Vassilikos Holidays

Perched on Zante’s south-east peninsula, Vassilikos is made up of vast olive groves and lush vegetation that leisurely bumps and slides down the slopes of Mount Skopos before dissolving in to a host of sandy beaches. All told, it’s a quiet region of houses and villas, circled by tiny villages and working farms. There’s no mass development in these parts, just a sprinkling of laid-back restaurants, tavernas, and shops

If you’re here for sea and sand, you’re quids in. The great thing about Vassilikos is that it can pull any number of beaches out of its hat. Banana, St Nicholas, Sekania, Porto Zorro, Gerakas, Daphne – they’re all different, but all top of their game. Some have watersports and bars, others are dressed with little more than virtual vacant signs. No matter where you roll out your towel, though, you’ll be guaranteed golden sands and clear, shallow waters.

This neck of the woods is criss-crossed with off-the-radar tracks and trails. It’s heaven for ramblers, who can follow scenic routes around the coastline and through the forests in to olive grove territory. It’s also worth taking a trip inland to nose around whitewashed villages swathed in blossom and vineyards. Volimes is a great end point. It’s about an hour’s drive away, and packs in monasteries, pretty churches, and snack bars that double as gift shops. Beautiful carpets and ceramics, plus local cheese, bread and honey are easy to come by.

Between June and August, loggerhead sea turtles haul themselves up the beaches and sandy coves around Vassilikos to lay their eggs. Boat trips around the island stop in the waters here to catch a glimpse of the endangered species. If you really want to get up close, swim out from Gerakas Beach, and keep your eyes peeled.