• 6
  • 3
  • 3
  • Stunning contemporary villa
  • Mesmerising sea views
  • Gym
  • Close to vibrant Sitia
  • Discover authentic Eastern Crete
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Perched on a hillside overlooking nearby Sitia and the sea, splendid Isidora sums up everything we look for in a Simpson Travel villa. Laden with contemporary style and comfort, it comes with mesmerising views and is just a ten-minute drive from a charming and still very authentically Cretan town.

A location like this is a gift for an architect ­– and one that has not been squandered. With floor-to-ceiling glass, a double-height living space and natural, seaside-inspired colours, the villa is light-filled and airy, with magnificent views from the terraces, gardens and swimming pool. Clever design means that while the views are huge, the pool and its attractive stone terrace are nicely private, so you can enjoy this sublime spot in peace all day long and into the soft rosy glow of a Cretan evening. 

The villa works well for families, offering three en-suite bedrooms and generous living space both inside and out. The terrace is a perfect setting for relaxed alfresco dining, but you’ll also want to explore the wonderful tavernas and ouzeries along the seafront in Sitia. With a sandy beach and attractive hillside setting, Sitia is one of the most appealing towns in the area, where low-key tourism rubs along happily with the altogether more ancient trades of olive growing and wine producing. The stunning beach of Vai (a 30-minute drive away) is undeniably more touristy, but worth a visit to experience the only palm tree forest in Europe, and the remainder of this unspoilt eastern end of the island is easily explored by hire car.

Looking for 10 nights..? Why not add a 3-night stay in a boutique hotel to your villa holiday. To find out more, view our 10-night holidays in Greece.

Good to know... It goes without saying that the road less travelled sometimes takes a little longer. Villa Isidora is a two-hour drive from Heraklion. However, if you fancy a night or two in Athens on route, you can fly to Sitia and the villa is just a twenty-minute drive away. For more information, please visit our Short Stays in Athens page.

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

  • 3 bedroom villa (sleeps 2-6)

Ground floor

  • Open-plan living/dining/kitchen area with Satellite/Smart TV and fireplace; sliding doors lead out to terrace
  • Fully-equipped modern kitchen includes full cooker, Illy coffee machine, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher 
  • Office area

First floor

  • Gallery seating area looking down to living area; sliding doors lead out to balcony
  • Master double bedroom (160cm x 200cm bed) with en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe; leads out to balcony
  • Twin bedroom (90cm x 190cm beds; ability to convert to double bed)
  • Shower room
  • Laundry room

Lower ground floor

  • Private entrance or internal access
  • Seating area with sofa-bed
  • Small double bedroom (160cm x 200cm bed)
  • Shower room
  • Air-conditioning in seating area only, but will cool both rooms
  • Gym
  • Access to pool, terrace and gardens

General

  • Complimentary wifi
  • Safe
  • Air-conditioned
  • Private parking space
  • Washing machine
  • Iron, ironing board, hair dryer, bath and pool towels provided
  • Olive grove garden
  • Barbecue
  • Private swimming pool 9.8m x 3m (depth 0.4m – 1.65m), steps into pool
  • Pool terrace secured with perspex protection since photographs were taken
  • Sharp turn into steep access road to villa

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): 1040K10003274601


Location

  • Roussa Ekklisia village tavernas 5min drive
  • Sitia 10min drive
  • Beach 10min drive
  • Palekastro 20min drive
  • Vai Palm forest beach 25min drive
  • Heraklion airport 1hr 50min 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, Fiat Grande Punto or similar*
  • 4-5 guests – 1 Group D2, Hyundai i30 or similar*
  • 6 guests – 2 Group C2, Fiat Grande Punto 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 Fiat Grande Punto or similar, 1.2-1.4 litre engine, 1 large suitcase*

Group D3 – Skoda Octavia or similar, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*

Group DA3 – Automatic Seat Toledo or similar, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcase*

Group L2 – Skoda Yeti or similar, 2.0 litre engine, 3 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.

This villa was perfect for our holiday as a family of six with four teenagers. Everything was done to such a high spec, it was so spacious and the outdoor area couldn't have been better with the most stunning views. We enjoyed lazy days around the pool and barbecues in the evening with the backdrop of the mountains and views of the sea. Plus, beautiful Sitia is close by and Vai beach isn't too far either.

Mrs Faith Chrimes, August 2024

We had a fantastic stay at this lovely villa. The villa is well-equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and relaxing holiday. The layout is excellent and the rooms are spacious, making it perfect for a family getaway. The surroundings are very quiet and peaceful, adding to the overall relaxing atmosphere. One of the highlights was the amazing wildlife - we even spotted eagles and fed them by hand on a few occasions. Highly recommend this villa for anyone looking for a serene and enjoyable stay in Crete. Big shout out to Claire and Simpson Travel. Booking again for next year.

