Tella Thera | Vogue - The Tamesis

What should you try? What’s new in 2026?

In its first fully operational season, Tella Thera’s staff is particularly excited to provide guests with a tailor-made stay. The morning after arriving, I sat down with Foteini Mavromataki, director of guest experience, and described my twin loves of hiking and food. Within half an hour, she sent me a customized plan that included hiking to Balos Beach and climbing the Sirikari Gorge with Vangelis Milonakis of Strata Tours, with plans to stop and pick horta (wild greens) for my favorite Greek dish, hortopita (Greek vegetable pie). One afternoon I was chauffeured to a private wine tasting at an amazing nearby winery called PoTolo, where I tasted (and purchased) amazing low-intervention wines. On my last night, Tourkomanis, Ganis and I decided to test out the new Tella Thera e-bikes from Unicorn Mobility, and we rode the bikes down olive tree-lined alleys to Gramvousa, a farm-to-table restaurant near Kissamos. Yes, a magnesium oil massage and anti-aging facial (mine was by Asimina Gkraikousi) are essential to the Tella Thera experience. But you’d be remiss if you missed the opportunity to visit local attractions and producers. As Turkomanis says: “Wellness here is a holistic approach. It’s more than just a spa. It’s food, it’s connection with people, it’s community. We showcase the great work being done around us.”

What else do we need to know?

If you’re looking to do a juice fast or lose those last five pounds, Tella Thera Spa is not the place for you. Here you can enjoy everything Crete has to offer, from nature to culture to food and wine.