DESCRIPTION:
Option A.   A 14-day tour with 9 days on Corsica, France's spectacular "island of beauty," in the Mediterranean and a 5-day scenic drive through France from Ouistreham to Toulon with overnight stops in the Loire Valley, the Dordogne and the Tarn Gorge. On the 5th day of the tour, we catch the overnight ferry from Toulon to Bastia, Corsica

Option B. Participants make their own way down to Toulon where they join the main tour and catch the evening ferry to Corsica and spend 9 days on Corsica

9 DAY TOUR OF CORSICA

Our tour of Corsica takes us clockwise around the island on stunning coastal roads with picturesque seascapes and over mountain passes and through stunning gorges through villages where time appears to have stood still. Starting in the northeast we spend the first night in a charming fishing village near Bastia and on our first full day on Corsica we explore Cap Corse and northern Corsica with lunch in the charming Centuri a small fishing port before arriving in the fashionable yacht resort of San Florent for afternoon coffee. We then head back to Erbalunga across the mountains. On our 2nd day on Corsica, we head into the mountains and drive through some stunning gorges before arriving at our hotel in the Restonica gorge near Corte. On our 3rd day on Corsica, we stay in the mountains for most of the day driving through more stunning gorges and over mountain passes including the dramatic Col de Bavella before emerging on the south-east coast where our hotel for the next 2 nights in Porto Vecchio has its own beach. The next day we relax on the coast around Porto Vecchio. On the 5th day on Corsica, we drive south and visit Bonifacio the southernmost point on Corsica and enjoy a boat ride to view the dramatic cliffs and rock formations followed by lunch. We then drive up the southwest coastline through Propriano to our hotel in the charming small fishing port of Porto Pollo. The following day, our 6th day on Corsica, we visit Filitosa the pre-historic monument site before continuing up the western shore through Ajaccio to Piana, one of only two villages on Corsica listed as one of France's most beautiful villages. After 6 days travelling around Corsica, we stay here for two nights. The following day we enjoy a relaxed local excursion visiting a local bay for coffee then drive along the beautiful Calanques de Piana, arguably one of Europe's most stunning coastal roads to Porto only 10 miles north. The Calanques de Piana is a UNESCO world heritage site in recognition of its beauty. The following day we spend the morning in the mountains near Porto then drive north over the summit of the Col de la Croix to Calvi our last hotel stop on Corsica. On our 9th and final day on Corsica, we drive up to L'Ile Rousse for morning coffee before heading back into the mountains on a route through villages where artists and artisans manufacture traditional goods. Our lunch stop is San Antonino the other "beaux village" on Corsica. In the afternoon we continue up the coast to San Florent for afternoon coffee which is where we arrived on our first full day in Corsica! After coffee, we drive back over the Col de Teghime back to Bastia to catch the overnight ferry to Toulon. The next morning our ferry arrives in Toulon, France and our tour ends.

Photo Galleries

Day 1   Monday, 25th September

Afternoon ferry from Portsmouth-Ouistreham, (Caen) leaves Portsmouth at 14.45 arrives in Ouistreham at 21.30
Our hotel is in Ouistreham, only a couple of minutes from the ferry terminal, and overlooks the sea.

Day 2 Tuesday, 26th September

Ouistreham to Loire Valley ( 225 miles)

After breakfast, we drive to Pegasus Bridge and the cafe which was the first place to be liberated in 1944 towards the end of the 2nd world war, see photos below:

We then head south for 60 miles to Sees our morning coffee stop where we can visit the twin-spired cathedral.

We then continue south to Arnage, near Le Mans where we enjoy lunch at the Harlequin restaurant.

After lunch, we visit the famous Auto Museum next to the main entrance of the Le Mans 24 hours circuit, Musée des 24 Heures. (see photos below)

 

We then leave Le Mans and head south on scenic backroads and a great driving road to our 4*  hotel, in the Loire valley.

 

Day 3 Wednesday, 27th September

Loire Valley to Bourdeilles ( 180 miles)
After leaving our chateau hotel we continue south, through Descartes, to La Roche Posay our coffee stop. We then continue south to Angles-Sur-L Anglin, one of France's "plus beaux villages" and our lunch stop at an auberge nestling under the ruins of an ancient chateau, see photos below.

