Avdou Villas

Set in an organic farm in the ever-green valley of Lagada, Avdou villas is the place to rest, heal and, maybe, change...The hotel is situated in a 2.2-hectare organic farming estate at the south end of Avdou village, right at the foot of the Lassithi plateau mountain range and 30 km from Heraklion Airport.Olive trees, oranges, tangerines, apricot trees, kiwis and a vegetable garden grow in abundance all over the estate.The estate is abundant with serene spots for resting and relaxation.The more active guests can enjoy paragliding, horse riding, trekking, cave exploration and much much more in the surrounding Avdou area.An eco-tourism facility, Avdou villas, offer an alternative way of getting away from it all.Avdou lies deep in the middle of the "Lagada" valley, right at the foot of the Lassithi plateau mountain range, 39 km from the city of Heraklion, with about 600 inhabitants.The earliest recorded reference to "Avdou" is in 1381, in a Venetian state document stating the area as a benefice belonging to Michel Quirino. Excavations in the area unearthed a building with mosaics, probably part of an extensive complex of an early-Christian basilica. The village is dotted with frescoed Byzantine churches.Near the Avdou settlement there are two caves, Faneromeni and Haghia Fotini, where archaeologists found artefacts dating back to the Neolithic period, in Minoan Crete when they were probably used as worship grounds.Avdou probably took its name from the prophet Havdeu whose church existed in nearby Kontaria.Activities in Avdou AreaGolf: - The Crete Golf Club, the most challenging golf course in Greece, has opened. It`s 18 holes cover 72 hektars on a mountainous terrain just south of Hersonissos. The course, created in a desert style design, is a Par 71 championship layout and is 6700 yards long. Four sets of tee positions on each hole make it a worthwhile experience for golfers of all levels. The double sided driving range features covered bays and the state of the art pitching and putting greens provide the pupils at The Crete Golf Academy with a perfect learning environment.Paragliding:Avdou is the most organized area in for paragliding in Crete. It has a 6-hectares area for taking-off and a 2-hectares area for landing (one is on North and the other is on North-west). You can hire a trainer for a double-flight (for the beginners) or to hire a parachute with its accessories and also to be transferred to the takeoff area (for trained pilots)Horse riding: You can take horse riding lessons in an organised area (for beginners) or to ride over the hills of Lagada accompanied by a guide. You can also take natural horsemanship courses (rider-horse interaction).Trekking: You have the opportunity to take a walk in recorded old horseriding paths or at the E4, alone or with a guide. You can even take part in organised climbing teams at the Psiloritis Mountain. There are also many beautiful walks around the area.Cave exploration:You can visit the Saint Fotinis cave, which is 20 minutes by car over a dirt road path, to see the church which is situated in the bottom of a cave in the mountain at 500m above the sea.Mountain bike:You can hire mountain bikes for training, exploration or for a visit to the Byzantine churches around the area.