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Peregrine Travel Centre

Wild & Authentic Corsica with Ponant

Wild & Authentic Corsica with Ponant

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Description

PONANT invites you to take to the sea, without a care in the world, to enjoy a break from reality in a privileged setting and cast a fresh eye over the infinite riches of the French coastline. As your journey unfolds and depending on the elements, you will enjoy magnificent moments as unique as they are unexpected.

Leaving from Nice, set sail aboard Le Bellot for an authentic 7-night cruise and get to the very heart of Corsica, a fascinating island of a thousand fragrances and influences.

Below the Cap Corse mountains and the Agriates desert, the beauty of the landscapes gives Saint-Florent a picture-postcard appearance.

You will also visit Bonifacio, the jewel of the far south of Corsica. A veritable fortress sculpted by the wind and the spray, the “sentinel city” will reveal its historical centre and its long cobbled streets.

The magnificent idyllic beaches that have forged the reputation of the Isle of Beauty, such as the Gulf of Santa-Manza, are complemented by the breathtaking and unspoiled natural landscapes.

The most southerly point of Corsica, Cap Pertusato, meaning “pierced”, announces the presence of a rock that has been perforated through the middle. At this majestic site you will discover a succession of natural caves forged by the sea.

The sumptuous archipelago formed by the pointe de la Parata and the îles Sanguinaires announces the entrance to the Gulf of Ajaccio. The long line of crests seems to extend the coast like a backbone. Listed as a Grand Site de France and a Natura 2000 area, this coastal landscape at the foot of the mountains is home to exceptional biodiversity adapted to the harsh climate. Here, Nature is the star attraction.

The turquoise waters of the island will satisfy all desires for swimming and nautical activities. Far from the hordes, these unspoiled areas encourage the observation of nature and the practice of sporting activities.

During this trip, you may be lucky enough to see certain species of cetaceans, such as bottlenose dolphins, rorquals and pilot whales, common off the Mediterranean coastline.

Trip Name
Wild & Authentic Corsica with Ponant
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 131 metres Passenger Capacity: 184 Built: 2019-2020 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Bellot will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts. PUBLIC AREAS Le Bellot has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides:   Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 NICE
Capital of the Cote d’Azur, Nice is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills and mountains that protects it from the wind. You will probably want to explore the Promenade des Anglais, where you can sit on one of the famous blue chairs laid out opposite the baie des Anges. The Château hill is also a very pleasent place to walk. This is the entrance to the old city, with its bustling markets and regional products along the main street, the Cours Saleya.
Day 2 - Day 2 SAINT-FLORENT, CORSICA
In the hollow of one of the most beautiful gulfs of the Mediterranean to which it owes its name, Saint-Florent is an ancient Genoese city whose citadel dominates the bay with its circular architecture. A link between the mountains of Upper Corsica and the Agriates desert, the fishing village has become a renowned seaside resort. In front of this jewel nestled in the hollow of a wild and isolated region, sublime beaches of fine sand border a sea of infinite turquoise shades. At the western tip of the gulf, the Tower of Mortella, built in the 16th century under the Republic of Genoa to prevent from invaders, stands watch. Like most of the towers that dot the Corsican coast, it is an emblematic and familiar symbol of the island.
Day 3 - Day 3 BONIFACIO, CORSICA
The spectacular town of Bonifacio located on the very tip of southern Corsica, clings to a narrow promontory of white rock overhanging the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. You can admire its limestone cliffs hewn out by the wind, before setting off on a cultural tour of its cultural treasures. From the little paved streets in the ancient Haute Ville, to the promenade on the open-air medieval chemin de ronde, this stunning town will take you on a journey back in time. Frequented or secluded, there are numerous beaches to choose from, all in keeping with the high standards of the “Île de Beauté”.
Day 4 - Day 4 GULF OF SANTA-MANZA, CORSICA
In the south-east of Corsica, between Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio, the gulf of Santa Manza, famous for its magnificent sandy beaches, is revealed. You will benefit from exceptional viewpoints over the landscapes of rare beauty formed by the limestone cliffs, covered with scrub, plunging into the turquoise waters and the granite rocks on the water's edge.
Day 5 - Day 5 ROCCAPINA, CORSICA
Located in the south-west of Corsica the wild rocky Roccapina headlands covered in pine forest are a conservation area. The headlands embrace two bays of turquoise blue water and powder-soft sandy beaches. You may not see many people but traces of the region’s Genovese past are visible, including a 17th century tower. However, the main attraction is provided by Nature in the form of dramatic rocky peaks sculpted by the wind into the shape of animals and humans. On the top of a rocky outcrop one of the most famous formations strongly resembles a lion lying down, its head up surveying the coast.
Day 6 - Day 6 PARATA PENINSULA & SANGUINAIRES ISLANDS
The Pointe de la Parata offers a magnificent view over the Sanguinaires Islands, which form the Sanguinaires archipelago closing the bay of Ajaccio to the north. This black granite headland is topped by the Parata tower, built by the Genoese in the 16th century to protect the island against Barbarian invasions. Here the wind and the sea spray have forged the abrupt and wild landscape where only vegetation able to resist the onslaught of the wind and the sea has its place. You will be in an exceptional position to observe the fascinating spectacle of this perspective of islands following the same invisible crest line towards the horizon.Made up of the pointe de la Parata and the Sanguinaires Islands theSanguinaires archipelago was named Grand Site de France in 2017. At this exceptional site made up of four rocky volcanic islands, Mezu Mare is the largest. A semaphore built on the site of a former Genoese tower and the ruins of a 14th century lazaretto, a quarantine station at the time of the plague, is testimony to a rich heritage. The island is also home to many colonies of marine birds including the Yellow-legged gull or the European shag. In his Letters from my windmill, Alphonse Daudet, a regular here, described this site with feeling: “I had found a pleasant place there where I could muse in solitude.”
Day 7 - Day 7 CALVI, CORSICA
Nestled on a rocky spur in the north-west of Corsica, the port of Calvi offers its whiteness between two sapphire-coloured bays. Capital of the Balagne region, the Genoese city benefits from an exceptional natural setting between the abrupt relief of the central chain, fertile hills and long sandy beaches. From the promontory of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Serra chapel, built in the 19th century on the ruins of a 15th century sanctuary, you will not miss the sublime panorama of the seaside, the mountains and the Calvi citadel. A little further west, you will have the opportunity to discover with the peninsula of Revelatta, a wilder and more preserved part of Corsica.
Day 8 - Day 8 NICE
Capital of the Cote d’Azur, Nice is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills and mountains that protects it from the wind. You will probably want to explore the Promenade des Anglais, where you can sit on one of the famous blue chairs laid out opposite the baie des Anges. The Château hill is also a very pleasent place to walk. This is the entrance to the old city, with its bustling markets and regional products along the main street, the Cours Saleya.
Day 9 - Please Note:
This itinerary is given as an indication only. Based on tide times and weather conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader may need to change the order of certain ports of call to ensure guests have the best possible experience.Encounters with wildlife are possible but cannot be guaranteed.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Travel in France, and (re)discover the beauty of the Mediterranean coast.
    • A quest for wide-open spaces and recharging of batteries in the comfort and calm of a PONANT ship.
    • Enjoy the expertise of a team of English-speaking naturalist guides aboard ship and during activities.
    • Discover Corsica differently.
    • Discover its culture and heritage, including the Genoese towers.
    • Authenticity, terroir and regional traditions.
    • Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables.
    • Possibility of diving (PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor on board.
    • Far from the crowds, including nautical and land-based activities.

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