Excellence Luxury Villas · Kokkino Chorio
Luxury Villa Rentals in Kokkino Chorio
Villas with pools and sea views on the Drapano peninsula, above Souda Bay and facing the White Mountains
As featured in
The Red Village, high above Souda Bay
Kokkino Chorio is a small hill village in Apokoronas, the green, olive-covered stretch of country east of Chania. Its name means Red Village. Some say that comes from the colour of the soil, and others from a darker story in the island's past. Most visitors come for the view. From the slopes of the Drapano peninsula you look across Souda Bay to the White Mountains, which keep their snow well into spring.
Our Kokkino Chorio collection runs to 60+ villas and apartments. Most are modern stone and rendered houses built into the hillside to make the most of the view. They range from two-bedroom hideaways for couples to family villas and larger houses with up to 10 bedrooms, and almost all have a pool.
Here is what the village and its surroundings offer, and when to come.
Kokkino Chorio at a glance
- Villas
- 60+ villas and apartments, with up to 10 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,700 to £5,700 a week, from around £2,400
- Setting
- On the Drapano peninsula in Apokoronas, around 25 to 30 km east of Chania
- Best time
- May to October for the sea; spring and autumn for walking and wildflowers
- Airport
- Chania, around 45 minutes by road; Heraklion around two hours
Browse all 60+ villas in Kokkino Chorioor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Boreas Kavros Kokkino Chorio: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Gym – Kokkino Chorio6 bedrooms
Villa Meltemi Kokkino Kokkino Chorio 5: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Seaviews & Pool – Crete6 bedrooms
Villa Lefkos Platanias Kokkino Chorio: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Kokkino Chorio5 bedrooms
Villa Chrysos Vasilikos Kokkino Chorio: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views – Kokkino Chorio Crete5 bedroomsWhere to stay in Kokkino Chorio
Kokkino Chorio itself for the views and village life, with Vamos and the Apokoronas villages close by, Chania for its Venetian harbour, and Platanias and Agia Marina for the beaches west of the city.
A film set that never changed much
In 1964 Michael Cacoyannis chose Kokkino Chorio as his main location for Zorba the Greek. Many of the villagers appeared in the film, more or less playing themselves, and several of its best-known scenes were shot around the village square. Sixty years on, the place looks remarkably similar.
It is a small working village rather than a resort. There is a kafeneion and a family taverna, where it is worth ordering whatever Cretan dish of the day is going, boureki included. The hill of Drapanokefala rises above the houses. It is riddled with tunnels dug during the Second World War, when German forces used the high ground to watch over the bay.
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Beaches below, old villages all around
The coast is only a short drive downhill. Kalyves has a long beach and a string of seafront tavernas. Almyrida is a small, sheltered cove that suits families, and Plaka sits quietly between the two.
Inland, Gavalochori is known for its folklore museum and its tradition of fine handmade lace. Vamos, once the capital of the province, has restored stone buildings and good tavernas. Lake Kournas, the only natural freshwater lake on Crete, makes a cool half-day out in summer, with pedalos and turtles.
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A Venetian harbour and a famous gorge
Chania is around half an hour away, and its old town repays repeated visits. You will find a Venetian harbour with a lighthouse, lanes of leather workshops, a covered market and some of the best restaurants on the island. Dinner on the harbour followed by a late drive back up the hill is a very good evening.
Beyond the city lie the beaches of Platanias and Agia Marina. Further west are Balos and Falasarna, and to the south, the Samaria Gorge, one of the great walks of the Mediterranean. It is usually open from late spring to autumn.
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Olive oil, raki and a long, warm autumn
Apokoronas cooking is simple and generous. Expect dakos topped with tomato and mizithra, snails, wild greens, lamb slow-cooked with stamnagathi, and graviera cheese from the mountain villages. Meals tend to end with a small carafe of raki, on the house and rarely refused.
The sea is warm enough to swim from June to October, and July and August are hot and busy. May, June and September are the most pleasant months. Spring brings wildflowers and Greek Easter, the biggest festival of the year. Our concierge can arrange a private chef, boat trips, car hire, restaurant tables in Chania and transfers from the airport.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Kokkino Chorio
Villa Ostria Stalos Kokkino Chorio: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Crete3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,902 a week
Villa Lysias Kalyves Kokkino Chorio: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Sea View & Pool – Kokkino Chorio3 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,510 a week
Villa Ananke | 5-Bedroom Villa in Vamos Kokkino Chorio5 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £6,497 a week
Villa Lysias Kores Kokkino Chorio: Elegant 3-Bedroom Apartment with Seaviews & Pool – Kokkino Chorio3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,461 a week
Villa Ostria Koum Kokkino Chorio: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Kokkino Chorio4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,363 a week
Villa Ostria Kalyvaki Kokkino Chorio: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Kokkino Chorio4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,041 a week
Villa Searock Greece5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,695 a week
Villa Plaka Danae | 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Elounda Plaka5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,458 a weekSearch all 60+ villas in Kokkino Chorioor see them on the map
Why book your Kokkino Chorio villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Kokkino Chorio's villas are spread over a steep hillside, so we can tell you which have the clearest view of the bay, which sit closest to the village square, and which are the shortest drive from the beach. With 60+ properties in Kokkino Chorio, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
A private chef, car hire, boat trips, guided walks in the Samaria Gorge, restaurant reservations in Chania and transfers from Chania airport. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay near Kokkino Chorio?
The village itself has the widest views over Souda Bay and the White Mountains. If you prefer to walk to the beach, the coastal villages of Kalyves and Almyrida are just below. Vamos and the inland villages are quieter and more traditional, and Chania suits those who want restaurants on the doorstep.
When is the best time to visit Kokkino Chorio?
May to October is the season for the sea. June and September offer warm water without the heat and crowds of high summer. Spring is ideal for walking, wildflowers and Greek Easter.
Was Zorba the Greek really filmed in Kokkino Chorio?
Yes. Michael Cacoyannis used the village as his main location in 1964, and many local people appeared in the film. The village still looks much as it does on screen.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Kokkino Chorio?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Kokkino Chorio cost?
Across our 60+ villas in Kokkino Chorio, weekly rates typically range from £2,700 to £5,700, with the most affordable from around £2,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Kokkino Chorio?
Chania airport on the Akrotiri peninsula is around 45 minutes away by road, and Heraklion is around two hours. You will want a car to explore, and our concierge can arrange car hire or private transfers.
Are there villas in Kokkino Chorio for large groups?
Yes. Our Kokkino Chorio collection includes properties with up to 10 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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60+ villas and apartments in Kokkino Chorio, booked direct with our concierge on hand