DISTINCTIVE CORSICA

Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow to Nice and transfer to 4-star Splendid Hotel & Spa for overnight.

Day 2 Day at leisure to explore Nice. Afternoon transfer to the port to embark on the MV La Belle des Océans, for a seven-night cruise. Overnight cruise to Corsica. (B, D)

Day 3 This morning’s cruising gives you your first glimpse of the island’s natural beauty, with a lecture and tasting of local specialities on board. Drop anchor at Ajaccio, to tour the old town’s narrow streets, passing pastel-painted houses and the Baroque Notre Dame Cathedral, to Maison Bonaparte, the place of Napoleon’s birth, now a museum. We continue along the coastal road to Pointe de la Parata for a view towards the wild and ruggedly arresting Îles Sanguinaires (Blood Islands) archipelago. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Cruise to the Calanque de Piana, a spectacular, UNESCO listed coastal site, where red-rock cliffs and pinnacles plunge dramatically into the turquoise sea; take a small boat to Capo Rosso, topped by Turghiu’s Tower, the tallest of Corsica’s Genoese watchtowers; and sail to the southern tip of the island for the ‘city of cliffs’, Bonifacio. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Discover a thousand years of history in the towering ramparts and tight streets of houses, crammed onto Bonifacio’s sheer coastal cliffs. For those who are fit, with no fear of heights, the descent of King Aragon’s Stairway is a fantastic experience; the stone staircase, carved into the cliff, is a steep and stunning 187 steps down to the sea. This afternoon, cruise to the nature reserve of the Lavezzi Islands. Basking in waters teeming with marine life, with long abandoned relics of sheep pens and a 10th century chapel, the eight islets are now inhabited only by seabirds. Cruise to Porto Vecchio. (B, L, D)

Day 6  Explore the town and enjoy the tempo of Porto Vecchio, its natural harbour sheltering a lively yacht marina; its hilltop ‘old town’ a quaint and characterful setting for boutiques, bars, and galleries; and its 16th century citadel, the once impregnable Bastione della Marina, now an atmospheric exhibition hall. Later, join us for an on-board lecture or perhaps relax on the poolside sundeck, as we cruise to the old capital, Bastia. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Sit back and soak-up the scenery as we navigate Corsica’s northern tip, Cap Corse, the 40km-long peninsula described as an island within an island. With beautiful stretches of barely visited shores, its eastern coast is indented with sandy coves and tiny, timeless fishing ports; its western side serrated by rocky inlets, with rustic villages topping rugged cliffs. Enjoy a wine and cheese tasting aboard, while sailing to the Balagne region and the captivating town of L’Ile Rousse. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Hemmed by silver sand beaches, backed by olive grove slopes, criss-crossed with mule tracks, and boasting ‘the garden of Corsica’ epithet, La Balagne is a step back to simpler times. We visit its picturesque villages, clinging to cliffs high above the sea or hidden in narrow valleys, some unchanged through many centuries, all enveloped in old-world charm. With a Gala Dinner aboard this evening, cruise overnight back to Nice. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight to London Heathrow. (B)

• B - Breakfast
• L - Lunch
• D - Dinner