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Follow TV presenter Julia Bradbury on an exploration of the beautiful and historic Greek islands on Saga’s two new great-value tours.

Julia, whose mother is Greek, is presenting a six-part ITV series, The Greek Islands, the series started on Friday, January 10, and includes lesser-known attractions of the region which attracts three million British holidaymakers each year.

She said: “I’ve never really explored beyond the tourist trail myself, until now. This is a voyage of discovery and I’m taking you with me.”

Guests inspired by Julia Bradbury’s tours can choose from the Pearls of the Aegean and Ionian Treasures tours to discover wonderful, sun-drenched beaches and awe-inspiring heritage sites, with plenty of time to relax between fascinating excursions.

Seven of the 14 nights on the all-inclusive Pearls of the Aegean holiday are spent at the four-star Sun Beach Resort, Rhodes, in a superb location close to the beach of Ialyssos, with voyages by catamaran across the Aegean to the unspoilt islands of Kos and Patmos.

Within the £1,679 pp holiday price there are included tours of Rhodes Town and the rest of the island, of Kos Town, to see the ancient plane tree where Hippocrates is thought to have taught and a 14th-century fortress, and of Patmos, dominated by a hilltop monastery dating from 1088, and featuring a visit to a cave where St John is said to have written the Book of Revelation.

The 11-night full-board Ionian Treasures tour starts from £1,499 pp with hops between Corfu and the mainland town of Parga, it also includes a full-day cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos and the Blue Caves, and a view of the Palace of Mon Repos, where the Duke of Edinburgh was born.

There’s also a tour of Corfu and a visit to the Acheron River, including Necromanteion, a temple close to the supposed door of Hades, the realm of the dead, and the monument of Zalogo, commemorating the bravery of village women during the war of independence from the Ottomans, as well as the chance of an excursion into Albania.

For details call free on 0800 092 0803 or visit saga.co.uk/Greece

Pearls of the Aegean, 14 nights from £1,679 pp all inclusive, departing from Gatwick, Manchester or Bristol on a choice of dates between May and October 2020.

Ionian Treasures, 11 nights from £1,499 pp full board, departing from Heathrow on June 8 or October 5, 2020.

Prices include flights, airport taxes, accommodation, meals as described, porterage, tour manager, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights, or a discount if passenger has own insurance.