See another side of the lovely islands of Rhodes and Kos and rediscover their ancient origins. Long beloved by British travellers, there is more to appreciate here than their lovely beaches and sheltered bays. Hugging the coastline in the south-eastern corner of the Aegean, these islands were in the midst of a crucial sea lane in antiquity and served as a bridge between east and west during their long and eventful history. From Hellenistic sanctuaries, Roman villas and Crusader fortresses to Byzantine churches and stylish Italian architecture, characteristics of both worlds can be found here.

And venturing inland, the landscape swiftly changes from urban dwellings to juniper and thyme clad hills where broom, myrtle and laurel grow in profusion.