The Best of Sardinia & Corsica

DAY 1 : ARRIVAL SARDINIA (OVERNIGHT IN TEMPIO DI PAUSANIA) KM 52

Arrival at Olbia airport. After picking up the rental car, departure to Tempio di Pausania. On this day there are no planned activities.

Free time to discover the city on your own. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 2 : ALGHERO, CAPO CACCIA & BAIA DI PORTO CONTE (OVERNIGHT IN TEMPIO DI PAUSANIA) KM 250

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you are free to relax and explore the surroundings or have a swim on the beach or visit Alghero, Capo Caccia and Baia di Porto Conte

Suggested itinerary : Drive to Alghero. Visit the historical center with its walls and Spanish towers, the Church of San Francesco, the Cathedral, the Bousquet walk. Opt to carry out an excursion by boat to the Grotte di Nettuno, departing from the port of Alghero. Drive up to the promontory of Capo Caccia and at the bay of Porto Conte for a panoramic excursion. On the way back, we suggest you to stop at Palmavera Nuraghe for a visit.

Drive back to your hotel. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 3 : COSTA SMERALDA, PORTO CERVO & PORTO ROTONDO (OVERNIGHT IN TEMPIO DI PAUSANIA) KM 110

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you are free to relax and explore the surroundings or have a swim on the beach or visit the Costa Smeralda.

Suggested itinerary: The today visit begins with "Il Nurago la Prisgiona" in the Municipality of Arzachena, one of the 7000 round towers dating back to the Bronze Age. This megalithic culture is unique in the whole area of the Mediterranean Sea and is one of Sardinia's most important archeological monuments. Afterwards, you will drive over the magical mountain village of San Pantaleo, with its fascinating granite formations to the emerald coast. In San Pantaleo we will make a short photo stop. Continue to Baia Sardinia, one of the most requested destinations in Costa Smeralda, thanks to its wonderful beaches.

Along the panoramic route of Costa Smeralda one can then discover the many emeraldcolored sand bays that have inspired the founder, Karim Aga Khan, to extend this coastal strip to the most famous and exclusive holiday paradise of jet-set tourism. Visit the fashionable capital of Porto Cervo and discover the fashion boutiques, the exclusive restaurants and the large marina.

Overnight in hotel.

DAY 4 : CORSICA (OVERNIGHT IN AJACCIO) KM 148

Breakfast in the hotel. Today drive to Corsica.

Drive to the harbour of Santa Teresa di Gallura situated in the extreme North of Sardinia. From there take the ferry boat to Bonifacio. It takes 1 hour to arrive on the opposite part. There are 13 km seaway between the two islands Corsica and Sardinia. Like most of the harbour cities also Bonifacio has a rich history. The ancient commercial city which was founded between 823 and 833 by the marquis of Tuscany consists in a “Marina” quarter, the lower city and in the “upper city” which is situated on a promontory from where you can enjoy the breathtaking panorama. On beautiful days one can see the Sardinian coast. The tourist train takes the clients to the upper part where the guests will have a guided visit by foot of about an hour. Drive to Ajaccio: take the direction of Sartène.

On the road do not miss the famous lion of Roccapina and its dream cove. Once you arrive in Sartène, begin your city tour at Place de la Liberation, where the war memorial stands dominated by the town hall and the imposing Sainte Marie church. Continue through the Santa Anna district. It is by passing under the vault of the town hall that one enters this district which has retained a medieval allure. Observe its maze of small paved alleys, linked together by stairs, small passages and arches, lined with gray granite houses. Then you can visit the Corsican Prehistory Museum in rue Croce. Leave Sartène direction Propriano. Visit this charming town and its small marina.

The north shore of the Gulf of Valinco is not stingy with remarkable sites. Between Olmeto and Propriano, on the national road 196, at the Marinca crossroads, take the departmental road 157 towards Olmeto-Plage and follow the coast to the bridge that crosses the Taravo. Take the D 757 which will lead you to the prehistoric station of Filitosa. Neolithic, megalithic, Torrean and then Roman periods, this site is a true synthesis of the origins of history in Corsica. You will continue on this road which crosses Calvèse and Sollacaro, before joining the RN 196 towards Ajaccio area.

Overnight.

DAY 5 : CALANCHE OF PIANA AND PORTO (OVERNIGHT IN IN AJACCIO) KM 170

Breakfast in the hotel and drive to Sagone, perched on an outcrop you can spot the village of Cargèse, known as « la greque» situated on the site of a Greek colony dating from the XVII Century. The original feature of this village is the fact that it has 2 churches sitting face to face; one Greek Orthodox and the other Roman Catholic. You can sample Bastelle, vegetable tartlets, or Ambruciate, tartlets made with Brocciu cheese, as you meander through the town’s narrow streets.

From Cargèse, continue on towards Piana, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, which overlooks the Gulf of Porto and sits opposite the peninsulas of Senino and Scandola. Then take up the winding route that heads to Porto and let yourself be seduced by the rocky creeks, or Calanques, of Piana with its rugged coastline of pink granite rock that contrasts with the blue of the sea and the intense green of the Maquis. Be sure to stop at one of the car parks that sit alongside the Calanques in order to admire the superb rock formations.

