Eco-Tourism Accommodation on Crete
The Dalabelos Estate offers luxury eco-tourism accommodation on Crete in the hills near Rethymnon with its own farm, vineyard and olive groves.
On our recent tour around Crete our guide Isi from www.GoCrete.net found us some great eco-tourism accommodation. We spent our second night at the Dalabelos Estate in the hills between Rethymnon and Heraklion, where Vasilis was not only a great host he also gave us some good Cretan music too!
While we were checking in Vasilis told us a little about the Dalabelos Estate.
'We have our own farm so most of the food is fresh from the farm and from our gardens. We also bake our own bread. There are plenty of good bakeries in the area but our bread tastes better!'
Vasilis walked us down to our apartment. Dalabelos has ten stone-built 1-bedroom apartments, with an 11th one fitted out for people with physical disabilities. They're arranged around a hillside so that they all have sea views.
All the apartments are individually decorated, and ours had a butterfly theme. We fell in love with it at once, as butterflies were everywhere, the apartment filled with creative artworks. That wasn't surprising as Dalabelos is only a 10-minute drive from the village of Margarites, famed for its ceramics, galleries and artists. Vasilis persuaded us to visit it the next day on our way out, and we loved it. Read our Margarites page to find out why.
Dalabelos Activities
Unfortunately we weren't at Dalabelos long enough to sample the activities they have on offer, but we'd love to go back for a longer stay. If you're there at the right time of year you can help with the olive picking and the grape harvest. Every Friday morning you can help get the wood oven ready and participate in the bread-making.
Each Tuesday morning at Dalabelos there's a cookery lesson, which includes an hour spent in the gardens gathering vegetables and herbs. They also have their own ceramic workshop where there are regular pottery sessions. There are mountain bikes to hire, and sessions of traditional music too.
Dalabelos Dining
We were relaxing on the terrace next to the restaurant with a drink before dinner and amazing smells started to come from the kitchen, and from the plates being taken out to the tables. We could tell this was going to be Greek cooking at its best, using fresh ingredients, and plenty of freshly-picked herbs. You needn't worry about Food Miles at a place like Dalabelos, as it's more a case of Food Metres: from the garden to the plate.
Vasilis was keen to show off his kitchen's skills and offered to serve us a kind of meal-long meze, with tasters of different dishes. We started with stuffed vine leaves with zucchini flowers. Dolmades can sometimes be a bit oily if you have them in a regular taverna, but these were fresh and light. Starter plates of fava and feta followed. The sign of a good kitchen is where they do the ordinary things well, and the feta was drizzled with their own olive oil and sprinkled with those fresh herbs, a tasty treat.
Then came the serious stuff. Lamb in tomato sauce, snail stew, eggplant imam, zucchini pie. It was hard to keep up as the tasting samples came thick and fast. How does rabbit with rosemary and wine sound? It smelled and tasted divine. Marinated anchovies came with a dish of livers fried with thyme and balsamic vinegar. Neither of us has ever been a big fan of liver but we could be converted when it's as tender and as succulent as this.
We thought we were full but then Vasilis brought out a dish we just had to find room for.
'This is sfougato,' he said. We admitted it was a dish we'd never had before. 'You'll love it,' he said. 'This is my grandmother's recipe. It's zucchini with potatoes and eggs and tomato sauce, all cooked together in the pot.'
It tasted like... well, as only a grandmother's recipe can taste. It was a kind of baked omelette, with thyme and oregano in there, and we wanted to eat every last little mouthful.
Cretan Music at Dalabelos
That may have been the end of the food but it wasn't the end of the evening. There are regular music nights at Dalabelos, and even when outside musicians aren't brought in, Vasilis himself might entertain guests later on. He sings and plays several Cretan musical instruments, which he introduces one by one, explaining what they are and how they fit into Cretan music.
We video'd the performance, even though the light wasn't great, and put it on our YouTube channel:
As we're both big music lovers, and love Crete, of course, we found it fascinating. It was a delightful surprise and a terrific ending to the evening... the first of several music surprises we had on our trip around Crete. Music, like good food, is in the very heart and soul of the people, which is why we never tire of visiting the island.
