Explore the Islands of Sardinia & Corsica

Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to the Paris area for an overnight stay.

Continue to our hotel in southern France for an overnight stay.

We leave our hotel today and head towards Toulon. En route we pause at Avignon, one of the major cities of the Provence region. Located on the banks of the River Rhône, Avignon is a charming Roman town famous for the Pont d’ Avignon or broken bridge. Originally the bridge had 22 arches, but now only 4 remain. Another popular tourist spot is the Place du Palais, located next to Place de L’Horloge. After free time we continue to Toulon where we board the overnight ferry to Corsica.

Morning arrival in Corsica, then continue by coach to the ancient capital of Corte. The upper town is picturesquely situated atop a hill, dominated by the citadel and a maze of narrow streets lined with houses. Corte is Corsica's only university town, and was once the island's capital during the rule of Pasquale Paoli, who ended Genoese rule, and created a Corsican republic. See the 18th century Four Canons Fountain in Rue de la Fontaine, built to provide clean water for the local military garrison and its hospital, and atop a steep hill, the Santa Croix church with its pretty muralled ceilings, and rich blue and gold decoration.


We continue to Ajaccio/Porto for a two-night stay.

Included visit to the beautiful, coastal town of Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. The harbour area is a maze of tiny yellow ochre houses, church bells and domes, whilst the Old Town’s imposing citadel commands views of the leafy boulevards. Ajaccio is the Corsican capital, and with a relatively mild climate for most of the year, remains a popular choice for visitors. Located near Marechal Foch Square, Ajaccio's old town has many narrow lanes with tall town houses painted in a variety of eye-catching colours. Rue St. Charles is the location of Napoleon's birth house, which is now a museum dedicated to the Bonaparte family. The nearby Palais Fesch art museum set up by Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Fesch contains a large collection of Italian Renaissance paintings.

Today we have an included visit to the charming village of Propriano on the Gulf of Valinco for free time. You can see the contrast of small fishing boats and expensive yachts, in this small coastal village. We then continue to the southern tip of Corsica and to the town of Bonifacio, once a hiding place for pirates and then later became a major trading centre. From here we board the ferry for a short crossing to Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean with only Sicily being larger. The island is renowned for its rugged landscape, pretty bays and pristine beaches. Continue to our Sardinia hotel for a five-night stay.

A wonderful, optional full-day excursion to the Barbagia area, considered the heart of Sardinia, with ancient traditions which survive alongside modern life, evident in the landscape, the architecture and the cuisine. The museum in Nuoro, the capital of the province, has many reminders of the culture of this ancient population. We continue through the vineyards to Oliena, the ‘murales’ of Orgosolo and the famous bandit villages. Later, we enjoy lunch with the shepherds. You will sit down in a semi-circle on granite benches covered in oak leaves among the wonderful cork tree woods, accompanied by the pastori shepherds, whose sheep produce the island’s famous peccorini cheese. Lamb and porchetta are roasted on an open fire, followed by local Sardinian bread and home-made red wine. An unforgettable experience.

We offer an optional tour of the exclusive, and beautiful, Costa Smeralda, which owes its name to the green emerald-coloured waters. From the harbour town of Palau, we take a ferry to the Maddalena islands. We visit the town of La Maddalena, the only inhabited island of the archipelago. The town is perched on the hill of Guardia Vecchia (156m) in the southern part of the island. A must for any visitor is the promenade behind the port, which houses beautiful 19th century buildings. There will be free time to explore the charming maze of narrow streets and small squares before we return to Palau by ferry.

Enjoy a leisurely day in resort.

Today’s optional excursion takes us through the charming landscape of the Gallura region to Tempio Pausania. Founded in 250BC, Tempio Pausania is a beautiful spa town and also the cultural capital of Gallura. The historical centre of Tempio Pausania is an important area for mining and the working of cork and granite. Spend time meandering around the historical centre before we make a short stop at the town of Calangianus, the centre of cork production.

Included excursion exploring northern Sardinia with its varied landscape. The attractive coastal town of Alghero is home to a delightful mix of architecture, especially within its charming Old Town. Here, you will find a wonderful selection of bars and restaurants serving fresh fish. The ancient walls still surround the old town centre with alleys and shops where the famous coral is worked and exhibited. We leave Sardinia this evening an overnight sailing to Livorno.

Arrive in Livorno and head to central France for an overnight stay.

Head to the Paris area for an overnight stay.

Return home.