Destination: Corsica
Corsica tours for seniors
Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across the Mediterranean and beyond. We explore Corsica’s incredible natural beauty, its Franco-Italian heritage, Natural Heritage Sites, and incredible seaside towns, with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Corsica, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.
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Corsica Tours
Hand crafted tours for mature World Travellers
25 days
Apr, Sep, OctMediterranean Islands Small Group Tour | Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica
Visiting Corsica, Italy
For centuries Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica held the key to the Mediterranean. Unlike other European tour companies, Odyssey provides a tour leader and local guides to share detailed itineraries about the destinations on these small group journeys. This escorted tour of western Mediterranean explores the geography, history, culture and peoples of these 4 islands. Small group tour for mature couples and solo travellers. A reasonable single supplement is charged.
From A$19,750 AUD
View TourSituated amidst the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, the rugged island of Corsica holds much for the mature traveller looking to discover something new. Take in the cobbled streets of the old town of Calvi, or get out of the city and onto the white sandy beaches of the Tyrrhenian Sea coast. Inland, head to the rugged cliffs of the Col de Bavella. With its stunning natural scenery and picturesque coastal towns, Corsica is a feast for the eyes and a wonderful travel destination. Join Odyssey Traveller as we take you on a journey across this beautiful island.
Articles
About Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica: islands of the western Mediterranean
For senior and mature travellers taking a small group tour to Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica, this paper answers questions and provides the historical context of a small group tour for couples and solo travellers to the Historic Mediterranean sea.
Pillars of Hercules
Article about the history of where the Mediterranean sea meets the Atlantic ocean for the explorers from Crete, Italy, Spain, including the Phoenicians and the Romans. For senior couples and mature solo travelers interested in small group educational tour.
Touring Corsica
The need to know
Getting around
Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Buses operate on routes around the island, though service availability can be somewhat limited. Corsica’s single train line, the Chemin de Fer de la Corse, links Ajaccio and Bastia, and is a very scenic, if somewhat limited, way to travel.
Accommodation
In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our longstay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.
Tour Guides
Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.
Geography, environment and weather
Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus. The terrain of Corsica is largely mountainous, with Corsica contatining a cluster of 20 peaks exceeding 2,000 metres. Corsica has 1,000 kilometres of coastline and contains more than 200 beaches.
Corsica has a warm Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and mild winters. Depending on when you intend to travel, check the weather reports and dress accordingly.
World Heritage sites
There is currently 1 World Heritage Site in Corsica currently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List. The World Heritage Sites in Corsica include:
Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve – a rugged landscape cliffs, mountains and scrubland, which together constitute a distinctive and eye-catching natural landscape.
Festivals and events
Numerous festivals and events dot the calendar in Corsica. Given the deep influence of the Catholic church in Corsica, religious festivals are of great signficance in Corsica, most particularly Holy Week, with processions in towns across Corsica commemorating and re-enacting Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The produce of the island is showcased in several events such as the Festival of the Almond, the Festival of the Olive, and Festival of the Fig. Other notable events include Fête de la Musique (Festival of Music) and Feira di Musica Classica, Santa Reparata di Balagna (Classical Music Festival).
Reading list
Granite island: a portrait of Corsica, by Dorothy Carrington
The Rose Cafe, by John Hanson Mitchell
Napoleon The Great, by Andrew Roberts
Honorable Bandit, by Brian Bouldrey
Eating and Drinking
Corsican food bears strong influences of both French and Italian cooking, while retaining a distinctive local identity. Charcuterie forms a central part of Corsican cuisine, with traditional cured meats including prisuttu (smoked raw ham), lonzu (pork loin), and figatellu (sausage prepared with pork liver). Cheese also features prominently in Corsican cuisine, with numerous cheeses made from sheep or goat’s milk, including brocciu, niulincu, and corsu vecchiu. Seafood rounds out the Corsican diet, with fish, crayfish, oysters, and mussels popularly consumed.
Corsica has a long history of wine-making, with many types of wine still produced and consumed in Corsica. Aside from wine, several different liqueurs are made and enjoyed in Corsica, including aquavita (a local grappa) and myrtle (a liqueur made from berries).
Health and Safety
Generally speaking, Corsica is safe to travel in, though always exercise common sense while travelling. Theft has been a problem in Corsica, so keep a close eye on your valuables and pay attention to your personal security.
Electrical supply
Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. Corsica’s electricity supply runs at 230V and 50Hz. Corsica uses Type C and Type E electric plugs, so make sure you have the right travel adaptor with you.