After lunch, we drive south to Chauvigny through the picturesque Vienne valley on minor roads into the Charente department through Confolens to Chabanais. We then continue south into the Dordogne to the charming town of Brantôme, described as "the Venice of the Perigord" due to the river Dronne completely encircling the town effectively making Brantome an island!  Our hotel, a converted mill, is in Bourdeilles 5 miles away.

Tonight we enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 4 Thursday, 28th September

Bourdeilles to Tarn Gorge, via the Millau Viaduct Bridge (265 miles)
We drive cross country for 25 miles then take the autoroute east to Brives where we drive a few miles south and leave the autoroute and arrive in Martel our morning coffee stop. We then continue east and then head east to Rodez and then on to the Millau gorge where we have the opportunity to view, arguably, the world's most beautiful modern suspension bridge, the Millau Viaduct, (see photo below). We drive over the bridge and then under it when we really appreciate its beauty and scale.

The Millau Viaduct bridge is a cable-stayed road bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in the Aveyron. Designed by architect Sir Norman Foster, in collaboration with
French bridge engineer Michel Virlogeux, it is the highest vehicular bridge in the world, with one pier's summit at 343 metres (1,125 ft) - slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only
38 m (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. The Millau Viaduct bridge was conceived as a means to alleviate traffic congestion, as every year kilometres-long traffic jams would form as tourists made their way south during summer, descending the valley into the town of Millau which became a notorious bottleneck on the A75 autoroute.

Construction in this area is difficult as the region is known for high winds and the valley is very deep, resulting in an extended period of research and planning, investigating various potential routes, and taking 10 years before construction began. A competition was established to elicit the best solution and in July 1996 the design of a cable-stayed bridge by Foster & Partners was awarded. After a few modifications, the final design was approved in 1998 and an international call for tenders was made in 1999. The primary contract was won by Compagnie Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau and construction began in October 2001, finishing in December 2004.

From Millau we drive into the stunning Gorges des Tarn, (see photo below)

Our hotel, a converted 16th-century chateau, is located on the banks of the River Tarn in the gorge itself

 

Day 5  Friday, 29th September                                                                Tarn Gorge to Toulon ferry port( 270 miles )                                Overnight ferry from Toulon to Bastia

We continue along the stunning Tarn Gorge to Florac.

From Florac we take a superb cross-country road through the mountains to St Jean du Gard.

Our route then takes us on the motorway southeast to Toulon where we catch the overnight ferry to Bastia, Corsica.

Day 6 Saturday, 30th September

Bastia, Corsica to Erbalunga then a tour of Cap Corse, the north of Corsica ( 120 miles )
The ferry arrives in Bastia at 7.00 am

photo courtesy of https://www.touristmaker.com/france/corsica/

Upon arrival in Bastia, we make our way to our hotel to drop off our luggage and enjoy breakfast.

Our hotel is located a few miles north of Bastia in a sleepy charming fishing village, see photos below:

After breakfast we drive up the northeast coastline to Macinnagio near the northern tip of Cap Corse our coffee stop, see photos below:

We then continue across to the north-western coastline of Cap Corse where we spend lunch in Centuri, a charming fishing village, see photos below:

After lunch we drive down the northeastern coast of Cap Corse visiting, along the route, idyllic villages, small harbours and villages that time has forgotten.

In the afternoon we stop off in St Florent a fashionable resort popular with international yachtsmen for a coffee and a stroll around the picturesque harbour, (see photos below).

We then return across the island to our hotel in Erbalunga just north of Bastia on the northeast Cap Corse coast.

Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant.

Day 7 Sunday, 1st October

Erbalunga to Corte (120 miles)
Today we leave the coastline for the mountains where the scenery on the northeast side of the island is more attractive than the coastline. We leave our hotel and head south on the N193 to Casamozza after which we keep right on the N193 up into the mountains stopping at Ponte Nuovo to admire the ruined bridge where the French army in 1769 defeated the Corsican patriots led by Pascal Paoli, see photos below:

We then continue to Ponte Leccia where we turn off the N193 onto the N197 before turning left into the Vallee de l 'Asco towards the Gorges de l'Asco one of the most beautiful, yet isolated areas in Corsica.

