good for you

Your own holiday cottage just a quick walk from a secluded swimming cove, surrounded by a fragrant garden with an olive farm beyond, nestled in hills carpeted in wildflowers - Levendis Estate is a taste of genuine Greek country life in an idyllic island setting.

This seven-acre site on the island's shore combines the services and amenities of a luxury hotel (swimming pool, daily housekeeping, cook, laundry service) with the rusticity of a traditional Greek farmhouse. Stocked daily with delicious organic produce, each cottage is nestled on the hillside among olive trees, overlooking a pine forest, with the vista of Aphales bay spread below.

The rocky landscape is typically Mediterranean, with lush vegetation and narrow, winding goat tracks embellishing the shoreline, which is dotted with tiny protected beaches like the one where Ulysses landed with his gifts of bronze and gold treasure.

good for greece

The family who run it are Greek Australians who returned to the mother country to set up the holiday estate of their dreams. The estate's working farm has been producing organic olive oil for four generations and organic fruit and vegetables are grown on site. Levendis employs locals at both the farm and the guesthouses, and relies on local suppliers, ensuring that all profits remain in the local economy. The cottages are environmentally friendly, and the estate practices sustainable farming and grows organic vegetables, fruit and herbs.

Rooms

Food

You can stock your kitcken with organic seasonal fruits and vegetables grown on the estate. Traditional Greek foods and meals are prepared each day and fresh breads are delivered every morning. Local suppliers provide foods which are not grown on the estate. If you can't be bothered cooking, the estate can arrange a cook and/or home cooked meal delivery.

Features & Facilities

• The estate has a swimming pool, and its coffee shop is open each morning if you care to socialise with your hosts and fellow guests.
• Levendis can organise childcare and a nanny service.
• Each cottage is provided with its own car so you can take independent tours of the island.
• From June to Sept appointments can be made for therapeutic and/or aromatherapy massage at the estate's Forest Pavilion.
• Each cottage is surrounded by its own terraced garden, providing privacy and plenty of birdlife.
• Children are very welcome and the accommodation is suitable for elderly guests and guests with disabilities.
• Older teens can be sent away to enjoy the nightlife at the nearby seaside village, where you can check in on them regularly while avoiding the brunt of their angst.
• There is an extensive on-site library, which includes reference books on local flora, fauna and walks, as well as children's books. The estate provides maps and guides for mountain walks.
• In April and early May, Levendis offers special holidaysat discounted tariffs, such as Spring Wildflower Walking holidays, painting schools, cooking classes and well-being retreats. They can also design a tailored itinerary taking in private sight-seeing of ancient sites around Greece on request.

Local Info & Activities

Ithaca is the island for travellers whose idea of a big night out is a meal in a local restaurant and perhaps a drink at a neighbourhood bar - life is simple and tranquil on this tiny island.

At the nearby villages (just 3 km away) you'll find several seaside tavernas serving freshly grilled seafood, as well as outdoor cafes where you can soak up some local village life.

Bookworms should check in during September, when the island hosts seminars on Homeric and Odyssean literature. Ithaca also hosts the International Odysseus Conference every three years, and a theatre festival every June.

Vathy Museum, in the island's capital, boasts a rich collection of vases excavated from two shrines at nearby Aetos - the Grotto of the Nymphs (just a short walk west of Vathy) and the Fountain of Arethusa (a good walk south), both of which feature in ''The Odyssey.''

History buffs should take a walk from Vathy to a hill called Aetos, where in 1868, archeologist Heinrich Schliemann (discoverer of ancient Troy), dug around for Odysseus' palace - he didn't find it, but he did uncover walls from the post-Mycenaean settlement of Alakomenai.

The island offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor activity. Your hosts at Levendis can arrange dingy hire, crewed yacht charters, horse-riding days and excursions to nearby islands. Seasonal local activities include exploring pathways to mountain-top villages, spring wildflower walks, swimming and snorkelling, boating and cycling.

Guests - especially children - are encouraged to take part in Levendis' farm work.

insider tips

Temperature is mild all year, with summer rain very rare and temperatures peaking in July, with an average of around 27 degrees Celsius. Winter is fairly mild and the island has a humid climate.

Sustainability

• Levendis' houses are on a seven-acre hillside estate that produces its own organic olive oil. Levendis' sustainable farming practices include forest management, the re-introduction of native flora, the encouragement of bird and insect life, recycling of all waste and using all grey water.
• Gravity supplies fresh water to the cottages, while the cottages are designed to take advantage of the sea breeze, doing away with energy-guzzling and noisy water pumps and air-conditioners.
• The estate is independently owned, employs and trains local people and relies on local suppliers. All the income generated by Levendis stays on Ithaca.
• Each cottage comes with its own car, which doesn't do much for Levendis's green credentials.

Getting There

by ferry

The simplest approach to Ithaca is by boat from Patras, a major port west of Athens. From Patras, a ferry runs to Kefallonia and Ithaca in the early afternoon. Or you can take a bus from Patras to Kellini and a ferry to Kefallonia. A number of villages in Kefallonia make excellent stopovers before you depart the next day to catch the ferry to Ithaca.

by air

Ithaca does not have its own airport so to get there, you need to take a flight from Athens to Kefallonia, where the estate's driver can pick you up and take you by boat to Ithaca. If you are already travelling on the mainland, you can head to Patra and take the ferry to Ithaca via Kefallonia.

All tariffs include a private transfer from either Athens or Kefallonia airport where the estate's driver picks you up and guides you to Ithaca.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

Cottages are rented by the week, and very large groups (weddings in particular) can rent the entire facility for 1800 euro per week.

1 week

House for 2 people Euro 3,650

House for 3 people Euro 4,250

House for 4 people Euro 4,850

2 weeks

House for 2 people Euro 5,950

House for 3 people Euro 6,850

House for 4 people Euro 7,950

* Private use of entire Estate and facilities: 18,000 Euros / week

discounts for low seasons

Spring/Autumn - One complimentary night per week_(April, May, October, November)__

Winter - Two complimentary nights per week_(December, January, February, March)

included

• One x 4-door A/C sedan car per house
• Private transfers from Kefallonia airport
• Seasonal produce from organic vegetable and herb gardens, and fresh bread, daily_
• Extensive library, including botanic references & children's books; also maps and guides for mountain walks_
• Pool, summer house and outdoor cooking/dining areas open 24 hours/day
• Therapeutic and/or medical deep tissue massage at Forest Pavilion

additional info

• children under two years - no charge
• children aged two - five years - 250 Euros/week
• baby equipment pack - 130 Euros/week
• folding settee/bed for third child - 300 Euros/week

booking & cancellation policy

• A 20% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm reservations, the remainder is payable 60 days prior to holiday.
• Cancellations made at any time will incur the loss of the 20% deposit.
• Cancellations made nearer the arrival date will incur further cancellation fees. Full information will be given before reservation is confirmed.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.