Regenerative tourism at Tonia's Cottage

Leaving a gentle mark on Crete.

Travel that gives back

Travel is not only about seeing beautiful places, it’s also about caring for them. Regenerative tourism restores nature, uplifts culture, and strengthens community. It’s travel with heart, where visitors, locals, and the land flourish together.

What does regenerative travel mean?

Traditional tourism often takes more than it gives, leaving places strained or changed. Sustainable travel focuses on doing less harm and preserving destinations as they are. Regenerative travel goes further. It’s about giving back and leaving a place better than you found it.

At Tonia’s Cottage, regeneration means living alongside the local community, sharing daily rhythms, supporting local traditions, and experiencing authentic Cretan life from the inside. It’s travel with care, connection, and a deeper sense of belonging.

Community painting event organized by the Alagni Cultural Association.

Why Alagni village?

Just 25 kilometers from Heraklion, at 470 meters above sea level, Alagni lives at a gentle, human pace. Regenerative tourism here is simply everyday life, shaped by green hills, vineyards, olive groves, and merakliki—the local devotion to joy, care, and creativity.

Named after the nymph Alagonia, daughter of Zeus and Europa, the village appears in records as early as 1583. Its history is still felt in small Byzantine churches, the old rakokazano that brings the community together each autumn, and in families who continue to tend their land across generations.

Life naturally gathers in the village square, beneath the wide shade of an old platanus tree, where time slows and connection comes easily.

Alagni Village square with a Platanus tree, an old well, and a drinking water spring

Local musicians performing Cretan music in Alagni, Crete.

Enjoy village life like a local—share meals in family-run tavernas, exchange smiles and simple Greek words with neighbors, and join the lively rhythm of the kafenio in the main square. Even if little English is spoken, warmth, laughter, and genuine Cretan hospitality need no translation.

Be part of the community

Support the local economy

Rent a car from a family-run company, visit nearby wineries and traditional raki distilleries (kazani), and shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at the local laiki market. Every small purchase helps sustain the families and businesses that keep the community thriving.

Dive into local art & culture

Paint alongside a local artist who brings color to Alagni’s homes and streets or join traditional events, festivals and celebrations filled with music and dance:
February–March: Carnival in Arkalochori and local villages
April–May: Easter celebrations in Arkalochori and local villages
June: Klidonas Celebration – fire-jumping & fortune-telling in Alagni
July: Thrapsano Ceramic Festival – centuries of craftsmanship
July–August: Cretan Cuisine Festival – a celebration of flavors and culture
August 6: Alagni annual village celebration
October: Crete Half Marathon – run through heritage and history
October–November: Raki distillation (Kazani) – make and taste Crete’s spirit
November: Wine tourism day at Lyrarakis Winery – celebrate local winemaking
December: Christmas markets and celebrations

Every visit becomes a shared story

Guests are welcome to join activities organized by the Cultural Association of Alagni, supporting village projects and connecting with the community. In Crete, these associations are vibrant centers of music, food, and tradition—organizing festivals, workshops, and events that unite people, engage the youth, and keep village life alive.

Your role as a Guest

Come with an open heart, curiosity, and a spirit of adventure. Let the gentle rhythm of village life slow your pace, and take the wheel to explore Crete’s hidden corners at your own pace.

Every shared coffee, exchanged smile, and festival celebration weaves you into the rich, living tapestry of the island’s community.

This is travel that soothes the soul, invites discovery, and leaves behind a legacy of care and connection.

People strolling through the charming village of Alagni, surrounded by traditional stone houses.

Meet Tonia, your host

I'm Tonia, originally from the forests of Poland, now proudly Cretan for 20 years. I was a teenager dreaming of a life filled with light and sea air, and I found it here.

After two decades of falling in love with this island, I don't just know the tourist spots. I know where locals swim, which morning light makes the olive groves glow, and exactly which village festivals will stop your heart.

This isn't just a cottage, it's your doorway to the Crete that changed my life.