For some people this may seem a bit remote but I loved it! To reach the island you have to go across a causeway but it’s still very walkable and we walked into Elounda every evening with no problems.

The little houses are full of character, with stone floors, on several levels and all seem to be different. Ours was on the end (V2), had a sitting area and single couch/spare bed on the ground floor, a kitchenette and shower room on the middle floor and the bedroom on the top floor. We had windows on 3 sides, all with shutters which could be closed for privacy (though we weren’t overlooked in any way!) or to keep the sun out. But it was lovely having them all open and having the breeze blowing through to cool the inside as there is no air conditioning. Personally I didn’t miss it at all. I loved the fresh air! There was just one night where the wind was very noisy and that did keep us awake.
The houses are equipped with a full size fridge and 2 ring cooking facilities. It was fine for eating breakfast or lunch but I wouldn’t want to try anything more adventurous! All the houses had outside seating areas and ours had one upstairs and one down so we could choose to have shade or sunshine. On the upstairs balcony there was also 2 sun-loungers but these rarely had much shade so we didn’t use them.
The views are awesome in all directions!

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Ideally located on a tiny island opposite Elounda with spectacular day and night views of this blessed area. Great hosts offering clean, spacious villas with a unique character and an serious eco-friendly approach.
The beautiful scenery, the sea breeze, the singing birds and the natural colours immediately indulge you in a unique getaway. Time stops. Mind relaxes. Body calms. Spirit flies. An impeccable feeling of serenity, a magic mind and soul trip, a much needed retreat, a true sense of rejuvenation.
Words can hardly describe this, wish it would last forever! Or, at least, until our next visit!

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Everything about this place was perfect – the location, the hosts, and the accommodation. It was very clean and quiet. Would highly recommend!

Our stay at Elounda Island Villas was wonderful on every level. We felt incredibly well taken care of by the hosts, the location is an oasis and close to the most beautiful secluded beaches, and the town of Elounda is just a 10 minute walk away. After taking a quick dip in the ocean in the morning you can look forward to a delicious breakfast at the lovely cafe and in the evening the sunset is enjoyable from the balcony. Also, Kanali, one of the best restaurants in Elounda, is right around the corner for dinner. Everything is decorated very tastefully in the traditional Greek style with a modern touch and you can tell that the host has an artistic eye. All in all, a great place to embrace nature and wind down.

Loved the unusual location. Loved our little house. Liked the air blowing through without air con. Great snorkeling at the pebble beach.

Great local breakfast options available for purchase at their attached Kiosk / cafe. Homemade and delicious!

Beautiful calm location with exceptional views. Best breakfast in all of Crete. Comfortable functional apartment. Lovely hosts. Cute cats.

Everything about this place was perfect – the location, the hosts, and the accommodation. It was very clean and quiet. Would highly recommend!

Close to a hiking trail which was excellent. I highly recommend the hike which takes about 2 hours, I felt safe along the path; there are red and white dots that you follow and the best part is you end up in a beautiful sandy beach Kolokitha. Leda and Costa were fantastic hosts, I enjoyed my stay because of them.

Thank you to Leda and Costa for making our stay at EIV just wonderful. My partner Mark and I spent 10 perfect days here in July. We arrived tired after a very early morning flight and were very grateful that Leda and Costa had thought to leave a place of fresh fruit and drinks in our kitchen… this was really thoughtful and much appreciated.

We stayed in Villa 8, a 1 bed villa with a balcony overlooking the sea and access to loungers on the terrace in front. The accommodation was large enough for Mark and I to be comfortable for 10 days. Decorated in a traditional Cretan style with some lovely, thoughtful touches, the EIV gives a cool, laid back and artsy vibe.

We came away with the intention of switching off and relaxing and EIV allowed us to do just that. We sometimes bumped into other guests on the grounds or in the cafe area, but often we didn’t see or hear another soul for days: bliss!

The complex houses a really lovely cafe, open until 5, serving a selection of breakfasts, homemade cake, smoothies etc, but not lunch. You’re made feel welcome to use the cafe area almost like an extension of your Villa: there are books, comfy chairs and lovely views of the sea looking towards Elounda.

The cafe doubles as a gift shop with a good selection of quality handmade or thoughtful gifts, different to what you might see in the Elounda gift shops.

Leda is an exceptional artist, her studio is based in the complex and she would be very happy to show you her work on request, which is also for sale. Leda’s practice is a combination of drawing, mixed media work and 3D.

EIV’s location is just stunning. Our villa was 30 seconds from a small, quiet beach, prefect for a dip, and close to several other excellent beaches within walking distance on the peninsula. We love snorkelling and prefer to stay away from the crowds so EIV is perfect, however, you are only a 10 minute walk from the excellent Kanali restaurant (next to the canal) and a further 10/15mins walk you reach Elounda‘s many restaurants and bars. Our favourites were MoonSpinners and Ergospasio, built in an old carob factory.

We hired a car for three days which I would recommend to visit sites in the area. We particularly enjoyed Mochlos, exploring the south coast, and the excellent Archeological Museum in Heraklion, and Leda and Costa were really helpful with giving advice about where to visit.

We would really recommend EIV to our freinds and look forward to returning in the future.