ELaiolithos Luxury Retreat - Drimalia

Genuine! Beautiful people, beautiful place! Incredible views, lovely suite with premium toiletries. Stayed in Fanari suite, breakfast is amazing, staff very friendly, Dinner menu crazy delicious with local ingredients. We were on our honeymoon and this authentic experience was a great start to our life together. We enjoyed hiking and walking, area offers many options. What it can be more romantic than drinking a glass of local wine under the thousand stars sky and overlooking mount Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods with my wife? Thank you Helen for the most amazing time of my honeymoon. We can’t wait to return back to Naxos

We just came back from the most special and wonderful experience on the Greek Islands celebrating our 30th anniversary staying 4 days and 3 nights at the incomparable ELaiolithos Luxury Retreat in Naxos. From the moment we arrived on the island, when the proprietor Helen picked us up at the port, we were overcome with her generosity and hospitality. Helen catered to our every need, starting with recommendations for an amazing hike through ancient (millennia old) olive groves, visiting centuries old Byzantine churches, and passing herds of goats and flocks of sheep (on hiking route 4). Over the course of our four day stay, Helen guided us to fabulous hikes and historical sites, including the unforgettable Zas Cave and Mt. Zas, the Temple of Demeter, the Portara/Temple of Apollo, and the kouros (ancient marble giant statues) located in various places throughout the island (for which it is helpful to rent a car to tour). Helen also personally cooked us the most delicious, healthy, organic/locavore meals of our choice for dinner – eggplant, sausage, octopus, salads – all sourced locally the island – and amazingly healthy and delicious breakfasts of yoghurt, fruit, eggs, etc. Our room – the Ariadne and Dionysus suite – was spacious and beautifully decorated and the bed was really comfortable. Our room and the hotel generally had a spectacular view of the stunning mountains on the island, and one of our favorite things to do was to simply relax on the huge terrace taking in the views and waiting for the goats with their bells to trek past us. On two week long trip, we loved Santorini, Crete, and Athens as well, but nothing was as special and as memorable as our 4 days and 3 nights at Helen’s ELaiolithos Luxury Retreat in Naxos. I can’t wait to return. All I can say is efcharisto, a thousand times over, Helen!

This place was amazing! Helen is a dynamic, attentive and engaging hostess/owner. She made us the best smoothie on our arrival! She makes you feel like family, giving a multitude of options for your excursions while giving local history lessons and feeding you the best breakfasts to fuel your day. Dinner was also available but we were so busy exploring we did not have a chance to experience it. The room was beautifully appointed, spacious and comfortable. The views from the patio are stunning with the whole valley laid out before you. We will return!

My husband and I stopped by this wonderful place for a late lunch of assorted hummus and frittes. We also had a ginger smoothie and cocktail. The scenery is beautiful and so peaceful. Helen made us feel right at home. Do not miss an opportunity to visit this spectacular place!

If you want to truly experience the Greek islands, its fresh and delicious food, its beauty, the warmth of its people, you could move there — or you could stay at the ELaiolithos Luxury Resort. This is a luxury resort in some ways — the proprietor, Helen, will cater to your whims, and personally prepare her wonderful food for you, using only the freshest, organic ingredients; you will enjoy extraordinary Mountain Views and watch and listen to the goats; Helen will guide you where you wish to visit. But it’s also like living with a local family: we met Helen’s brother, whose goats supply the breakfast yoghurt, the farmer who supplies the vegetables and more. And the location is perfectly situated if you want to explore the island: the hike to amazing Mount Zas is a short drive away, as is the ancient temple of Demeter, beaches aren’t much longer, and we drove around most of the whole island in two days. And Helen’s warmth and enthusiasm is infectious, and what Greece is ultimately all about. I can’t recommend —- highly enough! We will definitely return with family and friends!

It is so hard to write a review that fully captures the magic of this place! We will be dreaming about sitting on the patio, watching a sunset over the stunning Naxos scenery, and sipping one of Helen's amazing local cocktails until we can find our way back. We had trouble motivating ourselves to eat anywhere else on the island because Helen's food is simply unrivaled -- everything is fresh, local, cooked to perfection, and usually comes with a story! Just a few examples: the cheese (the best we've ever had) comes from Helen's brother's goats, who parade past the resort every evening; you can see the olive trees that the olives in your Greek salad came from; we met the farmer who brought freshly picked cherries to our breakfast table. You can literally point at anything on your plate, and Helen will tell you where it came from and who made it -- if you don't think that matters, just wait until you taste the difference :) Before booking, I was worried the location would be a bit too remote, but it ended up being the perfect base for exploring all of Naxos, and I am so glad we didn't limit ourselves to staying near the port like most tourists. It was actually very close to many of the places we wanted to see (Mount Zas trail, Halki, etc.). Plus, you can reach the most famous beaches or the port town in about 20 minutes. The drive is easy and GORGEOUS. Three pieces of advice for future guests: (1) Book a cooking class with Helen so that you can take one of her amazing recipes home with you! Her new kitchen for the classes is world-class, you'll work with beautiful, local ingredients, and you'll get the cutest videos/photos from your experience. (2) Book a massage under the stars and enjoy the chorus of goat bells in the background. It sounds crazy, but it really is the most relaxing sound. (3) Throw out the itinerary you planned before coming and just ask Helen what you should do that day. She'll send you to all the best spots, including off-the-beaten-path recommendations where you will be the only tourists around. From the moment you walk in until you drive away, you will be treated like family by Helen and her amazing staff. This place is an experience, not just a place to stay. Every moment here was special and will be treasured for years to come. Helen, watch out because I am sending my parents to stay with you soon!

Our time at ELaiolithos Luxury Retreat was nothing short of magical! From the minute we walked in we were welcomed by Helen and her amazing staff in a way we have never experienced before. Their warmth, kindness, sincerity and personality created a positive atmosphere from the beginning. Nothing was too much trouble for them, they really made our stay perfect. Our suite was stunning, absolutely everything we could need. It was designed with a high attention to detail using locally produced materials and textiles. The restaurant is pheominal. Helen is so creative, the meals were of superior quality, with a sustainable slow food mentality we love. We could ask where any ingredient came from and she could tell us, all within 5km of the hotel! This was a truly unique healthy organic cuisine experience. The views are amazing and there is so much to do in the area that can be easily accesed from the hotel. If you are looking for the real Greek Island experience you will find it here! We left feeling like family, it was truly the highlight of our time in Greece.

ELaiolithos is a remarkable and beautiful hotel. We traveled with our entire family and Helen provided as unbelievable experience for us! Helen treated us a family and helped us navigate the island. The hotel is beautiful, and the food is AMAZING! Helen made our trip a vacation! Thank you Helen for loving all of us and taking great care of us. Can’t wait to see you in November.