Highlights
The best of Corsica
Maison Bonaparte
Maison Bonaparte, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Bonifacio Citadel
Bonifacio Citadel, the imposing fortress that towers over the town of Bonifacio.
Lavezzi archipelago
Lavezzi archipelago, a breath-taking natural reserve located in the south of Corsica.
Tour Reviews
Every day was different with so much to see and do. Volcanoes, craters (including the pseudo ones), bubbling mud pools, and the active Strokkur Geyser, the bird life, black sand beaches, and those beautiful Icelandic horses. The time flew by...
Participant 2016
Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour
The geographical wonders offered by Iceland and Greenland left me in awe. The grandeur and spectacle of the countryside is breathtaking. Our leader (Rob) was excellent: well-researched, friendly, organized and good-humoured.
Participant 2017
Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour
We felt safe in Turkey and found the people friendly and helpful. Prices were excellent and the food almost universally magnificent. There is so much to see in the natural and built environment and the wonderful archaeological sites. It is sad to see the ordinary people and businesses suffering from the lack of tourists. Mary B. Sep '17
Participant 2017
Small group tour of Ancient Turkey
Our guide Filiz was wonderful, very well informed, historical insights very helpful, her care for our well being exceptional. Could not have wished for a better tour leader.
Participant 2017
Small group tour of Ancient Turkey
The country was apparently calm and safe. People were friendly and helpful. Such a pity there has been such a down turn in tourism. Ros & Tony S. Sep '17
Participant 2017
Small group tour of Ancient Turkey
It is hard to believe that such a small country can contain so much dramatic scenery. Icecaps and glaciers, huge waterfalls, volcanos and hot bubbling mud, and those wonderful fjords and high mountain passes
Participant 2016
Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour
Our guide was a great ambassador for his country, wide knowledge of literature, history, customs, industry, fishing - also a perceptive and sensitive person who inter-acted so willingly with all of us!
Participant 2016
Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour
I was impressed by the number of places we visited. It was a very full itinerary which I like. We saw things of interest every day. I see no fault with the tour.
Participant 2017
Anglo French Tour | Normandy, Brittany, Channel Islands tour
FAQs
What time zone is Corsica in?
Corsica has a single time zone, Central European Time (UTC+1). Daylight savings in Corsica commence on the last Sunday of March, and conclude on the last Sunday of October.
Is tipping customary in Corsica?
If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services. Tipping is not mandatory in Corsica, though it is appreciated. Small tips will generally be accepted by restaurant servers, drivers, and hotel staff for good service.
What is the internet access like in Corsica?
Wifi should be available in many hotels, cafes and restaurants when travelling in Corsica.
Can I use my mobile/cell phone while in Corsica?
Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in Corsica. Many providers will allow you to pay a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.
Articles about Corsica published by Odyssey Traveller:
About Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica.
Mediterranean Islands: Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica.
For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.
External articles to assist you on your visit to Corsica:
Travel + Leisure: Guide to Corsica.
New York Times: Into Corsica, From Rustic Villages to Stony Cliffs.
Responsible travel tips for Corsica
- Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although many locals speak English, the more you know of the native language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
- Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
- Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
- When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums and galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
- Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
- Before departing, make sure you have a number of euro in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.
About Odyssey Traveller
We specialise in educational small group tours for seniors, typically groups between six to 12 people from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and Britain. Our maximum number of people on a tour is 18 mature aged travellers.We have some 150 tours and offer 300 scheduled departures on offer each year. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs since 1983.
Odyssey Traveller is committed to charitable activities that support the environment and cultural development of Australian and New Zealand communities.
Odyssey Traveller scholarship for Australia & New Zealand University students.
We are also pleased to announce that since 2012, Odyssey has been awarding $10,000 Equity & Merit Cash Scholarships each year. We award scholarships on the basis of academic performance and demonstrated financial need. We award at least one scholarship per year. We’re supported through our educational travel programs, and your participation helps Odyssey achieve its goals. Students can apply for the scholarship by clicking on this link to find out more details.
Join our loyalty program when you join an international small group tour.
Every International small group tour taken typically contributes to your membership level in our Loyalty Program for regular travellers. Membership of the alumni starts when you choose to take your first international small group tour with Odyssey Traveller, discounts in tour pricing for direct bookings accrue from your third tour with Odyssey Traveller. To see the discounts and benefits of being a Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond alumni member with us, please see this page.
For more information on Odyssey Traveller and our educational small group tours, visit and explore our website., remember to visit these pages in particular
- Terms and conditions applicable for booking an Odyssey Traveller tour.
- FAQ’s about Odyssey Traveller
Alternatively, please call or send an email.
