Corsica The Island of Beauty

Day 1: Switzerland - Savona

Comfortable coach journey in your EUROBUS from your departure point in Switzerland towards the Italian Riviera. In Savona, a charming little port town in the Liguria region, the ferry to Bastia in the north of Corsica is already waiting for you. After boarding, you will enjoy the crossing of the Ligurian Sea. Overnight and dinner (own arrangements) on board.

Day 2: Cap Corse - Ile Rousse

Arrival in Bastia and guided city tour. Bastia has all the charm of the old Mediterranean towns: narrow little streets framed by tall houses of discreet elegance, further accentuated by the colourful shutters. After a short tour of the old harbour, you will walk to the Rue Napoleon and discover the many shops and pretty boutiques there. Onward journey to Cap Corse. Cap Corse is 40 km long, between 10 and 15 km wide and is often described as Corsica in miniature. Like a compass needle or the outstretched index finger of a hand, the peninsula points north. You will reach the picturesque Saint-Florent. Here you will have some free time before continuing to Ile Rousse.

Day 3: Balagne

In the morning you will explore Ile Rousse with its lively weekly market. Afterwards, drive into the flourishing hinterland of the Balagne with picturesque villages such as Sant'Antonio. Sant’Antonino is said to be the oldest village in Corsica, or so the locals claim. But this eagle's nest, at an altitude of around 500 metres, is certainly one of the most beautiful on the island. It has therefore also been admitted to the select circle of the most beautiful villages of France.

Day 4: Corte - Ajaccio

In the morning drive to Corte, whose citadel and lively atmosphere embody the spirit of independence. Its central location in the heart of the Corsican mountains makes Corte shine with the splendour of the whole island. Corte's old slate houses, which seem to cling to the rocks, give the town a unique character. In the afternoon, a scenic drive over the Col de Vizzavona to Ajaccio, surrounded by majestic nature. The Col de Vizzavona is one of the four great passes of Corsica that connect the two sides of the island from west to east.

Day 5: Les Calanches

Today you will experience Corsica's spectacular natural landscape at the bizarre, reddish rock formations of the Calanches and the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site of La Scandola. The Calanches of Piana are among the most beautiful landscapes in Corsica. The bizarre, carmine-red weathered formations lie directly on the narrow coastal road between Porto and Piana. Over the 13 kilometres in between, the winding drive passes through deeply fissured, fantastic rock formations, magnificent in their wild beauty. They are reminiscent of animals, mythical creatures and other figures. The drive through the Spelunca Gorge and the mountain village of Evisa also underline the wild character of this part of the coast.

Day 6: Ajaccio

You will follow in Napoleon's footsteps in Ajaccio and explore the lively flair of the town with its weekly market and Mediterranean charm. The winding alleys and colourful shutters of the town shaped Napoleon's childhood. Even after his conquests, Napoleon never forgot his home town and always kept Corsica in his heart. In addition to monuments, squares and museums dedicated to him, every year on 15 August the town celebrates the Emperor's birthday with impressive parades, performances and historical re-enactments. You will then enjoy a free afternoon.

Day 7: Bonifacio - Porto Vecchio

Drive through the impressive landscape of the Gulf of Valinco to Sartène, which fascinates with its history and culture as the "most Corsican town in Corsica". Onward journey to Bonifacio with its dramatic steep coastline and a short stop. The old town with its narrow alleys stands on a limestone plateau 60 – 80 m high, partly undercut by the sea. The front-most houses could not be any closer to the abyss. The harbour of Bonifacio lies at the far end of a sheltered fjord cut almost 1.5 km deep into the land. In the evening you will reach Porto Vecchio. Boarding of a ferry to Marseille.

Day 8: Marseille - Switzerland

Disembarkation and journey home.