* France - Corsica, Grand tour

Arrive in Bastia. Guided tour of the town and the old citadel perched on high. Dinner and overnight in the region.

Leave for Corte via Ponte Leccia and the old Genoese bridge. Local style lunch with cured hams, fritters and cannelloni stuffed with “brocciu” (a soft curd cheese), wild boar stew and local cheese to finish.  Tourist train ride up to Corte citadel. Dinner and overnight in Ile Rousse.

Set off for Porto. Lunch then head for Ajaccio on the highly scenic coast road, stopping at the breath-taking rocky cliffs at Piana. On via the villages of Cargese and Sagone to Ajaccio, for dinner and overnight.

Guided tour of Ajaccio, island capital and birthplace of Napoleon, and drive out towards the Sanguinaires isles for some splendid views. On via the coast road to Propriano, nestling at the mouth of the glorious Valinco Gulf. Dinner and overnight in Propriano. 

Direction Bonifacio. Optional Tourist Train ride (recommended) up to the citadel, perched atop the chalky white cliffs. Lunch then a boat trip to admire the eroded limestone promontory and hidden grottoes. On to Aleria for dinner and overnight.

Great swathes of chestnut forest cover the hills of the Castagniccia region (castagna is Corsican for chestnut), today’s destination. Visit the mountain village of Piedicroce then on via Morosaglia and Ponte Leccia to Bastia.