The Greek Islands

"The isles of Greece! the isles of Greece...

Eternal summer gilds them yet..."

(Lord Byron)

Much loved by Lord Byron the Greek islands are magical. Scattered throughout the Ionian and Aegean most are linked by a fairly decent ferry network & those with a small airport are less than an hour's flight away from Athens.

The Ionian island chain, in the west, is slightly cut off from other island groups but there is plenty of variety within this area to make a memorable holiday. Popular Corfu can be combined with quieter Paxos; stunning Lefkas with Cephalonia.

Lying off the Athenian mainland are the Saronic Islands: Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses -  either of these makes a handy base from which to explore the Greek mainland.

The Cyclades, so called as they form a circle around the sacred island of Delos, are spread over a vast area from Andros in the north to Santorini in the south. The latter is world-renowned with its whitewashed houses & striking churches cascading down steep volcanic cliffs.

Mykonos has a lively, cosmopolitan town as well as smaller, off the beaten track places to be found on the island; Naxos (one of our favourites) is surprisingly green (the typical cycladic landscape tends to be fairly barren); Milos has unusual beaches & striking rock formations.

The Dodecanese (12 islands) further to the east has several popular islands - Rhodes and Kos; Patmos where St John wrote his Book of Revelation; pretty Leros and quaint Symi. These islands once lay on a popular trading route so their harbours are pretty spectacular.

Who can forget Crete -  Greece's largest island is almost like a country! There's plenty to explore here: archaeological sites, gorges, mountains and fabulous beaches. If you want to mix it up a bit combine a stay here with Santorini.

Island hopping is often regarded as being the domain of the truly independent traveller, however cancelled ferries, missed connections and a lack of accommodation (especially in high season), can often thwart the best laid plans. That's where we can help. We can smooth the way for your island hopping experience by pre-booking ferries, accommodation and transfers to help you get the most out of your holiday.