Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you constantly reaching for your camera.

• Soak up the views at Bella Vista, Corfu’s most famous lookout point. From here, you can peer over sleepy seaside villages like Paleokastritsa, and the island’s entire west coast.
• In Corfu Town itself, stand in the shadow of two gigantic fortresses. See the 16th-century church of Ayios Spyridhon. And then wander round the interesting archaeological museum.
• Relax on the shimmering sands of Glyfada beach, one of the most popular sunning spots on the island. Top up your tan. Take a dip in the crystal waters. Or simply laze beneath a hot sun.

Arrives at 8AM

It’s no wonder the makers of Hollywood blockbuster Captain Corelli’s Mandolin chose Kefalonia as one of the film’s backdrops. The island is all tree-studded hills, which look out over pale beaches, which roll into perfectly-blue waters. There’s a mix of village life inland. Skala, for example, is popular with holidaymakers and is kept lively with late-night bars. Lourdas, on the other hand, revolves around a sleepy main square.

• Drogarati Caves are a must-see. The twisty maze of stalagmites and stalactites is thought to be more than 150 million years old. Thanks to the cave’s natural acoustics, music concerts have been staged here.
• The restored Monastery of St Andreas showcases 16th-century frescoes. They were hidden under plastered walls until a huge earthquake in 1953, which destroyed the church and unveiled the artwork.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 8AM

Everything about Istanbul is a taste of the exotic. Fragrant bazaars echoing with the sound of haggling merchants. Belly dancers shimmying past in a flash of sequins and sparkle. The call of the muezzins wafting from ancient minarets. You’re guaranteed an unforgettable adventure in this spice-scented slice of the world.

• The skyline of palaces and mosques will leave an indelible mark on your memory. See the world famous St. Sophia, a magnificent church that rises above the Old City of Istanbul.
• Visit the Topkapi Palace and see the light shimmering through the stained glass windows onto 20,000 blue tiles
• Stand before the Blue Mosque and marvel at its spectacularly decorated dome and six soaring minarets.
• Lose yourself in the labyrinthine alleyways of the 14th-century Grand Bazaar, a rich tapestry of 4,000 shops selling everything from hand-woven rugs to embroidered slippers.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 7AM

Striped with vineyards, this little island is best known for its wine – the grapes here make a fantastic red. It’s pretty off the beaten track, so you won’t find hordes of holidaymakers here, just half-empty beaches, beautiful countryside and a quaint waterside town with cobbled streets and family-run fish restaurants.

• The south coast of the island is where you’ll find a handful of sandy beaches. Pull up a deckchair for the afternoon, or grab a cold drink at a sand-side café.
• Poke around the honey-coloured fortress. It stands right on a cliff edge and has housed everyone from the Byzantines to the Venetians.
• The ancient city of Troy is a short ferry trip from Bozcaada. Here, you can wander around the UNESCO-rated acropolis, known as the site of the legendary Trojan War.

Departs at 7PM

Arrives at 8AM

Trip over reminders of the past in ancient Athens, where cultural treasures twinkle back at you at every turn. It’s a real gold medal winner of a city.

• Scale the heights of the sun-bleached Acropolis for awesome views, then take a look at the Parthenon, perched atop Athens’ most famous hill.
• Explore Plaka, the Medieval quarter at the foot of the Acropolis. The 19th-century lanes are crammed with tavernas, and twist and turn to meet the equally atmospheric Monastiraki street markets.
• From old to new – take a wander round the up-market Kolonaki district, which is packed with chic boutiques and ritzy restaurants.
• Be in Syntagma – or Constitution – Square in time to see the skirted soldiers perform the changing-of-the-guard.
• Check out the Corinth Canal, which connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. This waterway was considered one of the greatest technological achievements of its time.

Departs at 5PM

Arrives at 8AM

This quiet, quaint pocket of Greece is the place to escape modern life. Hugging the coast along Messinia and the Main peninsula, it’s a collection of great beaches and small towns. Central squares are lined with flowers and tavernas. And locals congregate to play backgammon, sip ouzo and tuck into bowls of the famous Kalamata olives. Best of all, it’s a place where tour parties come in sprinkles not spades.

• Standing guard on a rocky outcrop, the Ottoman fortress is Methoni’s big draw. Get to it by crossing a weather-beaten stone bridge and you’ll find twisting parapets, ruined churches and the octagonal ‘bourtzi’ tower cast out in the water.
• Beach-lovers will find plenty of places to unravel their towels. The beaches in Kalamata and nearby Yialova are all buttermilk sands and turquoise seas.
• Burrowed in the Mani peninsula are the Diros Caves. These underground sea chambers were once places of worship for Stone Age tribes. Taking a punt across the lakes is like being in another world.

Departs at 4PM

Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you constantly reaching for your camera.

• Soak up the views at Bella Vista, Corfu’s most famous lookout point. From here, you can peer over sleepy seaside villages like Paleokastritsa, and the island’s entire west coast.
• In Corfu Town itself, stand in the shadow of two gigantic fortresses. See the 16th-century church of Ayios Spyridhon. And then wander round the interesting archaeological museum.
• Relax on the shimmering sands of Glyfada beach, one of the most popular sunning spots on the island. Top up your tan. Take a dip in the crystal waters. Or simply laze beneath a hot sun.