The road to Crete's Daios Cove resort is a winding one. As the traffic from Heraklion Airport fell away, the route began to spiral through hills scattered with endless olive trees. On my right, I spotted pops of electric blue rippling in the sun: the Aegean Sea. And with scenery like this to gaze at, the hourlong drive went by in a flash.
Daios Cove in Agios Nikolaos, Greece, is set in Vathi Bay, a perfectly shaped crescent with powder-white sand on the northeast coast of Crete. The resort has long been a favorite for families, thanks to its kids' club and choice of restaurants. But this year, the property is upping the ante with new wellness offerings. Most recently, it launched new spa programming at the on-site Kepos by Goco facility along with a selection of 45 new guestrooms called The Collection Suites.
With 251 rooms and suites across 20 categories as well as 39 villas, accommodations at Daios Cove are impressive, ranging from entry-level rooms to The Mansion, a sleek, glass-fronted three-bedroom villa.
During a recent visit, I was booked into one of The Collection suites, some of which have private pools. Designed by Athens-based Elastic Architects, the interiors reflect the resort's dedication to nature and well-being: My one-bedroom suite had floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the space with light and a breezy terrace perfect for watching the sun go down. Natural features, such as stone side tables, wardrobes with carved wood doors and linen fabrics, are thoughtful links to the Cretan landscape, while an earthy color palette felt immediately relaxing.
Daios Cove is set into the hills surrounding a natural cove with a private beach. Photo Credit: Daios Cove
A natural setting
The resort is carved into the cliffs surrounding the bay, so it feels truly at one with the landscape. It occurred to me that the resort was much like a modern-day version of a Greek amphitheater, with the sea in a starring role.
Guests can get around the steep hills by calling for a golf cart or by taking one of the three funiculars that bring them to the lobby, restaurants, pools and beach on the lower levels. My room was up high, and because I was there to improve my health, I walked most everywhere. I found that, despite the steep inclines, it was the quickest way to get around -- and the most heart-racing.
Stretching across more than 26,000 square feet, the Kepos by Goco spa facility is an all-white, cavernous sanctuary. Kepos, the Greek word for oasis, refers to the garden created in ancient Athens by the Greek philosopher Epicurus.
In addition to an expansive menu of treatments from skincare brands Skin 111 and Comfort Zone, there's cutting-edge diagnostics on offer and medical spa facilities that feature services such as cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, colon hydrotherapy, infrared sauna and vitamin infusions. There's also a medical doctor permanently on-site as well as a rotating roster of visitors that include sound healers and practitioners of Eastern medicine.
The Collection’s Premium Junior Suites come with private pools. Photo Credit: Daios Cove
Personalized pampering
Out of the seven wellness programs offered, which span one to seven days, I opted for one of the Vitality options: Optimal Wellbeing. My wellness journey began with a detailed questionnaire that I filled out at home; from there, a personalized plan was created that was suited to my goals.
First up was a Styku 3D Body Scan that mapped out my body's composition, including muscle and fat content. Then, I took a VO2max breath test to determine cardiac fitness.
Also included in the package were pioneering treatments such as the Skin111 Black Diamond Sculpting therapy, which uses body brushing and uplifting massage techniques for a smoother appearance of the skin. (I have to admit, I emerged from this treatment with a zing in my step). I also tried cryotherapy -- the coldest three minutes of my life -- and warmed up again with the infrared sauna.
I did circuits in a thermal suite, a Finnish sauna and a vitality pool and made the most of the impressive fitness center, which has Technogym equipment and areas designed by the London-based BXR gym.
One of the bonuses of booking The Collection: It comes with a tier of extras that included a stocked minibar (think banana chips, botanical water and protein snacks), in-room yoga mats and handcrafted Coco-Mat mattresses.
There's also a focus on good sleep, with sound healing offered through the room's wireless speaker system, and aromatherapy in the form of dried lavender and flax left at turndown to help visitors drift off to a good slumber.
The Beach House restaurant at Daios Cove is a place to enjoy barefoot-luxury dining. Photo Credit: Daios Cove
Another highlight of The Collection is access to The Residents' Club, an all-inclusive gastronomy package for guests staying in suites and villas. This allowed me to make the most of the resort's six different restaurants, all of which offer healthy Greek cuisine.
My daily routine began with Greek yogurt, homemade granola and a fruit plate at the main restaurant, Pangea, which also served up specialities such as Sfakianes pies (paper-thin, cheese-filled pancakes) and breakfast pastries.
For lunch, my favorite venue became The Beach House for its relaxed vibe and sharing plates of sea bass ceviche, calamari and Cretan salads. A standout dinner, meanwhile, is at Rho, which is all about inventive, hyperlocal dishes, such as sea bream in Samos sweet wine and Kilados shrimp with cucumber, apple, coriander and crispy quinoa.
As my three days at Daios Cove came to a close, I felt re-energized. Wellness there does not stop at the spa; it's woven into the fabric of the place, from the newly designed rooms to the outstanding views and the wholesome food, which is nourishing and delicious.