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WHY IONIAN ISLAND HOLIDAYS?

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CORFU VILLA HOLIDAYS
As the plane descends the details of the land and the sea become more sharply focused, until suddenly one is swooping over a tree-covered islet, then a white church on a narrow isthmus, a causeway and finally a strip of asphalt, water on both sides.
Corfu is an island whose natural beauty is the common thread that links ancient legends and a colourful history, to a modern western society. Is myth born of fact or is it the other way round?
One thing is for sure, the answer will not be found on Kerkyra or Corfu as the English know it. One legend has it that Kerkyra was the daughter of a river god, Asopus. Poseidon first abducted and then seduced her on the island where she gave birth to a son, Phaeax, the ancestor of the Phaecians who lived on Corfu in antiquity. Yet another calls the island Makrisdrepane or Long Sickle, named after the weapon used by Zeus to castrate his father Cronus, whose blood gave birth to the Furies, Nymphs and the Phaecians, an unusual way of founding a dynasty and one which luckily has never become popular!
The sickle itself was stolen by Demeter, who buried it on the island which subsequently took on the shape of this miraculous sword. Jason (of the Argonauts) was one of the first visitors. Having stolen the Golden Fleece as well as the beautiful Medea he sought refuge on the island. Not only did he manage to hang onto his treasure but he married her in a cave near the palace at Alcinous. The soldiers sent in pursuit were so overwhelmed by the hospitality of the islanders that they instantly decided not to sail back to a wrathful King Aeetes.
Odysseus himself, was another early tourist, albeit a reluctant one, when he was shipwrecked by a vengeful Poseidon and with the help of Athena, was washed ashore on the island. Naked and half drowned he awoke to see the lovely princess Nausica washing clothes in a nearby stream. Despite his intention of returning to his long suffering wife Penelope and his island kingdom of Ithaka, the hero of Troy was so overcome with admiration, that he ‘greatly feared to touch her knees’! Corfu has been known to have a similar effect on lesser mortals!
The island has continued to inspire writers and poets, including Shakespeare who probably used the island as the model for the magical kingdom in The Tempest. Much later, prior to World War Two the eccentric but talented Durrell family, came to live on the island. Gerald memorably described the island, inhabitants and animals in his evocative book, ‘My Family and Other Animals’, whilst his elder brother Lawrence wrote a successful account of the island, ‘Prospero’s Cell’.
Fertile and blessed with a perfect climate, Corfu has been coveted and fought over by many warring nations, including the Venetians, Saracens, French and British, finally achieving union with an independent Greece in 1864. The heritage left by all these uninvited guests, together with the fascinating archeological remains of earlier civilisations means that the island today is a unique blend of ancient myth, classical architecture and a vibrant culture as well as being the ‘emerald isle’ of the Ionian.
By the end of the century the Corfiots, naturally resilient, innately hospitable, and imaginative, realised that they needed to reclaim and re-establish its native culture and heritage. Supported by the island administration they have transformed Corfu.
Corfu Town, with its warren of narrow streets, its graceful Venetian facades and its wonderful main square, has been renovated without losing any of its character. Many of the narrow alleyways have been pedestrianised and venerable buildings sensitively restored.
Of course there are still busy resorts, but nowadays their streets and waterfronts are far more likely to be thronged with families enjoying themselves than late night revellers.
A network of roads lead out from the capital across the island, whilst the quiet byways and lanes of the rural interior have been re-surfaced but are still relatively traffic free, the hamlets and villages they connect remain unspoilt.
Our selection of properties have been chosen to represent the real Corfu, an island of clean beaches, verdant hills and valleys, excellent museums, fine tavernas and restaurants. Try and get a table with a view, which is quintessentially Corfiot. You should be able to make out the graceful lattice of traditional fish traps and a fisherman tending to his nets as he and his ancestors have done for a thousand years or more. This is the magic of Corfu, ancient and modern.
- Tour the north east coast in a motor boat
- Relax and swim at any of Corfu’s 30 Blue Flag beaches
- Horse riding from Avlaki Beach
- Family trip to Aqualand water park
- Dinghy sailing & windsurfing from Avlaki Beach
- Enjoy a drink on the ‘Liston’ in cosmopolitan Corfu Town and shop in its narrow streets
- Diving & snorkeling tours from Kassiopi
- Wine tasting at the Triklino Vineyard
- Play golf at Corfu’s own championship course in the Ropa Valley
- Visit the deserted village of Old Perithia high up in the mountains
Flights for this season
Monday departures for direct flights from London Gatwick and Manchester

