Activities
- For those who love walking Mareike, your gracious hostess has all the necessary information on the numerous paths and hiking trails in the area.
- Ask Mareike as well as for the introductory seminar in the collection of local plants and herbs.
- What about Horse-Riding. Mareike could help you with that to enjoy exciting beach rides & beautiful countryside. Zoraida's horse riding offers exciting beach rides, beautiful mini-safaris, and relaxing day trips as well as easy beginner's walks for non-experienced riders. Zoraïda's Horse-Riding is daily providing early morning and evening rides at 3 different levels: beginners, intermediate, advanced.
- Whether you are a beginner or experienced diver, Angelos and Corinne, the owners of Hippocambo Bali Dive Center, invite you to discover together the world where life began... the Underwater World. Enjoy Scuba Diving at a variety of selected, interesting Dive Sites, always in small groups with safety and personal care from our professional, experienced, and friendly instructors. Again you should ask Mareike for it.
- The Bali beaches, which are the closest are located 9 km away, while the beautiful beaches of Skaleta and Geropotamos are 10 km away.
- A worth visiting is the nearby Melidoni Cave or Gerontospilios. Gerontospilios is very important due to the archeological findings, some of which are exhibited in the Archeological Museum of Rethymnon. Moreover, the cave has played a tragic role in the history of the Cretan revolution against the Turks, in 1824.
- Joanna Paraschakis, Greek-American, runs a great olive factory at Melidoni Village which is open to the public and where the visitor has the opportunity to be guided, free of charge, through three different olive oil factories. At the first olive oil factory, the visitors have the chance to see how olive oil was produced in the older days with manually worked tools and the help of animals. At the second olive oil factory, the visitor has the chance to see how olive oil was a producer with less effort, with the help of a diesel machine. The third olive oil factory which can be seen is the one we use today which uses centrifuge. The visitor also has the opportunity to try and buy olive oil from the Paraschakis family olive grove. The olive press is open daily to the public.
- The nearby village of Panormos has a lot to show for a village of its size and is one of the few unspoiled beach towns on the northern coast. It retains an unhurried, authentic village feel and makes for a quieter alternative to the overcrowded scene immediately east of Rethymno and at nearby Bali. You’ll find a small harbor, a couple of Byzantine chapels, a post office, a few mini markets and shops, and the best of all in summer concerts and other events are held in a carob mill turned cultural center.
- The old carob-bean mill has been restored by Kynthia's owners. In summer, occasional music recitals and chamber concerts – from classical to Cretan, Spanish to Argentine – are arranged by the Epimenides Cultural Society, as well as street theatre performances. In addition, the Panormos sandy beach is a 3-minute stroll away, with loungers and umbrellas to hire, and a slightly larger beach a little further, with a good beach cafe. The sea is shallow and crystal clear.
- Visit Margarites a pottery-making village which is 10 km away, the European ceramic art center., north of the foothills of the Psiloritis mountain range, where you can buy anything from a tiny vase to one of the great “pithoi” or storage jars. Most of the potteries lie up the hill from the village in little stone-walled enclosures, each with a cylindrical kiln of plastered stone, crowned with a dome of firebricks. The deep-bellied “pithoi ” are direct descendants of the vessels made by the Minoans. In the village, itself are color-washed houses crowded along narrow streets, where each bend reveals a new differently colored perspective (sky-blue is most popular). There are handsome stone archways in the walls of the lanes and ancient frescoes in the church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos.
- Visit the Arkadion Monastery, this is the most famous historical monastery in Crete, situated near Rethymnon in a very spectacular location. We do not know the exact date of its founding. Some say it was founded by the Byzantine emperor Arcadius in the 5th century AD; others say the founder was a certain monk Arcadius. The 14th century AD is the most likely date for its founding. The historical importance of Arkadi lies in the role it played in the Cretan War of Independence. When the revolution was declared, in 1866, all the leaders met at Arkadi which was chosen because of its strategic position. Ishmael Pasha sent a message to the monks with the bishop of Rethymnon that the revolutionary committee should leave or else the monastery would be destroyed. The head monk refused to obey. Later the Turks besieged the monastery where many children and women had also gathered. Soon the besieged realized that was little hope but they fought bravely. Some blew themselves up with gunpowder to avoid captivity. 114 men and women were taken captives, 864 were killed and very few survived.
