Jennifer’s guidebook
City/town information
Kalyves is a must. It is a typical Greek town with banks, chemist, butchers, hardware shops etc. There are some fabulous bars and restaurants here, especially those along the beach front. The beach is beautiful with a lovely little harbour which you can swim in to. Toilets and showers on the beach. There is an Internet Café.
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Kalyves
Kalyves is a must. It is a typical Greek town with banks, chemist, butchers, hardware shops etc. There are some fabulous bars and restaurants here, especially those along the beach front. The beach is beautiful with a lovely little harbour which you can swim in to. Toilets and showers on the beach. There is an Internet Café.
Almyrida, another must. Lovely sandy beach with shallow water, safe for children. Lovely beach front restaurants. We like to be to the right side of the bay by the harbour where the beach is particularly good with snack bars right on the beach and close by to the toilets.
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Almyrida
Almyrida, another must. Lovely sandy beach with shallow water, safe for children. Lovely beach front restaurants. We like to be to the right side of the bay by the harbour where the beach is particularly good with snack bars right on the beach and close by to the toilets.
Plaka – walking distance from the villa has some nice restaurants, with free internet access, and a great small supermarket, next to the garden centre. Sell everything you would need. If you turn up towards Kambia from Plaka (sign posted for Kokkino Chorio) just by Supermarket, there is a lovely little bar called Totem which have splendid views and ice cold beer, frequented by the locals (free internet access)!
Just a bit further up this road, bearing round to the left and then to the right you will find what looks like a tip full of glass bottles. This is the recycling centre for glass which is actually a glass factory where you can go in and watch them blow glass and they turn all the used bottles in to lovely items of glass such as Vases, lights etc. You can buy items in there but they are happy for you to just go in and have a look.
30 íbúar mæla með
Plaka
Plaka – walking distance from the villa has some nice restaurants, with free internet access, and a great small supermarket, next to the garden centre. Sell everything you would need. If you turn up towards Kambia from Plaka (sign posted for Kokkino Chorio) just by Supermarket, there is a lovely little bar called Totem which have splendid views and ice cold beer, frequented by the locals (free internet access)!
Just a bit further up this road, bearing round to the left and then to the right you will find what looks like a tip full of glass bottles. This is the recycling centre for glass which is actually a glass factory where you can go in and watch them blow glass and they turn all the used bottles in to lovely items of glass such as Vases, lights etc. You can buy items in there but they are happy for you to just go in and have a look.
Georgeopolis – can be accessed from the National Road, but much nicer to go up over the hills past the glass factory following the signs for Kefalas and Georgeopolis. You come down in to the river and a lovely little resort with square and again a lovely beach. It’s great to see all the traditional little villages en-route.
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Georgioupoli
Georgeopolis – can be accessed from the National Road, but much nicer to go up over the hills past the glass factory following the signs for Kefalas and Georgeopolis. You come down in to the river and a lovely little resort with square and again a lovely beach. It’s great to see all the traditional little villages en-route.
There is a lovely little village with a river running through, just before you get to Heraklion (about 20 minutes before), which is a great place to stop on your way back to the Heraklion airport if you are flying in and out of Heraklion. There are lots of hand made crochet type craft stalls and lovely eating places.
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Fodele
There is a lovely little village with a river running through, just before you get to Heraklion (about 20 minutes before), which is a great place to stop on your way back to the Heraklion airport if you are flying in and out of Heraklion. There are lots of hand made crochet type craft stalls and lovely eating places.
Sightseeing
Kournas Lake – Just up the road from Georgeopolis. If you go through the square and go straight on to the National Road, turn left and then there is a right hand turn about 1km up on the right signposted for Kournas. The lake has a beach, peddlows, geese and a couple of restaurants.
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Kournas vatn
Kournas Lake – Just up the road from Georgeopolis. If you go through the square and go straight on to the National Road, turn left and then there is a right hand turn about 1km up on the right signposted for Kournas. The lake has a beach, peddlows, geese and a couple of restaurants.
Ombrogialos Bay – A beautiful turquoise and blue bay with platform for sunbathing and diving in to the gorgeous crystal clear waters with two Tavernas. Great for snorkelling and swimming. Just 5km away. To get to it drive up through Kokkino Chorio village passing the Glass Factory (another must see) towards Kefalas. Before Kefalas you get to village called Paleloni and you take a left turn just before the village. Follow the track down to the bay. You can get a boat trip from Almyrida which takes you round in to the bay.
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Port Ompros Gialos
Ombrogialos Bay – A beautiful turquoise and blue bay with platform for sunbathing and diving in to the gorgeous crystal clear waters with two Tavernas. Great for snorkelling and swimming. Just 5km away. To get to it drive up through Kokkino Chorio village passing the Glass Factory (another must see) towards Kefalas. Before Kefalas you get to village called Paleloni and you take a left turn just before the village. Follow the track down to the bay. You can get a boat trip from Almyrida which takes you round in to the bay.
Loutro – A beautiful fishing village only reachable by boat or on foot. Catch a 30 minute ferry from Sfakia on the south coast (about an hour and a half scenic drive). Recommend to stay overnight and get another ferry to a beautiful beach called Marmara.
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Loutro
Loutro – A beautiful fishing village only reachable by boat or on foot. Catch a 30 minute ferry from Sfakia on the south coast (about an hour and a half scenic drive). Recommend to stay overnight and get another ferry to a beautiful beach called Marmara.
Neighborhoods
Back home, walk up through Fortessa Heights across the wooden bridge to the top, turn right and walk up through the old Greek houses to end, turn right and up in to the village square of Kokkino Chorio. where you will find an old traditional village restaurant, far away from the tourists. Enjoy the view and traditional fayre.
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Kokkino Chorio
Back home, walk up through Fortessa Heights across the wooden bridge to the top, turn right and walk up through the old Greek houses to end, turn right and up in to the village square of Kokkino Chorio. where you will find an old traditional village restaurant, far away from the tourists. Enjoy the view and traditional fayre.
Snorkeling
Private Snorkel Beach (Koutalas Beach) - If you like peace and quiet and a bit of snorkelling then go to the local cove just up the road (turn right out of the villa in opposite direction to Plaka), directions in the information pack. Great as has a built in sun shade. Looks a bit daunting to drive down, but you can drive down on to the beach. Only the locals know about this beach, so always really quiet.
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Koutalas
Private Snorkel Beach (Koutalas Beach) - If you like peace and quiet and a bit of snorkelling then go to the local cove just up the road (turn right out of the villa in opposite direction to Plaka), directions in the information pack. Great as has a built in sun shade. Looks a bit daunting to drive down, but you can drive down on to the beach. Only the locals know about this beach, so always really quiet.