LIFE BEYOND FIRST CLASS
DEPARTURES
WHERE THE CLIFFS
MEET THE GODS
Gundari, the first luxury hotel on Folegandros, unveils a sustainable clifftop sanctuary where solar infinity pools, Cycladic minimalism, Michelin-starred cuisine, and elemental spa rituals transform the quietest island in the Aegean into its most luxurious secret.
SUSAN COHEN
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANAN SANTL AND MARTHA VOSDOU
There are islands, and then there are sanctuaries. Folegandros, the quietly seductive Cycladic Isle tucked between Santorini and Milos, is very much the latter. It’s a place where time slows, wind speaks, and luxury doesn’t shout. And now, thanks to the debut of Gundari, the island’s first luxury hotel, this wild and elemental paradise has found a new, architectural voice: one that murmurs rather than dazzles, that carves into cliffs rather than crowns them.
Set along the island’s southeastern coast within a protected wildlife reserve, Gundari emerges from the coppery limestone with all the discretion of a secret whispered to the sea. Named for the ancient Greek word meaning “rocky place,” the 27-suite-and-villa bioclimatic retreat appears more unearthed than constructed, crafted from raw textures, unpolished marbles, and the elemental palette of sea, sand, and sun-baked stone. Each accommodation includes its own private pool, powered by the same sun that fuels the resort’s clean energy grid.
Ancient Soul, Modern Mindset
While neighboring islands have surrendered to cruise-ship crowds, Folegandros remains untouched, accessible only by sea and surrounded by land classified as protected forest. That blissful isolation is precisely what captivated Ricardo Larreira, Gundari’s Australian owner, who acquired the windswept, 100-acre clifftop property in 2019 after visiting with business partner Terry Seremetis, whose ancestral roots run deep into the island’s soil.
Their vision? A sustainable sanctuary for modern travelers, infused with Cycladic DNA and filtered through an aesthetic lens sharp enough for the design-savvy, but soulful enough to stay humble.
Architects Block722 were tasked with the challenge of translating that duality into space, and delivered in spades. Suites and villas fan out organically across the rugged terrain, their clean-lined geometry softened by raw, local textures and wild gardens of indigenous herbs and shrubs.
For those seeking the pinnacle of privacy, Gundari’s two cliffside villas deliver an experience akin to standing at the bow of a ship, suspended above the Aegean. The Four-Bedroom Cliff Front Villa alone offers 3,000 square feet indoors and 2,100 square feet of terraces, crafted with the same hand-carved timber and raw marble details as the suites. A private gym, infinity pool, and sunken firepit invite hours of contemplation. A few minutes’ golf cart ride from the property means villa guests can go up and sit by the pool or the bar, get a spa treatment, and dine at the restaurant if they’re feeling social—or retreat to their villa for private meals and serene views.
Sustainability, Sourced from the Soil
This is EarthCheck Certified sustainability, not the greenwashed variety. Over 600 native plant seedlings were hand-collected and nurtured prior to construction. Gundari is also actively involved in preserving the island’s endangered Eleonora’s Falcon, a rare species with fewer than 20,000 left in the wild. The entire estate runs on clean energy and features electric vehicles, from a fleet of Fiat 500e Cabrios to electric motorbikes, Mini Mokes, and even a Cool Jub 250S for low-slung zips to nearby villages and coves.
The Rituals of Indulgence
When you’re not meditating in the subterranean spa—where Greek tonics and island herbs fuel every ritual and international wellness practitioners lead sound baths, aromatherapy, and energy healing sessions—you’re likely dining at Orizon, the signature restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou. Expect just-plucked herbs, sun-warmed tomatoes, line-caught seafood, and farm-to-fork dishes that you helped harvest. For a more playful indulgence, the sunken swim-up bar serves cocktails designed by Line Athens, one of the world’s most lauded cocktail bars, against a backdrop of Japanese Kissaten-style acoustics.
A Journey Measured in Moments, Not Miles
While Gundari’s Axopar speedboat can whisk you to Polyaigos or Sikinos for a cliffside sunset dinner or a wine tasting adventure, there’s a good chance you won’t want to leave. But if you must, the island offers 35 miles of hiking trails, dramatic historical landmarks like the hilltop Church of Panagia, and a culinary pilgrimage to Yia Yia Irene’s Restaurant, where the island’s most iconic grandmother teaches guests to make her legendary rice-stuffed tomatoes.
And Gundari is only beginning. In Summer 2026, the resort will debut a new three-bedroom clifftop villa along with a wine bar carved into an original island farmhouse, further entwining luxury with the island’s deep-rooted traditions. The property welcomes guests each year from May through October.
For jetsetters seeking the next great Mediterranean revelation, this is it. Just don’t expect an airport. The best things in Greece still arrive by sea.
Join our mailing list to receive curated updates, special features, and invitations to events that define the world of the discerning few.
Sign up today and never miss what’s next.