Corsica and Sardinia

Corsica is a wildly beautiful French island, scented with myrtle and possessing one of the most diverse landscapes in Europe, from crescent bays with white-sand beaches to montane forests sheltering rugged granite peaks. Miles of untouched coastline, sun-splashed mountain villages, and ancient, mysterious standing stones are among its many enchantments. Neighboring Sardinia, belonging to Italy, is an island-world with its own language, a colorful pageant of traditions, churches where Christianity and paganism intermingle, and a cuisine born of the richness of the sea. Our journey of coastal and mountain hikes reveals the dazzling natural wonders of these alluring islands, as well as their fascinating prehistoric archaeological sites. And all along the way we’re never far from the glittering blue sea.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Ajaccio, Corsica / Sartène

After meeting in Ajaccio, we hike among the standing stones at Filitosa and Cauria, created by a Neolithic people some 8,000 years ago, and through mystical oak woodlands down to a beach, where we revel in gorgeous views of the Mediterranean.

Days 3-4
Col de Bavella / Bonifacio

We experience some of Corsica’s most beautiful scenery as we hike around the mountaintop setting of the Col de Bavella (4,000') and along towering limestone cliffs above the turquoise sea at Bonifacio. At a shepherd’s farm we taste a variety of cheeses, including brocciu, made with fresh goat milk.

Days 5-6
Alghero, Sardinia

Ferrying to Sardinia, we hike on spectacular Capo Testa, a granite promontory with dramatic bays and sea-sculpted rocks. We explore a nuraghi, a stone structure built by a little-known prehistoric people who inhabited Sardinia between 800 and 500 BC, then hike the magnificent headlands of Capo Caccia, where vivid seascapes fill our view.

Days 7-8
Monte Ferru / Sinise Peninsula

After a hike into Sardinia’s wild interior cork woodlands, we visit Santa Cristina, an extraordinary underground well-temple dating to 1000 BC. A hike on the Sinise Peninsula reveals 360-degree views of the aquamarine sea, and at a nearby coastal lagoon, local fishermen prepare a traditional lunch for us.

Days 9-11
Tiscali

We visit an evocative sanctuary where Christianity and paganism intertwine in every detail, then hike up to Tiscali, a mysterious nuraghic village with round stone dwellings visible amid crumbling ruins. A canyon path brings us to a tiny half-moon beach of white sand. Depart on Day 11 from Olbia.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 3+, Moderate to Strenuous. We have nine hiking days, varying from 2-5 hours of hiking a day, on moderate to steep trails, all at moderate to low altitudes. Although you carry only a daypack on the hikes, there are a few steep ascents and descents. There are also some sections that traverse rough or rocky terrain and involve scrambling over and around large boulders and through granite rock formations (less challenging hikes are often available). You should wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots for maximum comfort on the trail.

For your own enjoyment, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition for the trip. Daily walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 p.m.

Explanation of Trip Levels