O'Neill party, May 2024

A wonderfully quiet and serene villa with absolutely stunning views! Sunrises and sunsets so beautiful. Thank you Claire for all your help.

The Brotherstons, May 2024

Excellent villa with beautiful views. Lovely peaceful location and exemplary service from Simpson and the villa owners.

Mr Andrew Donaldson, October 2023

Lovely villa with wonderful views from every angle. Even without the gym, the stairs will keep you fit!

Mrs Frances Lowden, September 2023

We had a wonderful time here. It was very relaxing. We didn’t get out to see much as we loved the views and scenery from the villa. A massive thank you to Claire for being so welcoming and helpful. We will 100% return!

Sage & Millie, July 2023

Customer Feedback We’ve had a fab two weeks in this beautiful villa, and we are sad to be going home. The space, amenities and sheer tranquillity make it a lovely place to stay. All in all a fabulous stay in a fabulous villa.

Wendy Sean, James & Matthew, July 2023

We have had a lovely relaxing, stay in this beautiful villa. The pool is amazing and we have enjoyed day trips out and about. The locals are lovely and friendly.

The Kerr family, July 2023

We had a fab holiday – even with the mixed weather. Would have loved to stay on. Thank you to Claire and the team for taking such good care of us.

Jasmin, Nicki, Charles & Catherine, June 2023

What a wonderful villa ! We were blown away by the views when we arrived! Magical sunrises and sunsets. A very special family time . Everything was perfect! Thank you .

Katharine Richardson, September 2022

Beautiful villa with stunning views. Great service, as always, from the Simpson team.

Anne Spackman, August 2022

We had such a relaxing week in this beautiful villa that we didn't venture far. All in all a fabulous week, we hope to return soon.

Belshaw family, July 2022

We had a wonderful week dodging the 40 degree temperatures in London! 27C with a strong breeze and a nice pool to cool off in. Bliss!

Beverley & friends, July 2022

A really well-appointed house in a tranquil position. Lovely views and birdsong all day long. Pool warm and very clean.

Cecily and Hugh, May 2022

A lovely villa, a quiet, peaceful area. The local town of Sitia is a delight, a beautiful harbour and plenty of tavernas and cafés. Villa Isidora is undoubtedly one of the best, with a magnificent view and plenty of indoor or outdoor relaxation spots.

John Smith, May 2022

We have just returned from an idyllic week in Crete. Simpson Travel made life so easy for us. The Covid updates were very good prior to leaving and questions asked promptly. The villa we stayed was spectacular. The photos were beautiful but it was even better in reality. The local rep, Kostoula, was so easy to communicate with and could help us with advice and booked local restaurants, etc. Everything about the holiday was just perfect. Being met at the airport, looked after while in Crete and then met again on our return made for such a lovely experience. Crete itself was such a beautiful place, we would not hesitate to return with Simpson Travel again. What a breath of fresh air after such a difficult period of time.

Chris Barley – via TrustPilot, August 2021

Villa Isidora was fantastic, it was like the villa equivalent of a very posh yacht. We loved everything about it, the design was unique, lots of space, light, with great views of the sea and countryside through enormous windows. We've stayed in a lot of villas over the years but this was a real game changer for us, we will be hard pressed to find another villa that comes close. It was a pleasure to call it ‘home’ for two weeks. We'd also like to say a big thank you to all your support staff for such good personal service, at pre-departure, at the airport, and to our resort representative, Marian, who was friendly and knowledgeable about this part of Crete and we took up many of her recommendations for things to do, and we were not disappointed. A truly unforgettable 5-star experience.

Charles & Beverley, October 2019

Another great holiday with Simpson Travel – the villa was great and the local representatives were superb.

Iain & Caroline Johnston, October 2019

Villa Isidora is stunning, although it may be considered a little remote by some. For us, it was ideal. Marian , the rep, was excellent and the service from Simpson, particularly at Heraklion Airport was second to none. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

Stuart & Teresa, October 2019

This was our first visit to Crete and hopefully not our last! Villa Isidora was a great place to stay – light, bright, spotlessly clean and extremely comfortable both inside and out. We loved the location, quiet and peaceful, yet within an easy short drive to Sitia and its restaurants and to explore the delights of the east coast of Crete.

EAB, September 2019

Yet another FANTASTIC holiday, this time to Crete, booked with Simpson Travel. Everything was wonderfully easy, from booking to airport to hire car and arrival at the villa, which was everything we could have wanted and more... and the return trip the same. Wish we could do it all again tomorrow. Thank you Simpson Travel.

Mrs Gilbody, June 2019

We had an excellent holiday. Car hire was very easy on collection and departure with no stress, car hire personnel were all very helpful and friendly. This being our third holiday with Simpson Travel (all excellent) and we will definitely be travelling with Simpson in the future. We have recommended Simpson Travel to many of our friends and colleagues. Keep up the good work.

