Gundari
Petousis, Folegandros
High on the cliffs of Folegandros, Gundari occupies 100 acres of wild Cycladic landscape, with private pool suites and villas sunk into the earth and an immense Aegean horizon that gives this remarkable retreat its sense of drama. There are places where the hotel is the destination and others where the landscape remains firmly in charge. Gundari belongs to the latter. The land is raw, open and elemental, falling towards cliffs and an uninterrupted expanse of sea, while the architecture sits low against the ground in the earthy colours of Folegandros rather than the brilliant white more readily associated with the Cyclades. That relationship with the landscape is beautifully handled. Stone, rock and muted surfaces allow much of the resort to almost disappear from certain angles, leaving terraces and pools facing nothing but sea and sky. There is no conventional resort centre demanding attention. Instead, Gundari feels deliberately scattered across its extraordinary site, giving each suite or villa its own piece of the island. para-2 Every suite comes with an outdoor private pool and sea view, beginning with the Standard and Junior Suites before moving through the Executive, Deluxe and Superior Cave Suites. The cave categories push further into Gundari’s architectural idea, using the earth itself to create cool, sheltered interiors that open dramatically onto terraces, pools and the Aegean. The emphasis is firmly outside. Interiors use restrained materials and a palette drawn from the surrounding rock, but it is the transition through wide openings to the terrace that defines the rooms. Your private pool sits between the suite and the horizon, making the sea feel less like a view from the room and more like part of the living space. For families or friends travelling together, the three and four bedroom Cliff Front Villas take the experience to another level of scale and privacy. Their exposed positions, generous terraces and private pools make them exceptional places to share, particularly when the light begins to change over the water towards the end of the day. para-3 Orizon is the culinary heart of Gundari, with the restaurant drawing on Mediterranean flavours and local ingredients while remaining closely connected to the landscape around it. Breakfast is served à la carte and meals unfold against the same wide Aegean panorama that accompanies the rest of the stay. The intimacy of having one principal restaurant suits Gundari. Food feels part of the wider experience of Folegandros rather than a collection of competing concepts, with cooking classes and local cultural experiences providing another route into the island and its traditions. The bar carries the day naturally into evening, and this is a setting where lingering comes easily. As the heat drops and the colours across the cliffs soften, there is little need for anything more elaborate than a good drink and an unobstructed horizon. para-4 Gundari makes sense when you engage with the landscape around it. Walking and hiking are among the best ways to understand Folegandros, with its dry stone walls, ancient paths, remote coastline and stark interior creating a Cycladic landscape that still feels wonderfully untouched. Guided walks and cultural experiences can bring more context to the island, while snorkelling and diving shift the perspective from cliffs to sea. The seasonal outdoor pool provides another magnificent place to stop, with sun terraces facing the Aegean, while the fitness centre offers a more structured option between excursions. Car hire and shuttle services make it possible to venture further across Folegandros before returning to the seclusion of the estate. Yet some of the best hours here require very little planning. Gundari has the space and silence to make staying put feel like an experience in itself, whether that means a long afternoon beside your private pool or simply watching the light move across a landscape with almost nothing to interrupt it. para-5 Wellness feels particularly natural in a place this removed from everyday life. The spa offers massages, beauty treatments and wellness programmes, while yoga takes full advantage of the stillness and open surroundings. Fitness facilities are available too, allowing days to move easily between activity and complete retreat. It is the setting, however, that gives wellbeing here its real character. Space, sea air and the extraordinary quiet of this part of Folegandros do much of the work before a treatment has even begun. para-6 Gundari is located at Petousis on Folegandros, occupying a secluded cliffside estate away from the island’s more settled areas. Folegandros is reached by ferry from neighbouring Cycladic islands and the Greek mainland, making the journey itself part of arriving somewhere that feels genuinely removed from the everyday.
Rooms from $402 per night
