Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Who travels with Kalliste Tours?
A: Our guests are active people who love to travel in a very small circle of friends to broaden their horizons, and immerse themselves into the local culture. They range in age from mid-forties to mid-seventies. They travel single, in couple, or with friends. They expect to have access to unique and remote places and knowledge. They appreciate old-fashioned hospitality, personal attention, “real food”, and Nature. They value authenticity and human contact. They want to know exactly how much they will be spending. They expect to be cared for with style and kindness and be touched by a beautiful experience, to return home refreshed and fulfilled, with vibrant memories. For us, each of our guests is unique and special and so deserves to be treated.

Q: I am an independent traveler, why should I book with Kalliste Tours instead of arranging a trip myself?
A: Organizing a trip to Corsica from the U.S can be more than challenging. In Corsica, the cultural identity is strong and well-preserved, what makes Corsica a most authentic and unique place to visit. However, Corsica is not one of these resort islands where everything is “staged” for tourism and the place can be difficult to enter.
Considering all the preparation work, the uncertainties about where to go, what to visit, where to stay, where and what to eat, driving on narrow, winding Corsican mountain roads with a stick-shift French car, trying to understand Southern French or Corsican, and dealing with bank schedules, frequent local strikes, endless holidays when all the shops are closed, and insular idiosyncrasies, all this is far outweighed by the benefits of traveling with a handful of similar-minded people, and being escorted by somebody who has already done all the work for you and can help you on-site if needed.
With us, there is no risk of wasting your precious vacation around “tourist’s traps”, or “figuring things out” for yourself.
You are being chauffeured by an experienced driver on mountain roads that demand continuous focused attention and vigilance. You can relax and just enjoy the sumptuous scenery or ask us to stop for taking pictures.
Thanks to France-Marie’s personal connections and life-long knowledge of the island’s secular traditions and particular code, you are invited into the authenticity of the culture of an untamed land in a way that would be impossible if you were by yourself.

Q: What is the difference between a regular tour and a Custom Designed Escape®?
A: A regular tour offers set departure dates and prices for a group of 4 to 8 people. Our regular tours are fully escorted and guided and all inclusive.
A Custom Designed Escape® is a personalized itinerary uniquely created for solo travelers, couples, and groups of family, friends, or business people. You tell us what you want for your Corsican vacations or business trip, and we can create a unique, custom-designed independent itinerary just for you. We plan according to your budget, your personal interests and preferences, and you travel only with the people of your choice.

Q: How far in advance do I need to book?
A: The further in advance that you book, the easier it will be to reserve a place in the tour that you desire. We recommend that you reserve six to ten months in advance.  Some of our guests reserve up to one year in advance.

Q: What clothing or other items should I bring?
A: Upon receipt of your deposit, you will receive a detailed letter containing information about the weather, suggestions about what to wear, currency and bank matters, cultural aspects – everything you need to know before packing.

Q: What kind of accommodation can I expect?
A: During our regular tours, we use four stars accommodations, family owned and operated. Small, retired, quiet and surrounded by nature, these hotels or villa hotels are often historical dwellings, offering plenty of modern amenities. During our Custom Designed Escapes®, we use a variety of accommodations, hotels, mountain inns or private villas, in function of the itinerary, the theme of the tour and the budget of our clients.
In every case, the accommodations we chose are expressing the Corsican soul at its best and their “imperfect perfection” is greatly welcome by travelers tired of corporate homogeny, looking rather for intimacy and personality.

Q: Will Kalliste Tours provide a roommate for me on tour?
A: Unless you specify that you want a single room arrangement, you will be sharing your accommodation with a companion traveler of the same sex. We carefully consider our guests age, nationality and personal interests for the best match possible, however, one should seriously consider their personal needs and their priorities before committing to such an arrangement. We like to recommend that you share your room with a traveler friend.

Q: How is Corsica for women travelers?
A: Corsica is a very ancient culture where the Mother Goddess still presides in many facets of daily life. An “in-built” respect for the opposite sex means that women are treated with great courtesy. Many of our lady guests have often mentioned how wonderful they felt in Corsica.

Q: What is the climate like in Corsica?
A: First, keep in mind that Corsica is a 9000 foot mountain in the sea, and second that it is an island. Climate will depend on where you are, and at what time of the year. Expect a soft Mediterranean climate mostly sunny, with seaside temperatures in the 60’s in the Winter, and in the 70’s or 80’s in the Spring. In the mountains, nights, mornings and evenings are cooler. 

Q: What is the activity level of your tours?
A: Good physical and mental health is necessary for the enjoyment of our tours.
For the Custom Designed Escapes packages, we adapt to your desire for more or less physical activity.
On small group fixed departure tours, we leisurely stroll through pedestrian-only centers of ancient towns, through medieval villages, and cover short distances in nature to access prehistoric sites. Our walks include cobblestone alleys, some stair climbing and uneven nature trails. The pace is leisurely, but you really do need to be able to walk unassisted by others. More active travelers will have the opportunity for longer walks or hikes. Sometimes, we split the group in two between Geoffrey and France-Marie and some of our guests go ahead hiking toward a certain spot while the rest of the group enjoys another activity, or being more contemplative.
The level of activity also varies from one tour to another. The spring tours tend to be more active and more”nature oriented” while during the winter tours we spend more time indoors, at a slower rhythm.
We kindly request your honesty in assessing your abilities so as not to inconvenience other members on the regular tour. Please consult us if you have any questions.