Set in Skaleta, Hermes Grand Luxury Beachfront Villa & Spa, By ThinkVilla offers a balcony with sea and pool views, as well as a seasonal outdoor pool, sauna and hot tub. This beachfront property offers access to a terrace, tennis at the tennis court, free private parking and free WiFi.
Featuring a PS4, the villa has a kitchen with a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave, a living room with a seating area and a dining area, 9 bedrooms, and 10 bathrooms with a walk-in shower and a hot tub. Towels and bed linen are featured in the villa.
The villa can conveniently provide information at the reception to help guests to get around the area.
At Hermes Grand Luxury Beachfront Villa & Spa, By ThinkVilla guests are welcome to take advantage of a hammam, a fitness centre and an indoor pool. A car rental service is available at the accommodation, while snorkelling and walking tours can be enjoyed nearby.
Agios Nikolaos Beach is 200 metres from Hermes Grand Luxury Beachfront Villa & Spa, By ThinkVilla, while Skaleta Beach is 600 metres away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International, 69 km from the villa, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Skaleta
Find below list of things to do near Hermes Grand Luxury Beachfront Villa & Spa, By ThinkVilla:
For this excursion, you will be picked up from your hotel area by our airconditioned bus. The first
stop is at the Spili village. You will have a chance to see a 100% traditional village with its well know
lion-head fountains in the middle of the village. Walking along its cobbled streets you can explore
the tourist shops which are full of traditional Cretan products. The next stop is at Matala where you
will have 2,5 hour of free time to enjoy the golden sandy beach. Matala is not only known for its
beautiful beaches but also for its artificially carved caves that date all the way back to the Minoan
period. These same caves were later occupied by a hippy commune in the late 6 0’s and 7 0’s. Many
musicians have composed song about the beauty of Matala including Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens.
The next stop is at the amphitheatrically built village of Agia Galini. Here will have 1,5 hours to
explore the village. The small, traditional houses and the harbor make the perfect match for a
coffee οr lunch break. The bus will then take you back to your hotel ending this amazing excursion.
Immerse yourself in the rich culinary heritage of Crete as you embark on a gastronomic journey like no other. Learn from a passionate cook and proud native of a charming Cretan village.
Enter the cook’s home and discover the secrets of traditional Cretan cuisine using fresh products sourced from her family’s farm or local farmers. Learn in a charming atmosphere and cook in a traditional wood oven.
Enjoy a menu that can be adapted for our vegetarian friends or those with allergies. Experience the hospitality of a local home with a warm welcome with Greek coffee or herbal tea, homemade lemonade, ladokouloura, rolls made with olive oil, and loukoumakia.
Chat with the hose to get to know each other and learn the recipes with old traditional practices and cooked in a wood oven.
Try making starters like dakos (Cretan salad with tomato, cheese, olive oil, herbs), tzatziki (the famous Greek dip), and Greek salad. Learn to cook main dishes like gemista (stuffed vine leaves, zucchini flowers, tomatoes, zucchini, and pepper), and mousaka.
Indulge in a traditional dessert like Tyropitakia, traditional pies with homemade cheese, local honey, and cinnamon sprinkled, homemade ice cream, and seasonal fruit. Enjoy local wine and raki alongside your meal.
Experience genuine connections forged during the class and feel like part of the extended Cretan family, creating lasting memories and forging a deep appreciation for the traditions and flavors of this remarkable island.
Arkadi Monastery (in Greek Moní Arkadíou) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated near Rethymno. It is one of the most historic monasteries on Crete.
What’s Included:
Experienced guide, use of bicycle, helmet, reflective orange vest, bottle of water, break for discussion and soft drink in a village during the tour.
Departure & Return:
Sofokli Venizelou 4, Rethymno 741 00, Greece
You will enjoy the beautiful view and you will be enchanted of the wonderful green landscape.
Additional Info:
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Check the prices and make your reservation from our booking system in our website.
All protection measures are taken by COVID 19. Helmets and reflective vests are sterilized by a special machine at 120o C.
Discover the village of Loutro, named after the Greek word for “bath”, due to the many ancient baths in the area. Eat seafood and drink wine by the sea. Go for a swim in the warm blue sea. Marvel at the many famous white houses, and enjoy a relaxing sailing trip on a boat.
Begin the excursion and travel from Rethymno, known for its harbor with fishing boats, to Chora Sfakion. Then, sail for 20 minutes to the village of Loutro, on the south coast of Chania. After you arrive here, you can spend 5 hours exploring in your own free time to do whatever activities you want.
Go swimming in the clear blue waters of the sea. Eat some delicious local food such as fresh fish if you are hungry. Sip on wine by the sea. Also, admire the many white houses that make this place famous. Finally, board the boat and sail to Sfakia then return to Rethymno to finish your tour.
