Anidri · South-West Crete
An airy, spacious house nestled in nature above a small village, Villa Selinos looks south down the Anidri Gorge, across the Gulf of Selinos and out to the Libyan Sea. Made for sun, shade, sea, silence and slow living.
SEASONAL SENSE
The house sits in 5,000m² of terraced, south-facing land among olive, carob, orange and lemon trees. The verandahs let you find sun or shade, breeze or stillness, heat or cool in any season. The wide verandahs are the key rooms of the house. From April to December, days and evenings are lived outside.
“This is a beautiful Villa in the hills. The views from the house are incredible and it’s wonderful to just sit on the verandah and watch the sunset. The kitchen is well equipped to make delicious meals with local produce; the sea is not far and there are mountain hikes from the front door. What more could you wish for? Truly idyllic.”
INNER SPACE
Downstairs, two bedrooms open onto the lower verandah and the garden. Upstairs, the living room, kitchen and mezzanine are lit and breezed from windows on all four sides, the verandah looking out over the Libyan Sea.
“Our stay was just magical! Spacious and comfortable, felt so special to be immersed in nature. The villa has this fantastic wide wrap around verandah with a fabulous view down to the sea and plenty of space for meals, reading and listening to the birdsong. The garden is beautiful, half wild with figs and lemons and pomegranate, and lots of different spots to sit — so if you come as a group, you can all have your own private spot. The outdoor shower is perfect to wash off the salt from a sunset swim only 10 mins drive down the hill. Local cafe has great food and there’s loads of restaurants in Palaiochóra to sample and decide on your favourite. Perfect base for hill walking or just relaxing into the Cretan pace of life.”
Gallery / sensory archive
Staying at the Villa Selinos is like living a natural escapology through the senses.
Changing light over the Gulf of Selinos
The swimming choice is yours: sand, pebble, rock; vast expanses of water, limpid lagoons, isolated or convivial
Gorges, mountains, villages, plains...
Slow down, see and feel textures, experience the energy of place
The house is wrapped in the scent of jasmine but myriad other perfumes await you
Indulge in the pleasures of fresh produce & traditional dishes
More sounds to come...
Anidri / Palaiochóra / Lissos
The villa is tucked away from the bustle of the coast and town in high season. The sea is a 45-minute walk down the gorge or a 10-minute drive away. Palaiochóra, with shops, beaches and tavernas, is around 15 minutes by car. The charming seaside town of Sougia is 45 minutes' drive. From Palaiochóra you can take a ferry down the coast to Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Sfakia and the island of Gavdos. Chania airport is under 2 hours away.
Approximate area only — exact arrival details are sent after booking.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this haven of peace. The house offers stunning views featuring the island of Gavdos, the southernmost tip of Europe. Its expansive terrace feels like an extra room, while the airy living space inside, connected to an open kitchen, lends itself to cosy gatherings or simply lounging around. Made the most of the walking options surrounding the house, which range from the White Mountains to idyllic beaches, passing through a gorge flourishing with native plant life; also relished the local tavern and its 300-year-old olive tree, and slept very soundly in one of the two bedrooms downstairs.”
Seasons / sea / air
The house is designed for long outdoor days, but each season has a different rhythm: winter light and walking, spring flowers and clear air, summer heat and late swims, autumn warmth and quieter beaches. You can swim all year round. Even in February and March the water temperature is equivalent to the French Atlantic or Channel coast in summer.
| Season | Sea | Air / wind |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Cool, but swimmable for hardy swimmers. | Clear walking days, cooler evenings, winter winds. |
| Spring | Fresh water, bright air, flowers inland. | Good walking weather; evenings can still be cool. |
| Summer | Warm sea and late swims. | Heat, shade, through-breezes and evening life outside. |
| Autumn | Warm sea, quieter beaches. | Often the easiest season for swimming and walking. |
Current links open outside this site.
