Achlia - characteristics of the resort and its amenities

The village of Achlia is actually a few buildings scattered on the slopes of a small rocky cove, about 15 km east of the popular tourist resort of Ierapetra. Achlia lies in a quiet area off the south coast of Crete, between the villages of Agia Fotia and Koutsouras, and falls under the regional unit of Lassithi.

The resort of Achlia consists of several small hotels and family-run tavernas surrounded by rocks and pine trees, and at night the only sounds are the sound of the sea and the chirping of bugs. For nightlife or more shopping, you'll need to travel to a larger tourist resort, such as nearby Ierapetra.

Beaches of Achlia

Achlia's coastline descends gently into the sea, bordered on both sides by high cliffs, creating the beautiful and popular Achlia beach. Its surface is made up of coarse sand, sometimes a mixture of sand and smaller pebbles. The sea in this area is wonderfully clear and usually very calm, making it ideal for families with smaller children.

Achlia beach is organised with sun loungers and umbrellas available for hire, with smaller tamarisk trees providing natural shade. Water sports can be enjoyed here, and there are several tavernas and bars close to the beach.

If you're looking for more peace and privacy, there's a lovely little beach called Galini in a small cove in the western part of the resort - natural and unorganised.

Achlia and trips to the surroundings

Achlia is really such a small sleepy village, but on the other hand, the main road is not far from here, so you can make your lazing and contemplating more interesting with a trip. You can either rent a car (we recommend booking in advance, the options are quite limited) or use the local public transport, the bus stop is right in Achlia.

A nice excursion tip is the so-called Valley of the Butterflies, a gorge located about 15 km from Achlia (and just a few kilometers from the resort of Koutsouras). The first 2 km of the gorge are relatively easy to walk through and you can go for a pleasant walk through the beautiful nature, which will be enriched by the various species of butterflies that live here. Deeper down, however, the rocks start to rise and the terrain becomes much more challenging. Depending on how far you go, you may see several small streams and small waterfalls.

Boat trips are particularly popular with visitors to the south-eastern part of Crete. From the harbour of Ierapetra you can sail to the small but very interesting island of Chrissi (the so-called "Donkey Island"). Chrissi Island is especially popular for its beautiful white beaches and its beautiful nature, where you can also find such things as fossils of sea shells or a large juniper forest.

A trip to the island of Chrissi is very beautiful, but in recent years has become very touristy. If you prefer a quieter way to travel, try a cruise to the islet of Koufonisi. Koufonisi is an uninhabited and quiet island with stunning beaches and azure glowing water. You can buy your boat ticket at the port of Makrigialos resort.

We can also recommend the unique "palm" beach of Vai, located on the northeastern tip of the island, close to a large grove of date palms. You won't see such a large area of naturally growing palm trees anywhere else on Crete.

Who is the centre suitable for?

The resort is located in an area dotted with small and traditional Greek villages and Achlia is no exception in this respect, so we recommend it mainly to those tourists who fly to their holiday mainly to relax and recharge their batteries from the surrounding beautiful nature. Achlia is suitable for less demanding visitors or those who don't mind travelling to larger resorts for shopping and a wider variety of restaurants.

If you prefer entertainment and a lively nightlife, look more towards the resorts on the north coast of the island.

More touristic destinations of Crete

Close resorts: Agia Fotia, Ferma

Most favourite resorts of Crete: Adelianos Kampos, Agia Marina, Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion (Iraklion), Hersonissos, Chania, Ierapetra, Kalamaki (Matala), Malia, Platanias (Chania), Rethymno, Stalis

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Crete.