The 5-star Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection offers luxurious accommodation with spa bath overlooking the Unesco-protected island of Spinalonga and its Venetian castle. It has a spa and 4 restaurants serving haute cuisine dishes.
Each of the air-conditioned suites is uniquely decorated and has easy access to the private sandy beach. They include a spacious living room with wooden floors and a satellite LCD TV. All suites also have a private pool or open-air hot tub.
The 4 restaurants offer casual beachside settings or elegant dining rooms with panoramic sea views. Guests can taste progressive Greek cuisine, seafood, Cretan dishes and Italian cuisine. An Asian restaurant is also possible.
For guests choosing private or luxury residences, an array of Haute-Living services is available, including a dedicated villa manager, a lounge with VIP services, concierge service, private check-in, sun loungers at Spina, the VIP beach area, and upgraded welcome and bathroom amenities. Other exclusive amenities include eclectic cocktail, branded spirits and all-day snacks, signature canapes by the resort’s executive Chef, afternoon tea and state-of-the art gym facilities.
The spa of Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection includes an interior seawater pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub. It also offers rejuvenating therapies, such as facial and massage treatments. Additional VIP services are upon charge and include a butler service, in-villa signature dining, VIP business package and helicopter transfer among several more.
The village of Elounda is 2.5 km away. The lively seaside town of Agios Nikolaos is within 12 km of Domes of Elounda.
Main Street
Find below list of things to do near Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection:
The Malia booze cruise is a four-hour boat party out of Agios Nikolaos port, with coach transfer from Malia, DJs on two decks, a swim stop and drinking games. It ran Thursdays and Sundays through the season on a boat carrying up to 400 people. We have no current booking route for it, so this page sets out what the trip involved and what the alternatives are.
The day ran to a fixed timetable from Malia and back. Four stages made it up.
First was the coach from Malia at 15:00, a drive of about 40 minutes east to the port at Agios Nikolaos. Second, the boat left the port at 16:00 for four hours on the water, with two bars, two decks and Malia’s DJs and MCs playing throughout. Third was the swim stop, in a sheltered bay where the boat anchored for swimming, jumping from the deck and the organised games, champagne dives and belly flops among them. Fourth was the return to port at 20:00 and the coach back to Malia.
A light lunch was included: a sandwich or hot dog, with a vegetarian sandwich on request. Drinks were bought on board from around €5 for a spirit and mixer. A photographer worked the boat and posted the pictures free afterwards.
The trip ran between the Malia resort strip and the Mirabello gulf.
The ticket covered the transfer, the boat and a light lunch.
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We have to be honest about what we can tell you here. This trip no longer has a live booking listing, so we have no current price, schedule or verified review record to work from. Our own stored figures put it at 3.91 out of 5 across 65 ratings and around €60, a middling score, and one we cannot re-verify.
What we can say about the format is this. A 400-capacity boat with two decks and two bars is a large party, and that is the whole point of the product, nobody books a booze cruise hoping for a quiet afternoon. The structure was well judged for it: four hours is long enough to be a proper event and short enough that the return coach is not a disaster, and the swim stop in a sheltered bay broke the drinking up with something to do.
Starting from Agios Nikolaos rather than Malia was a sensible choice too. The Mirabello gulf has calmer, more sheltered water than the open north coast, which matters on a boat where people are jumping off the deck.
Three things to be clear about.
We cannot verify that this still operates, at what price or on what days. Check directly before planning anything around it.
The 3.91 rating in our own records is the lowest of any boat trip we list, and we have no detail on what drove it.
The coach journey was 40 minutes each way on top of the four hours afloat, so the day ran from 15:00 to roughly 21:00 door to door.
If you want a boat day on this coast with a live booking and a current review record, the Elounda bus and boat trip works the same gulf with a BBQ lunch and two swim stops, and the Agios Nikolaos boat trip to Spinalonga sails from the same port.
Check it still runs, carry cash for the bar, and plan the evening after it.
The trip ran Thursdays and Sundays through the season, with the coach leaving Malia at 15:00, the boat sailing from Agios Nikolaos at 16:00 and returning at 20:00.
We hold no current booking route for this trip. Contact the operator directly, or consider one of the alternatives above.