While in Rethymno don’t miss the chance to enjoy the sea, right at the main beach of the city. Book from a selection of watersports that are organized by experienced English-speaking crew and safe vessels.
You can choose between Slides, Banana, Crazy Sofa and Water-Ski. At the beginning, you will get safety measures training and the crew will be at all times attentive of your activity.
When booking please read through the options and the requirements if any. Please note that the starting time might vary by up to 30 minutes due to weather conditions or if it’s too crowded (for safety reasons).
Embark on a delightful 3-hour cruise along the tranquil east coast, where we’ll unveil the rugged pirate caves and the awe-inspiring “Camarola” arch, shaped by the relentless sea. Dive into the crystal-clear blue waters for a rejuvenating 30-minute swim directly from the boat. As we journey back to Rethymnon port, witness the grandeur of the Venetian fortress, “Fortezza,” and glide through the picturesque Venetian Port, adorned with timeless beauty. Experience nature’s wonders and historical charm on this unforgettable voyage.
Find below list of beaches near Hermes Grand Luxury Beachfront Villa & Spa, By ThinkVilla:
Commencing 11km east of Rethymno and extending 3km eastward is the Skaleta beachfront, marking the end of the expansive beach of the Bay of Rethymno. The first resort you encounter after Pighianos Kampos is Sfakaki, which is exceptionally well arranged.
Stavromenos beach is the next stop, just 1km away, named after the area’s synonymous settlement. The beaches here are predominantly sandy and meticulously organized, with spots featuring pebbles and tiny rocks. As you journey eastward, the sandy stretch narrows down and gradually fades until it vanishes at the end of the Rethymno Gulf.
Continuing another 1km, you will reach the final segment of the immense East Rethymnon beachfront, Skaleta. Like all beaches on the north coast, Skaleta beachfront is exposed to the winds and typically experiences waves. The surrounding area has seen considerable development in recent years, now abounding with large hotels and tourist facilities. Regular bus services are available from Rethymno to Sfakaki, Stavromenos, and Skaleta.
From May to September, summer nights bring an extraordinary sight as loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs in the Gulf’s sand. It’s not uncommon to see small areas of the beach cordoned off and inaccessible to visitors where nests have been spotted.
Geropotamos beach is a small sandy beach at the mouth of the Geropotamos river, about 18 kilometres east of Rethymno and 3 kilometres west of Panormo, beneath the Heraklion to Rethymno highway bridge on the north coast of Crete. Geropotamos beach stays quiet and uncrowded, and its water is clear but cold and deep, so the open, north-facing shore suits confident swimmers more than young children.
Geropotamos beach lies on the north coast of Crete, about 18 kilometres east of Rethymno and 3 kilometres west of Panormo, in the Mylopotamos province. The beach sits right below the Geropotamos bridge, which carries the main Heraklion to Rethymno highway across the river mouth, so you can see it from the road as you drive by. The nearest village is Panormo, a fishing village with more hotels and tavernas about 3 kilometres to the east.
Geropotamos beach takes its name from the Geropotamos river, which flows all year and meets the sea at the eastern end of the sand. The river gathers water from the north side of the Psiloritis massif and joins the Mylopotamos before it reaches the coast, forming a small lake near the shore. The shore itself is mainly sand, with some pebbles in places, and the water is clear. The water stays cold because the river feeds the sea here, and it deepens quickly a short way out from the sand.
Swimming at Geropotamos beach rewards strong swimmers more than families with young children. The water is clear and cool, but it gets deep only a few steps from the shore, and the north wind, the meltemi, often turns the sea wavy. Keep young children close to the edge, and bring water shoes for the pebbles. Stay clear of the rocks at both ends of the beach, because the western side carries a risk of landslides. On calm, windless days the clear water is good for snorkelling, and you can swim west along the coast towards the Kamara rock arch.
Geropotamos beach is minimally organised, with a few umbrellas and sunbeds and a canteen near the sand. The canteen serves refreshments, coffee, water and simple food, and most of the beach stays open and quiet even in summer. There are no organised water sports, so the main activities are swimming and snorkelling. Several hotels, apartments and tavernas stand nearby, and Panormo is about 3 kilometres away.
Two natural landmarks frame Geropotamos beach: the Kamara rock arch to the west and Lianos Cape to the east. The Kamara arch stands a few metres west of the beach, above a small cove of sand and pebbles with clear blue water and vertical cliffs that give shade. This cove is reached by boat or seen from the cliffs above, and the north wind sends waves almost across it on rough days. Lianos Cape, in the Lavris area at the eastern end, is a rocky headland with a luxury hotel and small artificial coves protected by piers. A footpath starts near Geropotamos beach and leads east to these coves, and it stays open to walkers who are not hotel guests.
