Information about Zante island, GREECE

Zakynthos, or as the Italians call it Zante, is the most southerly of the Ionian chain that follows the coastline of western Greece. It is one of the more popular Greek islands, featured heavily in travel brochures. The island has fertile plains, rough hills, wild cliffs and sweeping sands in roughly equal proportions and resorts vary from the idyllic fishing village to the brash, gaudy neon-lit nightmare of Laganas - the resort's 'golden mile' likened to a set from the science fiction film Blade Runner. Two major events shaped modern-day Zante. One is the catastrophic earthquake of 1953 which destroyed most of its elegant Venetian buildings and many of their inhabitants. The other is the construction of the airport brought tourists in droves, slammed cement mixers into overdrive and substituted lost elegance for new found breeze block - in the south at any rate.
The north, with its poor roads and inhospitable mountains, and the central plain full of gentle green rolling hills has avoided the worst of the development but access can be difficult. At long last concessions have been made to save the loggerhead turtle that has the misfortune of sharing the beach at Laganas with British summer visitors, but they have been long and difficult in coming. Nowhere in Greece is the evidence more stark of the Greek willingness to bulldoze beautiful beaches to make a fast buck. The south east peninsula has some of the best scenery and the quieter resorts for those not attracted to the downmarket delights of Laganas or Argassi.

Zantw has its own international airport. Olympic flies 2-3 times daily to Zantes from Athens even in the winter. Flight time about 60mins. There are also flights from Kefalonia on Monday and Wednesday. There are also UK flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester in the summer. The island is well served by UK charter flights from April to October from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Luton, Newcastle, Manchester and Stansted. Approximate coach airport transfer times to the major resorts are Alikes (75mins), Argassi (30mins), Kalamaki (15mins), Laganas (25mins), Tsilivi (45mins), Vassilikos (90mins).

HELLENIC run regular ferries from Brindisi, Italy while SUPERFAST run ferries from Ancona, Brindisi and Venice to Patras, Igoumenitsa and Corfu where you can catch connecting ferries to Zakynthos. BLUE STAR also operate similar routes. Regular daily services run from Kilini (Kyllini) on the Greek mainland to Zakynthos with around seven ferries Monday - Saturday and three on Sunday. The crossing takes around 90mins. Buses go from Athens to Kyllini but the journey takes around four hours. A daily car ferry goes from Agios Nikolaos to Pessada on Kefalonia in the summer season.

Roads on Zakynthos are generally good where they serve the main resorts. Away from here though they can quickly deteriorate into rough tracks. Buses are cheap and efficient with regular daily services from Zante Town to the main resorts. Detailed timetables are posted in the bus station in Zante Town and you pay the driver. Daily services detailed here are approximate and subject to change:
Alikes - 4, Argassi - 9, Kalamaki - 7, Laganas - 13, Vasilikos - 3, Volimes - 2.

Argassi and Tsilivi are very family orientated resorts, but there are bars open to the early hours.
There are a variety to suit all tastes with entertainment including karaoke, bingo and sport and some show the latest films. Tsilivi also has one nightclub based in the centre of resort. Laganas is the party capital of the island with a wide selection of pubs and clubs to suit all music tastes. Most places are open into the early hours making this is a great resort for the young at heart who want to dance the night away.

These magical caves on Zante's north coast below Cape Skinari are well worth taking a boat trip to see. A series of enchanting, small grottoes cut in the steep limestone cliffs by the pounding of the sea, their crystalline waters are an incredible neon blue and electric emerald in colour, a phenomenon caused by sunlight as it refracts on the water and surrounding rock walls. The best time to visit the caves - also known as the Caves of Keri - is in the middle of the day when calm seas allow tiny, underwater particles of sand to tint the waters to amazing effect, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Zante is a wonderful place to go riding, and whether you're a Zara Phillips or a complete beginner you'll love the experience of taking your horse along trails and onto sandy beaches and through crystal blue waters. And don't worry, you'll have an experienced rider with you every step of the way