June | July | August 2026
Crete Fitness Retreat
Duration
7 nights
Location
Plaka, Lasithi, Crete
Group size
7-14 Guests
Fly into
Heraklion Airport
Perfect for
Busy minds in need of rest | Connecting | Exploring | Coached Training
From £2,125 per person
Includes: Accommodation, Meals, Coaching, Activities, Transfers.
Excludes: Flights
Upcoming Available Dates
20 June, 4 July, 4 August, 18 August
Overview | Accommodations | The Gym | Hosts | Itinerary | How to Book | Dates | Sustainability | FAQ
Rest Better. Progress Faster.
Our Crete Retreats began from the desire to give busy, driven people a chance to get healthier in a more holistic way than simply training at the gym and eating clean.
Alongside structured and well-considered training in a mixed-ability group, we have created a week of enjoying living in community, reconnecting with yourself, spending time in nature, eating with the seasons, letting go of decisions and fully resting. Proper recovery is the foundation of getting fitter and stronger, and as coaches we believe in giving you the best possible recovery you can have in a week.
Over the past 8 years, the Crete Retreat has evolved from a week of ‘recovery done right’ to an opportunity to get clarity, hope, and joy by surrounding yourself with a passionate team and a group of guests who want to invest in their health and quality downtime.
Who You’ll Meet on Retreat
Our guests tend to be busy, curious and open-minded. They enjoy being active and want to feel better in their bodies without needing to be at peak fitness.
We have no required fitness level and no fixed age range. Most guests are between 30 and 60, they book on their own or with a friend, family member or partner. They arrive engaged and open to connection.
People often comment on how easily the group gels. We think it’s mainly down to our setting and our team:
You live in nature for a week: by the sea, under the mountain, we are outdoors most of the day and eat our meals al fresco.
You have space to be alone as well as surrounded by others.
Our love for hosting helps everyone make friends fast.
Friendships made in Crete often last well beyond the Retreat week.
Where You’ll Stay
Our Crete retreats take place in the seaside village of Plaka, a small coastal town overlooking Souda Bay in western Crete.
The retreat is centred around our summerhouse known as the Fig Tree Villa, located just across the road from the beach and at the foot of the mountain. This is where the open-air gym sits and where much of the daily retreat rhythm unfolds.
For guests joining our retreats in June 2026, we are also introducing a second accommodation option nearby, Mythos Villa, offering a limited number of premium retreat rooms within a beautiful private villa overlooking the bay.
Both properties are located within a short distance of each other in the village and guests share the same training schedule, meals, hikes and daily activities throughout the week. The swimming pool at Mythos Villa is also open to all retreat guests.
You can choose the accommodation style that suits you while enjoying the same retreat experience.
Fig Tree Villa
Our Crete summerhouse is set across the road from the beach and at the foot of the mountain.
Four elegant family houses are arranged around a private courtyard and open-air gym, creating a relaxed communal feel without sacrificing personal space.
Each house sleeps two to four guests and has a central lounge and open-plan kitchen, ideal for relaxing together at any time.
All houses are laid out on two levels, with a twin or double bedroom, private bathroom and terrace on each floor. While you’ll share a house, each bedroom sits on its own level, giving you the freedom to enjoy quiet time or connect with others as you like.
Three houses look out over the sea, while the fourth opens onto mountain views. The gym is just steps from your door and there is reliable Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Every detail is designed for comfort and ease and guests often tell us they didn’t realise just how special the space would be until they arrived.
Mythos Villa
For the week of June 6–13, we are introducing Mythos Villa as a second accommodation option for our Crete retreat.
The villa sits above the bay with expansive sea views, large outdoor terraces and a beautiful swimming pool that will be open to all retreat guests throughout the week.
Inside the villa are four luxury bedrooms in total, two double rooms and two twin rooms, each designed with generous space and ensuite bathrooms.
