Olives & Thyme Retreat, Crete

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. 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. The Keep. Four double ensuite bedrooms take up the ground and first floor. A metal and wood staircase gives access to each floor. A glass atrium extends upwards to the top floor housing a large Ficus Alii, or Amstel King, tree growing inside, bringing nature into the home. The top floor is where you will find the living area and fully equipped kitchen, with a large covered and hanging balcony with spectacular views of the whole of the Bay. A metal and wood staircase connects the floors internally with ramps and platforms externally giving access to each floor and to the leisure and outside dining areas. The Cottage. An escape within an escape. Set slightly apart from the main villa, this cosy apartment has a good sized bedroom, a full bathroom with walk in shower, a kitchenette and a sitting come office area on a mezzanine floor. Steppingstones lead one to the lap pool in one direction and the main villa in the other. The living area. The top floor is the living area. At the top of the stairs, one finds a large table with sufficient dining chairs for all the guests. The table when fully extended can sit all the guests. Against the east facing window is a wooden counter with stools underneath should you need more space. The sitting area is a large corner sofa, designed by the architect, with a 70 inch television, in case of rainy days. Some poofs are tucked under the counter for additional seating. Behind the sofa is a second counter with a socket underneath so you can charge your electrical items. The Kitchen. A well fitted kitchen has all the equipment one will need to allow you not just to have breakfast but stay in and dine should you feel like it. The coffee area allows you to make whichever style of coffee you need to start the day. The covered balcony. Take you coffee, breakfast or any meal and enjoy the spectacular view over Souda Bay across to the White Mountains. The Pools Unusually there are two swimming pools, both of which can be heated. The lower one being a lap pool of 3 by 14 meters and the higher an endless pool of 6 by 8 meters. A set of concrete steps connect the two pools with the water feature being located between the two. From this water feature a manmade stream runs under glass on a step, through the rocks and feeds two water features. To the right a self-contained pond with water plants and goldfish and to the left a small stream around two sides of one of the ground floor bedrooms with plants and goldfish. The Terrace This is the main outdoor space, giving you views across Souda Bay, large enough to have three defined area. The covered outdoor kitchen with a large gas BBQ, sink and refrigerated unit for all your supplies. Next to this is the large dining table, also in the shade. Next to the endless pool is a shaded area for sun loungers and a sitting area to enjoy your coffee, after dinner drinks or simply sit and enjoy having the time for conversations. There is also a large, uncovered, area for sun-lovers and evenings. The massage area. Underneath the Terrace is where you will find a cool and quiet area set up for massages. The fully qualified masseuse or masseur can be booked prior to your arrival or during your stay. A shower room and toilet are also located here. Outside spaces. Being located on a large plot of land with olives trees and of course carob inspired the owner to create different spaces to enhance your stay. Solar lights are used to light up the olive trees and other places of interest around the land. The Carob Circle A favourite location of the owner, this large shady carob tree has had a stone and wood semi-circle constructed around the base to create a quiet space to enjoy a place to sit and converse. The Reading Tree With its path starting at the Carob Circle a short walk leads you to a shady olive tree set up so you can relax and enjoy a good book. We have only provided room for two, so you don’t get tempted away from your reading. The Outlook Between the Cottage and the lap pool you will find a path leading to a two seater bench set up for you to enjoy the view of all of Souda Bay and across to the White Mountains. The exercise pergola This large, covered area at the side of the Keep is shaded so that you can comfortably take your yoga class. We have mats and a variety of resistance fitness bands for your use. (The Rock Apartment. This ultra-modern metal and glass apartment is set within excavated rock and beneath the outside living area. Having a large bedroom with ensuite bathroom, a living room and small kitchen it is large enough to accommodate up to four people if we set up the sofa bed. The floor to ceiling glass walls ensures plenty of light giving an open and airy feeling.) Licence Number: 1280514

Nearest airport - Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis 11.3 km Nearest beach - Koum Kapi Beach 6.3 km Nearest restaurant - Carte Postale 2.7 km