Villa Ilios
In this section...
- 4
- 2
- 2
- Delightful stone house
- Private swimming pool
- Stunning views
- Comfortable and spacious
- Mochlos 10min walk
Beyond the glitz of Elounda and the wide blue Gulf of Mirabello, Crete’s eastern coastline rises and falls in a beautifully scenic series of rugged peaks and peaceful bays, its topography both a barrier to mass development and a powerful reason to visit. On one of these hills, just above the fishing village of Mochlos, stands a collection of stone-built villas with glorious panoramic views over a hidden corner of Crete that most visitors never discover.
Owners Eleni and George chose this spot with great care, and built four attractive villas aimed at those keen to enjoy the slower pace and unspoilt landscapes of this quieter side of the island. The layout of the villas is staggered to enhance privacy, and Villa Ilios sits second from the top of the hill, with wonderful views and just a 10-minute walk down to idyllic Mochlos below. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms make this a great choice for two couples, with spacious, comfortable interiors immaculately kept by the hospitable Eleni and an inviting pool for a cooling dip overlooking the bay.
Whilst there’s plenty to see in the local area if you’re so inclined, a stay in Mochlos is really more about being than doing, the perfect place to sleep deeply, eat well and give body and soul a complete rest. And whilst it’s definitely more fishing port than seaside resort, there’s a pretty sandy beach to lounge on and rocks to swim off should you wish to. The Mochlos area is also home to one of the densest concentrations of Minoan remains on the whole of Crete, including a tiny island settlement just offshore, and there are gorges, beaches and more to explore in the vast UNESCO Sitia Global Geopark. But perhaps the greatest pleasure of all here is lingering over a drink or a meal in one of its delightful waterfront tavernas, feasting on the freshest fish imaginable and savouring life in the slow lane for just a little while.
Find out why everyone's talking about Mochlos... view the video here.
In Greece, a tourist tax may apply at your accommodation which will be payable locally, in cash, during the course of your holiday. Please use the link to view details specific to your accommodation. View tourist tax rates here.
Accommodation
Layout
- 2 bedroom villa (sleeps 2-4)
Lower ground floor
- Double bedroom with adjacent shower room and WC
Ground floor
- Open-plan living/dining room/kitchen with TV and doors to garden
- Kitchen includes hob, oven, fridge-freezer and coffee machine
- Shower room/WC
First floor
- Double bedroom
General
- Complimentary WiFi
- Air-conditioned in living room and top floor bedroom
- Private swimming pool 8m x 4m, depth 1.4m
- Outdoor shaded dining area
- Barbecue
- Open car parking
- Cleaning three times a week
- Linen change twice weekly
- Washing machine shared with Villa Fegari
WiFi
- All properties with wifi are able to support basic functionality such as web browsing and checking emails*
* We aim to offer an uninterrupted service but sometimes due to factors beyond our control reliability can be affected.
National tourist licence (EOT): 1040K123K0363800
Location
- Beach (Mochlos) 3min drive, 15min walk
- Tavernas/shops (Mochlos) 3min drive, 15min walk
- Agios Nikolaos 45min drive
- Sitia 45min drive
- Heraklion Airport 1hr 30min drive
Car hire
Car options
Based on the number of people travelling, the following hire car(s) are included in the package price of your holiday:
- 2-3 guests – 1 Group C2, Seat Ibiza or similar*
- 4 guests – 1 Group D2, Hyundai i30 or similar*
* All our cars include comprehensive insurance with no excess charge. For this particular destination, the undercarriage, tyres, wing mirrors and windscreen are not included in the cover.
Car specification
Group C2 – 1.2-1.4 litre engine, 1 large suitcase*
Group D2 – 1.4 litre engine, 2 large suitcases*
The following cars are available as alternatives on request (supplements apply). Please call our travel specialists for details.
Group CA – Automatic Nissan Micra or similar, 1.2-1.4 litre engine, 1 large suitcase*
Group D3 – Seat Toledo (diesel) or similar, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
Group DA3 – Automatic Nissan Pulsar or similar , 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
Group E1 - Kia Stonic or similar, 1.0 litre engine, 1 medium and 2 large suitcases*
Group L2 – Dacia Duster or similar, 1.2 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
Group F1 - Citroen Grand C4 or similar, 7 seater, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 2 large suitcases*
Group FA - Automatic Citroen Grand C4 Space Tourer or similar, 7 seater, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 2 large suitcases*
* Suitcase sizes are based on a large suitcase being approximately 75cm x 41cm x 31cm, a medium suitcase of approximately 65cm x 46cm x 29cm and a small suitcase of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
Excellent villa for a relaxing holiday. Plenty of room and outdoor space to use
Villa Ilios and Mochlos itself were both quite magical.
