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 / Sartene

After meeting in Ajaccio, Corsica, we hike among the prehistoric standing stones at Filitosa, created by a Neolithic people some 8,000 years ago, through mystical oak woods on the high, maquis-covered plains of Cauria, and along the coast for gorgeous views of the Mediterranean.

Days 3-4
Bonifacio

We revel in 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 a shepherd’s farm we observe the cheese-making process and taste a variety of cheeses, including the famous brocciu, made with fresh goat or ewe’s milk.

Days 5-6
Sardinia / Alghero

Ferrying to Sardinia, we hike through sweet-scented maquis scrub and old Roman quarries 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 limestone headlands of Capo Caccia (Hunter’s Cape), where vivid seascapes fill our view.

Days 7-8
Oristano / Tharros

After a hike into Sardinia’s wild interior cork woodlands, we visit Santa Cristina, an extraordinary underground temple dating to 1000 BC. At the peaceful Stagno di Cabra coastal lagoon that is also a reserve for nesting birds, local fishermen prepare a traditional lunch for us, and later we explore the Phoenician ruins of Tharros on the coast.

Days 9-11
Tiscali

At rural Sant’Antine de Sedilo, 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 Cala di Luna, a tiny half-moon beach of white sand. Depart on Day 11 from Olbia.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3+, Moderate to Strenuous. It features daily hikes and hotel accommodations. 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 many steep ascents and descents and there are some sections that cross rough or rocky trails. 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. You should wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots for maximum comfort on the trail. 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