Road trip: Île de Beauté

Our first time in Corsica, and what an adventure it was. We camped right on the beach, pitched tents in the mountains alongside wild boars, and woke up next to friendly neighborhood donkeys. Navigating the island in a 6-meter van was a wild ride, but we made it. Covered in dust, salt, and sand – these were the happiest days.

We had a beautiful drive through Switzerland on our way to Genova.

All set for the morning ferry to Corsica.

Corsica welcomed us with its signature scent: a warm blend of pine and wild flora that immediately captured the essence of holiday. It is early summer, the peak season for the maquis. This rugged evergreen shroud that blankets the island is now in vibrant bloom, infusing the Mediterranean air with a thick, unforgettable perfume. Mmmhhhhh.

Kallisté, “the most beautiful” – this is the name the ancient Greeks gave to the island of Corsica. Today, the French still call it Île de Beauté, the Island of Beauty.

It is a land of true superlatives. Along the coast, radiant white beaches and turquoise waters are framed by lush green pines. In the south, dramatic red porphyry and eroded granite rocks split the sandy coves. These fantastically shaped stone formations, known as taffoni, transform the landscape into a picturesque fairytale world – even if they make navigating a camper van a bit of a challenge.

We parked in the very first row, with our feet literally in the sand. Didn’t take long, and we were already in love with this Island!

Waking up to the waves. Catching 5:00 AM sunrises. Living in a bikini and diving into the sea all day. Eat, beach, sleep, repeat. Loved every second.

It’s time to leave the (first) beach paradise. Moving on to southern Corsica.

What a beautiful drive. 

Those colors.

Another corner of paradise found. Campsite #2 has private access to a wild, secluded beach and a bit more privacy from neighbors. We’re officially living off-grid, and our solar setup was working perfectly. ☀️🏖️

A short 500m walk to this stunning beach.

Wild & secluded means also it can happen that a couple of wild boars are crossing the camp site 😱

Aperol Spritz instead! Cheers!

How many more beautiful beaches has Corsica to offer?

Cruising along and stumbled upon this stunning beach. Pulled over, threw on a bikini, and took the most refreshing dip. Loving this van life. 🤙🏻

Camping no.3 had no direct beach access but a wonderful pool. A real gem since it got hotter and hotter. 

Very nice campground.

We saw so many beautiful butterflies 🦋 

The beaches are beautiful, but those who never leave the sea miss the island’s second, equally captivating side: In the sparsely populated interior, a wild, untamed mountain range awaits, with knobby granite peaks, gnarled, wind-sculpted Laricio pines, picturesque mountain lakes, and numerous mountain streams that form deep, crystal-clear pools perfect for swimming.

We reached camping no.4 after a wild ride through the mountains. The views were just wow. Hubby did an amazing job driving. Streets were tight, sometimes so tight 2 cars couldn‘t pass each other. Scary. We made it, not falling off a cliff. And it’s still off-season, not too many vans on the road, yet.

Finally we arrived.

Corsica is a breath of fresh air. It holds an entire continent’s worth of variety on a single island. It has all the ease of a classic Med­i­ter­ra­nean getaway, but with a wild, untamed beauty. Hidden beaches which can only be reached by boat, clifftop villages, and historic ports. One minute you are looking at rugged, alpine mountains; the next, you are staring at pristine, untouched coastlines.

Leaving another paradise. Moving on north to meet our friends. What we did not expect: another crazy but beautiful wild drive.

Fortunately, we had the road to ourselves. Passing another van seemed borderline impossible most of the time – which is exactly why it took us two hours to cover just 50km 🚐 😎

Calanques de Piana showed off their blazing cliffs. By car or by sea, each way is just as spectacular. Every angle reveals a new shape, a new contrast between the rock, sky and Mediterranean. Wow! Charlie didn’t enjoy the ride at all 🤢 But very often there is only one road and no alternative…

Two weeks of camping is a world away from a simple weekend stay. It truly tested our teamwork. Every new site presented a fresh puzzle: how to orient the vehicle and set up camp. Luckily, we found our rhythm early on, building a great routine and a smart split of tasks.

Corsica’s tight streets and compact parking lots can make maneuvering a six-meter van both challenging and exhausting. Thankfully, most local campgrounds feature handy on-site supermarkets, making it easy to grab fresh baguettes & croissants every morning.

We spent the last few nights catching up with friends in a beautifully air-conditioned lodge – and honestly, it was pure bliss. Our days were a perfect blur of beach trips, pool dips, cooking together, and eating out.

With so many breathtaking beaches, we were completely spoiled for choice – exploring a hidden gem each day.

Shopping for dinner ❤️

Another beautiful day is ending.

Eating with our feet in the sand & a beautiful sunset.

Can I please stay? 🫶🏻

A Corsen concert in the church.

A last lunch at the beach before taking the ferry back to Italy.

Corsica, we loved it all: your dramatic alpine geography with pristine Mediterranean coastlines, stunning beaches, your slow pace, the food, the choice of campsites… just everything 🫶🏻