good for you

Part Cretan village, part eco-farm and part hiker's lodge, the Milia Settlement has a lively history - nestled amongst chestnut trees in mountainous western Crete, this tiny mediaeval hamlet was abandoned after a cholera outbreak, sheltered resistance guerrillas during World War II and was renovated by two locals in the 1980s.

Staying in former shepherd's homes, this is a place to completely change gears and live life at nature's pace. Buildings are restored using local materials and rooms are rustic and charming, filled with antique country furniture. Relax with other guests and your Cretan local hosts in the communal sitting and dining room, take in a cooking class and enjoy delicious organic food, explore the area on mountain bikes or simply walk one of the marked trails that lead you to neighbouring sights.

good for greece

The eco-credentials at Milia are impeccable. The food is all home-grown and organic, the settlement is solar-powered, buildings are built and renovated using local, natural materials, organic waste is recycled and life is simple at this idyllic Cretan farm.

Rooms

Food

The truly delicious food is all organic and locally grown, and cooked on the wood stove according to traditional recipes. Dishes include rabbit with mizithra cheese baked in the oven (mizithra is a soft cheese of western Crete made of goat or sheep's milk); potato, chestnut and onion stew; pork with orange cooked in the woodstove; boureki (zucchini and potato with mizithra cheese) and kalitsounia (small cheese pies).

Because everything is grown on site, your hosts need plenty of warning if you have special dietary needs, to which they will endeavour to cater.

Features & Facilities

Mountain bikes are available to guests to explore the many nearby trails.

If you feel like helping out on the farm, there are always a number of chores in which you can freely participate.

Lessons in traditional Cretan cooking and wine-tasting sessions take place periodically, as well as seminars on the interesting local flora. You can also spend time playing board games, reading a book or listening to music in the lodge's recreation room.

The recreation room also serves as a conference space or meeting place for up to 80 people. There is also an outdoor amphitheatre seating 60 people which is available for cultural events and small conferences.

See the 'Local Info' section for more to do in the area.

Local Info & Activities

If you are an avid hiker or simply love to take walks, you've another good reason to come here. Milia has six footpaths ranging from five to 18 kilometres in length, all of which bring you in direct contact with the nature of Crete.

Milia is located in the heart of Western Crete, ideally situated for short excursions to interesting places like Elafonissi, Palaiochora and Sougia for their superb beaches, or to Kandanos with its Byzantine churches, or Ballos and Gramvoussa, Falassarna, Polyrrhinia and Ancient Diktynna.

Following are some local celebrations and traditional activities worth noting:

• Celebration of the Virgin Mary, Central church of Vlatos - September 8th
• Celebration of Saint George, Kato Milia - May 8th
• Celebration of Saint Constantine, Vlatos - May 21st
• Chestnut Festival - October 15-30th
• Grape-pressing - September 10-20th
• Production of Tsikoudia (Raki) - November 10-20th
• Gathering of Olives - December-February
• Cheese-making - April-June

insider tips

• It's best to visit Milia in the summer - from Oct to April it can be a little cold and dark.
• You should have a flashlight with you as electricity is not constant at Milia.

Sustainability

The settlement runs on solar power by day and candle light by night.

All natural products are composted, and the lodge tries to find alternative uses for everything else. All edible fruit and vegetables end up in the kitchen, while their remnants and other plants feed the animals, who in turn provide the settlement with milk and cheese, meat, leather, wool and manure.

Reforestation has helped re-green Milia's hillsides.

All the guest-houses have been built from the foundations of the old village houses with local materials of chestnut wood and stone, keeping to the architectural style characteristic of the area, and are furnished with old restored furniture collected from the surrounding villages.

Getting There

Milia is 60km from Chania in Western Crete.

Take the National Road from Chania or Souda in the direction of Kissamos (Kastelli). At the end of the National Road there is a sign indicating the direction of Elafonissi. Proceed in this direction and pass through the villages of Kaloudiana, Potamida, Boulgaro. A little after the entrance to the next village, Topolia, there is a crossroads and two options:

a) If you turn right (towards Tsourouniana, Ai-Kyr Yiannis, Kalathenes and Syrikari), after about 500 metres turn left towards Tsourouniana and after about eight km turn right towards Milia. The last two km are on a dirt road in decent enough condition for passenger cars.

b) If you continue left at the crossroads a little after the entrance to Topolia, you pass through the village itself and the Topolianos gorge, and then Katsomatados. Approximately three km after Katsomatados is the crossroads for Vlatos and Milia, and here you turn right. This road leads to Milia.

This second route (through the village and gorge of Topolia) has lately become a little dangerous during the wintertime due to landslides within the gorge. There is only slight danger during the summer of falling rocks, unless the winds are exceptionally high. The distance to Milia is a bit longer via this second route, around 60 km from the centre of Chania.

A transfer from Chania is provided for 40 Euros, or free if your stay is for more than five nights.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

low season

1 Jun - 10 July, 1 Sep - 30 Sep

Single Room: Euro 50

Double Room: Euro60

Large Double Room: Euro 65

Triple Rooms: Euro80

Quadruple Rooms: Euro90

Suite (2 persons): Euro80

high season

11 July - 31 Aug, 1 Oct - 31 May

Single Room: Euro 50

Double Room: Euro65

Large Double Room: Euro70

Triple Rooms: Euro85

Quadruple Rooms: Euro95

Suite (2 persons): Euro80

additional info

All rates are inclusive of breakfast and taxes

Halfboard costs an extra Euro14 p/person

10% discount on bookings of 5 nights or more

• Children under 12 are Euro10 with an extra bed placed in the parents' room.
• Euro23 for an extra bed for an adult.

booking & cancellation policy

• A booking is secured on the payment of a 15% deposit. The remaining 85% is payable at time of stay.
• Cancellations made at any time will incur the loss of the deposit.
• Cancellations made near the arrival date will incur further charges. Full details will be given before a booking is confirmed.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.