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Escape to a stunning modern retreat nestled in a serene olive grove - just minutes from the beach, charming villages, and cultural landmarks. Villa Essence Crete, an elegant 250 sqm two-level villa with a separate guest house offers complete privacy, luxurious amenities, and breathtaking views of the Cretan landscape.
Escape to a stunning modern retreat nestled in a serene olive grove - just minutes from the beach, charming villages, and cultural landmarks. Villa Essence Crete, an elegant 250 sqm two-level villa with a separate guest house offers complete privacy, luxurious amenities, and breathtaking views of the Cretan landscape.
Villa Essence Crete, is a luxury retreat set on a private 4,000 m² estate near the picturesque village of Amnatos. Nestled among olive groves, the villa offers complete privacy, breathtaking sea views, and a refined contemporary design - all while remaining close to everyday conveniences.
Within just a 10–15 minute drive, guests can reach beautiful sandy beaches or explore the charming Old Town of Rethymno, with its lively atmosphere, boutique shops, and excellent dining options. The villa’s location perfectly balances tranquility and accessibility, making it an ideal base for an unforgettable Cretan escape.
Villa Essence Crete - What We Love
- Total Privacy in a peaceful olive grove - yet just minutes from beaches, shops, and tavernas
- Private outdoor space for every bedroom: balconies and verandas with gorgeous views
- Separate Guest House for extra privacy among families, couples, or groups
- Eco-friendly 40 sq. m pool, stunning garden, and multiple lounge areas
- Minimalist architecture that seamlessly blends with nature
- Top location near Rethymno, Arkadi Monastery, and famous gorges
Sleeps Up to 10 - 4 Bedrooms with Ensuite Bathrooms
Each of the villa's 4 bedrooms has:
- An ensuite bathroom
- Private outdoor access (veranda or balcony)
- Configurable beds: king-size or two singles upon request
Main House
Ground Floor:
- Spacious open-plan living room with fireplace, smart HDTV & sofa
- Elegant indoor dining area and fully equipped modern kitchen
- Bedroom 1: King bed with ensuite bathroom (hydromassage shower)
First Floor:
- Bedroom 2: King bed with ensuite bathroom (bathtub)
Attic Level:
- Bedroom 3: Two single beds with ensuite bathroom (hydromassage shower)
Guest House (Private Entrance – Ideal for Couples or In-Laws)
- Ground floor: Open-plan living room, kitchen, dining area, and guest WC
- First floor: Bedroom 4: Queen bed with ensuite bathroom (bathtub) and panoramic balcony
Outdoor Living – Private & Peaceful
Enjoy 100% privacy in the fenced and beautifully landscaped outdoor space featuring:
- Eco-friendly 40 sq. m swimming pool
- 2 outdoor dining areas – perfect for meals under the stars
- Fully equipped charcoal BBQ
- Multiple relaxation zones with loungers, umbrellas, hammock, and cozy garden spots
- Private parking
Premium Services (Upon Request)
Elevate your stay with exclusive experiences:
- Private chef
- Yoga or Pilates sessions
- Massage & beauty treatments
- Babysitting
- Car & bike rentals
- Private boat trips
- Photographer for vacation moments
- Airport/port transfers
- Custom daily excursions
- Diving & adventure activities
Prime Location – Everything You Need, Nearby
- Sfakaki Beach – 6 km (Blue Flag, family-friendly)
- Stavromenos Village – 6 km (shops, bakeries, markets)
- Rethymno Old Town – 13 km (Venetian harbor, nightlife, history)
- Heraklion Airport – 71 km | Chania Airport – 75 km
For Beach Lovers
Explore Crete’s iconic coastline:
- Sfakaki & Rethymno Beach – Sunbeds, cafes, crystal waters
- Episkopi & Georgioupoli – Ideal for families & nature lovers
- South Coast Gems – Preveli, Schinaria, Triopetra, Damnoni (all <40 min)
Bonus: See Caretta caretta sea turtles nest nearby (May–September)
Adventure & Nature
- Prassano & Mili Gorges – Stunning seasonal hikes
- Preveli Palm Beach – Where the river meets the Libyan Sea
- Ida Plateau & Imbros Gorge – Mountain views & scenic trails
- Kapsaliana Village – Olive oil museum & traditional culture
Cultural & Historical Treasures
- Arkadi Monastery – A powerful symbol of Cretan resistance (5 km)
- Ancient Eleutherna – Minoan ruins and museum
- Rethymno Old Town – Venetian fortress, alleys, harbor cafes
- Margarites Village – Traditional pottery & local artisans
- Kalypso Dive Center – Explore Crete’s marine life
Your Cretan Home Awaits
Whether you're here to relax poolside with wine under the olive trees, explore mountain trails, or dive into the island’s rich culture and cuisine - Villa Essence Crete is your perfect home base for discovering the best of Crete.