The boat party ran four hours, from 16:00 to 20:00, with a 40-minute coach each way from Malia.
The boat sailed from Agios Nikolaos port, about 40 minutes east of Malia by coach.
A light lunch was included, a sandwich or hot dog, with a vegetarian sandwich on request. Drinks were bought on board.
The boat carried up to 400 people across two decks, with two bars and DJs playing throughout.
The boat anchored in a sheltered bay for swimming, deck jumping and the organised games.
We hold no current booking route. Check with the operator directly, or look at the other boat trips sailing from the same port.
This trip combines a coach transfer from the Heraklion coast with a boat cruise around the Mirabello gulf, sailing past Spinalonga, stopping at the pirate Barbarossa’s cave and swimming at Kolokytha and Skistra beaches. A BBQ souvlaki lunch, fruit, raki and a glass of wine or juice come with the boat. Orange Travel runs it over 7 hours from €48.36, with a 4.12 rating across 60 reviews.
The coach carries you east to the Mirabello gulf and the boat does the rest. Four stages make up the day on the water.
First, the boat circles Spinalonga, the fortified islet that served as a leper colony until 1957, seen from the water rather than landed on. Second is a short stop at Barbarossa’s cave, where the Ottoman corsair sheltered before taking the island. Third is Kolokytha beach, where the crew grills the souvlaki and serves it with bread on the sand, with music playing. Fourth is Skistra, a quieter beach that few boats call at, for a last swim.
The captain can change the destinations and timings at any point for weather or safety, which is standard for this coast and worth knowing before you book around one particular stop.
The route runs east from the Heraklion coast into the Mirabello gulf.
The fare covers the boat, the food and the drinks named below, and it excludes equipment and towels.
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We recommend this trip for the two beaches rather than for Spinalonga. Kolokytha and Skistra are both awkward to reach any other way, Kolokytha needs a rough track and a walk, Skistra barely sees visitors at all, and a boat that stops at both, feeds you on the sand and puts music on is a genuinely good day.
The reviews consistently praise the crew over everything else. Guides are named individually, Marissia, Nektaria, Nandia, Nadia, and one German reviewer singled out the history of the area being told in a lively and charming way. The atmosphere gets mentioned repeatedly: music on the boat, people jumping off it, dancing at the beach stop. One British reviewer noted the boat was spacious and not overcrowded, which is not something you can say about every Spinalonga cruise.
The extras land well. Watermelon and the complimentary raki both come up by name, and one reviewer called the bar drinks reasonably priced and properly cold.
Three things to weigh, since this scores 4.12 out of 5.
The lunch is a snack served late. Value for money scores 4.1, the weakest dimension, and the reason is in the reviews: one guest described the light lunch arriving at 16:00, and two pieces of souvlaki with bread is a modest meal for a 7-hour day. Bring your own snacks.
Vegetarians must arrange it in advance. The vegetarian option is a Greek salad and is available on request only, which one reviewer discovered had not been arranged. Confirm it at booking.
The coach ride is longer than people expect. One British reviewer said they had not realised how long the bus ride from Heraklion would be. The boat is in the Mirabello gulf, which is the far side of the Heraklion regional unit.
Bring your own snorkel, pack snacks, and confirm any dietary request in writing before the day.
Pick-up covers the Heraklion, Malia and Hersonissos coastal strip, and the day runs about 7 hours in total. The captain may change destinations or timings at any point for safety or weather.
Bring a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, snacks, cash, snorkelling gear and motion sickness prevention. Pets, unaccompanied minors and non-folding strollers are not permitted on board.
The day runs about 7 hours, combining the coach transfer from the Heraklion coast with the boat cruise in the Mirabello gulf.
The boat circles Spinalonga rather than landing. You see the fortress walls from the water, which is a different view from the ferry landings.
Two pieces of pork souvlaki with grilled bread are included, plus fruit, water, raki and one glass of wine or juice. Reviewers report it served mid-afternoon, so bring snacks.
A Greek salad is available on request only, so it must be arranged when you book rather than on the day.
Snorkelling and fishing equipment are not included. Reviewers who brought their own were glad they did.
