Hiking Corsica: Isle of Beauty

Itinerary

• Day01

  Arrive in Ajaccio, Corsica

  Start the adventure in Ajaccio, the island's capital, and the birthplace of Napoleon. Transfer from the Ajaccio airport to the hotel, secluded along the untamed coastline. Have a briefing at 6pm, followed by a festive welcome dinner.

  • Accommodation: Cala di Sole
  • Meals: Dinner
• Day02

  Discover the Calanches de Piana

  Meet the guides in the morning and transfer to the Calanches de Piana (about 90 minutes by car) for the first hike. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these blood red pinnacles soar out of the jagged coastline, creating improbable inlets and shapes. The hiking trail meanders through the red rock, rising high above the plunging cliffs, with jaw-dropping viewpoints over the sea. Spot your home for the next three nights, the tiny port village of Porto nestled below the granite cliffs. Enjoy dinner together this evening.

  • Accommodation: Les Flots Bleus or Hotel Le Golfe
  • Activity: 3 hours/5 miles hiking with 1,530' elevation gain & loss
  • Transportation: 2.5-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day03

  Explore the Village of Evisa & the Spelunca Gorge

  Head into the hills and enter the village of Evisa, perched high above the sea, surrounded by vast forests of chestnut and pine. Follow the deeply encased Spelunca Gorge on a centuries-old mule track, which still has remnants of its cobbled path and stone walls. Enjoy a riverside picnic and an opportunity to swim. Take in Genoese bridges, 200-year-old marvels of stone architecture, and end in the equally charming village of Ota before returning to Porto. Enjoy dinner on your own at one of the restaurants on the port.

  • Accommodation: Les Flots Bleus or Hotel Le Golfe
  • Activity: 4 hours/5 miles hiking with 492' elevation gain & 1,968' elevation loss
  • Transportation: 1.5-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Day04

  Reach the Spectacular Girolata Village

  Just north of Porto follow the Mare e Monti path that links the sea to the mountains. Take in the maquis vegetation of heather, boxwood, and Corsican pine, and descend to a secluded beach for a dip and a picnic. Continue along the Sentier du Facteur - "the mailman's path" - the one path a mailman took for 30 years to deliver the mail to the village of Girolata. Marvel at the handful of golden-stone homes huddled on a promontory above the bay. Return to Porto by boat and enjoy dinner together.

  • Accommodation: Les Flots Bleus or Hotel Le Golfe
  • Activity: 2 hours/3 miles hiking with 350' elevation gain & 1,150' elevation loss
  • Transportation: 30-minute private van transfer & 2.5-hour boat ride
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day05

  Hike on the Famous GR20 to Corte

  Get an early start and transfer to the Col de Vergio pass (60 minutes by minibus). Tackle the famous GR20 hiking path, the toughest and arguably most spectacular trail in all of Europe. Cover one of its most majestic sections, along switchbacks up to a grassy crestline with dazzling views to the sea below, and to the fairy-tale Lac de Nino Lake surrounded by deep-green grassy bogs with the backdrop of serrated summits. Continue by vehicle through canyon roads to reach the town of Corte, home for the next three nights.

  • Accommodation: Dominique Colonna
  • Activity: 5.5-6 hours/12 miles hiking with 2,624' elevation gain & loss
  • Transportation: 2-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day06

  Follow the Manganello River to a Shepherd's Hut

  Today, begin the hike in the lost village of Canaglia, along the leisurely Mare a Mare route through the center of the island, following alongside the Manganello River. Reach a remote shepherd's hut on a clearing with views of high summits, and savor a picnic lunch featuring local cheeses and charcuterie. Hike back and return to Corte by minivan. Take the time to meander through the streets of the island's historic capital, before having dinner together in the center.

  • Accommodation: Dominique Colonna
  • Activity: 3 hours/6 miles hiking with 985' elevation gain & loss
  • Transportation: 1.5-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day07

  Hike to Lac Melo

  Wake up before sunrise and take the minibus on a 30-minute ascent up the Restonica Valley. Hike up a rocky path to one of Corsica's most emblematic glacial lakes, Lac Melo, at 5,576 feet surrounded by imposing cliffs. Interested in some easy scrambling (with chains and ladders to assist)? Opt to continue up to Lac di Capitello, some 650-feet higher. Head back down and enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to the hotel for a free afternoon. Enjoy dinner together in town.

  • Accommodation: Dominique Colonna
  • Activity: 4 hours/5 miles hiking with 1,804' elevation gain & loss
  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day08

  Take a Scenic Train Ride on The Micheline to Calvi

  No trip to Corsica is complete without an excursion on its train, affectionately known as 'The Micheline.' Built for the vertiginous and difficult slopes of Corsica, the train ride showcases awe-inspiring vistas as it snakes its way through the mountains before reaching the coastline. The guides wait in Calvi for a short walk to a secluded beach for a feast of local grilled fish at a little restaurant. Then take a walk along a coastal path, ending the afternoon on the beaches of Calvi. Enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner together.

  • Accommodation: L'Hostellerie de l'Abbaye
  • Activity: 2 hours/3 miles hiking with 330' elevation gain & loss
  • Transportation: 3-hour scenic train ride
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day09

  Depart from Calvi

  Your trip ends after breakfast with a transfer from the hotel to the airport or to Calvi port.

  • Meals: Breakfast