With only four bedrooms available, this accommodation option is extremely limited for the June 6–13 retreat week.
Fig Tree Villa
Double Bedroom 1
Double Bedroom 2
Double Bedroom 2
Living Room 1
Living Room 2
Twin Room
Twin Room
Twin Room
Window View
Window View
The Gym
Our private gym is reserved exclusively for our retreat guests, giving you access to a full range of functional fitness equipment. The gym includes an Eleiko rig with plates and barbells, plus dumbbells, kettlebells, sandbags, rings, and parallettes for strength. For conditioning, you’ll find jump ropes, box jumps, and Concept2 rowers, along with yoga and mobility tools for recovery.
Open 24/7 outside of coached sessions, it’s yours to use freely, along with trails for running and the beach for open-water swims at your doorstep.
How You’ll Train
Coming away with us is quite different from stepping into a gym environment for a week. We collect in-depth information from you in advance and we plan training sessions tailored to your background and goals. Each daily coached session will challenge you in a safe and supportive environment to help you push your boundaries.
We always have a mixed ability group and the workout is always tailored to each individual. Whether you've been training for years or just getting started, everyone is welcome and benefits from being in a mixed ability group environment.
We train for strength, endurance, skill and high intensity. With the gym, sea and mountain at your doorstep, you’ll find variety beyond your typical routine. Our ultimate goal is to inspire lasting, healthy habits you can take home with you, so we encourage recovery and discourage overtraining.
Our hand-picked team of world-class coaches is passionate about helping you move better and feel your best. No matter the week, over the course of the week we see guests unlock new skills, strength and confidence.
Balanced Training and Recovery
We begin most mornings with a coached group session. These sessions begin gently and ramp up in volume over the course of the week. You’ll often work in teams of 2 or 3 building strength, endurance, and skills. Each workout is tailored to your ability and is fully adaptable, so you can move at your own pace while still pushing your limits.
On some afternoons, there is an optional second session depending on your needs. Alternatively, you have the option of yoga sessions led by one of our hosts, or a massage by our local therapist.
Our private gym is fully equipped for strength, gymnastics and endurance work - or for you to simply stretch - and is yours to use freely. Right outside our villa you’ll find long trails for running and the beach for open-water swims at your doorstep.
Exploring in Nature
There’s nothing quite as refreshing and rebalancing as spending time in nature. We have curated our week to venture out to Cretan beaches and explore mountains to challenge and restore you.
Swimming
The beach lies just across the road from our villa, perfect for daily dips. Along the village coast, you’ll find quiet spots for snorkelling and discovery, and once or twice a week, we’ll venture further to handpicked beaches off the beaten path.
Trails
Directly outside the villa, two mountain trails climb north while a flat coastal path stretches south — each offering sweeping sea views and the freedom to hike or walk at your pace.
Paddleboarding
In calm morning or evening waters, paddleboarding can be both a workout and a moving meditation. Weather permitting, if you fancy making it more of a workout, you can reach Spinalonga Island, just 15 minutes away.
Gorge Hiking
Cretan gorges are legendary, and depending on the time of year we’ll choose the most stunning one to take you to. Expect to climb, discover caves, dip under waterfalls, and maybe even finish with a wade into the sea.
Private boat trip
We have a full day on a private boat to explore secluded beaches and coves. We’ll dive into crystal waters, share conversations on the rocks, taste delicious homemade lunch on board, swim, snorkel, laugh, and return home at the end of the day.
Crete Retreat Itinerary
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You’ll be personally collected from Heraklion airport and brought straight to our villa. We recommend arriving at Heraklion airport in time for the 2PM transfer.
After settling in, we’ll gather for a light, coached session to ease into movement, before sharing our first dinner together on the waterfront.
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For early risers, the sunrise over the bay is unforgettable — whether on foot or by paddleboard to the island. After a powerful morning training session and rewarding brunch, we’ll hike into Crete’s hills and enjoy an afternoon swim. Optional open gym follows, before a hearty village dinner.
