- Discover the impressive mountain scenery and diverse landscapes of Corsica on foot
- Get a taste of the celebrated GR20, a long-distance hiking trail that crosses the whole island
- Spend a free day at the beach in Napoleon’s hometown of Ajaccio or in Bastia
- Enjoy a warm Corsican welcome at Hotel de la Paix in Corte
Mountains & Villages of Corsica
Walking & Trekking
Activity Level
Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Comfort Level
Classic
Hike scenic trails on the ‘Island of Beauty’ and immerse yourself in one of the most intriguing cultures in Europe
Between France and Italy, yet with its own cuisine, culture and language, Corsica is a unique island of dramatic beauty. Hike its most picturesque trails on this expertly led small-group adventure. Basing ourselves in Corte, we hike through gorges and pine forests, pass swimmable rock pools, and venture across the island on the quaint mountain railway. Our days end at the family-run Hotel de la Paix, enjoying Corsican hospitality.
Highlights
Key Information
- Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (Hotel de la Paix)
- Five days of walking; one free day
- Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
- Countries visited: France
What's Included
- All breakfasts, fives lunches, six dinners
- All accommodation
- All transport and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
- Group arrival and departure transfers available
What's Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Single accommodation (available on request)
- Visas or vaccinations
5 Days of Walking & Trekking
Pace:
Moderate: 3mph-4mph (5kph-6kph)
Terrain:
Low altitude; good paths with some steep ascents
Well-marked trails, often rocky and uneven
Day 2
11 km / 6.8 miles
Day 3
12 km / 7.5 miles
Day 4
10 km / 6.2 miles
Day 6
16 km / 9.9 miles
Day 7
13 km / 8.1 miles
Itinerary
Corte Corte
Adventure starts in Corte
We start at Hotel de la Paix in Corte. If you have time before the welcome meeting this evening, wander around the picturesque town, the one-time capital of the island.
Walk up to Punta di u Corbu in the Restonica Gorges, back down through pine forests
Start the week with an exploration of the Restonica Gorges. From downtown Corte, we hike towards the Chapel of Saint-Antoine. The trail gradually climbs up to Punta di u Corbu, offering superb panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
At the top of a small pass, we can enjoy superb views, before descending through a pine forest towards the Restonica River. The descent continues along the road, bordered by the crystal-clear waters of the river, back to the hotel.
Route: The slope is a little steep and the terrain stony.
Train to Vivario; walk to Tattone and the Vecchio River; ascend to Vizzavona; train to Corte
After a 35-minute train journey to Vivario, we begin our walk across a ridge to the ruins of a French fort with fine views of Monte d’Oro to the west and the Tavignano Valley to the east. We then descend through a forest to Camping Savaggio, and to the village of Tattone. From there, a short, steep descent takes us to the Vecchio River, where it may be possible to swim in one of the many beautiful rock pools. Our hike then takes us along a rocky path up the river valley to Abri Southwell – site of one of the earliest known settlements in Corsica. We cross the river and make the short ascent through the forest to Vizzavona, returning by train (50 minutes) to Corte.
Walk along the Tavignano Gorge; return to Corte
From our hotel, we walk up the Tavignano Gorge along part of the Mare a Mare (Sea to Sea), a long-distance hiking trail traversing the island from east to west. We stop for lunch next to beautiful rock pools where, weather permitting, we can swim. Return along the valley to Corte, with a little time to explore. Options include visiting the citadel, a fortified château founded on a rocky peak in 1419. To go inside, you need to purchase a ticket to the Musée de la Corse, an anthropological museum in the barracks below. Alternatively, explore the historic centre, stopping at one of the many cafes, gelaterias and restaurants, or swim in the Tavignano River.
Route: There is a steep, stony section to access the river.
Free day for an optional trip to Napoleon’s Ajaccio or to explore Bastia
There are various options for your free day. Relax around the hotel and Corte, travel across the island, or visit the coast. Ajaccio, Napoleon’s birthplace, has beaches, shops and restaurants. Explore the Musée Fesch (home to an outstanding collection of Italian paintings) or take a bus ride along the coast. You can also visit the coastal town of Bastia to explore the citadel and emblematic old port.
Train to Vizzavona from where we walk along the GR20 to Bocca Palmente
From Corte, a 50-minute train journey takes us to Vizzavona, where we begin our walk along the GR20 to Bocca Palmente. This route includes sections through pine and beech forest and spectacular views out to Monte d’Oro and the east coast. There may be the opportunity for an optional extension to the clear water of the Cascades des Anglais rock pools.
Route: This day takes you along the GR20 trail, which means the pace will be brisk.
Short bus transfer; walk to the Cappellaccia Shepherd’s Huts and Plateau d’Alzu
After a short bus transfer to the start of the trail, we start our final hike of the trip, one still used by shepherds. The path climbs up through pine forest on regular switchbacks to reach the source of the Funtana Bianca at the bottom of the path. The path then leaves the forest and climbs to the Cappellaccia Shepherd’s Huts. After a 20-minute slightly downhill traverse, we reach the scenic Plateau d’Alzu and the Maison Forestière (Forester’s Lodge), where we might have a chance to try Corsican cheese. We then return to Corte by bus and walk back to our hotel.
Route: Steep slope, stony, sun-exposed terrain.
Adventure ends in Corte
The adventure ends after breakfast. Speak to your sales representative if you’d like to extend your stay or begin your return journey home.
Hotel de la Paix in Corte
Stay at Hotel de la Paix, a family-run hotel with 62 rooms, a bar and TV lounge. It occupies a large stone building constructed by the Casanova family in 1932, though it’s now the Lanoir family who provide the warm welcome.
