Secrets of Zante with Blue Caves visit and local tastings

It's easy to see why the Venetians called Zante the ‘Flower of the East'. This tour takes in some of the island's prettiest villages and the remote Anafonitria monastery, too. And there are local speciality tastings, plus a boat trip to the Blue Caves. Konstantina, one of our local guides, says, ‘This tour has it all – a monastery, the Blue Caves, olive oil and wine. But my favourite part is when guests ask me for more info so that I can share the secrets of Zante with them.'

You'll kick off at Bochali lookout point for camera-grabbing views over the Ionian Sea. Next, you'll get a flavour of the Zante countryside with a visit to a family-owned organic olive oil mill and museum. Learn about the pressing process and sample some of their liquid gold. The next taste is a traditional sweet treat in Kampi, a hamlet nestled in olive groves. Then it's on to the 14th-century Anafonitria Monastery, famed for its frescoes. With its rustic stone exterior and rural setting, it's a real blast from the past.

In the afternoon, there's a stop for local speciality tastings – wine, honey and more – in a village shop en route to Cape Skinari, the island's northernmost point. Here, you'll hop on a boat to the Blue Caves, one of the deepest points in the Med. Carved into white cliffs, its sea-smoothed walls reflect the azure waters like a mirror. There's also a swim stop, where you can cool off near the caves.