From the mountains to the Mediterranean

FRANCE & ItalY

GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAYS IN Sardinia AND Corsica

Corsica is a mountainous island, 170km south of the French mainland, with an extraordinarily diverse landscape and is often referred to as the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean. Our carefully chosen route enables us to discover some of the most majestic mountain scenery, a spectacular coastline with vertiginous cliffs and wonderful sandy beaches.

Our guided walk will take us past tumbling rivers, through forests of pine, silver birch and chestnuts, across hillsides of lavender, rosemary, thyme and an aromatic undergrowth that the locals call the Maquis, from which the French Resistance took its name.

From Ajaccio we travel to the northwest of the island and from there move towards the interior of the island and stay for 2 nights in Evisa. The village is known as the Corsican capital of chestnuts and could also be called the capital of hiking! From Evisa we will get a taste of Corsica's "real" mountains, still snow capped in the spring season.;

Our day walks will take us up into high territory, sometimes; on the famous "GR20"; possibly Europe's most reputable hiking track. We walk a section of the Sentier du Littoral and discover the wonderful rock garden of Les Calanches in the Golfe de Porto. In the heart of the Regional Nature Park of Corsica, it has been listed World Natural;Heritage by UNESCO. From ;Piana we explore the beautiful Capo Rosso and Capo d'Orto.

On our coastal rambles, mountain hikes and cultural exploration, we discover the best of this alluring island where we are never far from the glistening blue sea.

From Bonifacio we catch the ferry for a short trip across the Straits of Bonifacio to Sardinia. It has glorious beaches, dramatic cliffs, fascinating prehistoric sites and a wild interior roamed by shepherds. The churches, where Christianity and paganism mix, are part of Sardinia's fabulous mystique.

OUR HOTELS & CUISINE

The first 2 nights we stay in St. Florent in the northwest, just at the base of Cap Corse. St. Florent is a charming seaside town in the Nebbio region and not far from the vineyards of Patrimonio. Our cozy hotel in St. Florent has a wonderful atmosphere. Local traditions, modern comfort, excellent cuisine, and tastefully furnished premises make it an ideal base for us to explore the superb countryside.

At the centre of "Circuit des Merveilles" we stay 2 nights at the Hotel L'Aitone, which dominates the magnificent village of Evisa, 850 metres above sea level.

The next 4 nights we stay in a hotel in Piana. It is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, overlooking the Mediterranean and the famous Calanches. Our restaurant has wonderful sea views and offers fresh fish from the Gulf, often made into "aziminu" (bouillabaisse or fish soup), chevre and brebi cheese, charcuterie, various pastas and delicious salads.

The following 2 days we stay in the fascinating town of Bonifacio. It is perched on a spectacular cliff top at the southern tip of the island and is the most Genoese of Corsican towns. Set out along the walls of the Bonifacio ramparts, our hotel is situated in a quiet location on the harbour with lovely views across the water and to the old town. Each night we discover the delights of the Corsican cuisine by visiting the best local restaurants in this fascinating old port.

In Sardinia, our beautiful family-run hotel is in an impressive rural setting below the Sopramonte massif. The architecture is distinctively Sardinian and the hotel's restaurant is famed for its Sardinian specialities.

Tour combination

Departure dates have been arranged to allow both the "From the Mountains to the Mediterranean" and "La Dolce Vita" walks to be combined.

NOTE : Several times per day ferries from Sardinia are crossing over to various ports on the mainland of Italy: Napoli, Civitavecchia near Rome, Livorno and Genoa. Alternatively, to keep it simple, it is also possible to travel by plane.

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