Green Corfu: a cycling discovery between olive groves and coves

Arrival at Corfu airport. Settle into your hotel in the heart of Kerkyra, the old town. Take your time to get lost in this labyrinth of Venetian lanes, shaded squares and terraces where they serve the local ginger beer, a legacy of the British period. The Spianada, one of the largest esplanades in Europe, opens onto the old fortress and the sea. A first dinner in an old-town taverna sets the tone.

Collect your bike, electric or classic, as you choose. You leave the town along the seafront, with a first stop at Kanoni to admire the iconic view of the Vlacherna islet and Pontikonisi, Mouse Island. Then on to the Achilleion, Empress Sissi's neoclassical palace: lush gardens, mythological sculptures and a panorama over the coast. The road continues through olive-clad hills and the village of Agios Mattheos, nestled at the foot of a cypress-covered mountain. Arrival in Moraitika, a seaside resort where a sandy beach awaits for a welcome swim.

Heading for the west coast. You first follow Petriti, a charming fishing village with colourful boats, then climb gently to Chlomos, one of the island's oldest villages, from where the view takes in the Korission lagoon and the Ionian Sea in a single sweep. The descent towards Paramonas crosses landscapes of wild beauty. The stage ends at Agios Gordios, one of Corfu's most beautiful beaches, framed by golden cliffs. An ideal setting for dinner with your feet almost in the sand.

A climb to Sinarades, a typically Corfiot village of stone houses and flower-filled lanes. Then Pelekas, perched on its hill, offers from the "Kaiser's Throne" a 360-degree panorama over the island and the sea, one of the finest viewpoints on Corfu. The rest of the route crosses the great Ropa plain and villages untouched by tourism, where time seems to have slowed. Settle into Liapades for two nights, in a green setting facing the west coast.

A star ride from Liapades. Heading for Palaiokastritsa, jewel of Corfu: five bays of crystal waters, a monastery perched on the headland (visit possible), coves accessible by small boat. The road then climbs to Lakones and its breathtaking panorama, then to the fortress of Aggelokastro, a Byzantine eagle's nest offering a plunging view over the entire west coast. Descent to the great beach of Agios Georgios, then return through charming interior villages, some of which served as backdrops for the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only".

Today you leave the coast to discover mountain Corfu. The e-bike comes into its own here: the hills succeed one another, revealing forgotten valleys, villages where the elders play tavli under the plane trees, and unexpected panoramas. Arrival at Sokraki, a mountain village at the top of a plateau, offers an open view over Corfu bay. The accommodation is simple and warm, a rare experience of authenticity.

Final cycling day. Two routes are open to you:

1. Via Mount Pantokrator, the island's highest point (906 m): a climb rewarded by a grand panorama over Albania, the neighbouring islands and the whole Ionian coast. A long descent through olive groves and vineyards down to Corfu town.
2. Direct route: a quieter descent from the Sokraki plateau towards the north coast, crossing picturesque Corfiot villages, then back to Corfu town along the coast road.

Return your bike. The rest of the day is free for a last stroll through the old town, a visit to the covered market, or a farewell dinner in a taverna in the Garitsa quarter, facing the sea.