This tour is a magnificent journey across the southern part of Corsica. You'll follow the Mare e Monti Sud and the Mare a Mare Sud.

A few days' walk separates the gulfs of Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio, from the gentle shores of Porticcio through the evergreen, lush and fragrant scrubland, and you'll discover a traditional Corsica with its many villages, hamlets and chapels. Every step you take is an invitation to travel. To complete the discovery, the stopover villages welcome you with care to sample simple dishes made with local produce.

Highlights

  • Mare e Monti and Mare a Mare South
  • Access to the follow-on bag
  • Point to point - 8 days walking
  • Bed and breakfast, ** and *** hotels 
  • Starts in Ajaccio, ends in Porto-Vecchio
Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Comfort
Hotel ** / Ch. d'Hôtes
Type of holidays
Hiking-Walking
Accesses
Ajaccio
Porto-Vecchio / Figari
Propriano
Level
2 - Moderate
Carrying
Without bags

Itinerary

Day 1

From Bisinao to Coti-Chiavari

Welcome at Ajaccio station (or at your hotel - on request). Transfer (40 mins) to the village of Bisinao. As you walk along, you'll discover dense scrubland, Mediterranean vegetation, numerous viewpoints over the Gulf of Ajaccio, the traditional village of Pietrosella with its stone houses, and then Coti-Chiavari, with its plunging view over the Gulf.

Distance
12 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+420 m / -540 m
Night
Night in Coti-Chiavari
Day 2

From Coti-Chiavari to Porto-Pollo

A fine day's hiking from Coti-Chiavari along paths that dominate the southern end of the Gulf of Ajaccio with its coves, Punta di a Castagna and Capu di Muru. Then the view opens out over the Gulf of Valinco and the snow-capped mountains of the south-east before descending to the hamlet of Marmurtagna. Finally, the arrival in the Bay of Cupabia will reward your efforts. The path runs alongside a beach of fine sand and pure, clear water. 

Distance
10 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+260 m / -750 m
Night
Night in Porto-Pollo
Day 3

From Porto-Pollo to Olmeto

You'll cross the Taravu plain, one of the great prehistoric sites, before reaching the sheepfolds of Bocca di a Coppia, at the foot of Monte Barbatu. These shepherd's huts are still in operation, and the lucky ones will be able to find traditional cheese in the spring. The location is magnificent, overlooking the Gulf of Valinco. Once you reach the hamlet of Raghja, it's downhill to Olmeto, a very authentic village.

Distance
12 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+500 m / -170 m
Night
Night in Olmeto
Day 4

From Olmeto to Sainte Lucie de Tallano

Transfer to the village of Burgo. From Burgo, you'll reach the village of Fozzano. Here you can admire its famous 15th-century tower and the house of Colomba, heroine of Mérimée's novel. You will then descend into the Rizzanese valley before reaching the 12th-century church of St-Jean-Baptiste and the village of Sainte Lucie.

Distance
15 km
Duration
6h00
Ascent / descent
+1050 m / -820 m
Night
Night in Sainte Lucie de Tallano
Day 5

From Sainte Lucie de Tallano to Aullène

The region is famous for its olive oil and mills, which you can discover on an educational trail. You will follow the paths between the villages before climbing Punta Tighjarellu, which will take you into the Rizzanese valley and its bubbling waters, before reaching the magnificent village of Serra di Scopamena and then Aullene.

Distance
12 km
Duration
6h00
Ascent / descent
+1000 m / -600 m
Night
Night in Aullène
Day 6

From Aullène to Levie

Follow the path through the maquis to the Lavu Donacu sheepfolds and the old chestnut mill. You will pass through the hamlet of Ghjalicu, a former pastoral summer pasture. The route winds its way between large granite boulders to reach the Romanesque chapel of St Laurent, near which you can admire two major archaeological sites in Corsica: Cucuruzzu and Capula, before arriving at the traditional village of Levie.

Distance
18 km
Duration
5h30
Ascent / descent
+600 m / 1000 m
Night
Night in Levie
Day 7

From Levie to Cartalavonu

The path winds its way through a large oak grove, before joining the river Fiumicicoli and small fields planted with olive trees. It winds its way through arbutus and heather to reach a chestnut grove overlooking the village of Carbini, famous for its 11th-century Pisan church. You'll then head off into the foothills of the Cagna massif and admire the views over the Ospédale lake before reaching Cartalavonu and the viewpoint over Porto-Vecchio. 

