Day 1: Welcome to Corsica

They fly to Bastia and check into the hotel. In the evening, we get to know each other over dinner. Welcome to Corsica! 20 km (A)

Day 2: On Cap Corse

Our vacation begins in Bastia, the lively port city in the north of the island. Strolling through the narrow streets and squares lined with palm trees and plane trees, we finally reach the old port, dominated by the two towers of the Baroque church of Saint Jean-Baptiste and the citadel. We continue along the southern part of Cap Corse, the peninsula that lies like a finger pointing to the north of Corsica and gives the island its characteristic shape. We stroll through Erbalunga, one of Corsica's most beautiful and therefore probably most painted villages. Fishermen's houses line the picturesque lanes and the little port, guarded by a Genoese tower since the Middle Ages. In Saint-Florent, stroll along the lively promenade to the marina, before continuing on to Calvi in the afternoon. 160 km (B, D)

Day 3: Towards Balagne

We follow the northern coast of Corsica towards Balagne, known as the garden of Corsica. Gnarled olive trees, fig trees, palm trees and citrus groves in bloom accompany our path to romantic little villages that have retained their special, typically Corsican atmosphere and original charm to this day. Strategically located on steep slopes or high in the mountains, they offered protection from pirates in the Middle Ages. And that's why today we're delighted by the unobstructed view of the azure Mediterranean Sea. We return to Calvi. The mighty citadel overlooking the old town and marina is impressive. Here, you can linger in one of the restaurants and cafés to enjoy the fantastic panorama over the bay. 130 km (B, D)

Day 4: Balagne to Ajaccio

We cross the contrasting interior of Corsica to the sparkling sea! Past gorges with craggy rocks and reservoirs and beautiful forests with characteristic Corsican black pines. And then we see the Gulf of Porto with the Calanches de Piana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We can't get enough of the volcanic rocks with their bizarre shapes and nature's play of colors: blue, green, red. Sea, maquis, enchanting stone forest. Along the Gulf of Sagone, past the ancient Greek city of Cargese, we reach Ajaccio in the evening. What a day! 170 km (B, D)

Day 5: Ajaccio and Corsica

Today, we take a look at the island's capital. With its spacious squares and boulevards and numerous cafés, Ajaccio seems almost sophisticated. Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born here in 1769, is still omnipresent. Not only are three heroic monuments and his birthplace reminders of the great Corsican, but squares and boulevards are also named after the emperor and members of his family. We take a look at the Maison Bonaparte. In an unassuming little alleyway, we find the house where he was born, now a museum. We enter and learn interesting things about Napoleon and French history. On Boulevard du Roi Jérôme, you can sample tasty Corsican cheeses and cured ham at the daily market. (FA)

Day 6: Ajaccio via Sartène to Porto Vecchio

The program includes one of the most remarkable historical sites on the Mediterranean: Filitosa. A place of worship with impressive menhir statues has been found on a hill, telling the story of the early colonization of Corsica. After a stopover in the Gulf of Valinco, we move on to the most Corsican of Corsican towns: Sartène. High on a hill overlooking the fertile Rizzanese valley lies the medieval old town, protected by thick defensive walls built by the Genoese in the 16th century to protect the inhabitants from the Saracens. The stone houses, which look so fresh, still seem to hold many secrets... Then we cross a gentle landscape until the view opens onto the bay of Roccapina. A dreamy beach is fringed by a row of rocks, resembling a large reclining lion. 150 km (B, D)

Day 7: Porto Vecchio to Bastia

Now, the windswept cliffs of Bonifacio, dropping sheer into the sea, await us. Don't forget your camera, as countless postcard motifs accompany our path! But first we have to reach the medieval upper town. From here, we can take in the view of Sardinia or the natural harbor that wind and time have carved out of the chalk cliffs. And then there's the vertiginous royal staircase, the "Staircase of the King of Aragon", carved out of the rock. In the afternoon, we drive north along the east coast, back to the starting point of our journey. 200 km (B, D)

Day 8: Return journey

"Goodbye Corsica! You can fly from Bastia airport or you can extend your vacation on the "Isle of Beauty" for a few more days. (F) Changes to flight times, hotels and programs are expressly reserved. (B=breakfast, D=dinner)