1. A wildlife paradise
        2. Historical sites
        3. How the villagers live
        4. "ERIKI" apartments
        5. How to reach Epanochori ?
        6. Our price list

Nature lovers will appreciate a lot of  walking opportunities, such as exploring the many pedestrian tracks and paths around the village (4 to 20 km circuits) or enjoying the view from the top of Mount Gingilos (2080 m), whereas the most experienced ones will climb to the top of Melindaou (2133 m). 

You should certainly not forget to visit the famous Gorges of Samaria (16 km), the deepest and the wildest in Europe, that go down from the plateau of Omalos (15 km far from Epanochori) towards the Libyan sea. At last, less visited but very wild as well, the superb Gorges of Agia Irini (8 km) that have their sources near the apartments (500 m).
 

In your walking excursions, you will be able to have a closer look at a great variety of flowers, plants and birds. You see here on the right-hand side the wild tulip named "tulip bakeri".

Located at only 17 km from Epanochori, Sougia offers a very large and quiet shingle beach in a wonderful bay. Several boat trips are available from Sougia : Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Chora Sfakion, Paleochora and the Gavdos Island.

In addition to its wonderful sand beach, Paleochora has all the facilities of a major seaside resort. From Paleochora, a boat will take you to sea to observe several dolphin species.

Photos :  Wild flowers, Samaria, Gorge of Agia Irini,  Seaside, Mountain , Trips by the ferry,
 

  Whether you have visited or not the best-known excavations at Knossos,  you could now enjoy the western side of Crete and visit the antique sites at Lissos, Siya (Sougia), Elyros, Tarra (Agia Roumeli). These sites were inhabited from the Dorian times (ca. 1000 B.C.) until the Saracen invasion in 824 A.D.

Some fortresses along the coast at Chora Stakion, Loutro, Agia Roumeli and Paleochora give evidence of the four-century Venetian presence (13th to 17th century). 

Less well-known, those sites are worth visiting, together with the numerous small churches scattered in the whole region,  all decorated with Byzantine fresco paintings, which have more or less successfully withstood the Turkish assaults (17th century to 1898).

More recent, an oil mill, watermill relics, an oil press, threshing areas, shepherd shelters, baking ovens etc..... will enable you to understand the hard lifestyle of the native people who were still self-sufficient a few years ago.

Photos : Lissos, Elyros, Chania, Rethymnon, Monasteries and churches
 

Located on the first foothills of the White Mountains (at a height of 650 m. and with a spectacular view of the whole valley, that leads to Sougia on the coast of the Libyan sea), the village of Epanochori is still living at the pace of the seasonal works.
Every local villager produces his own olive oil, wine and yoghurt as well as his goat and sheep cheeses.

If you feel like it, you could take part in harvesting the crops, milking the ewes or pressing the grapes.  In October/November  you could find yourself around the still tasting the “tsikoudia” (a local marc brandy) in company with the villagers, enjoying the Cretan cooking, highly-recommended by dieticians or participating in the traditional local festivities.

From January to May, you  will discover the working of a modern oil mill. From April to June, you can watch the making of sheep cheese at a cheese dairy in the summer pasture lands.

Photos : Epanochori
 

Refill your health and energy quota thanks to the incredible surrounding quietness and to the amazing variety of natural country produce (honey, lamb meat, free-range eggs, olive oil and medicinal / aromatic plants).
 
Recently built (2001), the apartments offer every modern convenience in genuine Cretan style: 4 furnished studios (40 sqm for each of them)  with living and sleeping areas, bathroom (bath/shower) and a fully-equipped kitchenette.

Each studio can accommodate up to 4 people (an extra single bed can be added on request). They all have differently-oriented balconies and a direct private access. The house is surrounded with a common terrace and a  garden. A private car park is just in front of the house.

During the low season,  all the flats can be heated and two of them have a fireplace.

Meals can be taken in the village at two local inns, renowned for their Cretan specialities as well as for the high quality of their products.

Photos : The house "ERIKI"
 

Recently Chania has been provided with an international airport. The harbour of Souda near Chania is daily linked to Piraeus (Athens) by ferryboats which make the crossing by night.

Epanochori is located in the district of Selino, 45 km from Chania and on the road to Sougia. During the high season (June 1 - September 30) a public bus transport links Chania - Epanochori twice a day and once a day during the low season.
 

       In high season (P4), the stays are wished of one full week at least (from monday to monday if possible). 
       Only stays of 3 nights at least may be booked.
       Without reservation we accommodate guests for shorter stays subject to availability.