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In the hills of Apokoronas — village quiet, with the Chania coast half an hour away.
Apokoronas
Chania region, inland hills
10 minutes
To Almyrida and Kalyves beaches
30 minutes
To Chania old town
45 minutes
From Chania airport
In short. Bleverde has two private villas in Chania, Crete, on the hillside above Gavalochori in Apokoronas. Villa Elia and Villa Levanda each have three bedrooms and their own saltwater pool. Chania airport is 45 minutes away, Chania old town about 30, and the sandy beaches of Almyrida and Kalyves roughly 10.
Why stay in Apokoronas rather than Chania town
Chania old town is one of the loveliest places in Greece and worth every visit you make to it. It is also busy, hot in August, and short of parking — which is a different proposition from where you want to sleep for a week.
Apokoronas is the green, hilly country inland from the coast between Chania and Rethymno. Staying here means olive groves and goat bells rather than scooters, a village shop and tavernas within walking distance, and a pool that is yours rather than a hotel’s. Chania is a half-hour drive when you want it, and the Almyrida bay beaches are ten minutes the other way.
The trade is simple and worth being straight about: you will drive to get to most things. In return you get the quiet, the views and the space that central Chania cannot give you.
Villa rentals in Chania: town, coast or hills
- Chania town and the old town: apartments and townhouses. You walk to dinner, but there is little outdoor space and rarely a private pool.
- The coast either side of town: close to the airport and the beaches, and busier in season.
- The Apokoronas hills: private pool villas among olive groves and lived-in villages, ten minutes from the beach and half an hour from Chania.
Villa Elia
The estate’s original house, restored and built entirely from native limestone. Two en-suite master bedrooms and a large terrace upstairs, a twin room with its own bathroom below. Private saltwater pool with uninterrupted views over the village valley.
Villa Levanda
Contemporary and art-filled, with all three bedrooms en-suite and an 85 m² open-plan living floor opening onto two large terraces. Private saltwater pool, sweeping stone terraces, valley, mountain and sea views.
| Gavalochori village | 10 minutes on foot |
|---|---|
| Vamos | About 5 minutes |
| Almyrida and Kalyves beaches | About 10 minutes |
| Chania old town | About 30 minutes |
| Chania airport (CHQ) | 45 minutes |
| Rethymno | About 45 minutes |
| Heraklion airport (HER) | About 2 hours |
Most guests fly into Chania (CHQ) and hire a car at the airport. A car is genuinely useful here — the estate is rural, and the beaches, villages and Chania itself are all short drives rather than walks.
If you would rather not drive, the local taxi firms know Bleverde by name. As a rough guide, expect around 50 Euros one way from Chania airport, around 40 Euros from the centre of Chania, and around 170 Euros from Heraklion airport.
Gavalochori
10 minutes on foot
The village below the estate. A listed heritage settlement with stone arches, a folklore museum in a Venetian building, a bakery, a village shop and a handful of proper tavernas.
Vamos
About 5 minutes
The largest village nearby, and where you go for a bank, a pharmacy and a wider choice of places to eat.
Almyrida
About 10 minutes
A small seaside village with a sandy beach, tavernas and restaurants. This is where most guests end up for a swim and a long lunch.
Kalyves
About 10 minutes
The neighbouring beach village along the same bay, a little larger than Almyrida, with a long sandy stretch and a river mouth at one end.
All of it in more detail in our guide to Gavalochori, Crete and the Apokoronas, with the beaches covered separately in the beaches worth the drive and the city in things to do in Chania and Crete.
On arrival
A welcome basket prepared with love, and wine. Everything you would expect of luxury villas in Chania, run by the owners.
Every stay
Mid-week cleaning and a linen change. Bathrobes, slippers, bath, face and pool towels. A fully equipped kitchen. Central air conditioning with autonomous controls. Free wifi across the estate.
On request
Pre-arrival grocery delivery, and a welcome service for late arrivals.
A good fit if
You want to be within easy reach of Chania, the beaches and the gorges without staying in any of them. You are happy to hire a car. You would rather have a village taverna ten minutes’ walk downhill than a promenade full of them. You are a family, a couple wanting space, or two households travelling together.
Not a good fit if
You want to walk to a beach, or walk home from dinner in the city. You are travelling without a car. You want a resort with a reception and staff on hand around the clock. Both houses have stairs between every floor and no lift, so they are not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.
One of the best villas I’ve ever stayed in — perfect location, glorious views, and every mod con. Close to a charming small village with excellent tavernas.
We loved the location. Gavalochori is a lovely village, with a little village shop stocking everything you need really, including fresh things.
You book with the people who own the place
Most villas in the Chania region are let through agencies, operators or marketplaces. Bleverde is not. The estate belongs to Penelope and Danny, who bought a half-finished building on this hillside in 2009 and have been making it into what it is ever since. Both are artists, and much of the work on the walls of the two houses is theirs or by artists they know.
That has practical consequences. Your enquiry reaches them, not a call centre. There is no platform commission in the price. If you ask whether the twin room really works for a nine-year-old, or whether the estate would be too quiet for your group, you get a straight answer from someone who lives with the answer.
There is a small local team on the ground as well — guests name them in reviews going back years, which tells you more than a service promise would.
How far is Bleverde from Chania airport?
About 45 minutes by car. Most guests hire a car at Chania airport (CHQ); taxis and private transfers are also straightforward. Our guide to Chania airport transfers, car hire and getting to Gavalochori has more.
How far is Chania old town?
About 30 minutes by car, roughly 25 km. Close enough for an evening out, far enough that you are not in the middle of it. See our guide to Chania old town and other things to do in Chania.
Which beaches are nearest?
The sandy beaches of Almyrida and Kalyves are about ten minutes away by car. Georgioupoli is around fifteen. Our guide to beaches near Chania covers the rest of the coast.
Do I need a car?
We would recommend one. The estate is rural, and while Gavalochori village is a ten-minute walk, the beaches, Chania and everything else are short drives.
Is Apokoronas a good base for exploring western Crete?
Yes. It sits between Chania and Rethymno, so both are easy day trips, and the south coast and the Samaria gorge trailhead are reachable in one to one and a half hours. Our guide to the best area to stay in Crete compares it with other bases.
Does each villa have its own pool?
Yes. Villa Elia and Villa Levanda each have a private saltwater pool and pool terrace. Neither is shared. Compare Villa Elia and Villa Levanda.
Can we book both villas?
Yes, subject to availability — that gives you the whole estate and up to twelve guests with nobody else on site. Check which weeks are free on the availability calendars. The whole estate is also taken for small weddings at a wedding villa in Crete, and for wellness retreats in Crete.
How do villa rentals in Chania work at Bleverde?
Each villa is let by the week, for up to six guests, with a seven-night minimum and a fixed changeover day. A 30% non-refundable deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due six weeks before arrival. You book directly with the owners, so there is no platform commission. See the weekly rates and the availability calendars.
Check your dates
Two villas on the hillside above Gavalochori, each with three bedrooms and its own saltwater pool. Book direct with the owners using the button below.
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