Akrogiali

I’m so glad I came, especially since I nearly didn’t. The beach is just a step away, and the restaurant and accommodation are right on it. The food is fabulous, and the owner is genuine, open, friendly, a little shy, and very helpful. She speaks excellent English too. The rooms look basic from outside, but inside they’re spacious, very clean and comfortable, with AC and a modern ensuite.

The stars at night are amazing, and I hope I get back to this special little island one day. I stayed for two nights in mid June with my best mate Steve, looking for the quiet life and a complete escape from normality. Manolis picked us up from the port as arranged, and we felt welcome right away. Eleni and Manolis are lovely, friendly hosts, and the traditional home cooked food was great. There were plenty of cold beers in the fridge, and we had a fair few. Everything was very well priced. Our air conditioned room looked over the little vegetable garden towards the beach, just 20 yards away. One quick tip for the walk to The Gavdos Chair: take at least 2ltr of water, because that first climb is hard work. All the best, Gaz.

We keep coming back to Akrogiali, and each year the good things are still there along with something new to enjoy. A few days never feels like enough. This place and Gavdos have inspired us more than anywhere else, especially as writers, and we can’t wait to return. Akrogiali sits right on Korfos beach, in a sheltered bay, with an open view of the sea. Every room balcony faces the water and the beautiful sunrise. The bus stops right outside the tavern, so it’s easy to get around the island, and the famous Tripiti Chair walk starts here too. You can explore the whole island from this spot. The beach is at most a minute away, and the setting makes it easy to connect with yourself and nature, and to recharge physically and mentally. The tavern was a blessing after a day exploring the island and its magical beaches. We ate there every day in a warm, friendly, family atmosphere, and Eleni’s cooking was a lovely surprise. The food tasted just like something my mother would cook at home, with all the flavor of traditional dishes. On lazy days, we could simply leave the beach and walk into the tavern without any extra stress. Knowing we had a good meal waiting meant we could enjoy our trips around Gavdos without worrying about where to eat. It made for a complete holiday. There’s parking, a bus stop, accommodation and a tavern on the same grounds, but in separate buildings, so it’s possible to rest while others are eating and enjoy a meal without disturbing one another. Eleni and Manolis welcomed us warmly and made us feel at home. Akrogiali is a little jewel among the hills of Gavdos, full of Greek charm, and a place we want to return to year after year. Another thing that impressed us was the quality of the people who come here and how much they appreciate it. Thanks, Eleni, Manolis and Gavdos!

The bus reaches the place when the ferry arrives, and from the room it’s 10 footsteps to the taverna, then another 10 to the beach. The well marked path to Tripiti starts right there too, handy if you want to set off before sunrise. Gavdos is remote, and thinking back to what we got here 25 years ago, we were really surprised this time by the room, and especially by the food. It was excellent. Ask about the many veggie options; the vegetables often come from Eleni’s garden beside the rooms. She was a perfect host and looked after us like a mother. If you like the “simple life”, Gavdos is the place.