The Geropotamos wetland and Lianos Cape belong to the European Natura 2000 network. This protected area shelters reptiles, birds, turtles, amphibians, mammals and plants, some of them rare or found only in Crete. West of the beach, sea caves in the cliffs are home to the rare Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus.
Reach Geropotamos beach from the main Heraklion to Rethymno highway, which crosses the river on the Geropotamos bridge. Turn off at the western end of the bridge, then follow a short dirt road down to the car park beside the beach. Ask the KTEL or the Rethymno to Panormo number 20 bus driver to stop at the bridge if you travel without a car. Parking is easy on the open ground by the sand, so arriving by car is the simplest way to come and go on your own schedule.
A car makes Geropotamos easy to combine with Panormo, the Kamara arch and the other small coves along this stretch of the north coast, where the buses stop only on request and thin out in the evening. Driving yourself lets you arrive early while the sea is calm and the small organised area is still free, carry water shoes and shade for a beach with few facilities, and move on to a sheltered bay when the north wind picks up. For the most flexible day along the Rethymno coast, book a car rental in Crete.
Geropotamos beach is on the north coast of Crete, about 18 kilometres east of Rethymno and 3 kilometres west of Panormo, beneath the Heraklion to Rethymno highway bridge. It sits at the mouth of the Geropotamos river, in the Mylopotamos province.
Geropotamos beach is mainly sandy, with some pebbles in places. The sand meets clear water at the mouth of the Geropotamos river.
The water at Geropotamos beach deepens quickly and stays cold because of the river, and the north wind often makes it wavy, so it suits confident swimmers more than young children. Keep small children close to the shore and bring water shoes for the pebbles.
No, Geropotamos beach has no organised water sports, so the main activities are swimming and snorkelling. On calm days you can snorkel west along the coast towards the Kamara rock arch.
Reach Geropotamos beach by turning off the main Heraklion to Rethymno highway at the western end of the Geropotamos bridge, then following a short dirt road to the car park by the sand. KTEL and Rethymno to Panormo buses stop at the bridge on request.
Yes, there is easy parking on the open ground beside Geropotamos beach. The car park sits at the end of the short dirt road down from the highway bridge.
The Kamara rock arch lies a few metres west of Geropotamos beach, and Lianos Cape with its coves and footpath lies to the east. Panormo, with more hotels and tavernas, is about 3 kilometres away.
No, Geropotamos is a quiet, low-key beach and is not a designated naturist beach. It has a small organised area with umbrellas and a canteen, and long open stretches of sand.
Adelianos Kambos, also known as Adele Beach, is a seaside suburb of Rethymnon situated 6km to the east on a flat plain. This area, previously used for vegetable cultivation by residents of the adjoining village Adele, has seen considerable development over the past century, becoming an integral part of Rethymnon city. Access to Adelianos Kambos is straightforward, with local buses running regularly from the city centre.
The extensive sandy stretch of Rethymnon Gulf beach begins at Adelianos Kambos and continues to Skaleta. The suburb offers a variety of accommodation options, from large hotels to smaller establishments, and plenty of choices for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The beach is well-equipped with amenities like umbrellas, lifeguards, changing rooms, showers and bars, making it a popular spot for beach sports and water activities. The sea here is typically shallow but can be wavy, a characteristic of all open beaches on the northern side of Crete. An interesting feature of this beach is the sea turtles that lay their eggs here, leading to the occasional sight of marked nests protected by ropes and signboards.
Find below list of gorges near Hermes Grand Luxury Beachfront Villa & Spa, By ThinkVilla:
Arkadi Gorge is a moderate 4.5 km hike in the Rethymno region of Crete that starts just north of Arkadi Monastery and takes about 2 hours to walk. The route follows the eastern bank of a green, rocky ravine, ends near the village of Pikris where it meets the Gypofarago gorge, and pairs naturally with a visit to the historic monastery above it. There is no entrance fee and no facilities on the trail, so you carry your own water and food.This guide covers what the gorge is, how hard it is, how to reach the trailhead, what you see along the way, how to combine it with the monastery, and what to pack.
Margarites is a renowned village in the Milopotamos province, celebrated for its stunning architecture and traditional pottery. The broader region, encompassing the villages of Margarites, Orthe and Eleftherna, is characterized by a sequence of small, parallel gorges. Tiny watercourses like Margaritianos meander northwards, contributing to the Geropotamos River. These gorges are carved into the white-yellow marly limestone from the Upper Miocene era (8-10 million years ago), a result of the area’s uplift and water erosion.
