.00, and Sunday 10.00 - 13.0 and 17.00 - 19.00.
- The Venetian wells in Gavalochori in the Apokoronas on Crete can be reached about a 1-kilometer walk from the sign in the village that is pointing to all the sights. The narrow road leads uphill until you reach a T-junction. Here you turn left. On the left side (yellow arrow) there is some round structure (unknown but could be Venetian or older) and as you walk on you will see the Venetian wells on your right-hand side. Walk even further any below you can see what looks to be a Venetian (or maybe even Roman?) bridge. We also tried to find the Roman tombs, but without any success. I was told they were built upon and hard to find. We could see some sort of caves (just a couple) in the gardens of two houses which looked like Roman tombs (compared them to the ones we had seen in Argiroupolis) but one of them was used to house chickens, while another had a collection of rubbish in it.
- Visit Manousos Chalkiadakis art labor studio lies between Hania and Rethimno. This studio, where Manousos Chalkiadakis creates his unique ceramics, has over the last few years become, a learning workshop for people interested in ceramic art.
- Explore the White Mountains of Crete and enjoy a wine tasting at one of the best wineries in Crete, even Greece, Manousakis Winery.
- Visit the old town of Chania and explore the whole city with the narrow streets and admire the old buildings with different architectural styles. Visit the maritime-naval museum on the west side of the port and walk along with the port till Arsenali where is situated the Arsenali Centre of Mediterranean Architecture that organizes exhibitions and has a primary goal to promote the Mediterranean arts.
- Rethymno Town is just 38 km away and is another Venetian town worth a visit for its cobbled streets, Ottoman minarets, colorful, harbor and an imposing 16th-century Venetian fortress.
- Swim. Almirida's twin beaches (5km) are sandy and well sheltered, but they can get a bit crowded during Summer; bars and restaurants line the waterfront between them, and there is a diving center. Kalyves (10km) is a larger village with a small bay at its heart and a long beach stretching west.
- If you are looking for more quiet beaches, head west to Falassarna Beach, on the west edge of the island (49km) one of the best beaches in Crete. Or maybe you have heard about the Lagoon of Ballos with the turquoise water. You can visit it either by ferry from Kasteli or by car. If you decide to come here by car, just have in mind that you can drive till a specific point, and then you must walk till the lagoon.
- Explore the Akrotiri peninsula: Monastery of Agia Triada - Gouverneto Monastery - Eleftherios Venizelos Tombs (historical site) Drive towards the airport. Visit the Monastery of Agia Triada and then the Gouverneto Monastery. On your way back towards Chania stop at the Eleftherios Venizelos Tombs - a historical site with wonderful views to the old Venetian harbor of Chania. There you also will find a choice of 3 coffee shops for you to enjoy. The Akrotiri peninsula also has good beaches (Stavros, Kalathas, Marathi, and Loutraki).
- Trek through the world-famous Samaria Gorge along (quite crowded) open May-Oct depending on weather conditions) or the Agia Irini gorge (fewer crowds and open all year), a full day’s hike catching a boat and a bus back. Imbros Gorge, next to Samaria gorge, is just 8 km long and you need just 2 hours to pass it. Aradena Gorge is also in that area, and maybe you would like to try the jump of your life ... buggy jumping.
- Visit the Aptera archaeological site. The small archaeological site of Aptera (ancient town of the Minoan era) is well worth a visit. From here there are wonderful sea views to the port of Chania (Souda) and the Akrotiri peninsula. Continue to visit Itzedin Castle - a Turkish castle, built in the 19th Century (also known as the Kalami fort). Visit the nearby Stilos Village to hike through the classic Cretan countryside: oleander-lined paths lead into a narrow rocky defile.
- The horse riding lovers have the opportunity for exciting galloping along the Cretan sea in Georgioupoli and the countryside as well. A horse riding Centre organizes, early morning and evening ride at 3 different levels. You just need to make a reservation.
- Village “Verekinthos” is an arts and crafts village that stands between Souda & Tsikaland at the eastern gate of Chania and it aims to revive and sustain the arts which have been always an integral part of Cretan life and culture. At this same place there were many workshops producing pots (tsikalia), giving thus the name to the town and in the very same place nowadays is run silversmith’s and goldsmith’s as well workshops for ceramics, sculpture, glass making, hagiography, painting, masks, mosaic, leather, decorative objects, and traditional Cretan knives. Visiting hours 10.00-14.00 and 19.00-21.00 except Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
- More uplifting activities in Chania area.
House Rules
- Check-in: 16:00 (earlier subject to availability)
- Check out: 11:00 (late check-out is subject to availability)
- Minimum Stay: 7 nights - shorter stays of 3-6 nights may be considered to fill gaps
- For late arrivals (later than 21h00 at Gavalochori), if welcome service is required then an extra charge of Euros 30 applies
- Payment Policy:
With these villas, a 30% of nonrefundable deposit is charged upon confirmation on a credit card and the balance is payable 6 weeks before arrival by credit card.
If the balance is not paid by the due date we reserve the right to cancel the booking and levy cancellation charges in accordance with the cancellation policy.
- Cancellation Policy:
Bleverde ensures that each cancellation will be dealt with flexibility and goodwill but the conditions are as follows:
For all cancellations, the initial deposit equaling 30% is non-refundable.
In addition, cancellations received more than 45 days prior to arrival will be charged 50% of the cost of the entire stay.
Cancellations received between 30 and 15 days prior to arrival will incur a cost of 75% of the entire stay.
Cancellations received less than 15 days prior to arrival incur 100% cost of the stay.
In case of a Non-show, or early departure, the cost of the entire stay, as originally booked and confirmed, will be charged.
Payment and cancellation terms may vary for special offers.
MHTE: 1042K 123K 2951301
How To Get There
Bleverde Villas is located 300m outside of the village of Gavalochori, a traditional village in the Apokoronas region, Chania with many restored stone houses that are surrounded by green olive groves.
- By Air
From April through October there are direct charter flights to Chania Airport which is the closest one (35 km) and, more frequently, to the capital Heraklion Airport(117 km). Tickets can be bought in advance for almost all flights via our partner website.
- By Sea
"The journey is the thing". A superb way of enjoying the journey to Crete is to fly to Athens and take the ferry from Piraeus (Pireas) - the port serving Athens. A still-romantic way to travel by the overnight ferry from Piraeus to Chania-Souda port (20 km). Tickets can be bought in advance for all ferries via our partner website.
- By Car
If you want to explore the region while you're here, we recommend that you rent a car, other means of transport are limited and/or infrequent. We suggest our sister website Crete-Car-Rental.com, which offers competitive prices and you can collect your car at either airport.
- By Taxi
Book your taxi transfer online easily and safely from the airport or port to any location via our partner website.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through CreteTravel.com
Facilities
- Dining: Both Villas are set up for self-catering with a fully equipped kitchen. Or a private chef can be arranged, if you prefer. You can eat indoors or outside on the pool-facing terrace, and 2 of the rooms have outside areas where you can have breakfast or a coffee (there's a second, small kitchenette on the bottom floor). Gavalohori (about 10 mins' walk away) has several tavernas and a couple of general stores; for a wider range, you'll have to drive to Almirida (5km) or Chania (27km).
- Internet Access: Free WiFi throughout
- Swimming Pool: Each villa has a private pool. Villa Levanda 10 x 4.5m max depth 1.90cm, Villa Elia 8x4m max depth 180cm.
- Spa Treatments: In-room massage and spa treatments available on request
- Disabled Access: Not suitable
- Pets: Not allowed
- Languages Spoken: Greek, English
- Parking: Private parking
