Please Note:
While the Guest House's nominal capacity is 4 adults, families of 5 with 3 young children (typically under the age of 12) have appreciated our ability to add a bed into the 2nd bedroom and permit them to expand the house's capacity.
Secondly, as you may have been told 2024 is a year where Greece has added a nightly "Climate Resilience" tax to current mandatory lodging taxes we must collect. This is a targeted tax to create funds that can mitigate climate-change events and protect tourists during those events, and will range only from €10/night for larger accommodations during the high-season, to only €.50/night for smaller lodgings in the offseason. While other providers might collect this tax upon your arrival, we want you to know that we have incorporated this responsibility into our rates, and so you will not be surprised by any sudden fee after reviewing your costs during the booking process.
Finally, although VRBO does not allow this option to be posted within their pricing mechanism, we often offer discounts for stays of 14 days or longer in addition to the posted discount offer of 28 days or more. Just ask us about it and we'll fill you in on the details!
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PROPERTY DESCRIPTION:
The Guest House at Villa Koukouvayia Farms is the smallest of the three fully equipped and separate rental homes on this beautiful estate, but with similar spectacular views and private outdoor spaces to the Main House. The Guest House shares the estate and small olive farm with the farm’s Main House, VRBO listing #1883709, and Garden Suite VRBO listing #3096792, each of which can be rented as an alternative to the Guest House for larger parties (the Main House can sleep 7, and the Garden Suite up to 13.) For even larger parties celebrating weddings, holding family reunions, or gathering for a purpose driven retreat, the entire estate can support up to 25 people, and is available via VRBO listing #3087102.
The Guest House sits on the first foothills of olives above the Gulf of Kissamos and below several dramatic gorges and Crete’s White Mountains--located at the end of a quiet farm road and entirely surrounded by olive groves. Removed from heavily touristed areas yet five minutes to a variety of beaches, tavernas and the lovely town of Kissamos; 25 minutes from the historic Venetian city of Xania, and only 45 minutes from air transport—Villa Koukouvayia Farms' Guest House offers a rare combination of authenticity, convenience, privacy, and luxury.
Built in 2012, the Guest House’s master bedroom offers sweeping views of the Aegean, a large balcony with outdoor shower, and spiral stairs that lead up to a private roof terrace. The 2nd bedroom enjoys a private balcony overlooking the valley and mountains rising to the south, and has built-in bunk-beds (sized and engineered for adults if needed) with each bunk boasting its own 2-meter window that opens out over the sea.
There is a large fully equipped bathroom upstairs, with washing machine and laundry balcony for easily drying clothes. The ground floor is an open-plan, with a living and dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a 2nd bathroom.
Outside, 4-meter verandas (covered and open) surround the house and provide your choice of sun or shade at any time of day, with plentiful outdoor furniture to allow sitting, dining and entertaining on the balconies, terrazzo, verandas and pool terrace.
The Guest House includes board and lawn games, a barbecue grill, bicycles, kayaks, beach-gear, a private yard and garden, and a small but deep adult plunging pool (shared with the Main House) that feeds a shallow toddlers pool with a waterfall. Lounge by the pool, play a game of croquet, or simply relax and listen to the sound of the breeze through the olive trees and the splashing of the waterfall.
Villa Koukouvayia is only a short drive from Venetian cities, famous natural gorges, and the stunning beaches featured on many Greek calendars and in many a traveler’s fantasy. But if you want a vacation more removed from other tourists, simply take advantage of the villa’s extensive recreational equipment to explore the nearby coast with our kayaks or snorkeling gear, ride the villa’s bicycles to lesser known but nearby gorges, historical sites or secret beaches; or walk through the villa’s gates and you will step onto one of the most beautiful and unheralded hiking networks in Crete.
And if you prefer the quieter more authentic off-season, then leave the colder northern latitudes behind and take advantage of the region’s winter hospitality and lower rates. From November through February the sun may shine less constantly, but it’s brighter, the air clearer, and the sun rarely tolerates rainclouds for more than a handful of hours before warming the valleys, splashing the sky with spectacular rainbows, and forcing one’s sweater off. On every beach the summer crowd of sunbeds disappear and make room for shoreline walks. The air fills with the bustle of the olive harvest, and traffic changes from rental cars filled with sun-glassed tourists to tractors laden with bursting burlap sacks. As if shy of summer’s tourist crush, wildflowers and clover reemerge and recarpet the groves, and the landscape turns as green as Ireland. The views of surf and snow-capped mountains in winter’s brilliant air make photographers gasp by day and astronomers gasp by night as stars dance sharp and clear above. The days are spent on mountain hikes, and bike rides, and the evenings spent in local tavernas reading or playing cards, with glasses of wine in hand and a warming fire nearby. It’s a less known but precious time on this amazing island, and the best museums, shops and restaurants remain open and share the most authentic of Cretan culture, gifts and food.
But at whatever time you come, you will soon know what other guests have discovered to their pleasure: that we love sharing this special villa, special region, and special Island with our guests; and that you have secured an ideal place to explore, create and celebrate the both Cretan life and yours—together with those you love.
