Stavros

Here stand two restored adjoining houses each with its own terrace to appreciate the mountain views. The large private swimming pool shared between the two properties is reached by a short 10 metre walk from the front doors round the properties perimeter. Stavros House, a rural hideaway on the uppermost part of a Cretan stone-built olive press and flour mill, has been beautifully renovated with the support of Pure Crete. It has a spacious sitting-out area from which to enjoy the magnificent view of the White Mountains and a choice of tavernas within easy walking distance. It shares a spectacular swimming pool, designed on a nautical theme, which provides stunning views of the White Mountains from both pool-side and while relaxing in it. The pool is 0.8m - 1.7m in depth, no child section This secluded retreat has a garden below and visitors may choose to indulge in the home cooking of Maria which can be provided on request at reasonable prices. Downstairs there is a living room with basic kitchen facilities and a bathroom with shower. Outside there is a large balcony with table & chairs from which to admire the view and upstairs there is a double bed built on a platform and a small twin bedroom. Malaxa has two cafenions, one of which stocks very basic food items, and is where the old local men sit outside and the other which has a small seating area outside where you can get an omlette and salad and has a drinks fridge where you can purchase cold drinks and ice cream.  There is one taverna in the village called the Panorama and two further tavernas 1km west of the village which also have spectacular views over the length of Souda Bay and to the Akrotiri Peninsula. (Please check opening times of the tavernas with our local team as they can be sporadic). Occasionally at varying days of the week there are local produce sellers.

•  Mountain bikes, acoustic guitars and paintbrushes are all available upon request.
• Clients are reminded that they should take all proper precautions in the pool area at all times.
• One small taverna and two small cafenions within walking distance

The owner of Stavros House, and the neighbouring Demitrios House, is involved in a number of  environmental projects including the promotion of  local organic food, the protection of the Cretan environment and endangered species. He is very happy to discuss these projects with interested visitors and hosts a Friday evening free ranging discussion over dinner in which conversation moves from organic food production to environmental  initiatives to wider philosophical and geo-political issues helped along by locally produced village wine.  Cretan Culture and Cooking Evening   Pure Crete house owners Demetris and Katerina in Malaxa host a discussion of the Cretan diet, environment and local history including dinner made with fresh local organic produce. Held at the village Malaxiana centre, a painstakingly renovated building with breathtaking mountain views.   7 p.m. Demetris will introduce the discussion around village life and culture including music, celebrations, customs, religion and work. The conversation will move through flora and fauna to the health benefits of the traditional cretan diet in time to enjoy Katerina (Demetris' wife)'s full Cretan dinner (vegetarian or meat). The dinner is a feast of local organic products including salad, fruit and the main course washed down with a plentiful supply of village wine to lubricate and stimulate the conversation   25 euros per person  The Observer  "We pass another memorable night at Malaxa, a mountain village where Demitris Vamvounakis has revived his local community by creating a cooperative to produce organic food. Demitris has rebuilt one of the village's stone houses and into this beautifully crafted contemporary home he has incorporated two adjoining reception rooms in which he holds evenings of Cretan culture. About 14 of us drink fine local wine, and eat superb organic traditional food, prepared by Demitris's wife, Katerina. "The evening starts gently with our knowledgeable, charming and amusing hosts talking about food, language, flora and fauna, and festivals. But as the raki kicks in, we all gain the confidence to broach heavier issues such as arranged marriages (still prevalent), dowries, macho gun culture and politics. The kids listen open-mouthed to tales of men firing endless rounds of ammunition into the air at daughters' weddings as a sign of prosperity and pride." Catherine Mack   The Irish Times Just about the most wonderful dinner party I have ever been to was hosted by Demitris and Katarina Vamvounakis in the Cretan mountain village of Malaxa. They revived their rural community of a few hundred people by creating a farming co-operative to produce organic food, and started cultural evenings for visitors. These are the real thing. Fourteen of us drank fine local organic wine and ate plate after plate of superb organic traditional food, prepared by Katarina, as we talked about all aspects of Cretan culture. Malaxa was one of several outings suggested by our tour operator, Pure Crete, a company that understands that being green on holiday is not all about carbon. It’s also about supporting the local economy, sustaining local culture and, in short, making sure our hosts do not feel invaded every year. All of Pure Crete’s accommodation is in villages or small towns and owned by local people. It offers walking holidays with botanical experts, lists local festivals on its website and has an autumn environmental week when you get to see olive presses in action and grapes being gathered for local wine. We got to sample plenty of previous grape harvests back in Malaxa, the wine helping the conversation to flow: the topics soon moved beyond the flora and fauna to arranged marriages, dowries and gun culture. My sons, who are six and nine, were open-mouthed hearing about the custom of men firing endless rounds of ammunition into the air at their daughters’ weddings as a sign of prosperity and pride. Don’t get me wrong: this was not a culture-vulture holiday. It was a family break with a villa, pool, endless beaches within easy reach, turquoise water, tavernas and copious ice cream. Click for:  Prices   or   Location Maps Call 0845 070 1571 (local rate) for further information.   All holiday payments are fully protected by Pure Crete ATOL licence 2757 (for your flight), our Total Payment Protection Policy (for your accommodation) and UK package regulations 1992 (for your consumer rights).