Corsican Walking Holiday | Walking Holiday in Corsica | Self Guided Walking Holiday

Known as the Island of Beauty, Corsica is famed for its diverse landscape, the variety of colours and the perfume given off by the abundant wildflowers. If you are looking for good walks with mountain and coastal scenery but also want characterful, comfortable hotels, this is the holiday for you. The places you will stay in have been hand picked and give you the option of sampling some of the best regional cuisine on the island. For example, the Roches Rouges in Piana has a unique location and, built in 1912, it has recaptured the ambience of the past, has a lovely atmosphere and the food is excellent. The route takes you over mountain passes, through forests and alongside rushing streams. You will visit villages that cling to the hillside, forests of chestnut trees and deep gorges before reaching journey's end by the sea at the spectacular Gulf of Porto.

Grade: Moderate.

Getting There:
Fly to Ajaccio airport or take the ferry from Marseilles or Nice to Ajaccio ferry terminal.  If you're planning to arrive in Bastia or Calvi, the landing should be scheduled early enough so you can catch the bus or train.

Day 1 Arrive Ajaccio.
Time to explore the vibrant town. If you feel like it, there is a cliff walk that leads up behind the town and offers wonderful views of the coastline and gulf ~ 6-11km; 2h to 4h.

Day 2 Corte to Calacuccia.
You have an early morning transfer from Ajaccio to Corte, either by train or minibus. (NB you will need to carry your bags the 5-10 minute walk from the hotel). The walk starts at the Scala di Santa Regina. An ancient trail that was used by shepherds leading their herds in and out of the Niolu valley winds through granite cliffs to the highest villages in Corsica ~ 10km; 4h

Day 3 Calacucia to Evisa.
From the auberge, a short transfer will drop you off in the forest. You walk up through pine trees and silver birches to the famous Col de Vergio. Once across the col there are views of the jagged western coastline. The trail winds through scented maquis, past natural rock pools, down through the chestnut woods to Evisa, a charming village also known as the pearl of the mountains ~ 13km; 6h

Day 4 Circular walk from Evisa.
Setting out from Evisa village, a short walk leads to the neighbouring village of Cristinacce. An old village to village trail leads to the abandoned hamlet of Tassu and the village of Marignana. This is a wonderful loop passing through some really rural Corsican villages and some luxuriant fragrant vegetation ~ 9km; 4h30

Day 5 Evisa to Porto.
Spectacular sights all day as you leave the village and descend into the famous Spelunca Gorge. The path zig-zags back and forth leading into the depths. As you approach the next village braying donkeys, locals working in their gardens, bright bougainvillaea, lemon and fig trees all add to the colourful experience ~ 14km; 6h

Day 6 Porto to Piana.
With just 4h30 walking today you may choose to spend your morning in Porto, or you might want to spend time at the beach and enjoy some sea activities. A small path pulls up from the beach and leads to the Calanche de Piana, astonishing rock formations and superb sea views over the entire bay ~ 12km; 4h30

Day 7 Piana to Ajaccio.
You can take a morning or afternoon public bus back to Ajaccio. There is time to visit the picture postcard village of Piana and maybe walk down to the small cove of Ficaghiola for a swim. (NB you will need to carry your bags the 5-10 minute walk from the hotel)

Day 8 Depart.

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