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Hike Corsica's Mountains & Coast

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

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 both Corte and Saint-Florent, we hike through gorges and pine forests, pass swimmable rock pools and discover the coast. Split between the mountains and coast, we also experience classic Corsican hospitality in two very different settings.

Key Information

Trip Code: TCO
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: France
Carbon Footprint: 24.2kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation
All breakfasts, fives lunches, two dinners
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and 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: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Day 4: 16 km / 9.9 miles
Day 6: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Day 7: 13 km / 8.1 miles

Highlights

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 island
Spend a free day in historic Bastia
Discover the sparkling bay of Saint-Florent sheltered by the untamed Agriates Desert
Walk wild coastal trails alongside scrubland, sandy creeks and limestone caves

Itinerary

First Destination: Corte
Next Destination: Saint-Florent

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Corte
Next Destination: Saint-Florent

Our adventure begins in Corte, a picturesque town and the one-time capital of the island.

Around 6pm, say salute to your tour leader and fellow travellers, where we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead during a welcome briefing. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome over dinner together, a three-course meal at a great restaurant close to the hotel.

Want extra time in Corsica? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Hotel du Nord (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

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 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. Today’s route involves a steep slope and some stony terrain.

Accommodation: Hotel du Nord (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

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 it’s possible to swim in good weather. On this route there is a steep, stony section to access the river.

Return along the valley to Corte, where we have some time to explore. You may want to visit 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 cool off with a swim in the Tavignano River.

Accommodation: Hotel du Nord (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

We check out of our hotel in Corte this morning and transfer by bus (40-minutes) to the start of the hike in Vizzavona. We begin our walk along the GR20 to Bocca Palmente at a brisk pace. 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.

After today’s hike, we transfer around two hours from Vizzavona to Saint-Florent to spend the next four nights by the coast. Our included dinner will be a three-course meal at the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Le Bellevue (or similar)
Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A transfer is included from Saint-Florent to Bastia (30-minutes). The day is free for you to discover the coastal town of Bastia, the emblematic city of Haute Corse, at your own pace. You may want to explore the citadel and emblematic old port or visit the Musée de Bastia, a place of remembrance and history. At the end of the day we return by private bus to Saint-Florent.

Accommodation: Hotel Le Bellevue (or similar)
Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Leaving directly from the hotel we walk in the direction of Olzo Beach, the starting point of the northern coastal trail of Saint-Florent. This untamed stretch of coastline offers views across the entire gulf, including landmarks such as the Genoese Mortella Tower, Punta Mortella, and Punta di Curza.

Impressive limestone cliffs rise steeply and plunge into the turquoise sea. As the trail winds along secluded coves reveal themselves, the scent of the Mediterranean filling the air as we brush past the vegetation. The limestone rock formations stand in stark contrast to the rest of Corsica, which is predominantly granite or schist.

This afternoon is free to visit Saint-Florent and soak up its charming village atmosphere. There is a small, picturesque fishing port and the historic Nebbiu Cathedral to discover.

Accommodation: Hotel Le Bellevue (or similar)
Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

From Saint-Florent, we take a 20-minute boat ride to Lotu beach which marks the start of the Customs Officers’ Path. This coastal trail starts on the west side of the bay of Saint-Florent, a wild and rugged area featuring fragrant maquis vegetation and pristine sandy beaches.

Along the way we discover the rich agro-pastoral history of the Agriates Desert, shaped by centuries of farming and seasonal livestock migrations. Today’s walk will include sweeping views and swimming stops in crystal-clear coves.

Accommodation: Hotel Le Bellevue (or similar)
Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

The adventure ends after breakfast. Speak to your sales representative if you’d like to extend your stay with additional time in Corsica.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Call us on 0203 733 5948

Your Group, Your Adventure

Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a Private Adventure just for you.

View Details

Accommodation

Classic hotels in the mountains and by the coast

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

On this trip we usually spend three nights in Corte at a hotel on the main street and four nights close to the port in the charming town of Saint-Florent.

Upgrade to a sea-view room on Day 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Hikes: Some of the hikes take place in a mountainous area, so the trails have plenty of ascent and descent. The maximum height gain and loss is 2,789ft (850m). Our longest walking day is 5hr 30 mins. At the coast we follow well marked trails with very little ascent and descent.

Terrain: Corsica has a network of long-established trails and walking paths, most well maintained and way marked. Even so, paths are rocky and walking boots with good ankle support and tread are essential.

Key information

Start hotel: Varies by departure, please check your documentation
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There is a welcome briefing around 6pm in the evening.
Airport: Bastia Airport (BIA)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport.

Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

Corsica is famous for charcuteries and brocciu cheese, fresh local herbs, gamey meats and fish.

A buffet breakfast is provided in each hotel and on walking days we’ll take a packed lunch with us for the trails. Please bring a reusable container to reduce waste.

Vegetarians can be catered for, but the options can be more limited.

The best weather for walking in Corsica comes in late spring/early summer, late summer and early autumn. Average daily temperatures in the mountains between May and June range from 21C to 28C (70F to 82F) and in September from 20C to 26C (68F to 79F). The days are usually clear and fresh, avoiding the sultry humidity of midsummer.

The average summer temperature at sea level is 26C (79F) and slightly lower in Corte and in the interior mountains. Sunshine can substantially change the heat perception. Higher temperatures are expected between the second half of June until late August/early September where it can exceed 30C (86F).

There is always the possibility of rain, and it can be very heavy when it comes. Therefore, it is necessary to have a fleece and good quality waterproofs at the ready. In the event of poor weather we may need to amend sections of the itinerary. For this reason, you need everything from swimwear and sunscreen to a warm layer and good quality waterproofs.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

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Hike Corsica's Mountains & Coast

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Hike scenic trails on the ‘Island of Beauty’ and immerse yourself in one of the most intriguing cultures in Europe

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

5 days of Walking & Trekking

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Classic hotels in the mountains and by the coast

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

France

Reviews

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Walking in Sardinia

Trek the GR20 of Corsica

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Hike Corsica's Mountains & Coast

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Hike scenic trails on the ‘Island of Beauty’ and immerse yourself in one of the most intriguing cultures in Europe

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

5 days of Walking & Trekking

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Classic hotels in the mountains and by the coast

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

France

Reviews

You may also like

Walking in Sardinia

Trek the GR20 of Corsica

Walking in the Azores

The Adventure Begins Here