Day 1 - Corte
This walking holiday starts in the island’s historic capital, Corte. The rocky citadel dominates the town, and after dropping your bags at the hotel, you can take a walk around the old town, to discover the sights of this atmospheric place. Stay in 3* Hotel du Nord, Corte on a B&B basis. 4* Hotel Dominique Colonna, at a supplement. For late arrivals onto the island, nights in Ajaccio, Calvi or Bastia also available, please ask for details.
6km, 2h00,+140m, -140m.
Day 2 - Tavignano or Restonica Gorge
Corte is situated on two magical gorges - the Tavignano and Restonica. The Tavignano offers a walk along an old mule path, a route used by shepherds into the isolated Niolu region and it makes for stunning walking. Steep cliffs rise up above the pounding torrent and numerous rock pools allow you to cool off. For the second option (June to September only), we include a taxi transfer up the Restonica Gorge to take a well trodden but challenging path that leads up to lac de Melo, a glacier lake surrounded by spongy grass. Stay at 3* Hotel du Nord, in Corte on a B&B basis, or 4* Hotel Dominique Colonna, at a supplement.
12km/6km, 4h30, +340m/+500m, -310m/-500m.
Day 3 - Scala di Santa Regina to Calacuccia
After a short transfer from Corte, you walk the Scala di Santa Regina, a trail of great historical importance used by shepherds leading their herds in and out of the Niolu valley. A superb balcony path climbs through steep granite cliffs in a truly rugged landscape, you cross Genoese bridges, the views soon opening up onto a very different panorama of the Niolu, with the lake and the village of Calacuccia. Your night stop is 3* Hotel Acquaviva, in Calacuccia, and you can expect some hearty local cuisine at a nearby restaurant.
13km, 5h30, +700m, -340m.
Day 4 - Calacuccia to Vergio
Walking from Calacuccia, you cross the village of Albertacce. Taking the Mare a Mare Nord path, you pass an old chestnut mill and cross another Genoese bridge, following a trail that winds its way up through a wonderful forest. Walking below the Monte Cinto and the Paglia Orba, this is wild Corsica, remote and wonderfully mountainous. A forest path leads uphill towards the Col de Vergio and the mountain lodge Castel di Vergio, where you stay on Half Board basis for the next two nights.
17km, 7h00, +700m, -340m.
Day 5 - Radule Waterfall or Lac de Nino
Today you are taking parts of the GR20. Either discover the Golu valley, passing the Radule bergeries there are many natural swim spots below the towering Paglia Orba towards Ciottollu di Mori refuge. In the opposite direction follow the GR20 to the stunning lac de Nino. With wide views across the high massifs, you drop down to the lake situated at 1743m, a lovely, sheltered bucolic spot, surrounded by a spongy peat, with runnels of water and wells. Stay at mountain lodge Castel di Vergio on Half Board basis.
15km, 7h00, +600m, -600m.
Day 6 - Aitone forest & Spelunca Gorge
The views from Col de Vergio are majestic, peaks loom above in a very Granite landscape. The trail drops downhill through the Aïtone forest, crossing streams, before walking through the Chestnut woods to the outskirts of Evisa. From Evisa, the path zig-zags through the Spelunca gorge, crossing a high arched Genoese bridge, you walk high above the torrent, towards Ota, a mountain village with a Mediterranean feel. Transfer from here to Piana. Stay 3* Hotel Scandola in Piana, on a Half Board basis.
15km, 6h00, +230m, -1300m.
Day 7 - Capu Rossu & Tour de Turghia
After a short but dramatic transfer by taxi, we drop you on the Capu Rossu headland for the most spectacular west coast walk to the Genoese “Tour de Turghia”, perched high on the red sea cliffs, high above the Golfe de Porto. The views are wonderous, over the sea and a lost landscape of farmsteads, threshing circles and olive groves recently restored showing the amazing pastoral history of this area. The path loops down to the coast above remote creeks. Stay in 3* Hotel Scandola on Half Board basis.
10km, 4h00, +500m, -500m.
Day 8 - Piana
End of holiday in Piana, extra nights and transfers 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.
David-Australia
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One was excellent, two very good and one average hotel. Transport on time and friendly. Generally meals were very good to excellent except the breakfasts at Castel di Vergio which were quite meagre in comparaison. We very much enjoyed Corsica and (most of) the walking; our knees suffer on downhills !