Discover Corfu with Lee Durrell

Breakfast at the hotel. Our local guide joins us again as we start today with an excursion to Vidos, a thickly wooded islet in the bay opposite Corfu Town which is home to a special array of flora and fauna and is therefore protected as a nature reserve. The 15-minute boat trip across the bay is very pleasant in itself and on arrival we will have free time to explore and take in the peaceful atmosphere, with an opportunity to enjoy the views over a drink in the taverna. Worth a visit is the Serbian Mausoleum, which commemorates the 150,000 Serbian soldiers who fled to Corfu in 1915.

On our return to Corfu Town, we will pick up the tragic yet fascinating story of these exiles at the Serbian Museum. Exhibits include photographs from the three year stay of the Serbians in Corfu, together with other exhibits such as uniforms, arms and ammunition of the Serbian army, Serbian regimental flags, religious artefacts, surgical tools and other decorations of the Kingdom of Serbia.

The afternoon is free to discover more of Corfu Town at your leisure, or to relax and make use of the swimming pool, spa and private beach at your hotel.

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE: This evening, while dining at the Corfu Holiday Palace, we will meet the famous naturalist and writer Lee Durrell, who will give a fascinating talk about the Durrell family's long love affair with Corfu and its wildlife and tell the story of her and Gerald's pioneering work for the  Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, which he founded in 1963.

Breakfast at the hotel. Inspired by meeting Lee, today we will visit some of the unforgettable locations that millions of viewers have fallen in love with while reading Gerald Durrell’s books or watching The Durrells.

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE: Along with our local guide, Lee Durrell will accompany us as we follow in the footsteps of the Durrells, first by taking a trip to Pontikonisi, on Mouse Island, a place that Gerald and his sister Margo both loved to visit, and where Gerald Durrell’s ashes are scattered.

The venue for lunch today is another favourite of the Durrells: the taverna in the famous White House in Kalami, the beautiful building on the north-east coast of Corfu that was once the home of Lawrence Durrell, Gerald’s novelist brother. This afternoon our adventure continues with the chance to see some of the picture-perfect villages in the north of the island.

In the afternoon we continue with Lee to the Lake of the Lillies (as featured in My Family and Other Animals chapter 16 – Lee will give a reading of this). We conclude today at the abandoned but picturesque village of Perithia and meet a local bee keeper with an opportunity to buy delicious honey.

Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today is free to discover more of Corfu at your leisure, or to relax and make use of the swimming pool, spa and private beach at your hotel. A regular bus service into Corfu Town picks up just outside the hotel. Local excursions and boat trips to other islands or over to Albania can also be arranged.

After breakfast we must check out of the hotel – please ensure any extras are paid and take your luggage to the coach - and transfer to Corfu airport for our independent onward journeys.

EXTEND YOUR TRIP!

Don't want to go home? For those who'd like to stay in Corfu a little longer, we have arranged an optional, great value two-night extension for an additional £225 per person, including airport transfers and breakfast (single price £325).