Hiking the Exquisite Island Worlds of France and Italy
Corsica and Sardinia
Overview
Scented with myrtle, dotted with ancient oak and olive trees, and home to one of the most diverse landscapes in Europe, Corsica is a wildly beautiful French island. 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 mix of coastal and mountain hikes, evocative prehistoric sites, elegant picnics, wine tastings, and many opportunities to sample the delicious culinary traditions of two very different island realms. Our stay at the charming Hotel Su Gologone in Sardinia's Barbagia Mountains is a wonderful finale.
Arrive: Ajaccio, Corsica
Depart: Olbia, Sardinia
Highlights
- Hike among Corsica's craggy peaks and spectacular cliffs above the sea
- Visit Corsica's standing stones and Sardinia's Nuragic villages
- Explore Sardinia's fishing villages, mystical cork oak forests, and unique cultural heritage
- Enjoy elegant picnics and a private lunch at a goat herder's farm
- Fine wines, mouth-watering farm-to-table cuisine on both islands
Itinerary
We hike through mystical oak woodlands and maquis-covered plains to reach the standing stones at Filitosa and Cauria, where 22 stone menhirs in the form of “standing men” are a striking reminder of Corsica's prehistory. On our hike around the Col de Bavella, we pass through a forest of Corsican pine by way of an impressive natural arch, with a picnic on the top of the mountain. In cliff-perched Bonifacio, an ancient port supremely isolated at the tip of southernmost Corsica, we'll hike along limestone bluffs above the sea, discover its maze of tiny streets, enjoy a private lunch at a goat herder's farm, and sample a variety of Corsican cheeses, including delicious brocciu, the traditional favorite.
Ferrying to Sardinia, we hike on Capo Testa, a spectacular granite promontory at the northern tip of the island, making our way through sweet-scented maquis scrub and among quarries that once supplied the Romans with granite for their monumental temples. Heading into the wild interior, we follow trails on the dormant volcano of Monte Ferru, with its forests of cork oak and views across Sardinia's prime Vernaccia wine-producing region.
After a coastal hike on the Sinis Peninsula, we enjoy a catch-of-the-day lunch prepared for us by local fishermen, then hike to the Phoenician ruins of Tharros, one of Sardinia's most important archaeological sites, set on a spit of land called Capo San Marco. Our final hikes bring us to the mysterious ruins of a prehistoric village of round stone dwellings near the top of Monte Tiscali, and 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.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 3+ (Moderate to Strenuous) according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 5.5 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 4 hours a day. The trails on both islands can often be rocky with sections that are quite steep, even involving scrambling over boulders. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 4-5 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 500-700 feet gain/loss
- Day 7: 5 miles, 4 hours, and 1,300 feet gain/ loss; includes 2.5 hours driving
Our hikes are over varied landscapes with moderate to steep terrain. They are at moderate to low altitudes and include rough and rocky trails with loose scree and coastal tracks down to the beach. There are a few steep ascents and descents and some sections that involve scrambling over and around large boulders and through granite rock formations. You must be stable and confident on your feet to participate in this journey.
The weather in Corsica and Sardinia is usually very pleasant, with temperatures in the 70s°F and 80s°F during the day and in the 50s°F and 60s°F at night. Cool breezes and showers can occur at any time, especially on fall departures.
We spend most nights in small, picturesque inns full of charm and ambience. All hotels are chosen for their local history and central locations. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
There is a continental breakfast at each of our hotels. We will generally enjoy a packed lunch along the way during our hikes, sometimes spending more time sampling local specialties. 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 pm.
Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"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
"Fabulous trip, great variety of activities, exciting hikes, beautiful scenery—what more could a traveler want?"
Anne H.
Hillsborough, CA
"I enjoyed the trip very much. The selection of the itinerary, hikes, hotels, restaurants, and activities were all great."
Bettina R.
Santa Clara, CA
"This trip was outstanding. Best leaders I have experienced. So knowledgeable, so caring."
Catherine B.
Madison, WI
"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 hiking and itinerary were excellent, varied, well planned, and well executed. It allowed for a great variety of exposure to different regional areas."
Diana R.
San Francisco, CA
"Beautiful itinerary, beautiful scenery, and every day’s hike was completely different."
Edie and Bo L.
Dallas, TX
"This trip is an experience that no one should miss out on. The food, culture, and leaders are truly first class."
Esther C.
Stamford, CT
"Excellent trip design with superior hotels and food. The islands themselves were even more beautiful than I had expected from the brochure, and there was an excellent balance of hiking and enjoying our accommodations/towns/hotels."
Gay T.
Fort Myers, FL
"We have done many trips with several different outfitters, and this was certainly one of the best in every respect."
Glenn H.
Greenville, SC
"The trip included just the right mix of beautiful scenery, interesting history, and scrumptious food and wine."
Jobie S.
Trumbull, CT
"A great trip—a perfect mix of pure hiking and hiking/walking to get to an archaeological site, which the guides brought to life."
Julie C.
Northville, MI
"Much to our delight, Stefano was determined to expose us to every edible and drinkable delicacy both Corsica and Sardinia had to offer! We had beautiful swims, good wines, and there was a new cookie to taste on every hike, not to mention a couple of memorable gelato stops. Having lunch with the Sardinian shepherd who grew and made every single thing we ate and drank was unforgettable."
Julie L.
Harbour Island, Bahamas
"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
"Our best WT trip yet. We'll be back!"
Lauren P.
Santa Fe, NM
"Among your best itineraries, and a fantastic introduction to a little-known corner of Europe. This was the perfect mix of varied hikes with archaeology, food, and culture."
Logan R.
Bloomfield Hills, MI
"My first European trip with Wilderness Travel. I’m spoiled forever!"
Lynne G.
New York, NY
"This trip was a intimate and charming introduction to the cultures, history, and geography of Corsica and Sardinia—a great experience."
Marti P.
Truckee, CA
"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 a way that would be impossible to replicate as an independent traveler."
Patricia G.
Orlando, FL
"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
"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
"Fantastic trip! Great food and wine, amazing scenery and spring wildflowers."
Susan D.
Indianapolis, IN
"Very well planned—a nice combination of nature, hiking, culture and history. The food was amazing, too!"
Susan H.
North Port, MI
"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
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.