Fab, thank you
Have had a fantastic holiday here at the villa - a beautiful location with stunning views, a very comfortable & spacious villa with a fabulous pool. Loved Mochlos and the tavernas & shops - just enough to sample a few different places each night. Thanks to Nikos for info on what to do whilst we were here, and to Eleni for the attention to detail in the villa. Another great holiday by Simpson.
We found and loved Mochlos over 20 years ago, so we were delighted and couldn't resist when we saw Simpson now have a choice of Mochlos villas. We are very glad we chose both Mochlos and Ilios. Villa is lovely so a big thank you. The walk into Mochlos is a breeze and walk back is better than we expected. Big thanks to all and we would love to be back before too long, and definitely less than in 20 years!
Enjoyed our holiday greatly, villa and Mochlos both lovely. Excellent service as always from Simpson. Mochlos is truly a hidden gem and more than lived up to our memories of a visit c.20 years ago. We will return!
It's all over so quickly. Sitting as we always do at the breakfast table, looking at the stunning view over the bay - the same view as you get as you swim gently along the side of the infinity pool. The warblers are warbling fit to burst in joyous late spring song and otherwise all is peace. Slowing down to Mochlos pace has been easy, not least thanks for the attentiveness of Eleni and Nikos. Getting back to London speed is not something to which we are looking forward.
It’s a lovely villa. Particularly good for 2 couples as the bedrooms/bathrooms are similar. Great pool and outside areas with different views, including a lovely area to barbecue in. Nice welcome from the owner and Nikos the Simpson rep was very helpful. Mochlos has a good selection of tavernas and the walk back up is steep but paved and well lit. We’d happily go back.
Cannot praise Simpson enough- there was a problem with the car, we had a new one within 2 hours. The villa was better than the brochure and everything was thought of. This was our first self-catering holiday, so we would have forgotten the small important things that were in fact supplied. In Mochlos Crete, the local rep Niklaos was the best. Second Simpson trip, but not the last.
We had a lovely relaxed spring break here. We enjoyed the elevated position of the villa, overlooking the bay and amongst the greenery and olive trees. One unexpected bonus was the amount of springtime birdsong. We enjoyed the very easy walk into town - in the morning for a coffee and the evening for a meal - the steps back up to the villa being a good post-meal work-out! The handful of tavernas are good - most serving traditional Cretan food at very reasonable prices. All in all, Mochlos has a very laid-back, chilled vibe. The villa itself was spotless and the pool beautifully clean. Nikos was an excellent source of knowledge, thank you for a great stay.
Marvellous time thanks to a number of things: Simpsons, Nikos and the Villa Ilios owners. Everything covered down to the small things. Very enjoyable comfortable stay, plus unexpectedly good weather. Five different places to sit that are good options at times. We have been to Lefkada with Simpsons pre-covid, so looking to them again proved spot on. Cannot recommend enough.
It's been a fantastic, relaxing break at Villa Ilios. The villa has everything you need and is spotlessly clean! Nikos has some great suggestions.
Villa Ilios and Mochlos were a lovely combination. The village is perfect and the people were extremely friendly and helpful. Very easy to walk down to the village, albeit a bit challenging to walk back. We tried 3 or 4 of the tavernas and were not disappointed in any of them. The view from the villa is amazing, especially from the pool terrace.
We had a fantastic holiday at Villa Ilios. Mochlos is stunning with lots of tavernas serving fresh fish which is delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the area. It was our first holiday post the pandemic and as ever the Simpson experience was fantastic. From booking the holiday and then the support from the local representative always gives peace of mind. Thank you for making things so easy!
You were recommended by our next door neighbours who are good friends, and we will certainly book our next holiday with you.
We have had a fabulous week of doing very little. The heatwave rather diminished our desire to go exploring. Mochlos is a joy. Quiet, peaceful and beautiful. The villa is really well appointed, everything you need is here. It is spotlessly clean. Nikos is a fantastic source of local knowledge. Eleni is always on hand to revolve any issues. The onshore breeze helps cool things down. Thank you for a wonderful holiday, it was just what we needed.
