Milia Mountain Retreat

High in the mountains of Western Crete, Milia was a trailblazer for sustainable tourism long before it became a buzzword. A 16th-century settlement of stone cottages, once used by chestnut farmers, has been carefully transformed into cosy, distinctively Cretan accommodation.

Local authenticity runs through every detail: from the woven bedspreads to the artisan jams at breakfasts, and especially in the superb, sophisticated Cretan cuisine at the restaurant (a destination in its own right).

They offer hikes in the surrounding area, cooking classes and a jam-making, where you go pick the seasonal fruits yourself on a short hike.

Surrounded by thick forests threaded with hiking trails, this is a place to commune with nature in the company of like-minded travellers and big-hearted locals.