Corfu, the emerald isle: walks between olive groves and coves

Your plane lands on Corfu. A private transfer takes you to the west coast, to the bay of Liapades, nestled between green hills and turquoise waters. Settle into your charming address, steps from the beaches, and let the Ionian sweetness take hold. A first swim in the crystal coves of Gefyra, a wander through the village lanes, a first glass of tsipouro on a terrace: the tone of the trip is set.

A transfer drops you near the west coast, at Paramonas. The path rises gently through the olive trees and tips you into a rural, intimate Corfu. The interior villages, almost forgotten by tourism, reveal their stone houses, whitewashed chapels and fragrant gardens. From the ridge, the panorama embraces both coasts of the island. Fine glimpses of the sea punctuate this contemplative walk, before a return transfer to Liapades.

Heading for the southern hills, where cypresses and olives compose landscapes with Tuscan overtones. Beautifully preserved villages cling to the hillsides: Sinarades, with its small folklore museum, invites a curious stop. The path leads to the summit of Agii Deka, the highest point of southern Corfu, from where the view embraces the entire island, from the east and west coasts to Mount Pantokrator in the north. Arrival at the village of Pelekas, which overlooks a golden sandy beach, the ideal spot for a swim before the return transfer.

From Pelekas, the path descends to Myrtiotissa beach and its adjoining monastery, a place of rare serenity facing the sea. The walk then crosses the Ropa plain, climbs towards the village of Gianades and reaches the immense olive forest of the Marmaro massif. Beneath the centuries-old canopy, light plays between the gnarled trunks. You rejoin your village of Liapades on foot, perched in a setting of olive trees, a thoroughly remarkable arrival.

Setting off on foot from Liapades for one of the trip's finest days. The path offers a splendid panorama of Palaiokastritsa, its coves and its waters of an unreal blue. You cross the villages of Lakones and Krini, where cafe terraces open onto a grand spectacle. An old mule path then descends to the bay of Agios Georgios, one of the longest beaches on Corfu, where the turquoise sea stretches to the horizon. Offshore, the silhouettes of the Diapontia Islands complete the picture.

Transfer to the village of Spartylas, at the foot of Mount Pantokrator. This day brings together all the beauties of the island: from the heights, the panorama extends over Corfu, the Greek and Albanian coasts, and the great blue beyond. The descent crosses olive groves before reaching Kalami bay, where the writer Lawrence Durrell once lived. Here, the late-afternoon light gilds the fishermen's houses and invites a final swim before the return transfer.

A day devoted to Kerkyra, the capital of Corfu, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Venetian fortresses, bustling lanes, Byzantine churches and the French-inspired Liston compose a heritage of exceptional richness. Do not miss the church of Saint Spyridon (protector of the island), the Byzantine art museum, the Mon Repos park and its subtropical gardens. Let yourself be carried by the atmosphere of this town where Greece and Italy mingle with rare elegance. The ideal spot for a final memorable dinner at one of the old-harbour tavernas.