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We’ll set off early for a guided gorge adventure — hiking, scrambling, and wading through waterfalls before arriving at the sea for a picnic lunch. Back at the villa, afternoon training awaits, with the option of a restorative massage, and dinner at one of our favourite tavernas.
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Begin the day with sunrise and group training, followed by brunch. The afternoon is yours: choose a private island trip, a beach escape, or time wandering Plaka. Later, join an optional open gym before we gather for dinner at a handpicked local restaurant.
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A team workout sets us up for a private boat trip to secluded coves and beaches. Dive into turquoise waters, snorkel, and enjoy a homemade Cretan lunch onboard before returning to shore. Evening brings optional open gym and dinner together in the village.
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Start with sunrise SUP and training before brunch. Midday offers the option of an intimate organic winery lunch (minimum four guests) or simply relaxing at the villa or beach. Open gym is available in the afternoon, and we’ll dine at one of our trusted local favourites.
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Your last chance for a sunrise swim or paddle, followed by training and breakfast. The day is yours to recharge or explore, with tailored recommendations from your host. In the evening, we’ll share a sunset dinner in a nearby town — the perfect finale.
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A celebratory final workout and farewell brunch send you off recharged and restored, before your private transfer back to Heraklion airport. Departure is 2:30 PM.
How to Book
Book your place with a deposit and pay the balance in monthly instalments.
Booked with us before? Don’t forget to use your loyalty code.
Booking your place is simple: reserve with a £300 deposit and spread the remaining balance across monthly instalments. The full balance is due one month before departure.
Flights & Transfers
Once your booking is confirmed, we’ll share the best flight options for the group to arrive and depart together. Group transfers are included in your package. If you prefer more flexibility, we can organise a private transfer at an additional cost.
Arrival
If you’d like to make independent travel arrangements, just let us know in advance. Please note that the villa is available to you only from the group arrival time.
Pricing
Each room includes a private bathroom, terrace, air conditioning, and reliable wi-fi.
Double occupancy bedroom
£2,195 per person
Single occupancy double/twin bedroom
£2,695 per person
Room Sharing
Sharing a room with a partner, friend, colleague or family member is a brilliant way to reconnect and make memories to last a lifetime.
Please note that for your comfort and privacy, we don’t assign room shares between guests who haven’t met before.
Terms and Conditions
Once your deposit is received, you’ll be sent our Terms & Conditions to sign and confirm your booking.
A minimum of 7 guests is required for the retreat to go ahead. In the unlikely event that we cancel a retreat date, your payment will be refunded in full, or you may transfer it to another More Life Adventures retreat date of your choice.
Crete Dates & Booking Links
We’re hosting carefully selected weeks from June through to late August 2026.
Spaces are intentionally limited to keep the experience personal and exclusive. Secure your place via the booking link below.
Included in Your Retreat Package
Accommodation
7 nights at our exclusive Fig Tree Villa, in a private or shared room with own bathroom.
Meals
Nutritionist-approved brunches and dinners at handpicked local restaurants.
Full-time hosting
Your dedicated host from Team MLA will be guiding you throughout the week.
Coached Training
Daily coached training sessions from an exceptional coach, plus 24-hour access to the private open-air gym. Morning small-group sessions with our coaching team and optional afternoon open gym.
Adventures
Guided hikes and private boat trip.
Paddleboarding
Sessions included on calm waters, with equipment provided.
Retreat Essentials
A gift bag of curated retreat essentials and photography to capture your week.
Not Included in the Price
Flights
Return flights to Heraklion Airport (we’ll advise on the best flight times).
Any additional meals or snacks
We cover
Dinner on arrival day
Brunch and dinner on days 2-7
Breakfast on departure day
We ask you to cover any additional meals or snacks you may need.
Alcohol
To improve your recovery from training and your general wellbeing, we encourage you to reduce alcohol on retreat and ask that you cover it at your end.