Kevin Bransome, October 2018

Villa Isidora is one of the best villas we have ever stayed in. It commands a majestic view of the sea, is ultra-modern in its design and is incredibly spacious both indoors and out. The facilities, including a gym, are excellent making it a real home from home experience. Local restaurants provide good, authentic Greek cuisine and Sitia is just a short drive away for all your shopping needs. It is well worth exploring the East coast beaches, many of which we had to ourselves.

Mr D, October 2018

Villa Isidora is delightfully situated and the views are breathtakingly lovely. A very relaxing, easy holiday with great beaches and good restaurants nearby. Will definitely come back!

Diane Akin, October 2018

Simpson Travel has proved to be a company worth their cost. A premium service providing a premium holiday experience in premium accommodation. Villa Isidora is stunning – we ran out of superlatives to do it justice. Expect steps/stairs and the turn off the road onto the lane down to the villa is a tight and steep as it warns! But these are all necessary to experience the views, solitude and tranquillity that Isidora provides. East Crete is so different from central Crete and we totally fell for the beauty of the Eastern end. Roads that provide so many different views at each turn make the two-hour drive from Heraklion absolutely worth it and not a trial at all. We would return to Villa Isidora without question and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a villa away from it all with privacy and peace but access to a local decent town only 10 minutes down the road.

Mrs Harrison & Ms Bennet, October 2018

Villa Isidora is a fantastic villa located in a part of Crete that is different from Western Crete. The views from the villa are truly spectacular, whilst not being overlooked. We would love to return one day.

Mr Clark, August 2018

Villa Isidora near Sitia is beautiful, spacious and ideally located. The views are stunning and the villa is peaceful and private. The facilities are excellent, everything we needed was there. It is ideally located to watch the sunrise and the sunset, a first for us. Perfect!

Ellen Atkinson, July 2018

Villa Isidora is just brilliant – please don't book it, we want to go again!

Mr Awenat, August 2017

Villa Isidora (or the peaceful villa) has been a delight to stay at. Any problems were sorted out with a phone call to Evie very quickly. The cleaners are just first class and came twice a week. Having visited the west side of Crete for many years we thoroughly enjoyed this more authentically Greek East side. There is so much to see and do we feel we have only managed to touch the surface in this fantastic part of Crete. We have had a wonderful two weeks.

Roz, Martin & Xanthe, August 2017

Congratulations on picking such a great villa and fantastic area of Crete. This was our first visit and we were surprised by the empty beaches and roads, even in the prime holiday season of August Bank Holiday. In common with other comments, we recommend the beach at Xerocampos. Beautiful sand, pretty empty and a spectacular drive home over the mountains. Evie was fabulous, with lots of great suggestions about what to do and always on hand to answer any query. The cleaners were also first class, leaving the place spotless. We hope you have an excellent holiday and enjoy this superb property and part of the world as much as we have done.

Caroline & Roger, August 2017

Let us be the first to share our wonderful two-week holiday at this amazing villa. Beaches; we spent most of our time at a lovely beach next to Xerocampos. The beach was right by a small taverna and has sunbeds and umbrellas... We hope you enjoy your stay as much as we have. Evie was a great help and always on hand to answer all of our questions, even on a Sunday.

Johnny & Linda, July 2017

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.

Grading

Property Grading Key:

  • 5/5

    Excellent

  • 4/5

    Very good

  • 3/5

    Good

Close
  • Location

    5/5

    Position, view, serenity, privacy

  • Comfort

    4.5/5

    Space, style, overall furnishings

  • Facilities*

    4.5/5

    Property enhancements

  • Amenities*

    3.5/5

    Proximity to beaches, restaurants and shops

* For further clarification on Facilities and Amenities, please view the 'Details' tab for each property or speak to one of our experienced sales consultants.

A destination where tourism is not the local raison d’être, this is a place to relax unreservedly into a life by the sea. The landscape is rugged – mountains, gorges and rocky hillsides scattered with tiny villages and ancient ruins – but some of Crete’s finest beaches belong here too. Among them are spectacular Xerokambos and palm-fringed Vai, whilst Palekastro is one of Europe’s favourite windsurfing spots. And there are plenty of excellent waterfront tavernas where the passing of time is best marked by the waves rolling in nearby.

To the south of the region you'll find Makrygialos, an unpretentious one-time fishing village bordering a magnificent sandy beach by the warm Libyan Sea. It's a little more commercial here these days but the real draw is its extraordinary position close to some of Crete's most spectacular scenery and traditional villages. A visit to Pefki is a must, not least to dine at the pretty taverna where the ingredients are locally sourced and prepared in the traditional way to mouthwatering effect. With outstanding views across the southern coastline, there can be nowhere finer to enjoy lunch before indulging in a walk down the Pefki Gorge for a refreshing dip in the sea.

To base yourself in this idyllic destination, visit our collection of handpicked villas in and around Palekastro & Eastern Crete or take a look at our boutique Simpson Hotels.

Read more on our Crete region page


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