From unspoiled islands to timeless villages, these undiscovered spots are the latest gems to join Olympic’s carefully-curated portfolio
Award winning tour operator Olympic Holidays is renowned for its unrivalled insider knowledge and expert advice when it comes to booking a dream trip to the Greek Islands, Cyprus and beyond. For over half a century, its in-house team of travel specialists have been arranging holidays to Greece’s iconic archipelagos along with a selection of other handpicked destinations including the Canary Islands, mainland Spain & Majorca, Malta & Gozo, Portugal, Madeira, Croatia, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Gambia & Goa. One of the best ways to get a taste for some of the wonderfully varied and enticing islands in the portfolio is to plan a bespoke island-hopping trip. This is where a specialist such as Olympic Holidays really comes into their own and can advise on and create exclusive tailor made, hassle-free itineraries. New for 2025, the following additions to their collection promise to make waves with their enchanting blend of stunning natural beauty and authentic charm: Albania, Lesvos, Karpathos, Lefkara, Agia Galini, Evia, Hydra & Sifnos.
Quietly gaining in popularity with savvy travellers, Albania remains remarkably free from mass tourism despite its stunning scenery. Appealingly affordable for UK visitors, the country is hugely varied, with a coastline strung with turquoise bays while inland lie mountains topped by crumbling castles and evocative UNESCO-listed ancient ruins. Much like Greece, Albania boasts flavour-filled Mediterranean dishes including lots of fresh seafood washed down with excellent (and great value) local wines.
Olympic Holidays offer 7 nights staying at Hotel Amelia Mare, Albania from £581pp staying in a Double Room Garden View on a B&B basis including flights from LHR. Price based on May 2025 departure. www.olympicholidays.com
Greece’s third-largest island is one of its most varied, from its emerald mountains and steamy hot springs to its sweeping sandy beaches and perfectly-preserved ancient villages. The only thing missing? This magnificent island remains refreshingly off the tourist radar so you won’t find the usual crowds, even in summer. They are missing out, as Lesvos is a delight to explore. Hugging the Turkish coast, the island’s rich history has left its imprint, with must-sees such as the charming Ottoman town of Molyvos with its cobbled lanes winding up to a mighty fortress. If castles are your thing, there’s an even more impressive one at bustling Mytilene, an artistic hub lined with boutiques, restaurants and grand 18th century mansions. For ouzo fans, thetown of Plomari is considered the home of Greece’s potent aniseed spirit – there is even a museum dedicated to the drink. Meanwhile, the far west of Lesvos is an otherworldly lunar landscape, where millennia-old lava flows have left behind a remarkable petrified forest. Finally, no visit would be complete without a visit to Skala Eresou, a laidback beach resort that’s the birth place of the island’s most famous resident, the ancient Greek poetess Sappho.
Olympic Holidays offer 7 nights staying at Panorama Hotel, Lesvos from £475pp staying in a Standard Twin on a B&B basis including flights from Stansted. Price based on May 2025 departure. www.olympicholidays.com
With its rugged mountains plunging down to azure coves, Karpathos has a wild, heart-stopping beauty that feels straight from the pages of an ancient Greek myth. In fact, legend has it that Prometheus and his Titans were born here – the island even appears in Homer’s ‘The Iliad’. Located midway between Crete and Rhodes, Karpathos is spectacular but far less-visited than its better-known neighbours. Visitors to this Dodecanese beauty are rewarded, however, not only by its dramatic scenery but also its proud Greek heritage and culture, with time-forgotten villages celebrating age-old customs and colourful festivals. Follow the hair-raising but scenic road to Olympos, a historic village where houses seem to teeter on a ridge. Head down to the coast and you’ll find a plethora of deserted bays, from award-winning Apella beach, framed by steep cliffs and considered one of the prettiest in the Med, to remote dune-backed Diakoftis and windsurfers’ paradise Makris Gialos.
Olympic Holidays offer 7 nights staying at Konstantinos Palace, Karpathos from £1,026pp staying in a Standard Room on a Half Board basis including flights from LGW and transfers. Price based on May 2025 departure. www.olympicholidays.com
Cyprus has long been a holiday favourite for its gorgeous coastline – a never-ending stretch of powdery beaches and hidden coves washed by luminous seas. Turn inland, however, and you’ll find another, quieter side of the island that’s just as enchanting. Ancient olive groves and forested hills are dotted with sleepy settlements, churches and archaeological ruins. It’s here, in the majestic Troodos mountains, that you’ll find Lefkara, a magical village of traditional stone-built houses and slender streets. Famed for its tradition of ‘Lefkaritika’, an intricate lacework that is hand-crafted and passed down through generations, the village boasts many artisanal workshops and small museums. Wandering through the lanes is a wonderful way to experience local life, with authentic tavernas serving delicious Cypriot cuisine.
Olympic Holidays offer 7 nights staying at Ionian Blue Hotel & Spa, Lefkada from £505pp staying in a Superior Twin Sea View on a B&B basis including flights from LGW. Price based on May 2025 departure. www.olympicholidays.com
Crete’s wild southern coast draws nature-lovers, hikers and solitude-seekers with its thyme-scented gorges, quiet coves and little fishing villages. Sloping down to a postcard-pretty harbour bobbing with colourful fishing boats, Agia Galini couldn’t be more idyllic. Overlooking the cobalt Libyan Sea, its white-washed pedestrianised streets are bright with bougainvillea and lined with traditional tavernas serving the freshest seafood. Sandy beaches invite swimming, snorkelling and watersports, while a short drive takes you to the extraordinary ruins of Phaistos, one of Crete’s most important archaeological sites. Keen hikers can explore the breathtaking Kourtaliotiko gorge with its hidden waterfall, as well as Preveli beach with its glorious palm grove.
Olympic Holidays offer 7 nights staying at Paralos Irini Mare, Agia Galini from £691pp staying in a Superior Double Mountain View on a Half Board basis including flights from LGW. Price based on May 2025 departure. www.olympicholidays.com
Athenians like to keep this glorious island (Greece’s second-largest after Crete) to themselves, so you won’t find many tourists here. Connected to the mainland by a bridge, it’s less than two hours by car from Athens and often overlooked by visitors in a rush to reach better-known destinations. They are missing out, however, as Evia’s verdant landscapes boast everything from spectacular gorges to award-winning wineries. According to mythology, the island was split from the mainland by a blow from Poseidon’s trident, and there are plenty of archaeological sites to explore – such as ancient Eretria with its extraordinary House of Mosaics. For outdoorsy types there are canyoning adventures, hikes to waterfalls and natural thermal springs, while a visit to ruggedly beautiful Chiliadou Beach, an award-winning film location, is a must.
Olympic Holidays offer 7 nights staying at Ionian Marmari Bay Hotel, Evia from £443pp staying in a Double Room Sea View on a B&B basis including flights from LGW. Price based on May 2025 departure. www.olympicholidays.com
An island of contrasts, Hydra’s picture-perfect harbour and cobbled old town have drawn A-listers, artists, musicians and actors since the 1950s. The rest of the island, however, remains rugged and rural, with mountainous footpaths leading to tiny hamlets and hilltop monasteries. All vehicles are banned on the island, even bicycles, giving Hydra a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere. During the summer months, there is a lively scene around the horseshoe-shaped harbour, with buzzing waterfront cafes providing excellent people-watching and chic boutiques lining the narrow lanes. It’s easy to find a quiet spot though, with plenty of gorgeous azure swimming coves reached by foot or sea-taxi from town.
Olympic Holidays offer 7 nights staying at Ionian Hydrea Hotel, Hydra from £2,629pp staying in a Petite Suite with Sea View on a B&B basis including flights from LGW. Price based on May 2025 departure. www.olympicholidays.com
Sifnos – the slow-paced Cycladic beauty with a thriving food scene
A laidback island cloaked in olive groves and almond trees, Sifnos is known for its culinary heritage and excellent eateries – from rustic waterfront tavernas to sleek Greek fusion restaurants. You can walk off all those calories on the superb network of signposted walking trails, which take in sweeping scenery, age-old monasteries and butter-coloured bays. Three white-washed villages invite gentle pottering, with the capital, Apollonia, a delightful tangle of lanes studded with churches and cafes.
For more information visit www.olympicholidays.com.
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