Silvia

Crete's endless skies, impossibly blue seas, picture-perfect whitewashed villages, stunning sunsets and peaceful pace of life make it a perfect holiday destination for those looking to really relax and get away from it all. If you have been trying to track down the perfect villa in Crete, we're here to help you out with a selection of just ten of the best of the best among the loveliest rentals on the island in our portfolio...

1. Afroditi (Available from €87 per night)

Imagine waking up to this sight. Imagine breakfasts with this view. Imagine your only concern is working up the will to wander the short 2km down to the beach. That's what a vacation in this truly beautiful villa looks like. Located in Plaka, 200m from the centre of the town, this three bedroom and four bathroom, three storey villa was built in 2004 and renovated in 2016.

If you think of a holiday in Crete or Greece, you are likely to picture plenty of time on her incredible beaches, enjoying the stunning deep blue of the sea meeting the pale shores, the pleasant water temperatures, the great weather, and the beautiful surroundings. However, in addition to her beaches, her most obvious and well-known trait, the island is also home to lots of other amazing natural wonders and little surprises to uncover as you explore. One such incredible gem is Lake Kournas.

The only freshwater lake in Crete, this relatively large (at a maximum length of 1.087km and a maximum breadth of 0.88km) and shallow (at 22.5m at its deepest point) but stunning lake is located in a valley among the hills, surrounded by a particularly beautiful landscape, just a few kilometres from the sea. Known as Lake Koressia in antiquity, it is now named for the Arabic word, “kurna,” for, “lake,” (or bath) so calling it Lake Kournas in English is kind of like calling it Lake Lake!

This week, we've been majorly crushing on Crete and dreaming of holidaying there ASAP. To torture ourselves, we've been compiling a list of some of our dreamiest villas in Crete and wishing we were there right now. Here are the last of those picks:

8. Fliskouni Red Villa (Available from €209 per night)

This beautiful apartment is one of the units in a pretty little holiday resort in the countryside near Samonás called Samonas Traditional Houses. Surrounded by trees, plants, flowers and greenery, it is a very picturesque setting and the perfect place to get away from it all. A light stone building, draped in ivy and colourful blooms, with shuttered windows and terraces taking in panoramic views across the surrounding landscape, this is an excellent complex in which to stay and where you will find everything you need.

Those who want to holiday in Greece and who like staying active should definitely browse our villas in Crete as there are lots of things to keep you busy on the island. From hanging out on the powdery white sand of the island's picture-perfect beaches, kayaking and snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters that lap the shores, exploring cave systems and archaeological sites, and more, there are all sorts of outdoor pursuits to enjoy. Hikers, in particular, will be happy to note that a vacation in Crete means lots of excellent hiking destinations and trails to choose from. One of the most and unique of Crete's hiking trails has to be Imbros Gorge, an 11km long canyon that is located near Hora Sfakion in the south of the island.

The stunning island of Crete is a natural gem that boasts incredible beaches, pretty views, and excellent hiking routes. If you have found a villa in Crete and you are interested in hiking, in particular, then you should seek out the White Mountains, or Lefka Ori. The largest and most scenic massif on the island, this is the best place to head for incredible panoramas and a wonderful range of hiking routes that are suitable for a wide variety of levels of experience and fitness in hiking. Whether you want to just go for a stroll and take some photos of this beautiful landscape in Greece that surrounds or you want to spend a whole day hiking and working up a good sweat, you'll find what you're looking for if you head to the White Mountains.

Taking up a good portion of the centre of West Crete, the White Mountains are the main feature of the area and loom large and impressive in the background throughout the area. Made of limestone, they take their name from the fact that their peaks remain dusted in a white cap of snow late into the spring (with some of the highest peaks managing to hold onto some snow right up to June) and that the limestone summits reflect the sun and appear white as a result in the summer months as well. The highest peak is Pachnes at 2,453m but there are over thirty more summits in the range that are higher than 2,000m. In addition, the range is home to endless caves, sinkholes, precipices, meadows, unique landscapes (such as the moon-like desert in the centre and southern part of the range), fascinating rock formations, and more. There are also 50 rocky gorges, the most famous of which is the gorge of Samaria, where trekking, canyoning, and other outdoor pursuits are possible. This diverse landscape is, furthermore, home to a great variety of flora and fauna, much of which is found nowhere else, not even on other parts of the island.