Northern Corfu is all idyllic villages, monuments and rugged coastline. Head into sun-dappled rolling hills to discover the Achilleion Palace, the scenic Paleokastritsa coast and many other delights. There's also a visit to a kumquat distillery to sample this trademark Corfu liqueur. Spiros, one of our local guides, says, ‘Kumquat liqueur is a uniquely Corfu phenomenon – it's made nowhere else in Greece. It's a part of our Corfiot identity. To learn how this Asian fruit came to the island is a real eye-opener.'

You'll visit some of Corfu's top attractions. There's the Achilleion Palace, built by Empress of Sisi of Austria a year after a family tragedy, in the hope of finding comfort and solace in its classical-inspired gardens and interiors. It also offers panoramic views over Corfu town, the coastline and even mainland Greece. The vistas are also top-notch at the seaside village of Paleokastritsa. You'll have free time to visit the Orthodox monastery – admission is free – or the many coves with beautiful beaches. A boat trip can also be arranged here.

Plus, you'll get to sample the trademark flavour of rural Corfu. There's a visit to a family-owned kumquat distillery. Here, you'll learn everything there is to know about this exotic citrus fruit. Marmalade, soda drinks and syrup are just some of the products made from kumquat. But it's the sweet and fragrant liqueur – often sold in Corfu-shaped bottles – that's become an island icon.