Activities

Milia's staff organise daily walking trips around Milia - 2 hours, to gorge of Polyrhynnia – 4 hours, to gorge of Topoliannou – 3 hours, to gorge of Deliannou – 1.5 hours walking and 30 minute drive (26km) to reach the entrance (extra cost ).

Every Tuesday, is organised traditional cooking lessons. Learn typical recipes and small secrets of the cretan nutrition and invite your friends for dinner when you return back home (extra cost).

Every Monday and Thursday Hans and Ines organise art lessons in small groups, in German and English. Lessons last 5 hours with a two hour break. Private painting lessons are also available (extra cost ).

There are 6 waymarked trails from your doorstep: one leads down to the chapel of Agia Sophia, set in a cave above the Topolia gorge (3 hrs round trip); another takes you over the ridge behind Milia and down the spectacular Sirikari gorge, with its nesting vultures (5 hrs, taxi back)

Enjoy the wildlife and the nature around: pipits, wagtails, finches and herons hide in the riverine woods, while we identified over 20 species of orchid on the slopes below Milia.

Don't miss the Chestnut Festival, on the third Sunday of October at Elos region's largest town and centre of the chestnut trade.

Explore the amazing west coast by car. Visit the idyllic sandbanks of Elafonisos (go early to beat summer crowds) and the monastery of Chrysoskalitissa, and if you want offbeat beauty head to the ancient hilltown, medieval fort and Roman-cut springs of Polyrinia.

Falassarna Beach is just 35km away from Milia and it takes you about a hour to get there. Falassarna is  famous because of the nice long beach with the white sand and warm, crystal-clear water, the  variety of flora and fauna and the natural beauty of the area.  The beach is  exposed to the winds, so there are often large waves that attracts many windsurfers. The beach is well organised with sunbeds and umbrellas however the beach is so long that you will never feel  that it is overcrowded.

Other treks further afield include the spectacular southern coast path (E4) from Paleochora to Souyia via isolated coves and the Greco-Roman ruins of Lissos; the peaks of the White Mountain - from Omalos, 2000-metre Gingilos is a steep but rewarding 6-hour circuit; and the lesser-known but lovely Ayia Irini gorge (5 hrs)

Take a mountain bike (Milia has 4 for hire, free for guests) and follow the dirt tracks for exhilarating mountain views.

Good to know ... Local celebrations and traditional festivals: