The island of Corfu, or Kerkira how it is known in Greek is the northernmost of the Ionian islands. Being so close to the mainland the island is very verdant and fertile, with orange and olive groves covering large areas of the island. I also loved how rugged the shoreline was, with picturesque wild beaches hiding in pretty coves.

Beautiful beach in Southern Corfu

Being a mountainous island, Corfu has several stunning viewpoints with views stretching to the mainland Greece and neighbouring Albania. In fact, day boat trips to these two destinations are very popular along with an alternative of visiting Paxos and Antipaxos. The sea around these islands is stunning, the water is so turquoise that this stretch is often called Mediterranean Caribbean. It really is dreamy and numerous caves add even more to the experience. No wonder renting a boat is a very popular past time in Greece!

One of the main reasons why this island is so good for families is that it never gets too hot, even in summer the average temperature is 29-31 degrees – very comfortable compared to the southern islands. Having travelled in mid-September we were spoilt by hot and sunny weather but Corfu is excellent for spring breaks, too, when the hypnotising smell of orange blossoms fills the air. The average temperature in April is 20 degrees and is ideal for exploring Corfu old town. This UNESCO heritage site is the perfect example of Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Having travelled to Venice back in July, it was astonishing to see how similar the buildings looked! Corfu old town is built between two ancient fortresses and is resembling an open-air museum.

Lunch at a local taverna

Did you know that Prince Philip was born in Corfu and you can visit the historical Mon Repos palace where he spent his early days?
I highly recommend hiring a car or a quadbike and explore the island. I especially loved the unspoilt southern cost, covered in pine and olive trees – beach hopping there was the highlight of our trip and we particularly liked the secluded Rovinia beach.

Steps to Rovinia Beach

It is a bit of a hike down the hill, but totally worth it! Another trip highlight was stumbling on Halikounas lake full of flamingos!The Korission lagoon attracts thousands of flamingos every year and the best time for bird watching is between May and early October.

Halikounas lake

The hotel we chose as our base was MarBella Corfu, a very comfortable and popular family resort that is one of our best sellers in Corfu. The location is very scenic, overlooking the mainland and away from the hustle and bustle of busier parts of the island yet only 30 min away from Corfu town and the airport by local bus or a taxi. The resort offers several board basis options from Half Board to All inclusive. We went for Half board allowing us to have lunch in local taverns and enjoying buffet dinner at the hotel. We found the buffet to be really good, always with generous portions of Greek salad, good selection of grilled meats, fish and vegetarian dishes.

The menu was changing daily and we never got bored with the food choices available. All-inclusive clients have a chance to dine at the a la carte restaurants three times per week, as well as have other additional benefits, so upgrading is really worth it. 
Marbella Corfu boasts a blue flag beach and we loved the options of swimming off the pebble beach as well as diving right into the sea from the platforms. 

Beach at MarBella Corfu

Our Superior Seaview room was very comfortable and contemporary, with a balcony overlooking the sea. We really enjoyed our holiday to Corfu as it was a fantastic balance between relaxation and exploring. 

Give us a call on 0208 675 7878 to discuss your next holiday.

Maryna travelled to Corfu with her husband in September 2020

Africa specialist tour operators have come together to support African rangers & wildlife by embarking on a cumulative bike ride which is being kick-started with an initial Land’s End to John O’ Groats challenge starting at 9 am on 15th August 2020 where a core peloton of 10 people will be joined by 40+ others, all of whom are combining mileage working towards a 30,000KM total – the equivalent of circumnavigating Africa.

Ride 4 Rangers is an initiative by the UK Africa Travel Industry in aid of Tusk which will see the team ride the 874 miles from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and is inviting hundreds of fellow Africa Travel industry professionals, Africa and wildlife lovers to join them on the way. The ride is part of the wider Wildlife Ranger Challenge, launched to support thousands of wildlife rangers across the African continent to face the threats posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Through the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, every pound donated to Ride 4 Rangers will be matched by the Scheinberg Relief Fund.

We miss our incredible opportunities to connect with nature and animals on an unbelievably intimate level. The African continent has been beyond generous to all its visitors over the past 150 years, hosting us and enchanting us each and every time. This time, it is our chance to give something in return and help support our beloved Wildlife Rangers.

Kenya’s number of elephants have more than doubled since 1989 thanks to a mission to stop poaching. All of these conservation efforts have had positive outcomes over time however, because of a decrease in the number of international tourism, the very animals we’ve been protecting for so long, are now at risk. This is our chance to make a difference and participate in a not only charitable activity, but also an experience that will benefit our mental and physical wellbeing. Cycling has countless proven benefits such as increased cardiovascular fitness, increased muscle strength and flexibility, improved joint mobility, decreased stress levels, improved posture and coordination.

Alongside the Land’s End to John O’Groats ride, 15th August also marks the start of a series of global Ride4Rangers events and activities where Africa and wildlife lovers across the UK, Europe and 9 African Nations (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique) are getting involved clocking their own miles and raising vital funds.

The route will journey throughout the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats via traditional LEJOG routes. For the full map visit:

 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33296734 

Wondering how to get involved?

Visit www.ride4rangers.com

15 Aug–29 Aug Join all or part of the ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats

or

Do your own Ride 4 Rangers at home, in a park, around your garden 5, 10, 20, 50 KM

Ride 10KM, Donate £10, Nominate 3 People

or

Simply donate on our crowdfunding page