One of the smallest and least developed islands in the Ionian, Paxos combines turquoise waters, picturesque villages, imposing cliffs and fantastic beaches. Its hillsides are carpeted in olive groves renowned for the very highest quality oil. Antipaxos is known for its vineyards, olive trees  and the stunning, sandy beach of Voutoumi.

Small it may be but Paxos has all the variety of much larger islands, such as the rugged grandeur of its Ionian coast, the dappled shade and cool glades of its interior and the beaches and picturesque inlets along its east coast. It is a microcosm of all that is best in a Greek island, but on a scale that means it can be easily explored by car or on foot.

Its reputation as a romantic destination stretches as far back as Roman times: Anthony and Cleopatra apparently chose Paxos for a candlelit dinner a deux before the fateful Battle of Actium in 31BC, setting a precedent that discerning British visitors to the island have been happy to follow in more recent times.

The villages of the island are intriguing. Gaios, is considered the gateway to Paxos and its harbour is spectacularly disguised from the sea by the small island of Agios Nikolaos, inhabited only by the local priests. Once around this most holy of islands, the harbour of Gaios opens magnificently to reveal the waterfront and the patchwork of alleyways and tavernas.

Further up the coast one will find the tranquil retreat of Loggos, a picturesque, traditionally Greek, fishing village with four tavernas, a bakery and a mini-market. Close by, after a short stroll through the olive trees, you will stumble across the excellent peaceful beaches of Levrechio, Marmari, Kipos and Glyfada, all with white pebbles and clear as crystal aqua blue water. Inland you will find the village of Magazia, a village with tavernas and a mini-market set amongst the deepest of olive groves at the crossroads of all the inland lanes that wind around the island. Even in the middle of August, one can wander along any of the hundreds of paths and rarely meet a soul.

If there is a paradise for olive trees then it must be Paxos, but one that is also shared with those seeking quiet, relaxed holidays in beautiful surroundings free from mass tourism. In the summer months Gaios, the capital, and to a lesser extent the smaller villages of Lakka and Loggos, buzz with cosmopolitan mix of yachtsmen and day visitors from Corfu.

Aside from the olives, the beaches of Paxos have rightly earned the accolades of those who have been fortunate enough to visit them. The choice is wide, from popular stretches of sand where the active can enjoy various watersports and beachside kantinas, to hidden small beaches tucked away at the back of tree-lined coves.

But Paxos is far more than just an idyllic holiday destination. Most of its inhabitants have lived and worked on the island for many generations, tending their olives or vines and fishing along its shores still play a central role in the daily life of the island and the visitor is very much a part of that life. Perhaps therein lies the reason why so many return to this ‘paradise’ year after year.