Sochi has been a favourite Russian holiday resort since imperial times when Krasnaya Polyana (red meadow) was reserved as the Tsars hunting grounds.

Sochi is now very much the playground of rich and famous (and patriotic) Russians who fly to the Russian Riviera rather than the Cote dAzur or the Costa Smeralda. They build villas which rival anything to be seen in Cannes.

What attracts them is not only the fact that there are plenty of smart restaurants and outdoor cafes where one can see and be seen; Sochi has everything one could wish for in a resort. It has the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, a sub-tropical vegetation, pebble and sandy beaches and a warm climate (the average temperature is above 14 degrees Celsius, and the city boasts more than 200 days of sunshine a year). When you add in the many mineral springs, the parks, and tea plantations, Sochi can claim to be one of the most attractively situated cities anywhere in the world.

Combines perfectly with a short break to Istanbul, with direct flights to Sochi available three times per week.

For more details, call 020 8956 2756 or email enquiries@exeterinternational.co.uk