Day 1 - Arrive in Bastia

Our trip begins at the group hotel in the centre of Bastia.

 

Accommodation: 4* Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

 

Day 2 - Transfer to Moriani Plage. Trek from Moriani to I Penti

Our trek starts in the small seaside resort of Moriani Plage. We pass the renowned Baroque church of San Nicolao with its fantastic sea views, and on a clear day you can see the Italian island of Elba. We continue on up to the pretty village of Castlellana and then higher to the hamlet of Tribbiolu with its slender stone dwellings. We then pass through chestnut groves and visit the Acqua Acitosa spring, before reaching the hamlet of I Penti, in the Santa Reparata valley.

 

Accommodation: Gîte, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 11km

Walking: approx 4 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +655m / -40m

 

Day 3 - Trek from I Penti to Valle d'Alesani

Our trek today leads us into the heart of the Castagniccia region, famed for its chestnut groves, through small traditional villages with their typical architecture and houses built with local green-grey schiste. Following the small Piada river, and past various ancient fountains where we can stop for a drink. We arrive in Alesani for our overnight stop in a local gite.

 

Accommodation : Gite/Guest House, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 10km

Walking: Approx 5.5 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: + 525m / -460m

 

Day 4 - Trek from Valle d'Alesani to Pianellu

Today's walk follows old mule tracks and winds its way through large chestnut forests to the delightful village of Pianellu. Here we stay in a local gite.

 

Accommodation: Gite, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 10km

Walking: Approx 4.5 hours

Altitude gain / loss: +740m / -620m

 

Day 5 - Trek from Pianellu to Sermano. Transfer to Corte

Today we make our way to a high point in the Boziu region at 1051m, where we are rewarded with exceptional panoramic views from the Incudine in the South, to Monte Cinto in the North. From here we descend through picturesque, traditional Corsican villages, including Mazzola, which has a beautiful chapel. We continue to the village of Sermano and our gite for the night.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 13.5 km

Walking: Approx 5.6 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +530m / -560m

 

Day 6 - Transfer to Sermano. Trek to Corte

First we take a half-hour transfer back to Sermano to resume trekking where we left off yesterday. It's not long before we reach the 12th century frescoed Chapelle Saint Niculau: if it's open we'll have a look inside. After this, we start to leave the chestnut groves and Roman churches behind, as we pass through scenic villages and enter into the maquis and the Restonica valley. We walk all the way into the historic town of Corte, with its backdrop of mountain valleys, and another night in our hotel. Tonight we have a free evening to soak up the lively evening atmosphere of Corte.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, no dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 17km

Walking- approx 6.5 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +620m / -950m

 

Day 7 - Transfer from Corte to Scala di Santa Regina. Trek to Calacuccia

We take a 25-minute transfer to the start of today's trek at Scala di Santa Regina. Today's route is on an ancient shepherd's path, taking a superb balcony trail through the granite cliffs of the Scala di Santa Regina. We come to a small Genoese bridge, and from here the landscape changes into rolling countryside with chestnut groves until we reach the Calacuccia lake at the bottom of the valley. Our overnight stop is in the small village of Calacuccia.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 13 km

Walking - approx 5.5 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +700m / -340m

 

Day 8 - Trek from Calacuccia to the Col de Vergio

It's a longer day today, with a decent amount of height gain, as we continue along our ancient shepherd's path. After a short while, you pass the village of Albertacce and its old chestnut mill and Genoese bridge. Our trail winds its way up through the forest with great views across the Niolu valley and back down to the Calacuccia lake, and you should be able to see Calasima, the highest village in Corsica. Eventually we join the famous GR20 footpath near the Bergeries de Radule, and we have a little further to reach our accommodation just below the Col de Vergio, the highest road pass in Corsica.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 17km

Walking: approx 7 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +995m / -430m

 

Day 9 - Trek from the Col de Vergio to Evisa

Today begins with a short climb to reach the Col de Vergio, the highest road pass in Corsica, followed by a descent through the famous Aïtone pine forest alongside the Aitone river. As ever in Corsica, where there's a river, there are numerous rock pools which make perfect swimming spots all the way to the village of Evisa.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 10km

Walking: Approx 5 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +320m / -880m 

 

Day 10 - Trek from Evisa to Porto

Our day begins with a spectacular walk through the Spélunca gorge as we head to Ota, a pretty mountain village. From here we begin our descent to the coast with wonderful views across to the Gulf of Porto, as the fabulous pink cliffs that plunge into the sea above Porto appear.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 14km

Walking: Approx 6 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +320m / -1170m

 

Day 11 - Trek from Porto to Piana

Today we have 2 choices, both of which involve hiking above the UNSECO world heritage coastline to Piana. If you would like more time in Porto before we start hiking, you might like to take a boat trip to view the spectacular coastline of the Scandola nature reserve from the sea. Or, we can do our hike early in the morning, giving you time to visit the cove of Ficaghiola in the afternoon, after we arrive at Piana. The easier and shorter hike follows the coastline along an old mule track, before heading up into the "calenques": limestone rock and cove formations along the coast. The vegetation, interspersed with granite needles, limestone rock formations and maritime pine trees, is a mixture of pink cistus flowers, myrtle, lavender, juniper, foxgloves, cyclamen and white asphodels. We could also choose to do a longer hike, taking us higher above the coastline on a little-used shepherd's trail to reach the Foce d'Orto pass, at the foot of the Capu d'Ortu, from where we can enjoy incredible views across the Gulf of Porto and the calenques. The leader will make this decision according to the weather and wishes of the group.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 12km or 15km

Walking: Approx 5 hrs or 7 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +520m / -70m or +950m / -800m

 

Day 12 - Transfer from Piana to Ajaccio. Trek the Sentier des Crêtes

After breakfast we take a private transfer along the coast to Ajaccio. Once in Ajaccio we head up into the hills behind the town to the Sentier des Crêtes. This wonderful ridge walk rewards us with fantastic views across the sea and over the town. We then descend down into Ajaccio and return to our hotel and celebrate the end of our trek with dinner in Ajaccio.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Distance: 11km

Walking: Approx 4 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +340m / -340m

 

Day 13 - Depart Ajaccio

Our trip ends after breakfast.

​