Holiday apartment for max. 2 adults + 1 child
Angeliana, Crete, (Central Crete), Greece

Agritourism and ecotourism on the Dalabelos country estate

The Dalabelos country estate is not far from the village Angeliana, on a hill with a view towards the Cretan Sea. It is only 5km to the north coast, 23km to the town Rethymnon, 80km to Chania, 55km to the town Heraklion and the Knossos Palace at the foot of the legendary mountain Idas. The natural stone houses are built like an amphitheatre on the forested hills outside the village Angeliana and afford a view of the Cretan Sea. The estate consists of ten units with modern amenities. The houses are harmoniously integrated into the natural landscape on a site of 30,000m².

The houses were planned, built and are run in harmony with nature and with respect to people. The interior is comfortable and decorated by painters and potters from the region. The accommodation has a well-equipped kitchen corner with a fridge and stove, a fireplace and a lovely bathroom with a tiled shower and washbasin, as well as a 25m² bedroom. The thick stone walls, double-glazing, insulated roofs and well-positioned windows ensure natural light and ventilation and bring the beautiful view into the interior. Air conditioning, a telephone, satellite TV, Wi-Fi and a hairdryer are provided. Some studios have connecting doors and so can be extended by a second bedroom and second bathroom. One apartment is barrier-free.

The apartments have a balcony or terrace, with terrace furniture.The Dalabelos farm is dominated by olive trees, a large vineyard, an orange grove, as well as many fruit trees such as fig, mulberry, pomegranate, almond, walnut, quince, wild bushes and herbs. There are vegetable gardens on different soil, for fresh vegetables all year round and in the restaurant. A large number of fowl wander through the orange grove, such as hens, ducks, turkeys and peacocks. Rabbits, a couple of goats, an old donkey, a young horse and a dog round off the farm. Visitors to the farm can stroll freely around the garden, harvest vegetables, fruit or gather herbs, study the flowers, birds and animals, and even participate in the daily work (milking goats, feeding rabbits and fowl, collecting eggs etc.). Or you can simply sit in the shade of a tree and dream. A pool and a parking space are provided.

The personnel is multilingual. There is a reception with a fax, safe and sitting corner, and a restaurant with a roofed outdoor terrace and fireplace. The rooms have Wi-Fi and satellite TV. There is a seminar room with a fireplace, library, piano, TV and DVD player. A cot is available free of charge. There is a daily room service with cleaning. Bed linen and towels are changed every three days.

With Dalabelos as a starting point, you can go on interesting trips on foot, by bike or by car in the mountains or to the sea, to gorges and caves, as well as visit archaeological sites, monasteries and picturesque historical villages. Dalabelos is not far from the sea, on a hill at the northern foot of the mountain Ida (Psiloritis), the highest mountain on Crete (2545m), in the middle of the island. This area is rich in indigenous plants and mythical caves, with Ideon Andron on the Nida high plateau, Gerontospilios, Melidoni, Sphendoni und Zoniana. On the north and south side of the island, the rivers follow deep gorges into the sea, creating the sandy beaches famous for their beauty. In the mountains, on the hills and slopes around the ruins of ancient civilisations, surrounded by Byzantine churches and Venetian monuments, there are quiet little villages whose history is being lost with the passage of time - Margarites, Marulas, Spili, Anogia and Axos, waiting for travellers who would like to explore the inland area of the island. A fantastic place to explore from by car and then on foot is the Nida high plain on the Ida mountain, with the cave Ideon Andron, a holy place, where according to Greek mythology Zeus was concealed and raised with the help of milk from the mythical goat Amalthea. From there a path leads to the peak of the mountain, a walk of four hours. The ancient town Eleftherna is just 8km from Dalabelos, in a landscape of incomparable beauty. Without a doubt, this is one of the most important archaeological sites on Crete, with the town, the Acropolis and the Necropolis (3000 BC – 8th century BC).