G R E E C E

executive summary by darmansjah

MILIA MOUNTAIN RETREAT  In the 1980s, when many Greeks left their villages to ride the wave of tourism developemtn along the coast, two local friends took to the mountains of Crete instead. Their vision: restore an abandoned medieval village and turn it into a retreat based on living in harmony with nature. “The ancient Greeks called this autarkeia, which means self-sustaining,” says manager Tassos Gourgouras. Today, travelers the world over flock to this off the-grid stone village to hike on wild mountain trails, sleep in rustic cottages, and savor authentic Cretan dishes like roasted rabbit with mizithra goat chees and spearmint, washed down with Milia’s own organic wine. 15 rooms; from $100, including breakfast.