Check Room Rates at the Diabelos Estate
More Information
To find out more about staying at Dalabelos, and their many
activities, visit the very helpful and informative website:
http://www.dalabelos.gr
To arrange a personalised tour in Crete, for a few hours or
a few days, see the website of Go Crete.
Other Crete pages
Crete
Crete (Kriti) is the largest Greek island and its main attractions include the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Samarian Gorge, Chania and Rethymnon.
Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets’ potted guide to Eastern Crete and why you should consider it for a holiday, including seeing Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Vai Beach and Zakros.
Driving on Crete
Driving on Crete is the best way to see Greece’s biggest island and here is our driving advice and some information about Greek driving regulations.
Shopping Tips for Crete
These shopping tips for Crete include advice on buying souvenirs like ceramics, icons, jewellery, leather, weavings, wood carvings, and food and drink.
Eastern Crete in Five Days
How to see eastern Crete in five days, with its beaches, Minoan palaces, timeless villages, unique churches and mountain and coastal scenery.
Malia and its Minoan Palace on Crete
Malia on the north coast of Crete is renowned for its nightlife and beaches but also has the Minoan Palace of Malia, one of Crete's many archaeological sites.
Phaistos Minoan Palace on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets page on Phaistos or Faistos, the site of one of the finest Minoan palaces on Crete and is where the mysterious Phaistos Disc was found.
Sir Arthur Evans, archaeologist at Knossos on Crete
Sir Arthur Evans is the archaeologist famous for the excavations he made at the royal palace of Knossos on Crete.
Knossos
Visiting Knossos near Iraklion is one of the best things to do on Crete, and this page has a history of the site with visitor information.
Life as a Minoan
What was daily life as a Minoan like on Crete, living in palaces like the ones at Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, and Zakros, and what were their religious beliefs?
Greek or Cretan?
Is someone from Crete a Greek or a Cretan? They are both, of course, but most will tell you that they are Cretan first and Greek second.
Central Crete in Three Days
Driving central Crete in three days gives you time to see the highlights including the Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the beaches and the Diktean Cave.
Matala Beach
Matala Beach on Crete is a guest blog for Greece Travel Secrets from the We Love Crete website, inviting you to Awaken Your Inner Hippy in Matala, Crete.
Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos is a pretty and popular town on the north coast of Crete and this page on Greece Travel Secrets covers its history, museums and beaches.
Elounda and Spinalonga, setting for The Island by Victoria Hislop
Elounda on Crete's north coast is a popular holiday town with a pretty harbour, from where you can take day trips by boat to see the island of Spinalonga.
Cretan Music
Cretan music is part of the island’s soul and visitors will hear live music wherever they go, with several distinctive Cretan musical instruments and songs.
Western Crete in Five Days
Western Crete in five days allows time to visit Chania and Rethymnon, enjoy the beaches, hike the Samaria Gorge and see the monasteries at Arkadi and Preveli.
Crete’s Wildlife and Landscape
Crete’s wildlife and landscape are two of the island’s attractions, including gorges for hiking, rare raptors like the lammergeier, wildcats and ancient trees.
Western Crete Beaches and Villages
Western Crete has some wonderful golden sand beaches as well as mountain villages, monasteries, caves, and archaeological sites to discover.
West Coast of Crete Drive
This drive along the west coast of Crete and inland from there will take a whole day and starts and ends in Kastélli Kissámou, west of Chania.
Where to Stay in Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets suggests where to stay in Eastern Crete with our favourite hotels in Zakros, Elounds, Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Istron Bay, Myrtos, Neapolis.
Where to Stay in Central Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Central Crete including hotels in Matala, Ayia Galini, and Zaros.
Where to Eat in Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Eastern Crete including restaurants and tavernas in Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, and Kato Zakros.
