Français
The village we live in, and the green corner of Chania around it.
In short. Gavalochori is a traditional stone village in Apokoronas, the green hill country of the Chania region in north-west Crete. It sits about 25 km from Chania town and 4–6 km from the sandy beaches of Almyrida and Kalyves. The village has tavernas, a village shop and a small folklore museum, and is known for its old wells, stone walls and kopaneli lace-making. Apokoronas around it takes in Vamos, Almyrida, Kalyves and Lake Kournas.
Gavalochori, Crete: the village
Gavalochori is a working village rather than a resort one. Stone houses, narrow lanes, Venetian-era wells, dry stone walls holding up olive terraces. People live here year round, which is why the shop stocks real food and the tavernas fill with locals as much as visitors.
The village is known for kopaneli, a bobbin lace worked by hand and still taught here, and there is a small folklore museum that covers it along with the village’s older trades. It takes about ten minutes to walk down through the olive groves from the estate, and rather longer to walk back up.
There are a handful of tavernas within those ten minutes. That combination — proper food and a shop you can walk to, in a place that is otherwise quiet — is the whole reason to base yourself in a village rather than on a coast road.
Posters by Danny
What to see and do in Gavalochori, Crete
- The Venetian wells. Stone wells from the Venetian period, dotted through the lanes and the fields below the village. Walking between them is the easiest way to see the old village.
- The folklore museum. A small collection in a restored village house covering local trades, household life and kopaneli lace.
- Kopaneli lace. The bobbin lace Gavalochori is known for across Crete, still made and taught in the village.
- The tavernas. A handful within a ten-minute walk of the estate, serving the families who live here as much as visitors.
- The bakery and village shop. Bread in the morning and real groceries, so a villa stay does not depend on the car for every meal.
Apokoronas, Crete: the region
Apokoronas is the stretch of country inland from the coast between Chania and Rethymno, running up towards the foothills of the White Mountains. It is noticeably greener than much of Crete — olive groves, cypress, citrus — and it is dotted with villages that have not been rebuilt for tourism. For visitors, Apokoronas in Crete means sandy bays within a short drive, Chania half an hour away, and quiet evenings in between.
Vamos, Crete
Five minutes away, Vamos is the largest village around here and the historic capital of Apokoronas. It is well restored, with tavernas, a few shops and a strong local co-operative tradition. It is the place for an unhurried lunch, and a sensible first stop for groceries.Almyrida, Crete
A small seaside village on the bay below, about ten minutes by car. Its beach is sandy, shallow and sheltered from the prevailing north wind, with tavernas and cafés along the front. Of all the beaches in Apokoronas, it is the one families come back to.Kalyves, Crete
Kalyves is Almyrida’s larger neighbour on the same bay, also about ten minutes away. It has a longer sand-and-shingle beach with a river mouth at one end, and a real village behind it with shops and cafés. It is usually quieter than Almyrida in high season.Kournas Lake
About twenty-five minutes south-east, Lake Kournas is Crete’s only natural freshwater lake. It is a green bowl under the mountains with pedal boats, shallow swimming at the edges, freshwater terrapins and tavernas along one shore. It makes an easy, cool half-day when the sea is windy.Almyrida
About 10 minutes
Sandy, shallow and sheltered, with a line of tavernas and cafés along the front. The easiest beach day with children, and the one most guests end up returning to.
Kalyves
About 10 minutes
A longer sand-and-shingle beach with a river mouth at one end and a proper village behind it. Quieter than Almyrida in high season.
Georgioupoli
About 15 minutes
A very long sweep of sand running east. Open to the wind, which makes it bracing rather than sheltered, but there is a lot of it.
Marathi and Loutraki
About 30 minutes
Small sheltered coves on the Akrotiri peninsula, on the way past the airport. Good when the north wind is up.
Worth the drive from here
Gavalochori sits roughly halfway along the north coast of western Crete, between Chania and Rethymno. That makes most of the west a day trip. There are more ideas in our guide to things to do in Crete and Chania.
| Place | From the estate | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Vamos | ~5 min | Tavernas, shops, the local hub |
| Almyrida / Kalyves | ~10 min | Sandy beaches, seafront eating |
| Georgioupoli | ~15 min | Long sand beach, river mouth |
| Lake Kournas | ~25 min | Freshwater swimming, pedal boats, lunch |
| Chania old town | ~30 min | Venetian harbour, market, dinner |
| Rethymno | ~40 min | Old town, fortress, long beach |
| Seitan Limania | ~40 min | Dramatic cove — steep walk down |
| Frangokastello | ~1 hour | South coast, Venetian fort, calm sea |
| Samaria Gorge (Omalos) | ~1 h 15 | The big day hike |
| Balos / Elafonissi | ~2 hours | The famous lagoons — full day out |
Drive times are approximate and assume a normal season. Cretan roads are good on the north coast and slow in the mountains, so allow more than the distance suggests for anything inland or on the south coast.