We stay in superior rooms, which include a balcony, air conditioning, a hairdryer and a bathtub, and eat dinner at the nearby restaurant, U Passa Tempu, which serves traditional local dishes, such as Corsican charcuterie, cannelloni with brocciu (Corsican cheese) and sautéed veal with olives.
Worth knowing
- The hotel provides packed lunches in cardboard boxes, please bring a reusable container to reduce waste.
Reviews
Add your own reviewStunning scenery
Corsica was more mountainous and greener than expected. A good range of walks. Not too challenging for regular hill walkers and we considered it well pitched as moderate. The hotel is basic but functional and the dinners were very tasty. Enjoyed using trains to get to the start of most of our walks.
Most Inspirational Moment
The scenery!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Tom was well informed, calm, encouraging and good at keeping the group together, particularly when we had different walking paces within the group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take good walking shoes/boots, a waterproof jacket/rain poncho and a jar of chutney/mustard to spice up the filled baguettes for the packed lunches.
a beautiful holiday for a sunchaser
Was a beautiful holiday for a Sunchaser who loves a nice hike beautiful weather, landscapes, heat ng in lagoons and eating delicious food!
Most Inspirational Moment
Relaxing in the lagoons and on the giant white smooth rocks
Thoughts on Group Leader
Micheal
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring Water Shoes, swimsuit and sunscreen!
Igor
Guide Igor is exceptional in his roll and an asset to Exodus . His leadership and ability to stay calm in a crisis , shone when a fellow trekker fell and required assistance and evacuation.
Most Inspirational Moment
Beautiful scenery in a stunning location .
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent
A Very enjoyable week.
It was very hot in the week I just did this holiday but nonethrless it was great.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being with others
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michaele was enthusiastic and I enjoyed his leadership and company
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take water shoes
Magical island
Beautiful forest and streams, charming towns and a landscape steeped in history. One of the best hikes I’ve done.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking above the small village of Vivario with views of Monte D’Oro was a personal favourite.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The group leader was energetic and engaging. Kept things informal.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Relax, smell the pines and put your feet in the streams. This is the trip to have fun and not be too formal. Watch out for the mid-summer heat though and take enough water.
Mountains & Villages of Corsica
Hotel was far below the expectations I have when compared with the 4 other hikes I have made with Exodus. food was great, service at table was bad in the beginning but got better over time.
Most Inspirational Moment
I always enjoy the group with which I am hiking. Nice to meet people from other parts of the world. the hiking trips are a love of my significant other so I take the trips and like most the commraderie
Thoughts on Group Leader
Roberta was great as she had been for us on the Amafi coast hike a few years ago
Advice for Potential Travellers
The hike is more difficult than other hikes i have taken. It is rated as a 3 but parts of it are more difficult than this has been on other hikes rated a 3. A 3 is described as being acceptable for people with no hiking experience. I disagree that this would be something for people with no hiking experience.
A excellent fun filled week.The group interacted well and bonded
The whole experience was great.Excellent fellow travellers and travelling by train to the start point on most days was really enjoyable.The hotel is basic but the food was good.Stopping at a bar at the end of most days was also great.Our guide ,Roberta ,was fun and very knowledgeable
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking part of the GR20
Thoughts on Group Leader
Roberta was amazing and great sense of humour and very caring for all members of the group
Advice for Potential Travellers
The hotel is basic but functional.Take a travel kettle if you want a cup of coffee when you first wake up.Also the hotel does not have hair dryers .Also take some snacks for walking as the local village has limited supplies
Mountains and Villages of Corsica
Beautiful scenery and views in the mountains .
Hotel: my room was a little ‘tired’. Evening meals were mostly tasty and creative. The chef was able to accommodate a gluten free choice. Choice of Packed lunches and fruit was available, and although it would have been good to have been offered cake as well😂
The walks each day were very interesting and at times were challenging underfoot and the ascents, for me personally were challenging. Use of local train network was very advantageous.
Most Inspirational Moment
The last day which was an exceptionally challenging walk with steep ascents, some needing me to use some scrambling in places. The views, terrain, and waterfalls were all worth all the effort.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very knowledgeable re Corsican culture, traditions, and history. Punctual, friendly and informative.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I was pleased I had put in some training to improve my level of fitness. Comfortable waterproof walking boots are essential.
Excellent walking holiday
Corsica was much more mountainous and greener than we had expected. The walks were through beautiful countryside and it was great fun using the local railway to start/end some of the walks. Most of the paths were good, but some were quite steep and one had been eradicated by the wild pigs (but the guide found the path again!) We were lucky to have sunny weather all week, so all planned walks were achievable, though some may not have been possible if it had been wet.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the Richjusa Gorge after bouldering up the river - not suitable for everyone!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Absolutely excellent - great fun, wonderful english (he was Italian), very knowledgeable, coped well with the gruop who had very different walking speeds
Advice for Potential Travellers
Always carry a lightweight waterproof coat and rucksack cover a syou never know when it may rain
A wonderful trip in beautiful landscapes
A great week in a beautiful place with excellent food, a charming hotel and a fun leader. All you could ask for…
Most Inspirational Moment
Bathing in the beautiful clear blue waters of the rivers to relieve the heat of the day...so - very luckily - this moment happened every day we walked.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He ( Alejandro) was excellent - capable and informed and fun. Sensible (safe) without being patrician. He was perfect for the job.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go on this holiday!! And take good walking boots.
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