How to get to us
We are both in and near the regional town of Ano Viannos (meaning “Upper Viannos”) in the municipality of Viannos (see map below).
The closest airport is Heraklion International Airport which is a 50 minute car ride away.
There are no buses straight from the airport to Ano Viannos or to the very small village of Amiras, where our retreats take place.
You first need to get from the airport to HERAKLION CENTRAL BUS STATION (Athina).
Buses run once a day from HERAKLION CENTRAL BUS STATION (Athina) to ANO VIANNOS and buses also run several times a day from HERAKLION CENTRAL BUS STATION (Athina) to ARKALOCHORI, a town 30 minutes drive away and you could taxi from there. ARKALOCHORI is half-way between us and the airport.
Here the daily bus to Ano Viannos:
You can see the schedule here https://www.ktelherlas.gr/en
How far is the closest beach?
Viannos- Arvi Beach = 20-30 min drive
Viannos-Myrtos Beach= 25-30min drive
Viannos-Tertsa= 30-37min drive
The roads in Crete a very winding so a lot depends on how comfortable you are with that – and how many goats are on the road… 😉
Do I need a license?
Ideally, yes as there is not a lot of public transporation and we have shared vehicles in the community. However, if you don’t have one, we have always made it work 🙂
How many people live in the community?
Truthfully, it really depends. We have been 20 and we have been 3. We are working on student programs and volunteer cohorts so that more people arrive together. For now, in the non-winter months, we are usually a total of approx. 10 people, volunteers and residents alike.
Are there any activities beyond the community nearby?
There is actually a bi-weekly Greek folk dancing class in Ano Viannos you can join! There are also a small gym, sport classes, a folkmore museum, hiking trails and of course: the beach. In some of the surrounding villages you can find pottery classes, Yoga and more.
What about food and amenities in Ano Viannos?
In Ano Viannos, there are three supermarkets, a souvlaki restaurant with a wide-randing menu, a typical Greek Taverna, coffee shops, a butcher, a bakery, a cheese shop, and a traveling fish monger.
There is also post office, several ATM machines, and a hardware shop (heavily frequented by the community!)
What if I need medical care?
There are a Health center, a dentist as well as a pharmacy in Ano Viannos
Will I be insured?
If you volunteer with us, the community will take out a variety of insurances for you, such as a foreign Health Insurance with unlimited coverage of inpatient and outpatient treatment, emergency assistance abroad including medical repatriation, and more. You will receive a digital insurance card from our insurance company and be able to use apps like Air Doctor.
Here a map showing the location of the municipality of Viannos in South-Eastern Crete.