- Continuing east from Moni Arkadiou takes you to the archaeological site of Ancient Eleftherna. In Eleftherna, many inscriptions have been discovered, with a jural context on the relationship of artists with society. In the excavations, geometric, Classical, and Hellenistic idols and signs of the zodiac were also found. One of the most important artifacts in the upper part of the body of a statue made of limestone. This stature represents a dressed woman and is famous as “The lady of Eleftherna ”. It is Daedalus' figure and reminds us “The lady of Auxeree”. The lady of Auxeree is a small Cretan Statuette (0,65 metres) that represents a woman wearing a Cretan mantle. It is also made of limestone. It used to be exhibited in the small French town of Auxerre, but now it is a Museum of Louvre. Because of the similarity between the two statues, some scholars assume that “The lady of Auxeree” is from Eleftherna as well.
- Visit the nearby town of Rethymnon which is perhaps the prettiest of Crete’s Venetian cities, with a massive walled Fortezza full of crumbling storehouses and later Ottoman mosques. Its characterful tight-packed streets, lined with Turkish balconied houses and tourist paraphernalia, lead to a historic inner harbor, now disfigured by garish eateries. However, there are some delightful little restaurants and bars in the Old Quarter.
- Chania, maybe the prettiest town in Greece, is an hour to the west, and well worth a day trip for its sea walls, archaeological museum, covered food market, and romantic restaurants.
- Heraklion, Crete’s vibrant capital and home of its finest archaeological collection, and the Minoan palace at Knossos, imaginatively excavated by Sir Arthur Evans, are both 45 mins drive east; don’t miss them.
- The White Mountains are Crete’s most dramatic range very popular with hikers, birdwatchers, and botanists. Join them on a trek through the 16km-long well-known Samaria gorge, or maybe you don't like crowds, then a joint quieter small gorges of Ayia Irini or Imbros (you’ll need to start early for any of these).
- On the south coast, you can explore the Preveli monastery and go for a swim at its idyllic, palm-shaded beach.
- Other beaches worth driving to are burgeoning Plakias, gorgeous Damnoni, nudist Ammoudi and hippy Matala, all on the south coast; and the endless open sands east of Georgioupolis on the north (a windsurfer’s dream).
- For more exciting activities in Rethimno region
House Rules
- Check-in: 15.00 pm
- Check out: 12.00 pm
- Minimum Stay: 2-3 nights, depending on the season
- Payment Policy: Please check here
- Cancellation Policy: Please check here
MHTE: 10 41 K 03 3A 00354 0 1
How To Get There
Melidoni X Village is located at a small, beautiful Melidoni Village, 60km far from Heraklion Airport of Crete.
- By Air
From April through October there are direct charter and scheduled flights to Heraklion airport (60km) and also to Chania airport (99 km). Tickets can be bought in advance for almost all flights via our partner website.
- By Sea
If you love traveling by ferry, reserve a flight to Athens and then from Piraeus port to Heraklion by ferry. It takes 8 hours and the ferries are really good. 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: The cafeteria is open all day for drinks or if you need something to nibble on at the big courtyard in the garden. There is also a barbecue area and a playground for children. In addition, there is a restaurant with Cretan dishes made from local produce and fruits and vegetables from the farm. A rich, traditional breakfast is prepared with fresh, homemade products upon request. In every house, you will find the basics to prepare your first breakfast. Welcome basket upon your arrival to prepare your own breakfast for the first day of your holiday.
- Internet Access: Free Internet and Wifi. Computer with flat screen, camera and additional speakers in each villa
- Swimming Pool: Each Villa has its Private pool with a small shallow area for children
- Spa Treatments: Not available
- Disabled Access: Walking difficulties, guest need to stay in Villa No. 4,- 90sqm Villa
- Pets: Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges.
- Languages Spoken: Greek, English, German
- Environmental Policy: Towels are changed twice a week and linen are changed once per week and only when you wish them to be
- Parking: Parking is free on the premises
- Non-Smoking Villas: smoking in the outside area allowed
- Washing machine and dryer at the reception area, fee-based
