Corsica - The Scented Isle

The landscape was outstanding. Both David & Rob were extremely knowledgeable & friendly. They drove excellently on difficult mountain roads. [My highlights were] watching a Corsican finch drinking at very close quarters & listening to a bat identifier.

I wanted to visit Corsica and it exceeded my expectations for the unspoilt and stunning landscape and so many wildflowers everywhere. Every turn on the road or on a path revealed another gorgeous view. 

It has been a wonderful trip and our tour leaders were both flexible and innovative. For me, personally, the variety of wild flowers, especially those long since extinct or extremely rare in Britain, made the trip particularly rewarding.

Paul Harmes, tour leader and botanist, and Alan Miller, co-leader and ornithologist, were wonderful, making our time happy. Both were very keen and our group was delightful, knowledgeable, small in numbers and enjoyed sharing their interests. The two leaders were constantly watching to see we oldies could manage and were ready to help us.

Went on a solo holiday with Naturetrek to Corsica. With like minded travellers we were escorted up snowy peaks and down to leafy glens. It was just the fantastic holiday I had long waited for. We were catered for well and the guides were just amazing. Full of enthusiasm and very knowledgeable. Corsica is just the most amazing island and I have many happy memories from my week with Naturetrek. Made a special effort to make me feel welcome and looked after as a solo traveller.

Glorious week on the Mediterranean island of Corsica just a few hours off the coast of Nice on the Cote d'Azur. Snow still resting on the high peaks in May, while strongly scented maquis covered the hillsides. Many endemic wildflower plants, (including orchards) were brought to our attention with such enthusiasm by an expert plant identification person. Corsican finches, the Corsican nuthatch, the Corsican Fire Salamander as well as the Corsican pine were wonderful to see, together with flocks of bee-eaters, crossbills and a good view (over several minutes) of a firecrest, also an enormous Egyptian grasshopper. Spectacular gorges, truly breathtaking landscapes and such a variety of habitats, from the inland highlands to the coastal salt pans. From the iconic historical village of Corte to the Roman ruins at Aléria near the eastern coast. Both our guides were professional both in their knowledge and their behaviour during our trip. Our Ornithologist (s) and Plant expert were both good all rounders and yet still eager to learn from anyone within the group with a special expertise. Very friendly and informative with willingness to go out of their way to help us see things we were particularly interested in.

This was the first time I'd been with Naturetrek and to Corsica and I was v. impressed by the country, scenery and the company. I spoke to someone in the office before I went who answered my questions & gave me accurate & helpful information and the booking arrangements were straightforward. We had 2 guides, both knowledgeable, well informed & able to communicate well. There was a flexible approach to fit in with people's interests (mostly birds & plants) and the weather and their was a sense of companionship & learning from each other. The group was friendly and individuals were able to adapt to each other with a sense of humour. A very enjoyable experience.

Both Paul and Alan were excellent leaders. They took great care over the less mobile members of the group, ensuring they were not left out. They also showed incredible patience with the more challenging participants. Paul and Alan's knowledge of the natural history and political history of the area made for a really enjoyable week.

I cannot speak more highly of the leaders for their knowledge of birds and plants, as well as their concern for their clients' safety and comfort. They were both excellent leaders and helped make sure that we both enjoyed ourselves and saw a wide range of birds and plants.

The visit was well planned, using known sites that provided good opportunities to see a variety of habitats and various treats of wildlife. Our leaders were keen to give us the best ... their enthusiasm for both the area and its wildlife was quickly passed on, making the foundations for a very successful trip. The accommodation was excellent and we appreciate the efforts made to look after us. No complaints at all - we were very well catered for! Overall the holiday was an excellent introduction to the area, providing good opportunities to see some fantastic wildlife. Many thanks to both Alan and Paul.

This was my 8th Naturetrek holiday and one of the best. Flowers, scenery, expertise of leaders... all excellent.

Both leaders worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone got the most out of the trip and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Their hard work, good humour, broad knowledge and enthusiasm made for a very happy and successful week.

David Morris was brilliant in so many ways. His knowledge extends beyond birds. He was excellent on orchids and butterflies etc which was a real bonus. He was very helpful on the more difficult climbs (eg. carrying my rucksack)! He was able to give very accurate descriptions of walks etc. I found this very reassuring. A very impressive young man and an excellent leader. Even though I'm not a 'birder', I'd happily join another holiday where he was a leader.

This was a happy group. I was very impressed with the programme - both botany and birds. Coming from so far away is a gamble but this was great.

In the company of very knowledgeable and cheerful leaders and nice participants, it was great being in such beautiful nature and learning an seeing so many plants and birds.