Villa Essence Crete | By Unique Villas GR
Pikris is a village approximately 18km southeast of Rethymno, built at an altitude of 160m at the end of the Arkadi gorge. Pikris displays lash verdant nature due to the river Arios that passes through it and irrigates the surrounding fields. This is one of the most beautiful villages in Rethymno. References of the village date back to the 16th century and Pikris includes many Venetian elements to its architecture, with magnificent mansions and impressive doorframes that adorn the many picturesque alleys. Its name means ‘bitterness’ in Greek and is claimed to refer to a father who lost all of his 9 sons one by one. The local fair of the village is on the 26th of July when visitors can enjoy traditional delicacies and witness the Cretan dancing and musical tradition.
Rethymno Greece is one of the four regions of Crete island, located on the western side of Crete, between the prefectures of Chania and Heraklion. Its authentic intact beauty and relaxing atmosphere is its gem. It boasts magnificent beaches, interesting archaeological sites, Byzantine churches, lovely villages and many resorts. Rethymnon is a town with intense Medieval architecture and a lovely Venetian port with a lighthouse.
Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. Here you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. One of the most popular destinations of the country, Crete is the dream of a lifetime for millions of tourists.
Being among the top 20 tourist destinations worldwide, Greece is synonymous with 3 things: history and ancient civilization, amazing landscapes and top touristic destinations. Greece is so wealthy in culture and beauty that it never seems to be completely explored. Holidays in Greece is the ultimate experience all year round. It offers a great pallet of experiences; the warm sun, the crystal clear beaches, the dramatic nature, the rich culture and the renowned hospitality along with the unique culinary experience of the Mediterranean diet.
ATM/Bank • Postal Office • Groceries • Laundrette - Serviced • Fitness Centre • Spa • Medical Services • Hospital • Babysitter • Pharmacy • Police • Market • Mini Market • Car Rental Recommended
Cruises • Restaurants • Playgrounds • Churches • Winery Tours • Water Sports • Swimming • Surf, Kite Surf • Yacht Charter • Safari Tours • Cinema • Museums • Bars • Beach Bars • Library • Marina • Water Parks • Horse Riding • Scuba Dives • Golf • Fishing • Jet Skiing • Water Ski • Sailing • Tennis • Mountain Biking • Paragliding • Dive • Wind Surfing • Daily Cruise • Clubs • Birdwatching • Glassbottom boat trips • Sports Centers • Hiking and Trekking • Activities for kids
We spent two weeks with six adults. Eleni was a wonderful host who struck exactly the right balance between accessibility / hospitality and privacy. She was always available and at your disposal.
The villa itself is about 30 minutes by car outside Rethymno in the hills on the way to the Arkadi Monastery. There is a bypass road that ensures that not all traffic passes the villa. Most of the time it is therefore quiet, especially at night you can easily sleep with the windows open.
The villa is beautiful, the garden and the pool are well maintained. Everything you need is there, but the kitchen could be a little better equipped.
We had a wonderful time and recommend the villa without reservation.
This villa will be bookmarked for future family gatherings and somewhere I’d like to come back to every year. The views, the peaceful setting, proximity to some lovely beaches and restaurants (Maria’s up the hill is the perfect restaurant that is overflowing with charm). My family with 3 kids under 4 loved it. There is a separate guest house for those who need more privacy from the other 3 bedrooms. Top place! And Eleni is kind and helpful, though sad we didn’t meet in person!
