Escorted Tours
Highlights of Corfu Tour
Magnificent, verdant Corfu was Homer’s ‘beautiful and rich land’. Mountains dominate the northern half, where the coastlines can be steep and dramatic and the island’s interior is a rolling expanse of peaceful countryside.
Stately cypresses, used for masts by the Venetians, rise from shimmering olive groves, whilst in the south the island flattens and narrows. This wonderful natural scenery is enriched by the island’s long heritage that has been shaped by Byzantine, Roman and Venetian influences and, later, by both the French and the British.
In the early days of modern Greece, Corfu was a seat of European learning. While the rest of the nation struggled simply to get by, the Corfiots established cultural institutions such as libraries and centres of learning, and many major Greek figures like Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first head of an independent Greece, hailed from Corfu.
To this day, Corfiots remain proud of their intellectual and artistic roots. This legacy is visible in its fine museums and its rich cultural life, which ensure a friendly, cosmopolitan atmosphere in which the visitor is always made to feel at home.
what’s included
At A Glance
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Corfu
On arrival transfer to the very comfortable five-star Kontokali Bay Spa Hotel for a seven-night stay.
Day 2: Guided Tour of Kanoni & Corfu Town
We start our tour at Mon Repos Palace, birthplace of Prince Philip, and its small museum, we then visit the area of Kanoni, where we find the incredibly picturesque Vlacherna monastery, probably one of the most photographed spots in Corfu, where we find time for a coffee before visiting the wonderful ‘old town’ and capital of the island, Corfu Town, with a local guide. A fascinating and attractive town that owes its character to its extensive history and the influence of the various occupiers of the island who left a beautiful architectural legacy.
Magnificent buildings line the narrow streets, which are perfect for strolling and exploring but also for lingering and enjoying a break in one of the many cafes or restaurants that line them. The rest of the day is free, leaving you time to explore further, perhaps visiting one of the town’s selection of wonderful museums such as the unusual Museum of Asian Art, the Byzantine Museum or the Municipal Art Gallery, or return and relax at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Exploring Corfu
Today will be a relaxed scenic day seeing a bit more of Corfu. We shall visit the monastery of Pantokrator, situated on Mount Pantokrator, the highest point of the island (906m), which ensures a very picturesque drive.
The monastery was built in the 14th century and destroyed in 1537, the present church dates from the 17th century and the outer cells from the 19th century.
After the dramatic drive to Pantokrator it’s on to the charming seaside village of Kassiopi with its narrow-cobbled streets overlooked by the ruins of an ancient castle where there will be free time for lunch before returning via a different route, equally scenic, to our hotel.
Day 4: Free Day
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 5: A Taste of Albania
We depart from the port of Corfu and journey by boat to Agia Saranda in Albania and then join a coach for the picturesque drive to the archaeological site of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we will be guided by a local guide.
A delicious lunch will be arranged in a local restaurant after our visit and there will be some free time before catching the ferry back to Corfu in the late afternoon.
Day 6: Achillion Palace, Paleokastritsa & Makrades
We will visit the Achillion Palace, if it has reopened, as it closed in 2022 for renovation and the confirmed reopening date has not been announced as yet. Built by the Empress Elisabeth “Sissy” of Austria in 1891, and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Corfu was Empress Elizabeth’s favourite vacation place and she built the palace because she very much admired Greece, its language and culture. The palace was designed with the mythical hero Achilles as its central theme.
If the palace is not open, we will still visit the wonderful gardens of Achillion, and it won’t be difficult to understand why she chose this place to build the palace. We then continue north to the very beautiful seaside village of Paleokastritsa, described as the ‘jewel of Corfu’. We will visit the Byzantine Monastery of the Virgin and its gardens, which has spectacular views overlooking Paleokastritsas’ beautiful turquoise bays. There will be free time for lunch and then on to our final visit, via a very spectacular drive, Makrades, where we there will be an opportunity to try some local products, and perhaps a little shopping, before returning to the hote for dinner.
Day 7: Free Day or optional Southern Corfu Tour
Join a relaxed optional tour to Southern Corfu (payable locally and subject to a minimum number to operate), seeing a part of the island not visited during the included trips of the tour.
The trip starts at the picturesque village of Sinarades, where we visit a small folklore museum that is set in an original village house, a short walk through the village enjoying the flower filled balconies and historic architecture, then its on to Petriti in Southern Corfu where you can enjoy a tasty lunch by the sea.
Returning via a different route, we stop at the pretty village of Cholmos for lovely views and a short walk in its pretty streets, before returning back to the hotel via the east coast. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8: Return to London
Transfer to Corfu Airport for the return flight to London Gatwick.
our guests say
Recent reviews
“The day trip to Albania was a real highlight, offering a fascinating contrast to Corfu. The tour was enjoyable throughout, though the return journey at the airport was stressful, with long queues and very little time allowed for check-in and passport control. Despite this, it was a memorable holiday.”
Mrs A, October 2025
“The visit to Butrint in Albania was superb, a truly impressive and memorable site. The tour was extremely well run, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We would, however, have appreciated a list of fellow travellers at the start, which would have helped everyone get to know each other more easily.”
Mr H, October 2025
“I really appreciated how Jane Freeman reorganised each day so we could make the most of the changing weather. Her care and support throughout were outstanding. We had a very skilled driver, Yiannis, and a lovely local guide, Mary. The day trip to Albania was long but absolutely worthwhile. Corfu is beautiful, and we were guided around it with real expertise.”
Mrs I, October 2025
Availability
Choose Your Departure
HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
Kontokali Bay Resort Hotel
The five-star Kontokali Bay Spa Hotel, located on the lush Kontokali Peninsula, offers comfortable rooms and a magnificent setting. The included rooms in the tour are all bay view rooms, all have private bathroom facilities, safe, hairdryer, TV, free wi-fi, air-conditioning, telephone, minibar and tea/coffee making facilities. Sea view rooms are available at a small supplement. Facilities at the hotel include a pool, private beach, two speciality restaurants, bar/cafe, and spa.
Kontokali Bay Hotel Website
our regular tours
Mobility Information
This is one of our more relaxed-paced tours, designed to allow you to enjoy the itinerary at a comfortable rhythm. As with all Travel Editions tours, you should expect some walking between visits, periods of standing during guided tours, and the ability to get on and off a coach or train independently.
As many of our tours visit historic places, occasional steps, slopes, cobbles or uneven surfaces may still be encountered, particularly in old towns, gardens, churches and heritage buildings. Please read the day-by-day itinerary for any specific notes about stairs, ground conditions, walking distances or time on your feet.
If pace or mobility is an important consideration, please contact us before booking and our team will be happy to discuss whether this tour is the right fit for you.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.
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