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Greece

Crete

Crete, Greece's southernmost point, offers some of Europe's most spectacular scenery. Sandy beaches and rocky coves give way to dramatic mountains, so high that snow frequently caps the peaks in winter. There is a palpable sense of history and tradition here, with ancient Minoan ruins, Byzantine chapels and historic villages.

Crete's Coast & Mountains | walk |
Traditions & History of Crete | walk |
Highlights of Crete | fly-drive |
Istron Villas | self-catering | family holidays |
Vamos Traditional Houses | self-catering |
Maheri House Apartments | self-catering | Not available until 2009
Villa Dafnes | self-catering |
Istron Bay Hotel | hotels |
Mythos Suites | hotels |
Villa Kynthia | hotels |
Spilia Village Hotel | hotels |

The Mani (Peloponnese)

Be fascinated by ancient villages with tiny Byzantine churches and distinctive tower houses, and be awed by sweeping views and huge cave systems. There are two distinct parts to the Mani, both worthy of detailed exploration: the lush and fertile Outer Mani, and the dramatic Inner Mani, a wild and untamed land steeped in ancient history.

House of Baba Spiros | self-catering |
Polyminia Apartments | self-catering |
Esperides Apartments & Studios | self-catering |
Notos Hotel Apartments | self-catering | Not available until 2009
Hotel Porto Vitylo | hotels |
Hotel Kyramai | hotels |
Coastal Highlights | fly-drive |
Classical Tour | fly-drive |
Footpaths between Heaven and Earth | walk |

Messinia (Peloponnese)

This, the westernmost of the Peloponnese's three 'fingers', is green and luxuriant, ringed by extensive stretches of sand. You will find plenty to tempt you away from the beaches, however, including the ancient site of Nestor's Palace, and many well-preserved castles.

Navarone Villas & Hotel | self-catering |
Yiannis & Inge's Houses | self-catering | family holidays |
Kamaria Villas | self-catering |

Eastern Peloponnese

Strikingly beautiful at every turn, the eastern provinces of Arcadia and the Argolid encapsulate all that is the Peloponnese: rugged green mountains which sometimes plunge so steeply into the glittering blue sea that the secluded villages clinging to the slopes appear to defy gravity; fascinating sites such as Mycenae and the theatre at Epidavros; and excellent beaches, especially around Tolo.

Villa Lilly Apartments | self-catering |
The Marianna | hotels |
Hotel Minoa | hotels |
Hotel King Minos | hotels |
Villa Romanza | self-catering |

The Pelion

The first thing that strikes you about this picturesque, hook-shaped peninsula, mythological home of the forest-dwelling centaurs, is just how lush the landscapes are. Apple, pear, fig, walnut and pomegranate trees thrive, watered by numerous streams, and the slopes of Mount Pilio, the peak from which the peninsula takes its name, are coated in dense beech and oak woods.

The Old Stone House | self-catering |
Theodorides Estate | self-catering |

Macedonia

Macedonia's appeal lies in the fact that it is very much authentic Greece, and not very well-known among visitors. One of the most rewarding parts to explore is Halkidiki, whose three mountainous peninsulas stretch into the Aegean.

Mijies Apartments | self-catering |
Hotel Akrogiali | hotels |
Hotel Liotope | hotels |
Alexandrou Inn | hotels |
Mountains & Monasteries | fly-drive |

Lesvos

With its two large gulfs that reach in towards the centre, Lesvos resembles a jigsaw piece, each quarter different in character, from the petrified forest in the west to workaday Mytilini in the east, and from the bird watcher's paradise of Skala Kallonia in the centre to the picturesque fortified town of Molyvos in the north.

Hotel Votsala | hotels |

Cephalonia

The most majestic of the Ionian Islands, Cephalonia is famed for its undeveloped beaches, crystal-clear waters and light, crisp wine made from the indigenous Robola grape, which thrives in the soft, fertile soils.

Mega Lakko Villas | self-catering |
Emelisse Art Hotel | hotels |
In the Footsteps of Ulysses | walk |

Ithaca

Though tiny, Ithaca, home of Odysseus, is remarkably dramatic. After visiting the sites associated with the Odyssey, joining the evening volta in Vathy, or walking the many paths, you will understand Homer's hero's desire to return to his homeland.

Perantzada 1811 Art Hotel | hotels |

Hydra

The Saronic island of Hydra, just off the Peloponnese, boasts mountainous landscapes dotted with monasteries, which descend to a rugged, often very wild coastline that has served as an excellent natural defence over the centuries.

Mistral Hotel | hotels |

Chios

One of the most fascinating islands of the Aegean, Chios is famed for its shipping, citrus fruits and the mastic bush. Fewer people know of its excellent network of paths or its spectacular scenery: rolling hills and mountains peppered with Byzantine churches, medieval fortresses, natural springs and authentic villages.

Stella's Traditional Houses | self-catering |

Samos

Just a few miles at its eastern shoreline from the Turkish mainland, Samos is one of Greece's greenest and most alluring islands. Vineyards step up into verdant woodland, giving way to rugged summits in the island's core. Along the coast, explore fishing ports and small resorts with attractive beaches. For such a small island, the landscapes are extraordinarily rich and varied.

Samos, an Aegean Island | walk |
Armonia Bay Hotel | hotels |

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