Optional Add-ons
These can be added at the time of booking or later on:
Sports massages
Additional water sports
Lunch at the local organic winery
Short boat trip to Spinalonga
Eating well Together
Nutrition for Training and Recovery
Gathering around the table is one of the highlights of retreat life. We love to sit down for two big meals a day, planned in collaboration with our nutritionist, Sinead Roberts, to keep you well-fuelled and recovered throughout the week.
Morning snacks
We encourage you to have a morning snack before training, and each house is stocked with local snacks.
Brunch
After morning training, we gather together around a long table to refuel with a generous and delicious brunch. Expect fresh veg, lots of protein and a variety of carbs to support your energy needs for the day.
Afternoon snacks and extra meals
Each house is equipped with an open-plan kitchen where you can prepare your own snacks if you wish.
Dinner
In the evenings, we head out to one of our favourite local restaurants — a different spot each night — to experience the best of Crete’s fresh, locally sourced cuisine. Expect bold flavours, and hearty portions.
MLA Menus
We’ve created exclusive MLA menus crafted together with our local chefs and planned by our nutritionist. The dinner menu is designed to showcase traditional recipes and fresh, seasonal ingredients.
All our brunches and dinners are included in the retreat price. Drinks are not included.
Drinks
To support proper recovery during the week, we take a considered approach to alcohol.
We typically have a glass with dinner at restaurants. Overall, we aim to keep alcohol consumption moderate so your body can benefit from the training, sleep and time in nature.
We trust our guests to make choices that feel good for them, within a week designed around recovery and energy rather than excess.
If you’re curious about why we take this approach, you can read more on our blog here.
Your Hosts
Coco Dahdouh
Coco hosts you on 6-13 June 2026
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Coco ran her own retreat house in Cuba for 12 years, hosting over 200 retreats and welcoming over 5,000 guests. Since then, she has been hosting retreats, co-runing a kitesurfing school in Tarifa and advising other retreat leaders on how to run their own.
Now in Crete, she is building out our retreat partners, offering and itineraries, so you can have the most transformative week of your life with us.
Coco runs on empathy, a big smile, strong logistics management and patience.
She will be hosting you and teaching yoga, which she has done with passion and consistency for over 20 years.
Stella Kamba
Stella hosts you on 20-27 June, 4-11 July, and 4-11 August
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Stella founded More Life Adventures after several years of working as an architect and having experienced episodes of burnout in London. Having retrained as a personal trainer and after years of CrossFit training, she saw firsthand the role of recovery in long-term high performance. She converted the Crete summer house into a gathering place to respond to the intensity of city living with intentional training, time in nature and living in community.
As a child, Stella went to summer camp every year, a formative experience she has brought to the More Life Adventures itineraries. She is in her element hosting groups of varied backgrounds, and you can rely on her to ask questions and keep you going during long hikes!
Anna Rickmann
Anna hosts you on 20-27 June 2026
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Anna was born in Germany and lives in Portugal, where she previously managed a surfhouse and now runs yoga and surf retreats, helping people reconnect to themselves and to nature.
With a background in hospitality, communication and project management, she combines structure with flexibility and warmth and loves to see guests let go of stress and leave lighter and more connected.
A lover of the sea, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Marine Living Resources. This summer she will be hosting you in Crete in June, along with Rachel Lingham.
Elena Kochler
Elena hosts you on 4-11 July and 18-25 July
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Based in Berlin, Elena started out in a fast-paced, high-growth corporate career in project management, partnerships and sales. She then pivoted and moved on to become a yoga teacher, life coach, community builder and experience facilitator.
She’s passionate about creating spaces for connection, growth, and recharge. She moves around the world and this summer she will be hosting you in Crete in July, as well as leading yoga sessions.