The cave is where the Ottoman corsair Barbarossa sheltered before taking the island, and the boat makes a short stop there between Spinalonga and Kolokytha.
Check dates and prices for the Elounda bus and boat trip.
Journey back in time and explore the ancient civilizations of Crete on a private full-day tour to Spinalonga. Drive along the north coast of the island and get an amazing view of the Selinari gorge on the way to the small fishing village of Elounda, known for its gorgeous beach.
Board a boat to the small island of Spinalonga, and learn the local history dating back to Ancient Greece. Take a guided tour of the island to explore how it served as a natural defense for the ancient city of Olous and was later used by the Saracens as a hide-out for their pirates. Discover the remains of the Venetian fortifications and learn more about the period of Ottoman rule.
Proceed to the sandy Bay of Kolokitha where the boat will be anchored. Enjoy some free time to swim in the crystal clear waters and feast from a BBQ lunch. Return to Elounda to take the bus to the pretty town of Agios Nikolaos, where you can browse the shops and visit the bottomless lake.
Before heading to Spinalonga the first visit is an olive oil park where you can experience first-hand the standardization of extra virgin olive oil, table olives, and olive paste.
You will be able to taste the authentic Greek product, which is famous worldwide for its great taste and nutritional value, as well as other authentic Cretan products like “raki” and honey.
After your first stop, you reach the capital town of Lasithi, Agios Nikolaos. You can discover the pretty city on your own, stroll through the shops, or relax in one of the countless cafes next to the picturesque bottomless lake of Voulismeni.
You continue your journey to Plaka, a small fishing village directly opposite Spinalonga. Here you will have plenty of free time to enjoy lunch or a refreshing swim. Moreover, from there you can take a 15-minute boat ride that takes you to the well-known island of Spinalonga.
The history and the culture of the island of Spinalonga became one with human tragedy over time. It has been an important place throughout history for the ancient Greeks, as a natural protection for the city of Olous, for the Saracens as a hiding place for their pirates, for the Venetians as a fortress, for the Turks as a settlement and for a long time the island served as a leper colony.
After your self-guided tour at Spinalonga, approximately 90 minutes, you’ll return to Plaka. There you have plenty of time to enjoy a coffee or your lunch, before going back to the hotels. An amazing trip with many destinations that you definitely should not miss!
Additional important information about the pickup and drop-off handling:
Pickup areas and times are as follows:
Ammoudara Beach road at 8 a.m.
Heraklion center 8:05 a.m.
Karteros 8:20 a.m.
Kokkini Chani, Gournes 8:25 a.m.
Kato Gouves 8:30 a.m.
Analipsi 8:40 a.m.
Anissaras 8:50 – 8:55 a.m.
Hersonissos, Piskopiano, Koutouloufari 9 – 9:05 a.m
Stalida, Stalis 9-9:10 a.m.
Malia 9:25 a.m.
Sissi 9:40 a.m.
This private boat cruise charters a motorboat and skipper from Agios Nikolaos harbour for 4 hours, taking you along the Mirabello coast to Spinalonga, Kolokytha and the hidden bays in between. The charter is priced per boat rather than per person, starting at €400 for groups of up to 9 depending on which of the five boats you take. Mirabello Boats runs it from 1 April to 31 October.
The skipper sets the route on the day, working from the wind and what you want to see, and the standard run covers three stops between Agios Nikolaos and the Elounda lagoon.
First comes Agioi Pantes, the small island off the harbour mouth with a chapel on its high point, where Cretan wild goats, the kri-kri, live freely. Second is Spinalonga, 800 metres off the coast, where the 16th-century Venetian fortress is viewed from the water rather than landed on. Third is a swim stop at Kolokytha, and often a second one at Agriomantra, a quiet cove backed by tamarisk trees.
Snorkelling gear comes with the boat, and the Elounda lagoon is the best of the water for it. Boats carry Bluetooth speakers, so the soundtrack is yours.
The cruise works the Mirabello bay between Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, and three of its stops have their own page here.
The charter covers the boat, the skipper, drinks and snorkelling kit, and it leaves out fuel, food and transport to the harbour.
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The fuel arrangement is the one to read twice. Consumption is measured at the end and billed then, so the headline charter price is not the final price.