Getting to Apokoronas
Flying into Chania or Heraklion
Fly to Chania (CHQ), which is about 45 minutes from the estate by car and the airport nearly everyone uses. Heraklion (HER) is about two hours away and sometimes cheaper, which can make it worth the extra drive.Chania airport transfers and car hire
Hiring a car at the airport is the usual approach and we would recommend it — the area is rural and everything worth doing is a short drive. If you would rather not drive, private transfers and taxis both run from Chania airport to Apokoronas without difficulty. We don’t operate transfers ourselves, but we can point you to people we use.The last stretch
The drive is mostly on the north-coast national road, heading east from Chania. The last stretch is an estate road through olive groves. It is fine in a normal hire car.
Villa Elia
Sleeps 6 · 8 × 4 m pool
The older stone house, built of limestone from the land around it. Three floors, two en-suite master bedrooms and a twin room, and it stays notably cool in high summer. See Villa Elia.
Villa Levanda
Sleeps 6 · 10 × 5 m pool
The contemporary house. All three bedrooms are en-suite, with an 85 m² open-plan top floor and the larger pool. See Villa Levanda.
Both villas can be booked together for up to twelve guests. See the availability calendars and weekly rates, or compare them with other villas in the Chania region.
Where is Gavalochori?
Gavalochori is in Apokoronas, in the Chania region of north-west Crete. It lies inland from the bay of Almyrida, about 25 km east of Chania town and roughly 4 to 6 km from the nearest sandy beaches at Almyrida and Kalyves. Bleverde’s two villas are on the hillside just above the village.
Is there anything to do in Gavalochori itself?
Yes, at a village pace. There are tavernas, a bakery and a village shop, the old Venetian wells, and a small folklore museum covering local trades including kopaneli lace-making. It is a place to eat and wander rather than a sightseeing destination. For bigger days out, see our things to do in Crete guide.
What is Apokoronas known for?
Being green. Apokoronas is one of the more fertile parts of Crete — olive groves, citrus and cypress rising towards the White Mountains — with villages such as Gavalochori and Vamos that are still lived in rather than rebuilt for tourism. The sandy Almyrida and Kalyves bay is on its coast.
Are Almyrida and Kalyves good beaches for families?
They are the easiest in the area: sandy, shallow and sheltered from the north wind, with tavernas a few steps from the water. Both are about ten minutes by car from Gavalochori. See how our family villas in Crete work around them.
How far is Kournas Lake?
About 25 minutes by car. Lake Kournas is Crete’s only natural freshwater lake, with pedal boats, shallow swimming, terrapins and tavernas along one shore. It is a good choice on a windy beach day.
Which airport should we fly into?
Chania (CHQ) is the closest, about 45 minutes by car. Heraklion (HER) is about two hours away, but sometimes has cheaper or more convenient flights.
Are there Chania airport transfers to Gavalochori?
Yes. Private transfers and taxis both run from Chania airport to Apokoronas, and the journey takes about 45 minutes. We don’t operate transfers ourselves, but we are happy to recommend people we use when you book.
Do we need a car in Apokoronas?
We would recommend one. The villages are walkable in themselves but spread out, and the beaches and towns are all short drives. Hiring at Chania airport is the simplest way to do it.
Is it a good base for the rest of western Crete?
Yes. It sits between Chania and Rethymno, so both are easy, and the Samaria gorge, the south coast and the western lagoons are all doable as day trips. Our where to stay in Crete guide compares it with the other options.
Where can we stay in Gavalochori?
Bleverde has two private villas on the hillside above the village, each sleeping six with its own saltwater pool: Villa Elia, the stone house, and Villa Levanda, the contemporary one. Check the availability calendars for your dates.
Stay in Gavalochori
Two villas on the hillside above the village, each with three bedrooms and its own saltwater pool. Book direct with the owners.
See the villas
Check availability