A few miles in we turn right to Moltifao to visit the ruined abbey, see photos below:

Driving through the stunning gorges we arrive in Asco which, in the 16th century, was an important centre of Corsican resistance against the invading Genoese troops. We continue driving into the forest of Carrozzca to Haut Asco a small ski resort where we enjoy a coffee, see photos below:

After coffee we return back to Asco our lunch stop where our restaurant terrace has stunning views over the valley, see photos below:

returning back through the gorges to Ponte Leccia. Here we head south on the N193 once again turning right onto the picturesque D84 at Francardo driving through Calacuccia and up to the summit of the Col de Vergio where we turn back and drive around the lake at Calacuccia this time on the D218 back to Castiria.

Here we head south on the D18 to Corte the cradle of Corsican independence and patriotism where in 1735 the constitution for an independent Corsican state was drafted before Corte became Corsica's capital in 1755 after being liberated by Pascal Paoli. We spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Corte's old town on foot including a visit to the Citadel and the Musee de Corse which houses an impressive anthropological collection detailing the history and culture of Corsica. After our visit to Corte we drive a mile south and then turn right onto the D623 which takes us into the Gorges de la Restonica where our hotel is located on the banks of the fast-flowing river which descends from Mont Rotando at 2,672 metres above sea level, see photos below:

Click here to watch a video on Youtube taken at the hotel

Day 8  Monday, 2nd October

Corte to Porto Vecchio (125 miles)
We start the morning with a drive up the picturesque Gorges de la Restonica, see photos below:

Click here to watch a video on Youtube of a drive through the gorge

and then return back to the N193 and head south to Venaco and Vizzavora where the adventurous can walk to the impressive waterfall the Cascade des Anglais a beauty spot much admired by early English visitors to this area.

We then return to Vivario where we turn right onto the D69 and drive over the Col de Sorba to Ghisoni. Here we continue east through a narrow gorge called the Defile de l'Inzecca to Pinzalone where we turn south onto the D44 to Poggio and Prunella di Fiumarbo the main village in this area dominated by a fortified church. We then continue east to the N198 where we turn right and head south to Solenzara a lively port and seaside resort and our lunch stop, see photos below:

After lunch, we head inland again to the Col de Larone and Col de Bavella. Here the rugged pinnacles of the Aiguilles de Bavella create one of the most exciting landscapes in Corsica and our route passes through rocks that glow red at sunset, see photos below:

Our route through the mountains eventually takes us back to the coast at Porto Vecchio where our hotel for the next two nights is located on the coast with its own small beach, (see photos below).

Day 9  Tuesday, 3rd October

Porto Vecchio, local excursion to Bonifacio return
From Porto Vecchio we drive south on the N198 to Bonafacio which is perched on a promontory overlooking an inlet, see photos below:

To fully appreciate the beauty of Bonifacio it is advisable to take a boat trip from the marina to visit the sea caves and other points of interest as well as admiring the stunning views of Bonifacio from the sea, see photos

After Bonifacio, we return to our hotel in Porto Vecchio. Dinner tonight is in the hotel's restaurant

Day 10  Wednesday, 4th October

Porto Vecchio to Porto Pollo near Propriano ( 90 miles)

We drive south to Bonifacio and then we take the scenic N196 coast road stopping off at the nearby Ermitage de la Trinite to admire the church and stunning sea views, (see photos below).

Our lunch stop is a few miles up the coast, see the photos below:

We then continue on the N196 to Sartene a fortified medieval town with cobbled streets where we stop for a stroll before continuing to Propriano. This attractive harbour and seaside resort has beautiful beaches and caves dotted around the Golfe de Valinco and Petreto Biccisano. We continue a few miles further west to Olmeto, near Porto Pollo, where our hotel is located overlooking the bay, see photos below:

 

Dinner is in a local restaurant

Day 11 Thursday, 5th October

Porto Pollo to Piana (100 miles)
Breakfast is served on the terrace overlooking the bay.

We start the morning's drive with a visit to the most famous prehistoric site on Corsica, Filtosa. It was here that one of the most important alignments of anthropological menhirs were found dating back to the second millennium BC to 700BC,( see photos below).

