Corfu Odyssey, including Paxos island & Ancient Albania

Let’s travel to Corfu to start our holiday on this Inion Island. At the airport let’s meet our friendly local representative, before travelling onwards to our hotel. 

Let’s explore the enchanting streets of Corfu Old Town with our guide on a walking tour, where history and charm come alive. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a blend of Venetian, French, and British influences, reflected in its architecture and narrow, winding alleyways, named kantounas with (slippery) cobblestones. As we stroll through the picturesque squares and past elegant mansions, we will visit the church of the island’s holy patron, Saint Spiridon. 

You have the afternoon free to enjoy more the vibrant local culture of Corfu Old town, and for example have a look at its fortress. There’s also plenty of nice restaurants with good food in the old town. 

Today is yours, so you can just relax by the hotel swimming pool or just sunbathe on the hotel private beach and have a dip in the crystal-clear waters.

No holiday in Greece would be complete without a boat trip. This full-day cruise visits the nearby islands of Paxos and Antipaxos, as well as the Blue Caves of Paxos.

The journey begins from Corfu harbour, offering lovely views of the old town and its Venetian fortresses. As the boat sails south, passengers can see local landmarks such as the Mon Repos Palace and several coastal villages. The cruise continues towards Paxos, said in legend to have been created by Poseidon. The route passes the small port of Lakka and follows the island’s western coast, where the boat enters the famous Blue Caves.

Next, there’s time to stop at Antipaxos, known for its clear waters, where guests can enjoy a short swim. The trip then continues to the main port of Gaios on Paxos, where there’s free time to explore the narrow streets and have lunch at a local taverna (lunch not included).

Throughout the cruise, refreshments are available to purchase on board.

Today is another day free to relax and take in some further sightseeing. Our expert local guide will be happy to suggest activities and advise on must-see highlights. For example, 2km away from the hotel, there’s the Mon Repos Palace, set in beautiful gardens and offering a peaceful escape with great views of the sea.

Today we’ll discover more, visiting another country: Albania. After our departure from the port of Corfu we travel along the Albanian shores, and we will approach the port of Saranda city. Once our passports are checked our local tourist guide will introduce us to the ancient city of Saranda. Then a coach will take us on a 20km tour of the south coast with its virgin shores and scattered islands. Moving on from the mainland we pass small, picturesque villages, endless fertile plains leading to a great lake. 
The highlight of our day will be the excursion to Butrint - designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1997. Over the centuries, the ancient town had disappeared under layers of silt and vegetation - but archaeologists have uncovered one of the best remains of a working town in the Mediterranean. At the edge of the lake where the ancient city of Vouthrota is situated, with its well-maintained archaeological monuments and ancient theatre, we are taken 2500 years back in time to the 3rd century A.D. The ancient gymnasium, the Roman ablutions, and the ancient temple with the priceless mosaic floor and the enormous stone walls will take us back to a time not known to man. Upon our return to the city of Saranda lunch is served. The afternoon allows for a tour of the town, until we depart from the land caught up in time.
 

Enjoy your last day at leisure on Corfu Island. If you’re a gourmet, don’t forget to indulge yourself in traditional Corfiot cuisine at a seaside taverna. Try local dishes like sofrito or pastitsada, accompanied by local wine or ouzo. Corfu has some vineyards so you can try the island’s signature Kakotrygis.

The time has come to say goodbye to the sunny island of Corfu and set off for our home island as we travel with guide assistance to the airport.