Corsica archaeology tour

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

The tour has no internal flights. It runs overland from Bonifacio in the far south to Bastia in the north-east. Guests can arrive in Bonifacio by ferry from Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia, a crossing of about an hour, instead of flying in. Bastia has regular ferry services to mainland France and Italy, so guests can also travel home by sea and rail.

The whole group travels together in one minibus. This uses far less fuel per person than separate hire cars, and it keeps extra traffic off Corsica’s narrow mountain roads and out of its small historic centres. Bonifacio, Sartène, Ajaccio, Corte and Bastia are explored on guided walking tours. The Alta Rocca sites are reached on a 2-mile circular walk, so the group sees them at walking pace rather than from a car park.

Vegetarian and vegan meals are available every day. We let restaurants know about dietary requirements in advance so they can plan quantities and reduce food waste. In Bastia, the restaurant at the Hôtel des Gouverneurs prioritises local, seasonal produce and short supply chains.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Our Bonifacio hotel holds the EU Ecolabel for tourist accommodation and states that it is part of Nustrale, a regional environmental project in Corsica.

Our Bastia hotel, the Hôtel des Gouverneurs, composts surplus food, uses refillable toiletry containers, avoids single-use plastic water bottles and polystyrene food containers, and disposes of batteries and light bulbs safely.

Before departure, we send guests a note asking them to stay on marked paths at sites, leave stones and pottery fragments where they find them, bring a reusable water bottle and ask the guide where to refill it, take shorter showers and reuse towels in hotels, and buy local food, wine and crafts.

Entrance fees to all archaeological sites, museums and monuments on the itinerary are included.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Three of our four hotels are locally owned and run, in Sartène, Ajaccio and Bastia. The Bastia hotel was developed by a Corsican project leader and backed by Corsican regional investment funds. The Bonifacio hotel belongs to the Accor group.

The tour leader, archaeologist and drivers are all from Corsica. The tour ends in Bastia with a performance of traditional Corsican polyphonic singing.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

All local partners are paid above the national minimum wage.
Dr Kewin Peche-Quilichini was born in Ajaccio. He holds a PhD in Prehistoric Archaeology from Aix-Marseille University and has directed excavations at Cuciurpula, Cucuruzzu, Nuciarela, Monti Barbatu and Puzzonu. He has been director of the Musée de l’Alta Rocca since 2021.

We are an LGBTQ+ friendly tour company.

The tour is physically active. You need to carry or roll your luggage over uneven paving and stairs, and to stand and walk for up to three hours at a time. Contact us before booking if you have any mobility needs.