The cradle of Western civilisation...

This timeless land boasts a 5000-year history. Its legacy of drama, tragedy and democracy is unequalled and combined with beautiful sunshine, 1400 idyllic islands and a sense of living legend - it is a truly unforgettable experience.

Lying at the southern extremity of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe, Greece occupies an area of 131,944 square kilometres and is home to 10.66 million people. Mainland Greece is surrounded by roughly 1400 islands, 169 of which are inhabited. The islands are divided into six groups: the Cyclades, the Ionian, the Dodecanese, the islands of the North-Eastern Aegean, the Sporades, and the Saronic Gulf islands. The two largest islands, Crete and Evia, do not belong to any group. Greece is a veritable treasure trove of historic sites spanning four millennia of civilisation. Some highlights include Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi and the Parthenon in Athens.

Modern Greece is a sum of an extraordinary diversity of influences - Romans, Arabs, Franks, Venetians, Slavs, Albanians, Turks and Italians, to say nothing of the great Byzantine Empire. The arts still play an integral part in Greek life and have done since ancient times. In summer, Greek dramas are staged in the ancient theatres where they were originally performed. One of the unforgettable aspects of a holiday in Greece has to be island-hopping in the Aegean and Ionian seas. All with their own unique character, the Greek islands are a fusion of stone, sunlight and sparkling sea. The arid Mani region of the Peloponnese sports the country's best array of wildflowers - crocuses, anemones, irises, poppies, lilies, rock roses and cyclamens abound. Follow your nose and you'll find yourself knee-deep in wild oregano, basil and thyme. Sample some delicious Greek yoghurt and the immensely popular " country salad" - lettuce, tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumber and olives. Appetisers and snacks like tzatziki (cucumber and yoghurt dip), souvlaki (skewered, grilled meat in pita bread) and spanikopita (spinach and cheese pie) are the perfect accompaniment to a cold beer or sparkling wine. The sheer beauty and diversity of this extraordinary country will stay with you forever.