Fusina (Venice) → Piraeus (Athens) (14 nights)

Delve into ancient palaces, century-old galleries, and modern-day exhibits as you whirl through Venice. Walk through masterpieces, catch an opera, gaze at medieval buildings, blow Murano glass and drift down the Grand Canal by gondola to visit churches, convents and campi “squares” that vary in spirit and scale. Cross hump-backed bridges, reach teeming Piazza San Marco’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, or duck down passages to escape reality. From palazzos to perfumeries and the must-see Bridge of Sighs, you’re only moments from a place of beauty in this liquid-gold city of treasures.

Squeezed onto a tiny yin-yang island of terracotta roofs and green gardens, pretty little Rovinj is the belle of Croatia. Pastel-coloured houses teeter over the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic and climb up the hillside to the iconic bell tower of St. Euphemia Church, a permanent reminder of the city’s Venetian roots. Delve into the maze of narrow streets lost in time, galleries and museums overhung with wooden balconies and Italianate shutters. Circle the city in a flat-bottomed batana fishing boat or kayak around the pine-forested shores of outlying islands, forage for local wines and honey in timeless markets and taste the flavours of the Istrian Peninsula in waterfront cafes.

Marvel at this chic walled city paved with a wealth of aristocratic palazzi, ancient forts and epic Adriatic views. Enter grand Pile Gate to lose yourself in intricate alleys, stage-set squares, museums and baroque churches. Ease out of town to kayak around sturdy ramparts, taste Dalmatian wines in the Konavle countryside, and visit archaic Cavtat and history-packed Mostar. Escape the crowds to cacti-clad Lokrum for a spot of yoga and botanical walking, or join in to graze at trendy restaurants on the rocks. It’s no wonder the glitterati flock to the strength of this charming and inspiring medieval Dalmatian marvel.

Brindisi's historic heart is rich in multi-layered monuments and finds from the days of Spartacus. Farther afield, the gleaming white villages of Ostuni or the slightly smaller and possibly even quainter, Cisternino. Head east to the Baroque Town of Lecce or west to witness the traditional conical huts (trulli) in and around World Heritage Site, Alberobello. Lecce, or 'Florence of the South', is rife with art, history and culture. If peace and quiet appeal, waft through rural Torre Guaceto's nature reserve and empty beaches or take a jaunt on the Adriatic to Polignano's sea caves. Puglia's 'little ear' pasta and squid's ink gnocchi are must-try delicacies, and with 60 million olive trees, they are rich in liquid gold. Brindisi serves up the best of Puglia.

Comely Kotor Bay, a lesser-travelled amphitheatre etched into the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, welcomes with hypnotic jade waters encircled by emerald-crowned slopes. Sheltered in the fjord’s angelic embrace, Kotor Old Town beckons as a fairy-tale city whose formidable walls, Romanesque churches and medieval bastions have witnessed the highs and lows of masked carnivals and devastating earthquakes. Italian and Mediterranean influences flavour the cuisine, where gelato and brodetto accompany fresh Adriatic seafood. Uphill, the Church of our Lady of Remedy affords spectacular views of Kotor’s red-tiled UNESCO World Heritage rooftops, a manmade jewel amongst landscapes where the inspired will wander.

This horseshoe-shaped island at the outer edge of the Cyclades is where Venus de Milo was unearthed in 1820 – the unexpected bounty of a local farmer that now sits in the Louvre and remains one of the world’s greatest antiquities. Visitors here might find the ruins of the Hellenistic marble amphitheatre and 1st-century catacombs just as compelling, whilst others will be drawn to the island’s wild and colourful landscape, from hot springs, mines and volcanoes to rocky hillsides coloured russet, pink and orange. Of the 78 beaches, Sarakiniko’s white rocks sculpted by wind and waves lend it a lunar quality, whilst others proffer volcanic sands, sea caves and rock arches, each home to crystalline waters. Climb to the castle ruins in the hilltop capital Plaka for sunset views.

Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.

Stroll into Bari Vecchia, an atmospheric tangle of medieval streets, Romanesque churches, Baroque palaces and Greek, Roman and Norman history. Amidst nonnas rolling their orecchiette, pause at the basilica, housing the relics of Saint Nicholas, the 1170 cathedral, the Norman fortress and the harbour-front theatre, where Pavarotti and Nureyev performed. Head south to find numerous fine beaches (amongst the best in Italy) dotted with countless coves and bays, particularly in pretty Polignano a Mare. Puglia’s capital is an easy catapult to the region’s famous trulli in Alberobello, the UNESCO town with 1500 conical houses or choose to make your way to cinematic Matera, where the limestone cliffs are peppered in ancient caves, many now masquerading as chic restaurants.

Slip into the classical world on Lefki Petra, meaning white rock. Considered by some scholars to be Homer’s Ithaca, this Ionian pearl is connected to the mainland via a narrow causeway. On the island’s east coast, Nydri offers a wide natural harbour and marine reserve with spellbinding views to a scatter of islands and sailboats peppering the bluest sea. The lively marina brings plentiful tavernas and beaches with a lush olive-strewn mountain backdrop inviting a hike to Nydri waterfalls and a dip in the cool pools below.

Set along the sheltered curve of Navarino Bay, Pylos unfolds with quiet elegance and a deep sense of history. This sunlit corner of the Peloponnese is steeped in myth, once home to Nestor of Homeric legend, and shaped by centuries of seafaring encounters. Stroll through its tranquil square beneath plane trees, explore the hilltop fortress overlooking sapphire waters, or venture to nearby beaches where dunes and lagoons create a rare, unspoiled landscape. In Pylos, time slows, stories endure, and the beauty of Greece reveals itself in its most peaceful form.

Snow-white buildings pop in blinding contrast to the cerulean blue of the Aegean in Katapola, where fishermen sip raki in waterside tavernas, and the perfume of citrus drifts down cobbled streets. Hike between sleepy Cycladic villages and Mycenaean ruins as wild goats graze on sun-baked hillsides and stop to explore pretty chapels where locals tell tales of Greek myths and legends. Below the waves, rainbow-coloured marine life darts through crystalline waters punctuated by sea caves and rusting wrecks. Succumb to sunset in charming Chora, the island capital of Amorgos.

If you start early, you’ll have Mykonos to yourself. Stroll narrow streets famous for Cycladic architecture and getting lost; white-washed cubed buildings, alluring boutiques, orthodox churches and traditional windmills. Join glitterati guests at elegant events on iconic beaches, sink into saltwater pools, tour vineyards and dance at bars where beats evolve in tempo (and volume). When the heat of the day dies down, drop into the sacred isle of Delos to explore remarkable ruins; amphitheatres, temples, public squares, marketplaces and shrines to Greek Gods. Take a table in central Chora for perfectly-cooked, local dishes with generous views; mounds of flaky filo, Greek salads, halloumi and sea urchin, washed down with freddo. When the sun sets, head for a signature sundowner with views across the ocean. After dark, follow the fun to legendary bars and clubs. Progressive and profoundly beautiful.

Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.