We recommend this charter to people who have already seen Spinalonga from a ferry and want the coast on their own terms. We rate the Mirabello bay as the most interesting stretch of water in eastern Crete, and the difference between a scheduled boat and a private one here is not luxury, it is the ability to stop where the water is empty rather than where the timetable says.
The review record is small, at 8 ratings and a 4.75 average, so we are reading it as indicative rather than settled. Within that sample the same points repeat. The skippers are named personally and praised by name, which in our experience is the clearest signal a small operator is running things properly. Several guests describe abandoning the listed itinerary to stay longer at a bay they liked, and the skipper simply agreeing, that flexibility is what you are paying for. One group had their date rearranged free of charge when the weather made the open-water crossing unwise, which tells you how the operator handles a bad forecast.
Two things we would raise before you book.
The fuel is billed separately and metered at the end of the trip, so the price you see is a floor rather than a total. A 300-horsepower nine-metre boat burns considerably more than a 30-horsepower five-metre one over the same four hours, and that gap lands on your bill, not the charter fee.
The second point is the sample size. Eight reviews is not enough to detect a recurring problem, and we would treat a 4.75 across 8 bookings with more caution than a 4.4 across 3,000. Nothing negative recurs in what is published, but there is not much published.
Match the boat to your group, book the morning slot, and settle how fuel is charged before you leave the pontoon.
The meeting point depends on which boat you book, so check the voucher rather than assuming the main harbour. The season runs 1 April to 31 October, and the fleet covers 1 to 9 guests across five boats, from a 5.3-metre 30-horsepower motorboat to a 9-metre 300-horsepower one.
Bring a passport or ID card, swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, a sun hat and sunscreen. Food is not provided, so either eat before you board or plan the Elounda stop around lunch.
The charter runs 4 hours, which covers Agioi Pantes, the Spinalonga viewpoint and one or two swim stops.
The price is per boat, from €400, and it covers up to 9 guests depending on which vessel you choose.
No, fuel is metered and charged at the end. Consumption is measured after the trip, so a larger engine raises the final bill even over the same four hours.
The cruise views Spinalonga from the water rather than landing. For a landing you need the scheduled boats from Elounda or Plaka instead.
Snorkelling equipment comes with the boat, and the Elounda lagoon and Kolokytha are the two stops where it is worth using.
The boats operate from 1 April to 31 October, with morning departures the more reliable choice in midsummer.
Check dates and prices for the Agios Nikolaos private boat cruise with skipper.
This is a seated food tasting rather than a walking tour. Over 2 hours at the Faedra Beach restaurant at Ammoudara, just west of Agios Nikolaos, a host takes you through five Greek and Cretan dishes served as separate courses, opening with a shot of tsikoudia alongside Cretan rusks and fresh tomato. Kamaratos SA run it from €55, and vegetarian and vegan versions are available.
The evening is built around five dishes, each served and explained in turn.
First comes the welcome: tsikoudia, the Cretan grape spirit, poured with rusks and fresh tomato. Second comes the sequence of five plates drawn from the everyday Greek and Cretan repertoire, mezedes, casseroles, ladera and mageirefta, the slow-cooked dishes that Greek households actually eat. Named dishes on the list include fava, taramosalata, fasolakia and stuffed peppers, tomatoes, courgettes and aubergines. Third comes dessert, and the tasting closes there.
Wine is poured through the meal. The point of the format is breadth: five smaller plates cover more of the cuisine than one main course does, and the host explains the ingredients and the cooking method behind each.
The tasting stays in one place, on the coast west of the town.
The €55 covers the whole tasting at the table.
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We recommend this one for what it is, and we want to be exact about that, because the old page title on this site said walking tour and the experience is not one. You sit at a table by the sea for two hours and eat.
What earns it a place is the choice of dishes. Fava, taramosalata, fasolakia and stuffed vegetables are home cooking rather than taverna showpieces, the ladera and mageirefta that Greek families cook on ordinary weekdays and that most visitors never get a proper run through. Being talked through five of them in sequence, with the reasoning behind the ingredients, is a genuinely different thing from ordering mezedes off a menu.