One word – idyllic! Very peaceful and quiet place – very special. Mochlos is delightful – six tavernas, a mini-market and a couple of shops. Taverna Bogazi – lovely fish dinner with gentle Greek music on a Wednesday evening. Our favourite was Kohilia – the starters are amazing – fresh anchovy bruschetta and crab tarts! Very relaxed and local wine good. Nikos is very helpful and has many recommendations. Eleni also very helpful.
We had a fabulous week in Villa Illios. It is really well presented, excellently managed, fantastically situated and gorgeous to stay in. We enjoyed everything about the villa and the village. Mochlos is quiet enough to not feel crowded, but has plenty of excellent places to while away a few hours eating, drinking, people watching or just looking at the seascape. Great location for excursions. If you want to be busy, don’t come here. We loved it!
We spent a lovely week at villa Ilios, both relaxing in the villa and Mochlos, and exploring further afield. Thanks to the Simpsons team for helping everything to run very smoothly.
As seasoned Simpson Travellers, we have high expectations and have not been disappointed. 1. Variety and quality of tavernas in Mochlos is excellent. 2. Walking in the hills has been invigorating. 3. Villa Ilios is lovely - many thanks to Eleni and team. 4. Mochlos is charming and a wonderful respite - no noisy things in the water or on the streets! 5. Thanks to Nikos for his valuable advice. It has been a truly relaxing week in a truly off the beaten track part of Crete.
The location of Villa Ilios was really special with wonderful views. Peaceful, quiet and a real 'getawayfromitall' little villa.
We loved Mochlos. Everything you need is here.
Lovely villa: everything you need to hand and lots comfortable places to lounge outside; good shower, comfy bed - all make it very easy to hand around and do as little as possible! We walked down into Mochlos most evenings and enjoyed a variety of meals at various tavernas. The walk back up is short but challenging! Many thanks to Eleni and the other staff we never saw, the villa was spotless. And many thanks also to Nikos for the warmth of greeting, the lovely supplies and the friendly advice.. It's been a lovely week.
Loved the villa and variety of seating areas and refreshing pool. Thanks to Nikos, the bringer of cakes and apple pie, for all his help, suggestions and information. Thanks to Eleni and staff for looking after us so well. It's certainly one of the best villas we've stayed in in our time with Simpsons. We'll be back.
Our choice of Greek properties is as diverse as the islands themselves, ranging from simple seaside charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal. To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.
* For further clarification on Facilities and Amenities, please view the 'Details' tab for each property or speak to one of our experienced sales consultants.
Agios Nikolaos & The Gulf of Mirabello is one of the most sought after enclaves of Crete. Here you'll find Elounda, a pretty waterfront town hosting some of the island's most exclusive hotels and restaurants and regular ferries across to the former leper colony Spinalonga, a disconcertingly beautiful island with a fascinating history made famous by Victoria Hislop's novel The Island. A little further east, fashionable Agios Nikolaos is a lively town with an abundance of charm and a fabulous selection of restaurants and shops around the harbour.
If you're after a more tranquil and traditional take on Cretan life, the enchanting village of Mochlos lies tucked away at the most easterly edge of The Gulf of Mirabello. Our portfolio here celebrates the road less travelled, transporting guests from the mainstream to a blissfully undeveloped part of Crete that's often overlooked. Mochlos holds a unique identity along this illustrious coastline; a timeless waterfront idyll with a charming collection of cafés and tavernas harbouring the soul food of a simpler life. Whether you choose our Simpson Hotel or one of our luxurious villas, a stay here offers the best of all worlds - combining authentic charm, warm hospitality and easy access to many of the island's highlights, including the breathtaking gorges and caves of eastern Crete and the mountain communities of the beautiful Lasithi Plateau. You can also extend your stay and enjoy a few nights in Athens as part of your Greek odyssey? One of the world's most ancient cities, with a vibrant culture and fascinating history, it's the perfect addition to any holiday in Crete. To find out more, please visit our Short Stays in Athens page.
Whether you're seeking an expansive beachfront home close to all the action, or a tucked away base by the sea, you'll find something to suit in Agios Nikolaos & The Gulf of Mirabello. View our handpicked collection of villas today or take a look at our delightful Simpson Hotel in Mochlos.
View holiday Booking Information