FROM | TO | OUTBOUND FLIGHT |
INBOUND FLIGHT |
FLIGHT DETAILS |
DEPARTURE TERMINAL |
DEPARTURE DATES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
London Gatwick | Corfu | Dep: 09:10hrs Arr: 14:15hrs |
Dep: 14:50hrs Arr: 16:40hrs |
Enter Air ENT 431/2 |
South Terminal | From: 29th May To: 9th Oct |
Manchester | Corfu | Dep: 07:30hrs Arr: 13:00hrs |
Dep: 14:00hrs Arr: 15:40hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 951/2 |
T1 | From: 1st May To: 2nd Oct |
Manchester | Corfu | Dep: 05:30hrs Arr: 11:00hrs |
Dep: 11:45hrs Arr: 13:15hrs |
Easyjet EZY 2079/80 |
Main Terminal | From: 7th May To: 23rd Oct |
Flights for 2024
Monday departures for direct flights from London Gatwick and Manchester

FROM | TO | OUTBOUND FLIGHT |
INBOUND FLIGHT |
FLIGHT DETAILS |
DEPARTURE TERMINAL |
DEPARTURE DATES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
London Gatwick | Corfu | Dep: 05:55hrs Arr: 11:00hrs |
Dep: 11:45hrs Arr: 12:55hrs |
Easyjet EZY 8207/8 |
North Terminal | From: 29th Apr To: 13th May |
London Gatwick | Corfu | Dep: 09:10hrs Arr: 14:15hrs |
Dep: 14:50hrs Arr: 16:40hrs |
Enter Air ENT 431/2 |
South Terminal | From: 27th May To: 7th Oct |
Manchester | Corfu | Dep: 07:30hrs Arr: 13:00hrs |
Dep: 14:00hrs Arr: 15:40hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 951/2 |
T1 | From: 29th Apr To: 30th Sep |
TRANSFERS
Where applicable, hire cars will be waiting at the airport. If a hire car is not included in your package, your onward road transfer will be by taxi or mini bus.
Approx transfer time: 30 mins to 1 hour
PRE-BOOKING YOUR AIRCRAFT SEAT
To pre book your seat please contact the airline directly quoting Ionian Island Holidays as your tour operator, your booking reference
number, flight number, date of departure and specific flight request. In some cases you will also require the airline booking reference. Payments for these seats are direct with the airline.
Please allow 24-48 hours after booking to allow your booking to be processed.
AIRLINE CONTACT DETAILS
- Enter Air: Visit Website
- Jet2 Airlines: Visit Website (You will need your Ionian booking reference and surname) If there is an existing 6 digit reference next to your flight details these seats have been bought directly from Jet2 and you will need to visit their direct web site here
- Easyjet: Visit Website(You will need your Easyjet Locatar reference )Click Manage my Booking. If you have an existing Easyjet log in this will not work you will need to click on “No Account? Find Booking” For all EasyJet Flights, 30 days prior to departure, you can check-in and fill in your Additional Passenger Information (Passport details) via EasyJet website. You will then be able to print your Boarding Passes.
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Please check your e-ticket for the luggage allowance that is included on your flights as this represents the actual confirmed allowance you are entitled to.
Most of our flights have checked baggage allowance of 20kg & 5kg hand baggage included.
In some cases, certain airlines may have different allowances but again, please check your e-ticket:
- Enter Air: 20kg hold & 5kg hand baggage (max 55 x 40 x 20cm)
- Jet2 Airlines: 22kg hold & 10kg hand baggage (max 56cm x 45cm x 25cm)
- Easyjet: 23kg hold & One small under seat cabin bag (max 45 x 36 x 20 cm)
FLIGHT ONLY
We are able to offer a limited number of flights direct to Kefalonia, Preveza and Corfu. Contact out UK office for further details on 020 8459 0777.
AIRPORT ASSISTANCE
Please also fully inform us of any disability or walking difficulty you may have, so we can provide assistance at the airport. This must be made at least 7 days before departure.








