Sardinia & Corsica

Two of the Mediterranean’s most captivating islands, one Italian, one French, both blessed with blue skies, warm waters and natural beauty.

Bonifacio Port

Port de Plaisance of Bonifacio, Corsica Day One – Fly to Olbia Upon arrival in Sardinia’s northeast corner, meet your tour manager and make the short transfer by coach to your hotel. Positioned in the centre of Olbia, just a few minutes away from the Costa Smeralda beaches, this hotel looks out across the waters of the harbour and features a restaurant, lounge and sun terrace.

Day Two – Included excursion to the Costa

Smeralda After a relaxed breakfast, board the coach for a leisurely introduction to the sun-kissed playground of the Costa Smeralda, a 12-mile stretch of reclaimed and tastefully developed coastline that over the last 50 years has grown to become one of the world’s most celebrated holiday playgrounds and a haven to the Mediterranean’s sailing and private motor yacht community. Idyllic hidden coves, beaches fringed by azure waters and backed by fragrant, herb-filled scrubland, tiny offshore islets and the ultrachic ‘capital’ Porto Cervo, whose church and shopping arcade were both designed by the same architect, all contribute to the allure of this unique location. Porto Cervo offers a collection of restaurants, spas and boutiques, which you can seek out at your leisure. Return to your hotel to unwind and have dinner.

Day Three – Included visit to Alghero

Today’s excursion sees you travel to historic Alghero, the principal town of Sardinia’s north and a thriving fishing port since its earliest times. The Old Quarter with its 16th-century cathedral and narrow, cobbled streets, is surrounded by stout battlements linking seven defensive towers. Delicious ice cream can be sampled at any number of gelatarie, so make sure to seek one out. You can also wander along the sweeping promenade, which stretches past magnificent beaches and faces out across the blue waters

Available Aug to Dec 2022, Jan to Jun, Sep to Dec 2023, Jan to Jun & Sep to Dec 2024 May to Jul, Sep & Oct 2023

Fly direct (flight upgrades available). Prices from Fly direct from these airports. Prices from

• Heathrow £1,699 • Manchester £1,749* (UK connecting flights available – call us for details) Bristol £1,599 • Gatwick £1,599 • Luton £1,599 • Manchester £1,599

Personalise your holiday Personalise your holiday

• • New Orleans City Tour (half day) – from £21Calanques Boat Cruise – from £43 • Bayou & Alligators Tour (half day) – from £25 • Memphis: Graceland & Sounds of the South (full day) – from £89 • Studio B & the Country Music Hall of Fame (half day) – from £45 Room for Sole Use from £592 Room for Sole Use from £345 Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 15 minutes.

Please note: *Some departures from Manchester into the USA are via Houston instead of Atlanta and will follow a slightly different itinerary which can be seen on our website. All of the main tour highlights remain included. The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately three hours.

Gulf of Porto Corsica

Piana

Ajaccio Porticcio

Bonifacio

Alghero Capo Caccia Olbia Italy

Sardinia

Costa Smeralda

• Spend four nights in Sardinian Olbia • Tour the glitzy ‘playground paradise’ of the sparkling Costa Smeralda • Discover ancient Alghero and its offshore

‘sleeping giant’ Capo Caccia • Cross by ferry from Sardinia to Corsica • Discover Corsica’s exquisite Bonifacio • Three nights in Napoleon’s birthplace Ajaccio • A guided tour brings Ajaccio to life • Visit idyllic sea-side Porto • See the amazing rock formations of the

Calanches de Piana • Seven nights’ carefully chosen three- and four-star bed and breakfast accommodation • Return ferry crossings • Return flights to Olbia, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable

fun fact...

Did you know that Sardinia is the only region of Italy to not have a motorway? This is a perfect indication of the island’s relaxed pace of life.

Porto Cervo Dining, Old Town

Statue of Napoléon Bonaparte in Ajaccio

to distant Capo Caccia, a rocky promontory that in silhouette looks for all the world like a sleeping giant. After a marvellous day, you’ll return to Olbia for the last evening in the hotel.

Day Four – Ferry to Bonifacio and onward travel

to Ajaccio Today sees you bid farewell to your Sardinian hosts as you journey to the port at Santa Teresa di Gallura. Corsican landfall is made at this exquisite natural harbour and fortified town of Bonifacio, set high upon the wind and waveweathered cliffs - one of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular locations. The tourist train will take you up to the famous haute ville to take in the incredible views. Perhaps nurse a drink in one of the cafés that line the quayside, then re-board the coach for the onward journey north through some beautiful scenery to your hotel in Ajaccio for the next four nights.

Day Five – Included guided tour of Ajaccio

A half-day guided excursion introduces island capital Ajaccio, the birthplace in 1769 of Napoléon Bonaparte. Set on a sweeping bay, Ajaccio would be a fascinating place even without its associations with the Little Emperor, with its ancient old town, countless restaurants and cafés, and the towering citadelle, which surveys the colourful vista. After the tour, spend more time in exploration and discovery or return to the hotel to enjoy rest and relaxation by the pool.

Day Six – Included west coast tour and optional

cruise A last enjoyable included excursion sees you head to the nature reserve, facing the blue Gulf of Porto, where the fantastical, UNESCOlisted Calanches are a collection of oddly shaped and eroded, pink granite rock formations, carved by nature over millennia into the shapes of animals and other figures. The road winds through the reserve from sleepy Piana with its pink houses and spectacular views, then on down to exquisite Porto, a famous resort town with its tiny harbour and pebbly beach overlooked by an ancient watchtower. Spend some time enjoying the surroundings, then re-board the coach for the return journey to Ajaccio or more likely join the optional 90-minute return boat cruise to Calanques, a beautiful journey that will afford the best views of the towering Calanches from the water.

Day Seven – Relax in Ajaccio before returning to Bonifacio and taking the ferry back to Sardinia

Today you can enjoy your last day in Corsica before travelling mid afternoon to Bonifacio to catch the ferry to Sardinia where you will spend the last night of your holiday enjoying the Hotel Martini in Olbia. Day Eight – Flight back to the UK Bid farewell to your hosts as you make the early scenic transfer back to Bonifacio and take the ferry to Santa Teresa di Gallura. You’ll then head to Olbia for the return flight at the end of your exceptionally memorable twoisland holiday.

your hotels

Hotel Martini, Olbia, Sardinia HHHH Half Board nights 1-3 & 7

Overlooking the waters of the harbour and the shore-side park, this comfortable hotel offers bright, comfortable rooms with a TV, balcony or patio and free Wi-Fi. Just minutes away from the stunning Costa Smeralda beaches, it also has a restaurant, a bar/lounge and a sun terrace. Castel Vecchio, Ajaccio, Corsica HHH Half Board nights 4-6

Within walking distance of its shops and attractions, the Castel Vecchio, a comfortable base for your stay, features an outdoor pool, terrace, bar and dining room. The majority of the air-conditioned rooms present balcony and harbour views, as well as a bath or shower, and TV. There’s free Wi-Fi in all public areas, and in addition to the hotel’s own, there are many bars in the local area.

Hotel Martini

Castel Vecchio

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Visiting two of the Mediterranean’s most diverse islands, this tour will delve into scenic northern Sardinia and the muchloved Corsican coastal resort of Ajaccio.

Port in Ajaccio