About this property
Located in Koutsounari on Crete’s beautiful southeast coast, Villa Nari is the perfect pick for groups of friends or a multi-generational family who would like a little private time yet spend their holiday together. It is comprised of two villas and two maisonettes, each of which enjoys two bedrooms, living space and its own private outdoor space yet all share an excellent swimming pool and a delightful astroturfed children’s play area. In total, Villa Nari can sleep up to sixteen guests in eight bedrooms with the option to also use sofa beds in the living rooms.
Koutsounari is a small, tranquil seaside village, 6km east of Ierapetra and 43km southeast of Agios Nikolaos. It is near the picturesque village of Agios Ioannis, surrounded by olive groves and pine trees. The 5km long beach of Agios Ioannis is one of the longest in Crete and it comes sprinkled with tamarisk trees. To the east, the bay of Psaropoula enjoys soft sand and crystal-clear calm waters. Despite not being as well known as some of Crete’s bustling resorts, there is plenty to discover here including Ierapetra, Xerokambos and Kato Zakros beaches, Zakros Gorge, Koufounissi Island, Ha and Havgas gorges, Pefki Gorge and village, the E4 European Walking Path and the wonderful Economou Winery located on the Ziros Plateau, inland from Xerokambos.
Villa Nari is modern and designed for groups of holidaymakers wanting a mix of private and social time. Its eight bedrooms are split between two villas and two maisonettes, each with two bedrooms. The bedrooms enjoy a mix of beds. One has a kingsize bed, two enjoy queen-size beds, one a double, three have twin beds and one room offers bunk beds which are ideal for children. There is a modern bathroom with excellent fittings in every villa or maisonette as well as tidy living spaces and kitchens. The styling throughout is minimalistic.
Families or friends can enjoy time together in the pool, mesmerised by the beautiful sea views, listening to the villa sound system and making plans to explore this wonderful island. There is a large smart television with Disney + and Netflix if little ones need to chill after a busy beach day and a Nintendo Switch games console and table tennis that older children will appreciate.
Outside, little children can play safely in the play area, you can enjoy barbecues while watching the sky change colour to orange, pink and red and relax with a bottle or two of chilled local wine. When you leave this lovely villa, the neighbourhood is full of olive trees, local houses and some excellent tourist amenities. If you don’t want to drive, you can take a bus to Ierapetra.
Villa Nari is located in the peaceful resort of Koutsounari, east of Ierapetra and south of Agios Nikolaos. Koutsounari boasts a beautiful beach with coarse sand, calm turquoise waters and some excellent tavernas, restaurants and bars. The sandy cove of Psaropoula and Kakkos Bay at the eastern part of the beach is best for families. There are lots of sun loungers, umbrellas, showers and a good selection of watersports. Visitors enjoy diving from the large rocks on both sides of the beach. There are some restaurants in front of hotels along the beach. Near Kakkos Bay there are some Roman fish tanks but you should remember to wear shoes as the rocks can be sharp.
A popular excursion from Villa Nari is to the Gorge of Milonas and its waterfalls. This is located east of Ierapetra and north of the village of Ferma. It can be a little tricky to find but it is worth it. The path is quite easy to walk although there are some more difficult sections. The waterfall forms a small pool which is perfect for taking a dip on a hot day.
North of the villa is the very buzzy town of Agios Nikolaos. It is pretty, modern and lively, sitting around Lake Voulismeni which is surrounded by cafes and tavernas. It is a romantic lakeside location, perfect for an evening stroll, cocktails and a meal. There is a ferry port with ferries to and from Rhodes and Karpathos via Sitia. Nearby, you can visit Kitroplateia Beach, take a day tour of Spinalonga Island, go snorkelling or diving or visit the Cretan Olive Oil Farm.
Ierapetra is a lovely location in the south of Lasithi with fine beaches, a ruined Venetian fort, a wide esplanade, folk museums and delightful seafront fish tavernas. You can leave from Ierapetra for the remote and uninhabited golden sands of Chrissi Island, another superb excursion. Chrissi Island is low-lying and only roughly 7km by 2km. It boasts many coves and may be visited from spring to autumn.
Makrigialos Beach is a stunning beach 23km east of Ierapetra. It is also the name of the Minoan ancient site located just west of the village. There is also a wonderful beach at Analipsi, formed around a wide bay with fine golden sand and pebbles. There are numerous covers and tiny beaches to explore such as Diaskari and Ammoundi beaches. The whole area is busy with agriculture. Olives trees grow on the hillsides and there are delicious vegetables growing in greenhouses dotted all around. The Pefki Gorge provides excellent hiking and the inland villages of Agios Stefanos, Pefki and Aori are lovely on the back roads. The E4 European Walking Path crosses through Pefki Gorge. You can start the Pefki Gorge walk in the north at the village of Pefki which means pine and walk 4.5km downhill and south ending in Aspros Potamos, 2km north of Makrigialos.
Accommodation
The Villa
Villa Nari is a 4 villa complex, with 8 bedrooms sleeping up to 16 guests.
Interior:
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Dining area
- Living room
- 2x Sofa bed
- 4x Double bedrooms
- 3x Twin bedrooms
- Bedroom with bunkbeds and a floor mattress
- 4x Bathrooms
- 2x WC
Exterior:
- Private pool
- Patio/Balcony
- Garden
- Dining area
- BBQ
- Parking
Additional Facilities
- Extra pillows and blankets
- Room-darkening shades
- Iron/Ironing board
- Clothes drying rack
- Mosquito nets
- 50" hdtv with Disney+, Netflix
- Nintendo switch
- Sound system with bluetooth and aux
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit
- Dedicated workspace
- Beach towels
- Umbrellas
- Snorkelling gear
- Bikes
- Sun loungers