House facts
Two double bedrooms plus an open mezzanine for two. Best for 4; possible for 6.
Through-breezes in summer, blinds and A/C for very hot days, wood-burning stove for winter.
You can eat whatever you find on the land: lemons, oranges, grapes, pomegranates, mangoes, mandarins and more. Kind and friendly neighbours can be called on if in need. I will forward to you any messages regarding water or power cuts as they come in to the village group chat, so there’ll be no surprises.
No pool, no TV, not on the shore and not in town. The value is quiet, view, air, the hills behind and the sea below. (Don't worry! There is good internet, an external PC monitor, a TV screen & a Bluetooth speaker — digital nomads note!)
Sound
The sound button uses sea on pebbles as a low ambient layer. Later we can add cicadas, wind in the olives, veranda room tone and walking sounds.
Availability / enquiry
It’s therapeutic to be here. Looking forward to coming back in August with family. Never seen this place so lush and green, just lovely. The garden’s looking really good. We have been coming to this house for many years now. Either as a couple or as a family of three. The view with it's changing light is amazing. In the house you got everything you need and the garden is very big and lovely. You will need a car. You can visit several beaches and in town a wide variety of restaurants. We always enjoy staying in this house very much.
“I went to the Villa to write, and it was ideal. A perfect terrace, views to the sea, cool breezes on hot days, nearby goat-song, walks to isolated churches and empty beaches, the intoxicating smell of jasmine, an abundance of lemons and oranges on the trees, chairs under olive trees, a short walk to the excellent neighborhood taverna - good food and coffee, lovely staff, a shady beautiful tree and twinkly fairy lights. And then there is of course the sea swimming - solitary snorkeling to admire the fish or simply floating, transfixed on the cloudless blue sky. It’s a wonderful place.”
“This was our third stay in this lovely house in this beautiful area. We hope to back for a fourth time!”
“To put it in a nutshell: Close to paradise”.
“What a great view! We will be back again…”
“A wonderful, lovely and charming home at a very special place. Marvelous. We just decided to cancel our return flights back and to stay here forever!”
“A wonderful week in a beautiful villa. It is really special! We have loved sitting on the balcony looking at your amazing view and admiring your garden, the birds and the cats!”
“Another stay in this lovely house is coming to an end, I’m sorry to say. For us it is the perfect place for relaxing and living in this wonderful area. We really feel at home here and are looking forward to coming back.”
“We enjoyed every minute of our stay in your wonderful house. Thank you for letting us experience Greece in such a comfortable and delightful environment. The children and us were given a great opportunity for unforgettable memories.”
“We’ve had a wonderful week in this lovely house and could easily have stayed much longer. We seriously consider coming back for a longer stay sometime, we love the area and Palaiochóra is one kind of town, relaxed and friendly as it is.”
“It makes a lovely change from bustling Palaiochóra. We’re all astonished that the house is so beautiful and gracious. […] This exact spot, with that exact view, it’s so perfect. […] I have been very happy to absorb something of the power of the place – the mountains, the heat, the scents, the sea. […] If the wherewithal falls into my lap, I may well book again to come alone to do my writing someday! […] The kids have loved it here – exploring the hillside, making forts and targets with the rocks, doing “Olympic athletics” on the verandah completely naked, spraying each other with the hose, finding lizards, butterflies and goats…”
“A lovely 10 days spent at the Villa – we go home relaxed and rejuvenated. A few ideas for day trips out: Lissos is a must! An hour and a half walk West of Sougia, an ancient Roman town and lovely beach. The coastal path east of Sougia is amazing: vultures and eagles soaring above and dramatic coast. Quite challenging walking but worth it. Elafonisi beach is stunning. An hour drive or in season by boat. The Irini Gorge just north of Sougia is very impressive and less busy than Samaria. See the vulture nests high on the rocks. Finally, Anidri sand beach is the best local beach, it’s fun to scramble down from the villa.”