The gorges’ most striking features are their abundant flora and extraordinary environment. Small groups of horizontally branched cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens var horizontal) blend with low shrubs, wildflowers, and aromatic plants. The local authorities have fashioned small trails that reveal the area’s beauty to visitors.
The untamed Prassano gorge, also known as the Gorge of Prasses, is situated 10 km southeast of Rethymnon. It commences south of the Prasses village and provides a captivating three-hour hike through enormous rocks and some fairly challenging passages, adding to the intrigue of the trek. The Prasano Gorge, currently serving as the “overflow” channel for the Potami dam, winds its way through the rocky hills of Gargana, with its stream terminating in the suburb of Platania, east of the city of Rethymnon. The river is engulfed by lush vegetation and towering plane trees, making it an ideal spot for a refreshing excursion.
The Prassano gorge can only be accessed from mid-June to mid-October due to the water flow. It is a crucial biotope of Crete, providing a habitat for buzzards and a small group of Bonelli’s eagles.
The Prasses Village
Set amidst the verdant Cretan landscape on the slopes of Vrysinas, Prasses serves as an entrance to the southern coast. This medieval village showcases the intermingling of diverse cultures that have traversed Crete, evident in the Venetian mansions, Turkish farmsteads, and Orthodox churches. The rich natural and cultural diversity make the village an ideal location for tours and walks. Heading south from Prasses, the road leads to the Potami valley, home to the dam of the same name.
Last updated: August 2026. Crete Locals.
Mili Gorge is a green hiking ravine about 7 kilometres south of Rethymno, where a shaded, year-round stream runs past the abandoned mill village of Mili. Mili Gorge gathers its water from the northern slopes of Mount Vrysinas and holds so many plants and trees that it reads like a botanical garden. The signed trail follows the length of the valley, so walkers pass old watermills, spring-fed pools, and small rock-cut churches along the way.
Mili Gorge takes its name from the water mills that once worked along its stream. Mili Gorge holds the abandoned village of Mili at its heart, split into two neighbourhoods, Ano Mili (Upper Mills) and Kato Mili (Lower Mills). About 30 watermills once ground the grain from the gorge and the surrounding villages, and nearly every resident worked as a miller. Today a single renovated watermill still stands in good condition, so visitors can see how the mills turned. Fruit trees and vegetable gardens fill the ground between the ruins, fed by the same water that once drove the wheels.
Residents left Mili in 1972 after landslides threatened the houses. The villagers built a new settlement, Nei Mili (New Mills), on the high ground west of the gorge. Some of the old mills have since been restored as homes, and one now serves as a cafe-restaurant for visitors.
Water shapes every part of Mili Gorge. Springs feed the stream at several points, and the two largest, Saint Anthony and Five Virgins, keep it flowing all year. Along its course the water forms small waterfalls and pools, shaded by tall plane trees, where walkers stop for a cool rest. Birds are easy to spot in the canyon, so the gorge rewards birdwatchers as much as hikers.
Mili Gorge holds several rock-cut churches along its trail. The cavernous church of Saint Anthony (Agios Antonios) and the cavernous church of Saint John (Agios Ioannis) sit within the rock, and the cemetery church of the Holy Five Virgins (Pente Parthenes) stands just past the village. Beyond Kato Mili the trail passes two more cave chapels, Saint Paraskevi (Agia Paraskevi) and Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos).
Mili Gorge has two entrances, so walkers can start from either end of the valley. The northern entrance sits near Chromonastiri, and the southern entrance sits near Xero Chorio. The trail is signed and stays shaded through the summer months. After heavy rain the stream rises and the ground turns slippery, so the walk is safest in dry, settled weather. The on-site cafe-restaurant runs mainly in the summer season, so carry your own water and snacks for the walk.
What type of gorge is Mili Gorge? Mili Gorge is a hiking gorge with a signed trail.
Is there water in Mili Gorge? Yes, water runs in Mili Gorge all year round.
How accessible is Mili Gorge? Mili Gorge is reached by a paved road.
How long is Mili Gorge? Mili Gorge is 2.5 km long.
How difficult is Mili Gorge? Mili Gorge rates 1 out of 10 for difficulty.
How many hours does it take to hike Mili Gorge? Hiking Mili Gorge takes about 2.5 hours.
What is the altitude difference in Mili Gorge? The altitude difference in Mili Gorge is 190 m.
Mili Gorge sits about 7 km south of Rethymno, and the trailheads near Chromonastiri and Xero Chorio are far easier to reach with your own vehicle than by bus. Driving lets you park near the entrance, start the walk early before the midday heat, and pair the gorge with the villages and monasteries around Rethymno, which is simplest with car rental in Crete.
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