First-Class Wonders of Corsica & Sardinia

Your holiday begins by meeting the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras, ready for boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in spacious Plus class, we are served a light meal at our comfortable seats before we change in the French capital to the First Class train to the port town of Toulon.

On our way to the Mediterranean, we are whisked the 500 miles to the south of France in a touch over four hours. A city known for its many fountains, and with narrow streets opening on to tree-covered squares, Toulon is also a historically important port. On arrival, we check in to our hotel and enjoy our first dinner together this evening.

• Eurostar light meal
• Dinner

After an early breakfast, we are transferred the short distance to Toulon's ferry port. Corsica is today's destination as we board the ferry* to this Mediterranean island.

Sailing past the stunning French Riviera and across azure waters, there is plenty of time to soak up the sun on deck as we spend the day cruising. Inside, you can enjoy the bars and a choice of restaurants, including an à la carte menu.

The history of Corsica is synonymous with these waters and the Genoese who occupied the island for nearly 500 years from the 13th century. Once a trading empire stretching from Morocco to the Black Sea, Corsica was strategically important to the Genoese and still bears many reminders, such as the Salt Tower in the charming coastal town of Calvi. It's in this picturesque location that we stay for three nights in a stylishly converted 16th-century monastery.

*Please note: the timings and routings of ferries are subject to change.

• Breakfast

A guided tour of laid-back Calvi follows a leisurely breakfast this morning. Overlooked by its imposing medieval citadel, this compact port town has more than 3,000 years of history and, legend has it, was the birthplace of explorer Christopher Columbus.

With a free afternoon, there are many options in this historic town, including a variety of beaches or the hotel's exquisite pool and terrace. Alternatively, the picturesque marina is lined with palms and alfresco restaurant decks and exudes a peaceful Adriatic feel. Views stretch across the harbour, dappled with small boats, to overlapping mountain peaks. Connected to the marina via the Genoese tower, the citadel recalls the town's military past in a setting of pastel buildings and cobbled streets.

This evening, we regroup for dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Boarding the local 'Trinichellu' train after breakfast, we enjoy a journey that passes the very edge of the immaculate white-sand beaches of the Balagne coast. Disembarking in L'Île-Rousse, we have time for lunch independently in this market town with shaded squares. Indulging in some alfresco dining by the sea is a tempting option here.

Our journey continues by coach to visit stunning cliffside villages which appear hewn out of rock. The first is Monticello, where there's time to look around. The final and highest is Sant'Antonino, one of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France' (Most Beautiful Villages of France). With no cars, only medieval cobbled paths winding through covered passages which open on to spectacular views, it is easy to imagine you have travelled to a bygone age. Sant'Antonino boasts sweeping vistas of the azure sea and rugged mountains. The entrance to the village features stalls of local produce, and here we enjoy a refreshing juice at the Maison du Citron.

We drive back to our hotel later, and you are free to dine independently this evening.

• Breakfast

Taking a mid-morning coach to the inland village of Ponte Leccia, we board the train for a beautiful journey through lush green mountain scenery. This route is one of Europe's hidden gems.

The single-track railway passes pastel-coloured rural stations as it carves and twists its way through Corsica's mountainous and verdant interior. The route crosses Gustave Eiffel's 1890s viaduct over the plunging Vecchio Canyon and loops round steep hills, before entering the 2.5-mile-long Vizzavona tunnel and winding its way down to the island's capital. Ajaccio is a bustling port city of 75,000 people, home to about a fifth of the island's population, and was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.

After some free time to explore independently, we transfer by coach to our laid-back hotel in Propriano, set in peaceful parkland, overlooking the Mediterranean. We arrive in the early evening with a little time to relax before dinner in our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is spent at leisure in Propriano, which gives you the chance to savour the unspoilt tranquility of southern Corsica. Our four-star hotel overlooks the beautiful Valinco Gulf. It offers two swimming pools, a seasonal hot tub, and a wellness area, so those wanting to relax after breakfast need not go far.

For those who want to step out, you will find fine sandy beaches and the tempting Mediterranean Sea nearby. The small town of Propriano is close by and easy to explore. You could start by visiting the harbour where colourful houses overlook the marina of yachts and sailing boats. Beyond the harbour is the main street, lined with shops and traditional houses.

Later this afternoon, we are transferred by shuttle bus into town for a tasting of local wine and sharing platters of cheese and charcuterie. Experiencing authentic Corsican produce in a traditional setting is an ideal way to spend our final night on this beautiful island.

