Villages and Views
This tour takes approximately two and a half hours. We will collect you from and return you to your cruise ship or holiday accommodation. There will be time to stop for refreshments and snacks along the way and the choice of finishing the tour in Corfu Town if you prefer. We drive to two typical west coast villages, enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the island, visit an historic palace and stop to admire the famous beauty spots of Mouse Island and Vlacherna Convent.

Pelekas and The Kaiser's Throne
We start our tour by driving to the hilltop village of Pelekas which is famous for its views across Corfu. Between 1908 and the First World War the German Kaiser, Wilhelm, spent his summers at Achilleion Palace on the east coast of Corfu. His favourite trip was to Pelekas to watch its magnificent sunsets. Here, an easily accessed observation point offers probably the best panoramic views to be found anywhere in Corfu. This spot, on the rock summit above the village, is still known today as "Kaisers Throne", and you too can enjoy the breathtaking view of the island spread out below. The village itself has a number of excellent restaurants and a great little cafe in a tree shaded corner of the square.

Sinarades
We then drive to nearby Sinarades, a traditional working village - the largest in this part of Corfu - and whose inhabitants are mostly farmers and fishermen. The village produces fine local wine from grapes grown in the fertile valley between Sinarades and Pelekas. One of the focal points are the five wells that can be found in the village.

Kouramades
A picturesque little village with old houses and stores painted in bright colours and boasting a famous barber's shop, virtually unchanged since the 19th century - a living folk museum and a chance for a haircut the old fashioned way.

Achilleon Palace
Achilleon Palace was built between the years 1890 and 1892 by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria (known as Sissy) in the hilltop village of Gastouri. This large building, in neoclassical style, has three floors adorned with many statues and paintings. The gardens surrounding the building run down to the coast road and offer a wonderful view of a large part of the island. They are filled with many statues, the most famous of which are two bronze runners, the dying Achilles and the statue of Achilles Triumphant. After the assassination of Empress Elizabeth in 1898 in Geneva, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany purchased the palace in 1907 and used it as a place for relaxation. All of the rooms contain personal items of the former owners and their original furniture.

Kanoni and Mouse Island
We continue on to Kanoni, from where you can enjoy an excellent view of Vlacherna Convent which is linked to the mainland by a causeway, and the picturesque Mouse Island. According to legend Mouse Island was formed when the ship that had taken Odysseus back to Ithaki, his home port, was turned to stone by Poseidon, god of the sea, angry at being defied by the Phaeceans. We finish the tour back at your ship or hotel, or if you prefer we can drop you off in Corfu's Old Town.

We can provide you with more details of this excursion, including other options, prices, timing, etc. Simply contact us or fill in our enquiry form.