Holidays to Kamilari are unhurried affairs, with blissful views, authentic Greek food and warm welcomes from friendly locals.
Serene surroundings
Kamilari's a flower-filled hilltop village on the quieter edge of Crete's south coast. here in the Heraklion area of Greece, there are up-high views of the azure Sea of Crete on one side, and the lush Messara Valley on the other. Life moves at a slower pace, with most activity centred around the sleepy village square.
Square meals
Around the local hub – the pretty and petite square – villagers sit outside coffee shops playing backgammon or gather to share meze boards at family-run tavernas. A typical dinner might include dakos – the Greek version of bruschetta – wild hare with artichokes and a dessert course of honey-soaked dough puffs.
Chill-out zone
In the Swinging Sixties, hippies came to Matala to camp out rent-free in the local caves. Follow in their footsteps with a visit to this seaside town, just a 10-minute drive away. The water's clear and shallow for the kids, while adults can lounge on the sand or haggle at a beachside bazaar.
