This walking holiday offers a delightful mix of both mountains and sea along the beautiful South West Coast of Corsica. From Ajaccio to Bonifacio, the walk takes in forests, hilltops and wild coastlines, you will bathe in the perfumes, colours and contrasting landscapes of the maquis covered South west, and will love the understated beauty of this wild region. You can expect some out of the way accommodation, including the beautifully restored working lighthouse at Senetosa, on Corsica’s most remote stretch of coastline, a real highlight of the trip before finishing in style in the cliff top fortress of Bonfacio.
Contrasts of South Corsica
Self guided walking
8 days / 7 nights
Level 1 2 3 4
Point to Point - 6 days walking
Comfortable 3* Hotels, Auberge & Lighthouse
Starting from 1020 €
- Stay in a remote lighthouse in Corsica
- Walk along wild coastlines Ajaccio to Bonifacio
- Comfortable accommodation and a real adventure
- Ajaccio, Cupabia, Campomoro, Bonifacio
Groups, families or businesses
Tailor this holiday to your needs READ MORE
Day 1 - Ajaccio
Arriving at Ajaccio airport, it is just a short ride into the town. Time to settle into your central hotel before exploring Ajaccio, the capital of Southern Corsica. The town has a backdrop of hills with a lovely trail called the ‘Sentier des Crêtes’ a ridge walk that gives fantastic views of the bay and an aerial view of the town. The maquis at this altitude offers a host of plants,strawberry trees, wild myrtle, garlic, orchids, bright yellow broom and heather. Stay in comfortable 3* Hotel Ajaccio on B&B.
6km/11km, 2h00/4h00,+140m/+340m, -140m/-340m.
Day 2 - Pietrosella to Coti Chiavari
After a short ride from Ajaccio, you arrive at the village of Pietrosella. The path travels from the village of Pietrosella, from where you steeply climb to the ridge. From here, you have fantastic views out over the Golfe d’Ajaccio. After a final summit, you drop down into Côti Chiavari, a sleepy village with great views, once home to an important penitentiary. Your night stop is at a Hotel Restaurant with fabulous views over the Ajaccio Golf.
16km, 5h00, +420m, -530m.
Day 3 - Coti Chiavari to Porto Pollo
The walk from Coti-Chiavari has some of the best views of the southern end of the Gulf of Ajaccio with its hidden coves and watchtowers. The view then opens on the Gulf of Valinco and the mountains of the South East before dropping down to Cupabia. The trail runs along the beach made of fine sand and the water is pure and transparent so don’t forget your swimming gear. You then walk the coast to Capanelle tower, before arriving at the delightful seaside village at Porto- Pollo, your night stop for tonight. Stay in 3* Hotel in Porto Pollo, B&B basis.
10km, 4h00, +260m, -750m.
Day 4 - Porto Pollo to Propriano
Today you leave the Tavaro valley, we give you a lift to the trailhead before you climb along the ridge to the perched village of Olmeto. The maquis cloaked hills rise high above the Golfe of Valinco, past shepherds huts, watchtowers and olive groves and the views are superb. Olmeto is a very atmospheric village, with a great view over the Valinco. After visiting the village, drop down to Barracci beach at Propriano, before arriving at your comfortable 3* Hotel on a B&B basis.
15km, 5h30, + 500m, - 521m.
Day 5 – Campomoro to Senetosa Lighthouse
A short taxi ride takes you to the trailhead. You won’t see your luggage tonight and you will need to carry in provisions for meals. This is a real adventure, you are walking into the most remote lighthouse on Corsica, in an area of truly outstanding beauty. The walk in is over the ridge, with superb views over the coast, through the maquis to deserted coves at the Capu di Senetosa where you finally catch sight of the lighthouse, nestled in the rocks. A truly unique setting, night in a simple twin room at Senetosa lighthouse on B&B basis.
14km, 5h30, +450m, -450m.
Day 6 –Senetosa Lighthouse to Campomoro
Climb to the Genoese tower high above Senetosa lighthouse, with views over the southern Corsican mountains. Follow the ridge before dropping down to Cala di Conca bay, your coastal path takes you to all the bays on this remarkable coastline all the way to Campomoro. Rocks are shaped by the wind, and the sea very tempting for a quick dip. Arrive at Campomoro and the largest Genoese tower on the island After the adventure, a taxi takes you at the end of the day to Bonifacio, where you stay in a 3* hotel on B&B.
