Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

From the Mountains to the Coast
A Family Getaway to Southern Corsica

Levie - Bonifacio

Starting from between £1,960 to £2,695 per person for 8 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • Discover the scenic and cultural delights of the rugged hinterland, including a guided hike in the Bavella massif
  • Savour the delights of island life: splash around in turquoise waters and sail out to an idyllic archipelago
  • Hang up your hat in two hotels that are spacious, picturesque and well-suited for family travel
It was the ancient Greeks who referred to the island of Corsica as the Kallisté (the most beautiful), a description that feels as true today as it did back then. Here, a rolling emerald hinterland filled with classic Mediterranean flora and fauna comes to a sharp stop on the shores, where steep white cliffs plunge into crystalline turquoise waters. You’ll have the opportunity to savour the beauty of both landscapes on this eight-day family adventure. Your first destination is the beautiful village of Levie, the capital of the mountainous Alta Rocca region. Spend a few days here hiking in the hills before travelling to the medieval seaside city of Bonifacio, where you can enjoy sailing trips to tiny islets, walks along the coast and plenty of beachside relaxation.
Levie - Corse - France © A Pignata
Levie - Corse - France © A Pignata
Levie - Corse - France © laugrim16/Fotolia
Levie - Corse - France © laugrim16/Fotolia
Levie - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Levie - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Levie - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Levie - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Levie - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Levie - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Corse - France © Faustine Poidevin
Corse - France © Faustine Poidevin
Levie - Corse - France © Faustine Poidevin
Levie - Corse - France © Faustine Poidevin
Iles Lavezzi - Corse - France © MattiaMarasco/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Iles Lavezzi - Corse - France © MattiaMarasco/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Rondinara - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Rondinara - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Corse - France © Droits reservés
Corse - France © Droits reservés
Corse - France © Pavel Kazmierczak/stock.adobe.com
Corse - France © Pavel Kazmierczak/stock.adobe.com
Bonifacio - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Bonifacio - Corse - France © Droits reservés
Corse - France © Droits reservés
Corse - France © Droits reservés
Corse - Frande © Stéphanie TETU  / PINK / saif images
Corse - Frande © Stéphanie TETU / PINK / saif images

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

After a bit of pre-holiday chaos at home making sure every member of your clan is packed and ready to go, head to the airport, whizz through security and fuel up on some nibbles and refreshments in the airport lounge before takeoff. Flight time to Figari, in the south of Corsica, is around two-and-a-half hours but may be longer if a layover in mainland France is necessary. On touchdown, collect a family-friendly hire car and drive one hour through the beautiful hinterland to Levie, a picturesque village in the heart of the mountainous Alta Rocca region. Check in for three nights in a spacious farmhouse surrounded by nature and spend the rest of today setting into your new environment before tucking into a delicious meal at the hotel restaurant this evening.

The next two days are all about discovering the mountainous hinterland of Porto-Vecchio, a region oozing with scenic and cultural delights. You can visit the charming village of Zonza, the historic gateway to the Rizzanese valleys; explore the archaeological site of Cucuruzzu; learn about the region in the Alta Rocca museum; and hike along the Cuscione plateau, a glacial melted lake filled with peat and lined with countless traditional sheepfolds. You’ll also have the opportunity to head out for a guided hike around the Bavella massif with a knowledgeable local guide. The hill, which connects the Alta Rocca to the east coast of Corsica, is home to unusual terrain: rocky red-granite spikes soar out for the emerald frosted countryside.

Today it’s time to swap the mountains for the coast. After a delicious breakfast at the hotel this morning, bundle your family back into the hire car and travel an hour and half to the southern coast. Wind your way down through the hilly hinterland before cruising into Bonifacio, a medieval citadel perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by steep cliffs, creeks and sea caves. Your home for the next four nights is a peaceful and spacious hotel slightly outside the city centre. The rest of today is yours to spend relaxing and settling into your new environs. You could head out for a stroll through town or simply kick back at the hotel before dinner this evening.

Your first full day in Bonifacio is for you to spend as you please. If the coast is calling, then we recommend renting some kayaks to explore the many creeks and caves that spread out at the foot of the town’s cliffs. You could also opt for a day spent hiking, mountain biking or canyoning in the hinterlands. This is also a good opportunity to soak in this region’s rural culture with a foodie pit stop in a traditional inn to sample the signature wild boar stew and fig tart.

Spend your last two days savouring island life. On one of the days, you’ll have the opportunity to sail to the idyllic Lavezzi archipelago just off the far south of Corsica. This smattering of granite islets in the crystalline turquoise waters of the Bouches de Bonifacio Nature Reserve is famous for the wild beauty of its seabed and its tiny beaches. The return journey skirts the billionaire island of Cavallo, the Gulf of Sperone and the caves and cliffs of Bonifacio. We can also arrange for you to discover the beautiful old town of Bonifacio in the company of a private guide.

Sadly, the time has come to leave this beautiful Mediterranean island behind and head back home. After one last delicious Corsican breakfast, drive half an hour back to the airport in Figari to drop off your hire car before boarding a flight back to the UK. Flight time varies between two and four hours, depending on the need for a brief layover in mainland France en route.

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

PRIVATE WALKING TOUR IN BONIFACIO



In the company of a local guide, discover beautiful Bonifacio. This is a great opportunity to learn all about the unusual marine history of the walled citadel. The tour continues with a hike up the 187 steps carved into the rock of the Staircase of the King of Aragon.



PRIVATE BOAT TO THE LAVEZZI ARCHIPELAGO



Instead of a public boat, you can instead opt to spend your day discovering the tiny islets of the Lavezzi archipelago on board an exclusive private boat.



WITH A FEW MORE DAYS… SARDINIA



From the south of Corsica, a short boat trip takes you to the Sardinian coast, just over six miles away. This island shares the wild Mediterranean beauty of Corsica, but offers an Italian twist. Our team can tailor your holiday to suit your specific wishes: you could explore the region of Gallura with its splendid Costa Smeralda before heading west to Alghero, a charismatic city still steeped in its Catalan past.



SAIL TO CORSICA FROM THE MAINLAND



For families with sea legs, why not arrive in Corsica aboard a sailboat? This journey, either from Marseille or Nice, is a great way to soak in the coastal landscape that surrounds the island.

Why visit France with Original Travel ?

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to France

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £1,960 to £2,695 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £2,675 per person.

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