Villa Hera 5

Hera 5 is one of the Hera villas at Kounali Mountain Resort, and the one we suggest when somebody asks about bringing a small group: 130 m², three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a private pool on a west-facing terrace.

The house divides neatly into practice and rest. The living room is open enough to clear a floor; the terrace takes the morning sun and is private enough to use before breakfast; the pool water is still at seven and warm by mid-morning.

Three bedrooms and three bathrooms mean six people can keep the same schedule without colliding. The kitchen is equipped for cooking in — full-size fridge, oven, hob, dishwasher — and there is a barbecue outside for the evenings you eat late.

Air conditioning and heating, Wi-Fi, a washing machine, parking for two cars, and stairs between the floors. The resort's gym, padel court and larger saltwater pool are a short walk away when the group wants more than the villa.

A day tends to arrange itself: practice at seven on the terrace, breakfast at nine, the coast or the cave in the middle of the day, the pool at four, dinner at the taverna or at the long table outside.

A few practical notes for organisers. Bring your own mats and props — the villa offers space rather than equipment. A private cook can be arranged through the resort for one evening or several, as can in-villa massage. Heraklion airport is fifty minutes by car, and a minibus or two hire cars fit comfortably behind the gate.

And the thing that makes it work: there is nothing else up here. No traffic, no bars, no reason to leave unless you want one.

The villa, the private pool, the terrace and the parking bays are yours for the week.

Resort facilities included: the saltwater infinity pool and sunbeds (May to October), the gym, padel and basketball courts, the playground and the snack bar.

Check-in from 15:00 with resort staff; check-out by 11:00. Linen and towels are provided throughout.

We have hosted groups on this hill for a decade and we are used to organisers with a plan. Send us the shape of your week and we will tell you what is realistic: which evenings to book the taverna, when to schedule the coast, who to call for a cook or a massage. We answer the same day, and managers are on site if anything needs fixing.

Kounali is the reason a retreat works here. A hundred houses, one church, one taverna, and a silence that takes about a day to get used to.

The taverna is 200 m away, in the same family since 1921: Cretan food, a table under the vines, and a pace that will slow your group down whether they planned to slow down or not.

The coast is ten to fifteen minutes by car when the group wants sea and sand — Milatos for pebbles and harbour fish tavernas, Sissi for coves and long lunches. Agios Nikolaos, half an hour east, has the marina and a proper dinner; Heraklion airport is fifty minutes west.

For six people, two hire cars or one minibus works well, and both fit behind the gate. The last six kilometres climb through bends; drive them once in daylight and the group can relax about the road.

Milatos 6 km · Sissi 10 km · Malia 17 km · Agios Nikolaos 23 km · Heraklion airport 49 km.

Sleeps six: three bedrooms, three bathrooms, stairs between floors.

The villa is booked for six guests; day visitors and extra participants need to be agreed with us first.

Private pool all year; the shared resort pool is seasonal (May–October).

Quiet after 23:00, which for a retreat is usually the easiest house rule of the week.