Vrouchas Holidays
Come and soak up the tranquility of this completely rural hamlet and take in some of the best views on the island.
Crete, the largest and southernmost of the Greek islands, is a land of astonishing diversity...
...where the stark beauty of snow-capped mountains contrasts with the lush allure of flower-filled plains; where unspoilt fishing villages sit side by side with sophisticated resorts; where the humble artlessness of tiny inland hamlets is the perfect antidote to the graceful Venetian architecture of Chania and Rethimnon; and where the sacred tranquillity of the siesta hour allows you to prepare yourself for the vivacious exuberance of a village wedding or local festival. Those in search of pure relaxation will also find plenty of places to indulge their pleasure - on long, untamed beaches and in tiny, sheltered, coves; in traditional beachside taverns shaded by vine-covered trellises and outside simple kafenions where the village elders pass their time sipping raki.
There's a corner of Crete's northern coast where it drops down to the gorgeous Gulf Of Mirabello. It's a perfectly peaceful spot because it's largely undiscovered. Yet it's only a stone's throw from two of the island's most popular resorts. And in this sleepy backwater, there's a trio of traditional villages - the smallest of which is Vrouchas. Holidays here are in simple houses …amid stunning scenery.
This really rustic little hamlet is surrounded by untamed greenery, gazing down over olive groves to the sparkling blue of the sea. Holidays in Vrouchas are holidays in rural tranquillity … but just hop in your car and you're down in Elounda in no time, rubbing shoulders with the owners of gin palace yachts at anchor in the harbour. Another fifteen minutes drive - along a super-scenic road - and you've arrived in Aghios Nikolaos, for drool-worthy jewellery shops and people-watching cafe tables beside the 'bottomless lake'.
Now meet your less famous neighbours - Loumas and Skinias. These typical Cretan villages share your hillside retreat and ease you gently into island discovery … boasting, between them, a clutch of Byzantine churches and a choice of traditional tavernas - where home-cooked food is fresh, filling and cheap. Holidays in Vrouchas are off the beaten track … but not too far…
Have a look at the pair of Almond Tree Houses - sharing a pretty pool. But don't wait till the last minute. Holidays in Vrouchas are selectively few.