Latest Posts
-
Florina: A Train Journey to a Most Charming Winter Destination
Full of life and creativity, the northern Greek city of Florina will surprise you with the number of things it has to offer. -
Kavala: 5 Cultural Experiences
Follow roads less tourist-trodden to plenty of unexpected sights and stops in this charming historical city. -
Thessaloniki Closer to Getting its Holocaust Museum
The plan for a modern museum, illustrating to visitors the story of the Jews of Thessaloniki, has been in the works for a decade. -
A Sweet Taste of Autumn at the Chestnut, Wine, and Cheese Festival of Griva
Every autumn, in a small village on the slopes of Mount Paiko, the local harvest is celebrated in style. -
Hollywood Returns to Thessaloniki
Film producers are increasingly choosing Greece as a location, not just for shooting, but for post-production as well. -
New Archaeological Museum in Sparti Gets Green Light
The construction of a new archaeological museum in the Peloponnese town of Sparti has received the green light, the Greek Culture Ministry announced recently. -
Pinterest: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos in Top 50 European Cities With Most Beautiful Homes
Athens, Santorini and Mykonos are among the top 50 European cities with the most picturesque homes, according to research released recently by the Alan Boswell Group. Experts from the 35-year-old UK i… -
‘Thessaloniki: A Thousand Views, ONE CLICK!’ – Photo Contest
A photo competition aiming to reflect Thessaloniki’s creative and original vibe and promote the city’s European Information Center has been recently announced. -
Elafonisos Looking to Appeal to Remote Workers
Elafonisos, a tiny island south of the Peloponnese, is taking steps to attract remote workers through an initiative launched by the Global Hellenic Diaspora network and supported by the island’s munic… -
Athens is the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2022
The city of Athens was awarded top honors as the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2022 at the World Travel Awards (WTA). held recently in Muscat, Oman.
Subscribe to our Newsletter for news, information and inspiration for planning your travels in Greece
BUY A JOURNAL TO RECORD YOUR OWN GREECE TRAVEL SECRETS!
FOLLOW OUR GREECE VIDEOS
ON YOUTUBE
Best Greece Guide
Of all the many guides to Greece we've seen, this is the one we recommend as best of all:
Greece Travel Inspiration
Buy our book of inspirational travel stories from our travels in Greece over the years.
Take a Look at Our Corfu Guide
FTC Disclosure : If you make a purchase via a link on this site, we may receive a small commission on the transaction - at no added cost to you. Thank you!
Latest Posts
-
Florina: A Train Journey to a Most Charming Winter Destination
Nov 26, 22 11:32 AM
Full of life and creativity, the northern Greek city of Florina will surprise you with the number of things it has to offer. -
Kavala: 5 Cultural Experiences
Nov 26, 22 11:32 AM
Follow roads less tourist-trodden to plenty of unexpected sights and stops in this charming historical city. -
Thessaloniki Closer to Getting its Holocaust Museum
Nov 26, 22 11:32 AM
The plan for a modern museum, illustrating to visitors the story of the Jews of Thessaloniki, has been in the works for a decade. -
A Sweet Taste of Autumn at the Chestnut, Wine, and Cheese Festival of Griva
Nov 26, 22 11:32 AM
Every autumn, in a small village on the slopes of Mount Paiko, the local harvest is celebrated in style. -
Hollywood Returns to Thessaloniki
Nov 26, 22 11:32 AM
Film producers are increasingly choosing Greece as a location, not just for shooting, but for post-production as well. -
New Archaeological Museum in Sparti Gets Green Light
Nov 24, 22 10:05 AM
The construction of a new archaeological museum in the Peloponnese town of Sparti has received the green light, the Greek Culture Ministry announced recently. -
Pinterest: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos in Top 50 European Cities With Most Beautiful Homes
Nov 24, 22 10:05 AM
Athens, Santorini and Mykonos are among the top 50 European cities with the most picturesque homes, according to research released recently by the Alan Boswell Group. Experts from the 35-year-old UK i… -
‘Thessaloniki: A Thousand Views, ONE CLICK!’ – Photo Contest
Nov 22, 22 10:54 AM
A photo competition aiming to reflect Thessaloniki’s creative and original vibe and promote the city’s European Information Center has been recently announced. -
Elafonisos Looking to Appeal to Remote Workers
Nov 22, 22 10:54 AM
Elafonisos, a tiny island south of the Peloponnese, is taking steps to attract remote workers through an initiative launched by the Global Hellenic Diaspora network and supported by the island’s munic…
No words or images to be used without prior permission.
We do not sell personal information: see our Privacy Policy.
California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA: Sale Of Personal Information
Greece Travel Secrets does not sell any information it gathers for any reason. It has not collected or sold any personal information in the last twelve months or ever in the past.
This website was built using Site Build It!
