It’s an unspoilt island that’s under a two-hour flight from London, sitting pretty in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet though it’s planted right under Brits’ noses, Corsica often escapes travel plans. 

“It’s such a small and exclusive destination,” explains Amandine Blanchard, product manager for Corsican Places. “It feels very special.”

While it’s exclusivity means prices can be higher than at more mainstream European destinations, the lack of development and natural beauty is a major drawcard for most of Corsican Places’ customers, she adds. 

“You’re rewarded with amazing scenery. A lot of people go back every year,” she says. “There are lots of citadels and little villages by the sea and clinging onto cliffs. You don’t get that in Majorca or Ibiza.”

Corsican Places was established in the late eighties, and bought by Serenity Holidays 12 years ago.

“[As a destination] it’s been growing every year,” says Blanchard. The average visitor is part of a couple aged 45 to 75 years old, she says. Great Rail Journeys’ head of sales and distribution, Sharon Smith, says its two tours in Corsica are “perfect for the silver traveller”, attracting those aged 65-plus. 

The operator’s 10-day tour takes in lots of Corsican towns, incorporates Sardinia and leads in from £1,695pp.

The itinerary includes a couple of excursions by train, while Great Rail Journey’s 12-day tour – which takes in much of Corsica’s coastline, and includes the Cote d’Azur – only features train travel on the outward and return legs, and starts from £3,240pp.

Blanchard adds, however, that Corsica is also popular with families during the May half-term and summer holidays, who make use of the many villas with pools available.

“We have lots of people interested in booking villas and apartments,” explains Blanchard, adding that they see a big uptake on car hire and can arrange self-drive itineraries.

Corsican Places offers villas, apartments and hotels across the island, but Blanchard warns that accommodation options are not quite as extensive as in other parts of the continent. “Hotels are still on a small-scale,” she notes. “Often they have just 10 to 20 rooms.”

One of Corsican Places’ most popular accommodation options is Le Home, which offers budget apartments and studios in the town of Calvi.

A week’s stay there leads in from £399pp including flights, accommodation and transfers.

“It’s a cluster of apartments in gardens right in the heart of Calvi,” she says. “It’s very good value for what you get.”

Calvi, Blanchard says, is perfect for first-time visitors. “If clients don’t want to drive, Calvi is a 10-minute transfer from the airport. The town has everything – a beach, a citadel and it’s the departure point for boat trips, trains and excursions.” 

Those who believe Corsica is only fit for sun, sand and sea should think again, adds Blanchard.

“Inland there’s canyoning and lakes and rivers,” she says.

“While on the coastline you can do watersports. Boat trips are recommended – there are so many parts of the island you can only access by boat or on foot.”

As the birthplace of Napoleon, the isle also harbours a great deal of history and culture, adds Blanchard, who highlights the entrancing mix of both France (the nation to which Corsica belongs) and Italy.  

Patrick Millar, marketing manager at Kirker Holidays, agrees.

“Corsica has maintained its rich sense of history, culture and identity, and remains unspoilt by mass market tourism, mainly because it is relatively difficult to get to,” he says.

“We have seen numbers grow among clients wanting to get away from the busy resorts of the Med. This is especially true outside the peak summer months: many of Corsica’s coastal resorts are full in July and August but we can offer excellent value for money in May and September.” 

He adds that more intrepid clients might like to pair the destination with France.

“Direct flights only operate on Sundays, so for clients who want to go for a shorter time, we often suggest a flight to Nice followed by an Air Corsica ‘hop’ to the island or a ferry crossing. We also recommend a stay on the Cote d’Azur before or after.”