The courtyard at blue hour, the old carob tree lit from below

Το Χαρουπάκι · CreteThe lights here
are lanterns.

A hundred-year-old stone cottage above Megala Chorafia, entirely off the grid. It runs on sunlight. It sleeps two. The tree came first.

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What this is

Part of our grandmother Evanthia's house, still standing, still cool at noon.

No pool. No air conditioning. No washing machine. What there is instead: walls thick enough to keep the summer outside, a carob tree that has shaded this courtyard for a century, three beds of vegetables you are welcome to raid, and Wi-Fi — so you can be off-grid without falling off the map.

One day, roughly

Nothing is scheduled. It still goes like this.

07:40

The door opens onto the courtyard

You sleep well here because it is dark and there is no machine running anywhere. The light arrives before the heat does.

Morning light through the open door of the stone room
09:15

Coffee, under the tree, for a long time

The carob throws enough shade for the whole table. Most guests do not get further than this until eleven.

A table laid under the carob tree with the mountains beyond
11:00

Down the gravel path, to see what is ready

Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, courgettes. Rosemary, thyme and oregano all year. Prickly pears and grapes if you come late in the season.

The gravel path between the vegetable beds toward the White Mountains
15:30

The hottest part of the day, spent horizontally

Two chairs against the old wall. Aptera is five minutes away when you are ready to move; the sea is twenty.

Two deck chairs in the shade against the dry-stone wall
19:45

Cooking outside, because the kitchen is outside

A gas burner, a built-in stone barbecue, a marble sink and a long counter facing the White Mountains.

The outdoor kitchen with its terracotta herringbone wall lit by copper lamps
23:10

Lanterns, and then the walk to bed

The bathroom is its own small building a few steps across the courtyard. You go outside to reach it, under whatever the sky is doing. People end up liking that part.

The bed with its red woven headboard between two lit lanterns
The stone courtyard beneath the twin trunks of the carob
The bathroom, with its zinc basin and patterned tile
Peppers on the built-in barbecue
The wooden door open onto the bedroom

The house, in short

Small, honest numbers.

The room25 m²
The bathroom, separate building5 m²
GuestsTwo
PowerSolar only
Minimum stay5 nights
ParkingPrivate, on site
DogsYes, please
Chania20 min
The bedroom seen head-on, lantern-lit

Before you book

Better said now than discovered later.

No air conditioning

Thick stone, deep shade, fans. Cool by day and cooler at night, but not a chilled box.

The bathroom is outside

Private and yours alone, a few steps across the courtyard. You do step out to reach it.

The kitchen is outside too

Covered and fully equipped, but open to the air. Bring a jumper for autumn dinners.

Solar means limits

Lights, fridge, Wi-Fi, charging: yes. Anything with a heating element: no.

From our first guests

Five stars, in their words.

★★★★★

"A week spent out of time, between the song of cicadas and the meowing of cats, the mountain wind and the leaves of the large carob tree. We spent a week in paradise."

Elisabeth · Airbnb

★★★★★

"Spotlessly clean and thoughtfully designed down to the smallest detail. The perfect place for peace, privacy and relaxing surrounded by nature. Wholeheartedly recommend."

Lisa · Airbnb

Ask us anything

A real person answers.

Questions about the heat, the dog, the walk to the bathroom, the road up, or whether the tomatoes will be ready when you arrive. Ask before you book — we would rather you came knowing exactly what this is.

The quickest way to reach us is by email. Tell us the dates you have in mind and anything you'd like to know — a real person will reply.

Email us

Availability

Come and switch the noise off.

Five nights minimum. Two guests. The sun is already working.

See availability & book on Airbnb