Nadia Delacombaz
Nadia hosts you on 4-11 August and 18-25 August
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Nadia began her career as a dance teacher and functional fitness coach and went on to become a yoga teacher, resilience coach and retreat leader. She founded her brand On the Move to offer a range of yoga class and retreat options to a wider audience.
She now hosts various Yoga & Fitness retreats around the world and teaches yoga regularly at several studios in Bern, Switzerland.Nadia will be hosting you as well as teaching yoga sessions in the afternoons this August. We can’t wait!
Your Coaches
Stephanie Masters
Train with Steph: 6-13 June 2026
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Stephanie is a passionate coach, lifelong mover, and multi-sport athlete with a background spanning skiing, tennis, hockey, cricket, and just about anything in or on the water. She has a deep appreciation for how sport builds resilience, character, and connection.
Her coaching style blends experience, technical knowledge, curiosity, care, and a big love for the outdoors. Whether you’re chasing athletic goals, rebuilding after injury, or simply wanting to move with more freedom.
Expect to be challenged, supported, discover how good movement can feel and carry that confidence into the rest of your life.
Sarah Molloy
Train with Sarah: 20-27 June 2026
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If you’ve met Sarah before, you’ll remember her big welcoming smile. She’s a Strength & Health Coach, and owner of Crossroads Strength Coaching, an in-person and online coaching business. She has been coaching CrossFit and weightlifting in London for over 6 years.
Having first combined fitness with a corporate job in London for years, she knows what’s on your plate and how you can approach training for the long term.
Sarah is especially passionate about training for women’s health, hormones, and strength. Her focus is on teaching people how to move safely, build strength with confidence, and feel empowered by what their bodies can achieve. She also facilitates workshops, bringing groups together to learn, share stories, and connect through movement.
J-P Martyn
Train with J-P: 4-11 July 2026
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J-P is a Sport Performance Coach and current Master Coach at CrossFit Shapesmiths, with 23 years of experience in the fitness industry working with all types of clients, including athletes, pre- and post-natal, and people with disabilities.
He played and coached football in Jersey, then retired at 29 to focus on coaching academy football. He started CrossFit in 2013 and began coaching a few years later. He takes client goals seriously while helping them have fun pursuing them.
With J-P as your coach, you can look forward to making improvements in every single session. J-P is passionate about combining physical and mental training to help you leave fulfilled and closer to achieving your fitness goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We tend to gather high achievers, who work hard and want to invest in their health but have little to no time for planning breaks. We’ve had guests on sabbatical, in-between jobs, right before a life change, celebrating a birthday, or simply taking some time out for themselves.
You’ll find kind, genuine, well-travelled, smart people who love to challenge themselves physically, try new things and explore the world with new people. Conversation can range from silly to serious; we love to laugh, mostly at ourselves! There is a little bit of alcohol at dinner but not much.
Our guests are typically anywhere between 30s and 60s but we’ve also had younger and older guests on occasion.
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We welcome all levels of fitness. Prior experience in functional fitness training or CrossFit is not at all required. We ask you to:
Be able to join us on a big hike lasting 4 hours, with frequent breaks.
Be willing to train with us and try new things.
Every workout is individually tailored; Before the retreat, we collect detailed information on your training background, goals, and any injuries so we can plan sessions with our guests in mind.
It is common for guests to join us with a prior injury; we regularly modify workouts and train around these safely.
If you’ve taken some time away from training, this can be a great opportunity to rebuild consistency and confidence, with support from experienced, attentive coaches.
If in doubt, drop us a line at hello@morelifeadventures.com and let’s have a chat.
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To date, we have had guests from their 30s to their 60s. We have no upper age limit.
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Absolutely. Many of our guests join solo and leave with a circle of new friends. We design the experience to make new connections effortless.
We also encourage guests to invite a friend or family member, which reduces the per-person cost and helps build meaningful memories.
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Sharing a room with a friend, partner, or family member can be a lovely way to experience the retreat together. Shared rooms are also priced at a lower rate than single occupancy.