• Breakfast

Leaving Propriano after breakfast, we drive to the southern port town of Bonifacio for our ferry across to Sardinia.

Bonifacio is a spectacular town perched high on cliffs on a narrow spit of land. The attractive lower town stands beside a serene harbour of working boats and small cruisers. We explore beautiful Bonifacio on a guided tour and have free time over lunch to perhaps sample one of the town's restaurants before catching the ferry to Sardinia. With Corsica belonging to France and Sardinia to Italy, these two islands - known as 'the forgotten corner of Europe' - have very individual and distinct characteristics. However, as they are both disconnected from the hustle of the mainland, they share a laid-back calm.

Once in Sardinia, known for its turquoise waters and enticing beaches, we check in for four nights in a five-star hotel on Alghero's seafront, getting a taste of the area over dinner in the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Relish the blissful views of the sea from our hotel during breakfast overlooking the seafront, before a guided tour of Alghero. Having once been ruled by Catalans and now by Italy, the fortified Old Town combines many Mediterranean styles, with narrow streets opening on to charming piazzas.

From the large marina berthed with small boats and yachts, we set sail for a holiday highlight. The wondrous Neptune's Grotto is accessed directly from the boat* and this cavernous system of tranquil subterranean lakes is filled with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. These breathtaking wonders of natural art combine with still waters inside the cave to create an otherworldly environment.

Back in Alghero this evening, you have free time to explore and to sample the local cuisine. You might like to try fregola pasta with clams and carasau flatbread. Pair these tasty delicacies with a glass of local wine at one of the centre's many restaurants.

*Please note: surfaces inside the cave are uneven and sometimes slippery, so you can opt to stay on the boat and experience this trip to the grotto without going inside.

• Breakfast

Having learned about Alghero's fascinating history yesterday, a free day after breakfast gives you a choice to explore further or spend the day relaxing.

With a large outdoor pool (open from May to September), an extensive spa (payable locally) and wellness provision, two restaurants and a bar with an attractive terrace, this exceptional hotel takes care of all your relaxation needs.

Another option today is to take in the delights of Alghero's Old Town, which can also be reached by walking along the palm-lined promenade. With many honey-coloured buildings and churches dating back to the 16th century or even further, a stroll amongst its narrow streets provides many timeless views. Whether exploring the shaded streets, the tree-lined esplanade or the historic ramparts, you are certain to find an attractive spot to enjoy a cooling aperitif or a glass of crisp local wine.

• Breakfast

After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to Castelsardo, one of the 'loveliest towns in Italy'. Appearing as an imposing hilltop fortress, the early 12th-century Castello dei Doria is only one of the ingredients in Castelsardo's beauty. Hiding behind the impressive castle is the delightful old town. A cluster of pale-hued buildings overlooks a network of narrow, shaded lanes, while trattorias and cafés spill out on to the characterful alleys.

You are at leisure over lunch in Castelsardo, and you can admire magnificent views of the rugged coast from the Piazza del Duomo, where the cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate stands. Its campanile tower was originally a lighthouse but is now topped with a colourful tiled cupola. Inland, the modern town with its painted houses cascades down the slope in a burst of colour.

We drive back to our hotel this afternoon with time to freshen up before a highlight of our trip this evening. For dinner tonight we attend a family-owned 'agriturismo'. An amazing farm-to-table experience, we enjoy a four-course meal of local specialities in idyllic surroundings.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A leisurely morning after breakfast at our costal Alghero hotel provides an ideal opportunity to relax and soak up the charms of this corner of Sardinia.

Afterwards, we transfer by coach to nearby Porto Torres, where we board the overnight ferry* back to the mainland. With outside-facing ensuite cabins, each with a porthole, you may want to take the opportunity to relax in your cabin while you sail across the crystal blue Mediterranean, or head onto the deck to enjoy the sights and sounds of the journey.

A range of restaurants and bars are available onboard as we dine independently.

*Please note: ferry timings are subject to change.

• Breakfast

The leisurely atmosphere and spectacular sights of Corsica and Sardinia have been experienced from a selection of hotels that blended relaxation with a glimpse of the islands' history. The appeal of Corsica and Sardinia has been explored while uncovering unspoilt villages of honey-hued stone and timeless age, journeying on charming trains, visiting jaw-dropping caves or sampling local cuisine.

Disembarking in Toulon on the French mainland, we transfer to the station where we take our First Class seats to Paris. In the French capital, we join the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal at our seat before we arrive back in London St Pancras, where your fantastic voyage of discovery concludes.

• Eurostar light meal