Overview
Corsica is a wildly beautiful French island, scented with myrtle, dotted with ancient oak and olive trees, and home to one of the most diverse landscapes in Europe. Neighboring Sardinia, belonging to Italy, is an island-world with its own language, traditions, and churches where Christianity and Paganism intermingle. Our perfectly crafted journey combines these two Old World cultures with a marvelous mix of coastal and mountain hikes, evocative prehistoric sites, elegant picnics, wine and cheese tastings, and many opportunities to sample the legendary cuisine. Our stay at the charming Hotel Su Gologone in Sardinia’s Barbagia Mountains is a glorious finale.
A fantastic trip, beautiful, challenging, educational, life-enhancing. The food was AMAZING. I’ve trekked in Nepal, walked the entire Camino Frances, backpacked in Yosemite, Utah, Colorado. My first organized outdoor adventure. It will not be my last!
— Trish H., Saint Helena, CA
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-4
Ajaccio, Corsica / Col de Bavella / Bonifacio
Winding on foot through mystical oak woodlands on the high plains of Cauria, we walk among the ancient menhirs (stone statues) at Filitosa, created some 8,000 years ago. Our hikes take us down to the beach for a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean and through forests of Corsican pine up to mountaintop Col de Bavella (3,996'). In cliff-perched Bonifacio, an ancient port on Corsica’s southern tip, we discover a maze of tiny streets, then head to a shepherd’s farm for lunch and a taste of local goat cheeses, including Corsica’s famous Brocciu.
Days 5-7
Alghero, Sardinia / Monte Ferru
We begin our Sardinian journey with a hike on Capo Testa, a spectacular granite promontory, and a visit to remote nuraghi, the beehive-like stone structures built by people who inhabited Sardinia between 1800 and 500 BC. In the wild interior, we follow trails on the dormant volcano of Monte Ferru, with its forests of cork oak and vistas across Sardinia’s prime Vernaccia di Oristano wine-producing region.
Days 8-11
Sinis Peninsula / Tiscali
After a coastal hike on the Sinis Peninsula, we enjoy a catch-of-the-day lunch prepared for us by local fishermen and hike to the Phoenician ruins of Tharros, set on Capo San Marco. We’ll also visit the prestigious Contini winery and sample their Vernaccia di Oristano. One of our final hikes is through the Codula di Luna, a remote canyon leading to a tiny half-moon beach accessible only on foot or by boat. Depart on Day 11 via Olbia.
Corsica and Sardinia
