GREEK ODYSSEY

Route Paris-Milan-Bari-PatrasAthens-London

Duration Two to three months

It took Odysseus 10 years to travel back to Ithaca from Troy following the Trojan War, but while we are all for epic journeys, we are not proposing going to quite such lengths to enjoy a visit to the country considered to be the cradle of Western civilisation – and home to some of the loveliest island holiday experiences on the planet.

In theory the journey is doable entirely by train, though a much better route involves going via Paris and Milan down the Italian part of the Adriatic coast to the Bari, from where an overnight ferry ventures into the Ionian Sea and on to the Greek city of Patras. Make several stops along the way – Epernay, Lyon, Avignon and Nice; perhaps Bologna, Ravenna and Urbino.

From Patras, holiday options are numerous and include the Ionian islands themselves, such as Corfu, Kefalonia and Ithaca. On the mainland, head to Olympia, sail through the Corinth Canal, consult the oracle at Delphi, go rugged on the Mani Peninsula, and be absorbed by the antiquities

Greek odyssey – two months

= Suggested number of nights of Athens. Then, with your Interrail Greek Islands pass in hand, sail into the Aegean – to Andros, Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Milos and Crete. Every Insta post tells a story…

Go the extra mile The itinerary here would best be stretched over two months. But why not add another month and precede it with the journey above the Arctic Circle described on Page 10? Plus the one from Valencia to Turin on Page 11? From Europe’s far north to its far south via the Med – now that really would be an odyssey

The details Interrail’s six-day Greek Islands pass (£150) covers a multitude of island-hopping trips and the journey to and from Bari. Add a global pass with 10 days travel within two months (£337) for the journeys around that. Fancy the mega north to south option? Go the full monty with a three-month continuous pass for £759

All prices are per person unless otherwise stated. For full details of entry requirements and Covid rules for your favourite destinations, see telegraph.co. uk/tt-travelrules. Refer to gov.uk/ foreign-travel-advice for further travel information

From Crete the journey continues Athens (1) Patras (1) Bari - Milan (1) Paris (1) London