One of the most relaxed vacations we ever had! Everything was fantastic! Starting with the host Eleni and the team, who gave us a warm welcome and was always ready to help in any query! The villa is stunning! New, modern, gets a lot of sunlight, incredible front view over looking the small villages and the beautiful sea on the distance. We really enjoyed the pool and at night the sky is full of stars :) Closest beach is 10min drive, shops are 5min drive away. And a lot of local restaurants, tavernas around by 10/20min radius by car. There are more places to explore around, and we will definitely come back to this beautiful oasis! I recommend anyone to visit this amazing place!!!
All 4 bedrooms have their own bathrooms and are located on different floors (3 of them in the main house and one in the house directly next door). You have a wonderful view of the sea from all the rooms. The villa is very clean and well maintained. The garden with the pool invites you to relax. Recommendation: swim for sunrise :-). In addition, the garden has a beautiful sitting area with a barbecue and a wonderful view. Here you can spend beautiful evenings. Eleni, the host, is very good and very nice.
Beautiful view, both at sunrise and sunset! Quiet environment with a few quality restaurants within walking distance!
Eleni has always been available and super responsive to all our requests (especially for an extra parasol brought very quickly)
The rooms are very comfortable, and the bedding is great for a good rest!
House equipment overall up to standard.
The little dining / BBQ area is particularly exceptional.
Ideal house for a stay of 8, with or without children!
We were a family of eight: 5 adults and 3 children, and the villa was perfect for us. The excellent division of rooms with their private bathrooms was exactly what we needed. The villa is beautifully designed and decorated, and inspires calmness and tranquility. The view is absolutely spectacular, and the breeze was so ideal that we didn't have to turn on any of the air conditioners even once (we stayed during the first half of July). The isolation of the villa was great, as it gave us a lot of privacy and peace. With plenty of supermarkets and restaurants less than a 10-15 drive away, we had everything we needed. The lovely city and beaches of Rethymno are just a 30 min drive away. Eleni was a perfect host, allowing us early check in and late check out at our requests, waiting for us on arrival to show us the villa, and being attentive to everything we needed, responding immediately to our questions and requests, while leaving us in peace the rest of the time.
In summary, we can only recommend the accommodation. We were 3 small families with a total of 4 children. The house and property were very well maintained. The outdoor area with pool and large garden invites you to relax by the pool and relax. The location is quiet and you need a car.
Nice spacious and very well-maintained villa. Special mention for excellent bedding. We were especially attentive to the kindness of the host.
Incredible views from every window, amazing outdoor space, beautiful home and decor, had everything you could need. Eleni was a wonderful host, so sweet and helpful and went above and beyond. It’s about 30 mins from Rethymno a great hub for exploring the island. We had our 2 small children and the house was great for them too. Hoping to come back again
Le confort de la maison, la tranquillité des lieux, la piscine, l'amabilité de la propriétaire, la possibilité de rayonner sur les côtes Nord et Sud, la Ville de Rethimnon le soir, le chant des cigales.
Great house, fantastic view in the idyll!
wir waren das erste mal auf Kreta und der Aufenthalt in deinem Haus hat alles perfekt gemacht. Die Ankunft spät am Abend war überhaupt kein Problem, Maria empfing uns freundlich und erklärte uns alles notwendige. Es war zur Ankunft Gebäck und Wasser im Kühlschrank, ebenso Wein, Olivenöl, Raki, Oliven, Honig, etc. Die Zimmer sind gemütlich, die Betten super bequem. Der Pool ist super, sauber und so groß, dass man auch mal Bahnen schwimmen kann. Der Ausblick von allen! Zimmern ist spektakulär. Jeden Morgen haben wir erstmal die Aussicht genossen. Die Lage ist perfekt, Strand, Einkaufsmöglichkeiten, z.b. Lidl sind in 15-20 Minuten zu erreichen. Besonders nett war die Kommunikation mit dir Eleni. Wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt und freuen uns auf unseren nächsten Aufenthalt in der Villa Arion Krini. Wir kommen bestimmt wieder.
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