14km, 5h00, +245m, -245m.
Day 7 – La Trinité to Bonifacio
Bonifacio has a choice of walking, along the clifftops and the coast of this southernmost tip of Corsica. For a longer walk, a coastal path takes you from La Trinité to Capo di Feno and then Paraguan beach, before heading onto the cliffs near the Iles Fazzio and along towards la Madonette lighthouse. A great finale to your walking holiday. Stay in Bonifacio in a 3* hotel, on B&B.
15km, 5h30, +255m, -255m.
Day 8 – Bonifacio
End of holiday in Bonifacio, extra nights and transfers and buses to Ajaccio available, please ask for details.
This itinerary is correct at time of publication. Should situations arise that are beyond our control, such as severe weather conditions, or other such factors that could put your safety at risk, the itinerary may be modified.
Departure on request every day from April to mid October. 2 persons minimum.
Please select your departure date in the calender below to see the price and click on the button to the right to make a reservation.
Prices : €1020pp (May, June, September & October) €1110pp (July & August)
Supplements/Discounts
Departure on request every day from mid May to mid October. 2 persons minimum.
Please select your departure date in the calender below to see the price and click on the button to the right to make a reservation.
Prices : €1000pp (May, June, September & October) €1110pp (July & August)
Price includes
Accommodation on B&B (days 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7), Half Board (day 2), local internal transfers, luggage transfers (except lighthouse), travel dossier with A4 copies of IGN maps and walking notes.
Price does not include
Reservation fee of €5pp, travel insurance, drinks, site visits and transfers not included in the program, transfer by bus from Bonifacio to Ajaccio, travel to Corsica.
Starts
At your first hotel in Ajaccio.
Ends
At your hotel in Bonifacio, after breakfast.
Access
Ajaccio airport or Figari airport. You can arrive into one and out of the other, please ask for details of transport connections.
Accommodation
- Hotel *** in a twin /double bedded room Please request at time of reservation. NB. Simple twin room at Senetosa lighthouse with shared facilities and composting toilets.
- Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam).
- Evening meals often based on local specialties, including a starter, a main course and a dessert.
Should you have any food allergies, or dietary requirements, please advise at time of booking.
Number of participants
Reservations for minimum of 2 participants. NB. For safety reasons we do not accept solo hiker reservations on Self-Guided treks.
Level
Moderate Involve longer walks, generally from 4-6 hours a day. The nature of the terrain presents little technical difficulty but some previous hill walking experience is useful. The ascents will vary from 400m to 800m altitude gain per day.
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
During this walk you will carry only a small day sack with a water bottle, camera, picnic, trailfood, sun and wet weather gear. Luggage is transported by vehicle, point to point. NB. no luggage at Senetosa - you need to carry in overnight gear and food for 2 days.
Our customers' reviews
Olatz-Switzerland
We enjoyed very much the whole hiking program, we followed all the suggestions about drinks and food and it worked very well. It was our first time in Corsica, great discovery and willing to return. First of all thank you very much for the great organization of our trip in Corsica. We appreciated very much your flexibility.
Matt-UK
All hotels were very good quality, easy check in and great rooms.good quality breakfasts.The lighthouse was a great overnight stay, basic accommodation but brilliant location. The one included dinner was good home cooking and was exceptional. This was our third trip with Corsica Aventure. The attraction of this trip was going to the remote lighthouse and this was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
Kylie-Australia
We are now back in Australia after our trip to Europe. We had a great time, and really enjoyed our Contrasts of Corsica Walking tour. Despite a few problems with the TOPO guide, the walk was amazing, and our bags were always picked up and waiting for us at the next place. The accommodation was excellent.
Tim-Switzerland
Thank you for rating!
You have already rated this page, you can only rate it once!
Your rating has been changed, thanks for rating!
We are family of 3 with 3 year old boy. The hiking trip on this South West coast was great. Tons of impressions out of beauty of Corsica island. We enjoyed a lot the routes and hotels. The last one in Bonifacio was especially good. Big room, fancy design and very good breakfast. The transport was on time in spite of our changes in the plan. Wonderful holidays.