The single review on record is a strong one. A German guest who took it in October 2023 wrote that their host Manos was great, that they learned a lot about Greek food philosophy, ingredients and culture, that the staff were very kind and that the food was very delicious.
That single review is also the caveat, and it is a real one.
One review is not evidence of consistency. Five stars from one guest tells you far less than four stars from two hundred, and this listing has no volume behind it. Treat the rating as a promising signal rather than a proven record.
The format is fixed, so check it suits you. There is no walking, no market visit and no cooking, if you want a tour of Agios Nikolaos on foot, this is not that, and if you want to cook, a cooking class is the right booking. Dietary requirements are worth flagging when you book, since the vegetarian and vegan versions are arranged rather than standing.
Confirm your dietary needs early, arrange your own transport, and pace the first shot.
The meeting point is the Faedra Beach resort at Ammoudara, west of Agios Nikolaos. The tasting runs 2 hours and seats you at the seafront restaurant for the whole of it.
Come hungry rather than after lunch, five courses plus dessert is a full meal, not a snack.
The tasting runs 2 hours, seated at one restaurant for the whole session.
No, it is a seated tasting at a seafront restaurant, with no walking element despite the older listing title.
Five Greek and Cretan dishes are served as separate courses, followed by dessert.
Both are available on request, so state your requirement at the time of booking.
Tsikoudia is the Cretan grape spirit poured as a welcome here, served alongside rusks and fresh tomato.
One review, rated five stars, from a German guest in October 2023, a small base to judge it on.
Check dates and prices for the Greek and Cretan food tasting in Agios Nikolaos.
Find below list of beaches near Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection:
The Tsifliki community is situated 13km to the north of Agios Nikolaos, along the route that links Elounda to the charming village of Plaka. This area is blanketed by olive groves and boasts stunning vistas of Elounda’s lagoon and the former leper colony, Spinalonga Fortress.
The local beaches are sandy, interspersed with occasional rocky areas, and feature tranquil waters. The beach named Dreros, after a nearby hotel, is abundant with tamarisk trees that stand close to the shoreline. The hotel has excellently maintained this beach, making it a perfect destination for families. The serene sea, the tree shadows that reach the beach, and the basic facilities of an organized beach all contribute to its appeal. Plus, the shops of Plaka and Elounda are conveniently nearby.
As previously noted, the most frequented beach in Tsifliki is named after an old hotel, Dreros. This name is not coincidental; it references the ancient Doric city of Dreros, positioned above the modern town of Neapolis. Dreros was home to the Dorians who came to Crete in 1125 BC, as well as the Eteokrites, who are indigenous Cretans and Minoan descendants. The hotel’s original proprietor hailed from Neapoli and named it Dreros in honor of his hometown’s ancient nearby city.
Beginning your journey from Elounda and heading towards Plaka along the coastal road, you will soon encounter a series of small pebble and stone beaches at the Mavrikiano and Agia Paraskevi settlements. In certain spots, you’ll see olive trees rooted on the beach itself, unharmed by the tranquil and saline waters of the lagoon. Occasionally, you’ll come across beach bars perched on platforms. The charming sight of fishing boats docked nearby undoubtedly tempts you to pause your journey for a photo op. As you move further north, the beaches of Tsifliki and Plaka unveil themselves, offering breathtaking views of Spinalonga, the famous leper island, and one of Greece’s most renowned attractions.
Armos, the northern area of the Spinalonga Peninsula, opposite the Spinalonga fort’s islet, Kalydon, is a unique site. It’s dotted with deserted old farms and is relatively unexplored due to a lack of roads leading to it. Besides the renowned Kolokitha beach at the peninsula’s southeast base, several hidden beaches are located in the northern part, which are well worth a canoe trip from Plaka to explore.
Vathi, one of these beaches, is found two kilometres northeast of Elounda port, on the peninsula’s northwest side. This small, sheltered cove boasts calm waters, a southeast orientation, and stunning views of Elounda town and its mountains. The beach at Vathi is a mix of pebbles and sand with relatively shallow water. Old farm remnants are scattered next to the beach, and a nearby boat platform serves as a stop for excursion boats from Elounda. Tamarisk and carob trees offer shade for resting beachgoers.