If you’re travelling solo, rest assured you won’t be asked to share a room unless you choose to.
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We arrange group transfers from Heraklion airport so that everyone arrives together.
Upon receiving your booking we will send you suggested flight times to make those transfers.
If you cannot make the group transfer, we encourage you to book your airport transfers with us as an add-on. In the interests of safety and speed, we do not recommend taking a taxi from the airport.
If you’d like to make independent travel arrangements, just let us know in advance. Please note that the villa is available to you only from the group arrival time.
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Yes. We offer a coached group session daily, with the option of a second open gym session. Both are optional and we encourage you to make your rest a priority and rest as you need.
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We work with excellent local restaurants to provide you with fresh, locally sourced and delicious food.
Our meals are planned by our nutritionist Sinead Roberts with our activities in mind, so you are always well-fuelled. Portions in Crete are generous, so you are unlikely to be hungry between meals.
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We cater for all allergies and dietary requirements. Once you’ve secured your place, you can let us know your requirements on the booking form we send you.
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To help you recover properly during the week, we take a considered approach to alcohol.
We enjoy a drink with dinner, but overall we keep alcohol consumption moderate so your body can fully benefit from the training and get quality sleep.
We have drinks when we’re out at restaurants, and we ask that alcohol isn’t brought back to the accommodation. Any drinks are paid for individually.
We trust our guests to make choices that feel good for them, within a week designed around energy, recovery, and feeling better..
If you’re curious about why we take this approach, you can read more on our blog here.
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The villas have stable and reliable wi-fi.
Did we miss anything?
Where You’ll Travel
Our retreat home sits on Plaka Beach, near Elounda, perfectly located between the mountains and the sea. The village itself offers a wealth of outdoor training options, traditional tavernas, and day trip opportunities.
The nearest airport is Heraklion, just an hour’s drive away. We’re also 20 minutes from Elounda, in an area known for its restaurants and high-end hotels.
From the villa, you’ll overlook Spinalonga Island, a site steeped in history, which you can reach by boat or paddleboard in just 15 minutes.
Address: Plaka, Lasithi, 720 53, Greece
Sustainable Travel
Travel gives us the privilege of exploring beautiful places, connecting with local communities, and spending meaningful time in nature. It also comes with responsibility.
As a B Corp, we design our retreats to minimise unnecessary impact while maximising positive contribution. By reducing waste, supporting local businesses, and making considered choices together, we can help protect the places we visit and ensure they continue to thrive.
During our time together in Crete, we:
Travel using group transfers
Actively reduce single-use plastic
Ask guests to be mindful of energy and water use
Leave no rubbish behind; on trails, beaches, or at our accommodation
A note on air travel
Air travel is worth making the most of. If you’d like to stay a few extra days on the island before or after the retreat, we’re happy to help you plan your time.
Words from our Guests
★★★★★
“It was just an amazing week. Like I'm still living off the energy from it. It was without being corny, like it was everything I hoped for and more. It was a great combination of three activities a day, some downtime, trying some different food, socialising over dinner, going on a boat trip, paddle boarding. I quite enjoyed all the small things like after the beach we don't just run off like we're the guests here. We'll take the equipment back and you know, pump the paddleboards, I think it gave it a real family feel.”
Andy Tapping
★★★★★
“I went on the remote working retreat in Crete and it was incredible! A beautiful location, has everything you need around. The team was extremely accommodating and welcoming; the trip was a perfect balance of activities and relaxation time. Highly recommend :)”
Tali Vaisbart
★★★★★
“Crete was the perfect week of working out, beach time, working, and meeting some awesome people. The house and gym are amazing - everything is designed beautifully, the kitchen has everything you could need, and the sunrise view over the ocean out the bedroom window was breathtaking. The houses are literally across the street from the beach, and you can do a couple short walks/hikes from the house with gorgeous views of Plaka below.”
Lea Cohen
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