corsica france hiking tour

Corsica’s rugged coast

On mountainous Corsica and Sardinia, we hike coastal paths and mountain trails, explore hidden villages and fascinating prehistoric sites, and discover the cuisine and culture of two dazzling Mediterrean islands.

Photo by Dan Heller

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Corsica and Sardinia

hiking the Exquisite Island Worlds of France and Italy

Corsica and Sardinia route-map

Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $5495   see pricing
Length: 11 days
Arrive: Ajaccio, Corsica
Depart: Olbia, Sardinia
Lodging: 10 nights in a combination of 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels describe
Meals: All meals included except 3 dinners
Activity: Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures
Trip Level: 9 hiking days on moderate to strenuous trails, 3-7 hours a day, van support, team of up to 3 Trip Leaders
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Highlights

  • Gorgeous coastal and mountain hikes on two Mediterranean isles with Old World cultures
  • Corsica’s craggy peaks and spectacular cliffs
  • Sardinia’s blue lagoons, fishing villages, and ancient traditions
  • Regional delicacies, from freshly caught seafood to brocciu (sheep or goat cheese)


This was my first hiking trip - what a way to begin. It was the trip of a lifetime. The hotels were in wonderful settings and our meals were excellent. We all had a wonderful time.Ann B.—Orlando, FL

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

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

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

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.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

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

 

Departures & Leaders

May 21-31, 2013

Sep 17-27, 2013

Trip Cost

Prices are for 2013
$5495 (13-15 members)
$5795 (10-12 members)
$6095 (6-9 members)
Single supplement: $915
Forced single supplement: $650
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Trip Cost Includes:

  • Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader (up to three per trip, depending on group size)
  • Accommodations
  • All meals included except 3 dinners
  • Transportation, airport transfers and sightseeing as noted in the Full Trip Brochure

Trip Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare, internal flights, transfers for independent arrival or departure, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors, expenses such as medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas, and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
120 days prior to departure: 20%
60 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule

Minimum fee: None
46-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
45 days or less: 100% of trip cost

Hotel San Damianu

Hotel San Damianu

Days 1 to 2 (2 nights), Sartène, Corsica, France

This modern hotel on the outskirts of the hilltop village of Sartène has a great location with terrific views of the mountains, sea, and the ...
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Hotel Genovese

Hotel Genovese

Days 3 to 4 (2 nights), Bonifacio, Corsica, France

With an elegant yet comfortably casual ambiance, the Hotel Genovese has the most amazing location in Bonifacio, right on top of the cliffs in the ...
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Hotel Catalunya

Hotel Catalunya

Days 5 to 6 (2 nights), Alghero, Sardinia, Italy

The guest rooms in this large, modern hotel are decorated in typical Catalan style with bright bold colors, a legacy of Alghero’s Catalan ...
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Albergo Il Duomo

Albergo Il Duomo

Days 7 to 8 (2 nights), Oristano, Sardinia, Italy

This small 10-room hotel, an elegantly restored 17th century palace that once belonged to the bishop of Oristano, is in the historic heart of town, ...
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Hotel Su Gologone

Hotel Su Gologone

Days 9 to 10 (2 nights), Oliena, Sardinia, Italy

This is arguably the most beautiful hotel on our journey and one of our Trip Leaders’ favorites! The family-run Su Gologone is a bit of ...
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Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Our Trip Leaders

Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).

Stefano Baldi

Departure Dates: May 21-31, 2013, September 17-27, 2013

Stefano Baldi, of Tuscany, has led hiking trips in Europe for us for nearly 15 years. He has spent most of his life living in the beautiful rural countryside of Tuscany, except for a few years in Florence as a student. His love for nature led him to found an agricultural co-op with friends in the ...
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Mike Browder

Departure Dates: May 21-31, 2013

Mike Browder has worked in outdoor settings all his life, from directing parks and recreation programs in Bend, Oregon, to mountain climbing in Asia and North America to coaching school ski programs. He spent much of the 1990s in Central Asia, guiding, teaching English, and learning about the ...
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Client Comments

This was my first hiking trip - what a way to begin. It was the trip of a lifetime. The hotels were in wonderful settings and our meals were excellent. We all had a wonderful time. Ann B., Orlando, FL Wonderful combination of cultural exposure, hiking, and culinary exploration. The activities were chosen to maximize our appreciation of the islands and their peoples in such as way that would be impossible to replicate as an independent traveler. Patricia G., Orlando, FL Fabulous trip, great variety of activities, exciting hikes, beautiful scenery—what more could a traveler want? Anne H., Hillsborough, CA One of the best planned trips I’ve ever been on, a great balance of hiking, cultural exploration, great food and accommodations. Karen J., Madison, WI Beautiful itinerary, beautiful scenery, and every day’s hike was completely different. Edie and Bo L., Dallas, TX This trip was outstanding. Best leaders I have experienced. So knowledgeable, so caring. Catherine B., Madison, WI
Fantastic trip! Great food and wine, amazing scenery and spring wildflowers. Susan D., Indianapolis, IN My first European trip with Wilderness Travel. I’m spoiled forever! Lynne G., New York, NY Just the right balance of hiking and cultural opportunities. A great selection of hotels. Peter C., San Francisco, CA We have been on quite a few WT trips - this was the best team of guides that we have met! Peter C., San Francisco, CA Excellent trip! Great moderately challenging hiking, diversity of terrain and landscape, excellent guides, enjoyable meals, the right mix of physical activity and cultural component. Catherine P., Toronto, ON The guides were great! Fun, professional, knowledgeable, available, and helpful. They were just terrific. Wonderful trip! I had a marvelous time. Ronnie F., Cambridge, MA