At the Spinalonga peninsula’s northernmost point, opposite the Spinalonga fort, lies the area known as Oxo Harakia or Skourgeto. The name Oxo Harakia refers to the rocks (haraki in Cretan dialect) that jut out above the sea surface at the narrow pass between the islet and the peninsula. Skourgeto, a Cretan term, describes the sharp, salt and sea-eroded rocks that are unwalkable without shoes. Two secluded, sandy beaches with crystal clear waters are ideal for snorkeling. Pottery fragments scattered around hint at ancient habitation.
Further northeast lies the sandy beach of Pelekiti, situated at a narrow ravine’s exit. The entire northern Spinalonga area, including all limestone-covered places, was previously used to extract boulders for building the Spinalonga fort. From Pelekita to Skourgeto, the area served as a limestone quarry, leading to large stair-like formations and distinctive rock shapes. In some places, the carvings extend into the sea. The name Pelekiti is Greek for “chiseled.”
Find below list of gorges near Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection:
The Mavrogiannis Gorge, also known as Skinias Gorge, originates from the vicinity of the Skinias village in the Mirabello province. Following a winding path, it culminates at the stunning Avlaki beach in Vlychadia. This dry canyon is characterized by magnificent rock structures throughout its length. Although the gorge transports water from the Areti Monastery region, it is predominantly dry.
The undiscovered Kouroukoulos gorge originates from the abandoned village of Agalianos, located in the Merambelo district of Lasithi prefecture. The old trail from the village leads us to the Lagos stream, which is suitable for hiking along its entire length. Initially, the terrain is dominated by oak trees, but as we get closer to the sea, the vegetation changes to brushwood and oregano.
To the west of Kouroukoulos lies the Patsopoulos Gorge, separated by a thin strip of rugged, rocky land known as Spathi. From the peak of Spathi, one can enjoy views of both canyons. Just before reaching the sea, the two canyons merge into one. The Kokkinos Detis (Red Cliff), a spot of exceptional beauty in the gorge, is home to a variety of rare, mostly endemic, plants that thrive in rock crevices.
Close to the sea exit, there is a quaint chapel dedicated to St. Luke, a local hermit who was fatally struck by an arrow in the canyon. Beneath the chapel lies St. Luke’s cave, from which “holy” water drips. A little further on from the chapel, the gorge opens out onto the pebble-filled Kouroukoulos beach, boasting a captivating underwater landscape. On the beach’s eastern side, a sea cave beneath the cliff leads to the delightful pebble beach of Kakia Naspa (Evil Landslide), an excellent spot for swimming.
The Skotini Gorge cuts through some of the most secluded and untamed regions of Crete. A research station for the study of aerosols, established by the University of Crete, is situated in this isolated location, far from the pollution of urban areas and devoid of human activity. From the village of Finokalias, a brief journey northward will lead you to the gorge. As you traverse this path, you’ll encounter a stunningly wild terrain characterized by bare rocks, sparse vegetation, and a variety of spices and herbs. Within the gorge, you’ll find 2-3 wells filled with water and numerous caves nestled within its towering walls. One such cave is said to have been the dwelling of a mysterious woman known as Datserolenia, according to local lore. This cave is guarded by a stone wall at its entrance. A small beach, Skotini, is situated just a short distance away.
Alternatively, you can take the dirt road from Finokalias to the Saint Andrew Monastery, situated at Cape Drepani. A section of this church is constructed on the mountain rock, with an inscription indicating that its repair was funded by patients from Spinalonga. To reach the beach from here, you’ll need to head eastward along the shoreline.
The name Skotini, meaning ‘dark’ in Greek, likely originates from the high, closely spaced walls of the canyon which, along with the tree canopy, significantly diminish the light, giving the gorge a ‘dark’ appearance. Another theory suggests that the name is derived from the numerous dark caves found within the canyon.
The Maliaris Gorge, which originates near the Peronides village, travels west of the Souvlos village where a trail commences, and combines with the Anemaliaris gorge before concluding at the Tzavlidon Vlyhada beach. This gorge, characterized by scrublands, expansive areas, and cave-filled walls, is a classic representation of the Mirabello region. Notably, the gorge is home to a massive cave known as Volakospilios, situated in its center.
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