Welcome to Olives and Thyme Retreat, a unique totally private space being accessed only from the one road, with no one overlooking it. Perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking Souda Bay and across to the majestic White Mountains and above the Souda to Akrotiri road gives Olives and Thyme its unique location. Its mix of stone, wood, glass and metal creates a New York-Swedish style while sitting in a Cretan olive grove.

Villa description.
Designed by Aristomenis Varoudakis, the natural environment has been used to create some unique features for our guests. ‘The Reading Tree’, a shady quiet spot where you can just relax and read your book, and ‘Carob Circle’, a circular sitting area under a large carob tree, lit up in the evenings, with ‘The Overlook’, a private viewing seat set amongst the shrubs provide quiet spots for two. The olive trees offer a harmonious existence with nature enhanced by the mix of indigenous planted herbs, especially thyme, and colourful shrubs close to the villa. As with most olive groves you will find not just the large carob tree, “harupya” (in Greek), but others, since carob is considered as a necessary tree to have on one’s land. A private drive leads you to shady parking spaces for two vehicles.

The complex consists of the main tower like building, ‘The Keep’, with a separate stone cottage to the left. The Keep has four luxury en-suite bedrooms located on the ground and first floor with The Cottage being able to accommodate up to a further two people, giving a total of up to 10 bed spaces.

The interior spaces are luxurious with architecturally designed furniture and best quality materials giving a sense of pampering. Big windows provide a feeling of lightness and connection to the outside.

From the architects. Aristomenis and Georgios Varoudakis

‘An olive grove with volcanic rocks overlooking Souda bay and the White mountains is the context of this distinctive and sophisticated residence.

It was envisioned that the volcanic rock would become the main masonry material of the interior and the exterior. A look to the past of the island of Crete led to the architectural design of this three story tower structure. The three levels are all connected with a green central communication core to accentuate the tower feeling from the interior.

All the interior finishes and furniture, fabricated from wood, metal and glass, have been designed as a unique entity in harmony with the natural light conditions.’

Two swimming pools offer the option of swimming laps or continuous swimming. Both the lap pool and the endless pool are infinity pools and are heated. Both pools have stunning views across Souda Bay. Early swimmers can enjoy the sunrise reflected in the pools making for a sense of oneness with the day. The lap pool, found at ground floor level, can be accessed directly from the two ground floor bedrooms or via steps from The Cottage or the endless pool past the statue water feature. The endless pool, with a shaded terrace next to it, is at the first floor level with the outside kitchen and dining area to its side. The large terrace with a shaded fully equipped outside kitchen and dining area makes a perfect place for outside dining. A second area is next to this but has no shade. Ramps from the first and second floor give easy access to the pool and terrace.

Wi-fi internet is available throughout the entire property.

Being located on the Akrotiri has definite benefits. The Akrotiri is known for the sandy beaches of Marathi, Kalathas, Stavros and Tersanas as well as Seitan Limania. There are many good places to eat and the main amenities one needs. Olives and Thyme Retreat is also just twenty minutes’ drive to the beautiful Venetian city of Chania where one can wonder through the street admiring the Venetian villas and see the history of the city through the archaeological digs. Chania offers a range of eating experiences from giros to fine dining. Olives and Thyme Retreat is also just a few minutes to the Souda to Akrotiri road which means it takes just 20 minutes to be on the national road giving one the opportunity to explore further west, to the stunning beaches of Elafonissi and Falassarna, or journey east to Rethymnon and beyond.

This amazing location does however mean that the Souda- Akrotiri road runs below the villa so glass panels have been installed at the end of the infinity lap pool and the shaded sitting area by the endless pool to reduce the inevitable noise heard specifically when on the two front balconies and the endless pool and outside living area.