Click here to see a Youtube video of Filitosa taken on our tour

After our visit to this amazing site we drive along the D155 which at La Castagna starts to hug the coastline as we drive to Porticcio stopping for lunch at a coastal restaurant, see photos below:

After lunch, we continue to Ajaccio

After Ajaccio, we drive over the Col de Bastiano through Sagone to Cargess a village with strong greek connections due to Greeks fleeing here in the 17th century. Our scenic route is along the stunning coastal road to our afternoon coffee stop, see photos below:

From here we head inland still to Piana where our hotel for the next 2 nights occupies a panoramic position overlooking the Golfe de Porto where there are wonderful sunsets, see photos below:

Dinner tonight is in the hotel's restaurant which overlooks the stunning coastline.

Click here to watch a video on Youtube

Day 12  Friday, 6th October

Piana, local excursion to Porto return along the Calanques de Piana ( 50 miles )
We drive back to the charming village of Piana and drive along a stunning peninsula coast road for 5 miles to Arone beach stopping, along the route, to appreciate the views, see below:

Our coffee stop overlooks Arone beach, see photos below:

After coffee in Arone we then return back towards Piana but take a drive down a steep road to one of the most enchanting, yet secret, coves on Corsica, see photos below:

Returning back up to the top road and Piana we then drive to Porto along, arguably, the most scenic coast road on Corsica, the Calanques de Piana a series of granite rock formations that change colour from bright red to pink to gold depending on the time of day, (see photos below). This is a UNESCO world heritage site in recognition of its beauty.

Click here to watch a video on Youtube of our drive along the Calanques de Piana

We then arrive in Porto our lunch stop down by the port, see photos below:

Click here to watch a video taken in Porto

After lunch, there is an option to take a mountain route back to Piana via the Gorges de Spelunca  to Evisa and then across the Col de Sevi, 1,101 metres via Voco to Sagone

There is also an option to drive into a nearby gorge; click here to watch a Youtube video

We then return to our hotel along the stunning Calanques de Piana coastline.

Dinner tonight is in the hotel's restaurant which overlooks the stunning coastline.

Day 13  Saturday, 7th October

Piana to Calvi   ( 100 miles )
We drive once again to Porto, along the Calanques de Piana. Leaving Porto we head back into the mountains through the Gorges de Spelunca to Evisa and up to the Col de Vergio this time up the west side.

We then return back to Porto and continue north on the D81 to Osani over the Col de la Croix and drive the beautiful coast road towards Calvi, see photos below.

Before Calvi we take a small deviation to the pretty port of Galeria, see photos below:

Finally, we arrive in Calvi our final overnight stop on Corsica, see photos below:

Our hotel is located 100 yards from the sea and dinner tonight, our final on Corsica is in a local restaurant.

Day 14 Sunday, 8th October

Calvi to Bastia ferry terminal ( 100 miles )
We drive up to Lumio approximately six miles where the route starts to get very pretty to L'ile Rousse our morning coffee stop. Here we can enjoy the Riviera-style promenade, shops and the port. Keeping on the N197 we then drive 2 miles out of town and visit the Parc de Selecia gardens, unique in Corsica. We then continue another 3 miles to Lozari where we turn right away from the coast towards Ponte Leccia. after a few miles however we turn right off this road onto the D71 the "Strada di l'Arligioni or Artisans' Road a route encompassing some of the most characteristic craftsman's workshops many of which are located in perched villages with fascinating architecture and panoramic views, see photos below:

We visit en route a dozen villages stopping to admire the craftwork before arriving in Sant Antonio one of France's most beautiful villages and the main village before joining the N197 coast road just south of L'Ile Rousse.

We then retrace our route north before turning left onto the D89 towards St Florent taking a deviation to view the Ostriconi beach, see photos below:

We then drive through the Desert des Agriates 60 square miles of green desert which although once highly cultivated is now virtually uninhabited. Eventually, we arrive in St Florent, see photos below, where we stopped for afternoon coffee on our second day on Corsica thus completing our clockwise tour of the island

From St Florent we drive a few miles further north to Patrimonio where we turn right and climb up the Col de Teghine, from where we descend into Bastia to catch the 18.00 overnight ferry to Toulon, see photo below:

Monday, 9th October

Ferry arrives at 9.30am in Toulon

 

Participants are free to make their own way home.