Distance
12 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+1120 m / -670 m
Night
Night in Cartalavonu
Day 8

From Cartalavonu to Porto-Vecchio

You will begin the long descent to the plain. There is an exceptional view of the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, considered to be the most beautiful in Corsica. The path continues through scrubland and cork oaks before rejoining the road and the great city of salt, Porto-Vecchio.

Distance
15 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
-1130 m
Night
Night in Porto-Vecchio
Day 9

End of your holiday in Porto-Vecchio

Our services end after breakfast in Porto-Vecchio.

Programs have been drawn up according to the latest information available at the time of writing: imponderables are always possible and situations beyond our control may alter the course of the program.

Dates and prices

Departure on request every day from mid April to mid October. 2 persons minimum.

Please select your departure date from the calendar below to find out the rate and begin your booking.

Pick a date
Price includes

Half-board accommodation (except in Porto Pollo and Porto Vecchio), local transfers, luggage transport, travel pack with IGN maps, route book and access to our guidance application.

Price does not include

Drinks, picnics, evening meal in Porto Pollo and Porto-Vecchio,  reservation fee of 5€ / person,  insurance, site visits and transfers not included in the programme, guide.

Supplements/Discounts

Insurance

We offer comprehensive multi-risk insurance specifically adapted to our adventure trips (contract no. 7482 Assurinco). The rates are as follows: 4.00% of the price of the trip for French residents, 6% of the price of the trip for residents from the European Union (EU) outside France. For non-EU residents, the rate is €90 per person.

Group discount

Groups of 3 people or more can benefit from a discount. Please contact us for details.

Technical informations

Starts

At Ajaccio train station at 9am. For an extra night in Ajaccio the night before, please contact us.

Ends

At your hotel in Porto-Vecchio after breakfast.

Access

Ajaccio ferry station or airport.

Accommodation

  • Bed and breakfast, ** and *** hotels in double rooms. 
  • Single room to be requested at time of booking.

Meals

  • Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam).
  • Evening meals are often based on local specialities and include a starter, main course and dessert. Dinners in  Porto-Pollo and Porto Vecchio are not included. 

Number of participants

Reservations for minimum of 2 participants. 

Level

Moderate, path with few technical difficulties. 

Guiding

Self-Guided Walking. We provide you with a Travel Dossier complete with A4 copies of the IGN maps and a walking guide created by our team. During your hike our 24-hour assistance service will also be able to answer all your questions and, if necessary, assist you with the smooth running of your stay.

Luggage transfers

Only your personal belongings for the day and your picnic. Luggage is transported by vehicle. If you wish to carry your own belongings (bag version), please contact us for a reduction.

The digital roadbook

Once you have confirmed your holiday, you can download our application. It's easy to use and it offers a number of functionalities:

  • Precise route guidance with alerts in the event of deviations.
  • View your starting point, accommodation, current position, mileage.
  • Discover points of interest via interactive content with descriptions, photos and audio. 
  • In an emergency, send an SOS alert with your GPS coordinates. 
  • Contact function to share messages, photos and videos with our team during your stay.

Extensions

Take advantage of a stay extension during your tour with Corsica Aventure.

If you'd like to discover Corsica before or after your holiday, our team can offer you ideas for accommodation and activities. If you prefer to arrive a few days earlier or extend your stay for a few days, we can book your extra nights on the island, depending on your arrival city.

Here are a few hotels we recommend for those of you who would rather organise their extra days themselves:  

Ajaccio

  • Hôtel Le Dauphin 2* Tél : 04 95 21 12 94.
  • Hôtel Kalliste 3* / Tél : 04 95 51 34 45.
  • Hôtel Albion 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 66 70.
  • Hôtel San Carlu 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 13 84.

Propriano

  • Hôtel Bellevue / Tél : 04 95 76 01 86.
  • Gîte-hôtel U Fracintu / Tél : 04 95 76 15 05.

Porto

  • Hôtel Kallisté / Tél : 04 95 26 10 30.
  • Hôtel Le Belvédère / Tél : 04 95 26 12 01.
  • Hôtel Le Méditerranée / Tél : 04 95 26 10 27.

Piana

  • Hôtel Les Calanques / Tél : 04 95 27 82 08.
  • Hôtel Les Roches Rouges / Tél : 04 95 27 81 81.

Calvi 

  • Hôtel Belvédère 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 01 25.
  • Hôtel Les Arbousiers 2* / Tél : 04 95 65 04 47.
  • Hôtel Christophe Colomb 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 06 04.
  • Hôtel Balanea 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 94 94.

Bastia

  • Best Western Montecristo Bastia / Tél : 04 95 55 05 10.

Map

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