Lachania Holidays

Lachania's a tiny mountainside village on the island of Rhodes. Home to a cluster of white houses with traditional blue-painted windows and doors, it's the picture-perfect Greece of storybooks. It's a delightfully simple place – there's a cobbled courtyard, two tavernas and a church, plus views across the meadows and olive groves beyond.

A short drive down the mountain will bring you to long, sandy Lachania Beach with a bustling row of tavernas. Further along, Plimiri beach sits on an unspoiled bay that's also home to nesting turtles. Another 30-minute drive along the coast takes you to Prasonisi, a popular spot with surfers.

For a taste of authentic Greece, dine with locals at the Lachania Platanos Taverna in the village's main square. Framed by a vine-covered veranda and host to an original stone fireplace, it's got regional specialities on the menu – think rustic rabbit stew, slow-cooked lamb shank and chicken souvlaki.

No visit to Rhodes would be complete without a stop at some of the ancient monuments scattered along the coast. A 30-minute drive to the north, the town of Lindos is home to a centuries-old Acropolis, plus temples, churches and an amphitheatre near the beach.