In Porto, you can step aboard the passenger boats that, up until October, visit the reserve of Scandola that boasts grandiose landscapes that were the result of the eruption of an ancient volcano, as well as the cove of Girolata with its small Genoese fort. This sanctuary is home to an incredible wealth of animal and plant life: osprey, bearded vulture, dolphins…Those who prefer the mountains should head in the direction of Evisa, a picturesque village where the walking trails meet (Mare e Monti or Mare e Mare Nord) at one of Corsica’s most beautiful forests of Laricio pine. Return to Ajaccio via Vico, a real Corsican village that is warm and lively, built up around adorable little squares and nestling in a mountainous setting, including La Sposata (the wife) that is famous for its legend….. The Saint-François convent, on the road to Arbori, is worth seeing for its XVII Century church, where you can find the oldest wooden statue of Christ in Corsica (XIVth).

Come back to hotel and overnight.

DAY 6 : CORTE AND THE CENTER OF CORSICA (OVERNIGHT IN IN AJACCIO) KM 161

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit the heart of Corsica equidistant from Bastia and Ajaccio ...This territory, a melting pot of Corsican tradition, rich in history and culture, its breathtaking landscapes, offering many outdoor activities, will soon win you over. It is at a crossroads that you will find Corte, the historic capital of Corsica established in 1755 by Pasquale Paoli, Father of the Corsican Nation, man of the Enlightenment and founder of the University of Corte. The city, which still bears the mark of its glorious past, is overlooked by the Citadel (the only building of its kind inland) whose belvedere, the Eagle's Nest, offers a breathtaking view of the valleys of the Restonica and Tavignanu.

Stretching from the majestic forest of Vizzanova to the sublime valley of Verghellu, the Venachese (or country of Venice) is made up of nine villages nestled in the heart of forests of larici pines and beeches protected by an imposing mountainous cirque between the Monte d ' Oru and Cardu. Cradle of ancestral traditions and land of pastoralism and transhumance, this territory is a real initiatory journey for those who want to discover the wealth of culinary and artisanal know-how. The natural setting that constitutes the micro-region presents a thousand faces. Steep peaks, high plateaus, sumptuous valleys and numerous waterways ("natural pools" and waterfalls) are home to unique flora and fauna, inviting both selftranscendence and contemplative meditation. Rest assured, however, the singular beauty and diversity of these landscapes are not only within the reach of experienced athletes! Many trails are just as accessible to less experienced walkers and families, allowing everyone to marvel at the wild charm of unspoiled nature.

Hiking, bike rides or horseback riding are available in summer. Swimming in the rivers of the Restonica, Tavignanu or Verghellu valleys will offer you a well-deserved refreshment after your trip. You will also find on their banks a pleasant picnic and relaxation area; Note that many of these water points are rather easy to access. Athletes and amateurs alike can hope for their share of thrills with canyoning or giant zip lines. You can also try out via ferrata or tree climbing with the youngest. On the Culture and History side, you can visit the Museum of Anthropology of Corsica. Located in the Serrurier barracks, it consists of two permanent exhibitions (the Doazan gallery and the museum in the making) and a temporary exhibition space. It also provides access to the terraces of the Citadel of Corte, its belvedere, and its Castle. Below the Padua barracks, the FRAC (Regional Contemporary Art Fund of Corsica) changes decor according to its agenda. The Fab Lab, located in the Palazzu Naziunale, the seat of the University during Pasquale Paoli's time, will allow you to make with your own hands a souvenir of your stay with local materials. For a stroll in Corte, the Heritage Trail traces the history of the city, guiding you through its emblematic places.

Another Heritage Trail awaits you in the Venacais: I trè paesi connects the villages of Casanova, Riventosa and Poghju di Venaco and transports you to another time with its small wonders of agro-pastoral architecture. Near Vivario, the Vechju Bridge, a work of art designed by Gustave Eiffel and built at the very end of the 19th century, is also worth a detour. Finally, the Route des Sens takes you through the region to meet small producers and artisans whose ancestral and authentic know-how will delight your taste buds and your eyes. Back to Ajaccio.

Overnight in hotel.

DAY 7 : AJACCIO (OVERNIGHT IN IN OLBIA AREA) KM 130

Breakfast in the hotel, visit of Ajaccio, the port city is the most fashionable city in Corsica. Elegant boulevards such as the Cours Napoleon wind around the houses of the old town, which shimmer in delicate pastel shades. The city's most famous son is Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, whose stone effigy can be found on every corner of the city. Discover the house where the Emperor of the French was born: the Maison Bonaparte. Do not miss the Fesch Museum, that shelters European paintings from the XIVth to XIX Centuries -the second collection of primitive Italian paintings to Musée du Louvre- located just next to the Imperial Chapel, where the Bonaparte family is buried. Drive to Cap Parata, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Sanguinaires Islands. in the afternoon drive to Bonifacio, boarding arrive in Santa Teresa in Sardinia. Drive to your hotel.

Overnight in hotel.

DAY 8 : DEPARTURE (AIRPORT OLBIA/CAGLIARI) KM 273

Breakfast in the hotel and drive to Olbia airport, Release of the car and end of our services. 

End of our services.