Southern Corsica

No paths or roads lead to the Scandola Nature Reserve, an area of wild natural beauty accessible solely by sea. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is all cliffs and sensational rock formations, pristine waters, and dramatic sea- and landscapes. One company offering boat tours is Porto-based Via Mare, at the Hôtel Le Golfe (+33 6 07 28 72 72; www.viamare-promenades.com).

One of the island's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the wondrous cliffs of Piana are best seen in the evening, when the natural reds of the earth light up in in the rays of the setting sun. Another way to see the cliffs is from the water, on a boat cruise in the Gulf of Porto.

Just south of Porto-Vecchio lies Corsica's celebrated Plage de Palombaggia, an idyllic beach with crispy white sand and azure waters. There are several locations that provide sunbed and umbrella rentals, along with a couple of beach restaurants along the stretch.

The megalithic archaeological site of Filitosa is known for its curious menhirs, with detail of facial features and body outlines carved into them. Earliest artefacts dug up here date back to 3300 BC (the menhirs are estimated to have been erected around 1500 BC). There are a small museum and a thousand-year-old olive tree on site.

To see some of the island's most striking natural landscapes, follow the Col de Bavella, a mountain pass that affords spectacular views of the Aiguilles de Bavella (the Bavella "needles", called that for its spiry peaks). A part of the G20 trail runs from the Notre Dame des Neiges statue all the way up to the massif.

Sartène, a scenic town historically notorious for its banditry and rivalling gangs, has long-left the grim of its past behind, while preserving the historic tradition of re-enacting Jesus' way to the Calvary on Good Friday every year. The 35-kilo cross and 17-kilo chain used in the reenactment are displayed at the Sartène church of St.Mary.

Corsica's varied landscape features a multitude of natural canyons, many of which perfectly family-friendly, and fit to be explored even by those new to the pastime. Organised tours take groups to canyons like the Richiusa at Bocognano, as well as lesser-known canyons across the island. One company offering guided excursions is Canyon Corse: