Discover Corsica, Europe’s best kept secret island on this unique walking holiday. Experience the best of both sea and mountains, staying 3 nights on the coast at Calvi and 3 nights in the mountains in Corte with swimming pools and boutique hotels at both overnight stays. Corsica has been part of France for over 200 years, a mountain literally in the Mediterranean Sea, from its jagged coastline and sandy beaches to the serrated rocky summits that soar into and above the clouds, and everything in between.
The landscapes are as sumptuous as they are contrasting and you’ll venture into the heart of them all with wild swimming opportunities along the way. We have handpicked some of the most beautiful coastal and mountain walks with moderate difficulty level to immerse you in the remote, the wild, the unexpected and the stunning, Mountainous peaks, turquoise seas, Corsican food & wine, and varied terrain alongside a blissful Mediterranean climate, all make a walking holiday in Corsica the perfect escape.
Holiday details
Price
- Classic
-
from £1,290 – £1,550 per person
- Luxury
-
from £1,930 – £2,700 per person
Based on two people sharing a room. Price range due to seasonal variations
What’s included?
Transfer on day 4 from Calvi to Corte with your luggage. Taxi transfer on day 5 from Corte to the Bergerie Grotelle and from Bergerie Grotelle to your hotel. Picnic lunches on days 5 and 6. Day 6 transfer to the centre of Corte and back (luxury itinerary only). Day 7 transfer with luggage to Calvi. See what’s included as standard
Duration
6 nights
Start & Finish
Starts daily and is circular from Calvi. Direct flights to Calvi from Manchester, Stansted and France. Ferry (5 hrs) from Nice to Calvi. Tour runs from April to mid-November. Note during July August walks may need to be started very early in the morning due to the heat
Hotels
- Classic
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3 star hotels
- Luxury
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4 star hotels
Holiday type
Self-guided
This tour is priced without a guide and you are free to explore on your own. If you would like a guide for part or all of your trip, we are happy to provide a knowledgeable, local guide
Activity level
Not so gentle walking. More info...
Mileage
4 days of walking 2.5 - 9 miles (4 - 15 km)
Terrain
Some steep slopes with 'easy' scrambling passages using chains and ladders. Up to 2000ft/600m of climbing per day
Options
Add an extra night in Porto and walk to the fishermen's village of Girolata (6 miles or 10 km)
Itinerary day-by-day
Classic
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1. Day one
Arrive Calvi
Arrive in Calvi and check into your hotel, home for the next three nights. Enjoy a stroll around this fascinating old town from its yacht filled harbour and up through the winding cobbled streets and alley ways to the citadel. Cool off in a chic bar or Salon de Thé and lap up the Mediterranean charm.
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2. Day two
Calvi to Revellata Lighthouse
Today’s scenic walk takes about 4.5 hours and is along the Sentier du Littoral, following the bare rock path along the jagged coastline. Discover the peninsula and its secluded little beaches which are perfect for swim on your circular walk around Point de la Revellata. From the Revellata Lighthouse you will have wonderful views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding mountains. Return to Calvi along a high path atop the peninsular.
9 miles (15 km)
-
3. Day three
Calvi to Notre Dame de Serra
Leaving the coast, your walk heads up to Notre Dame de Serra, a beautiful hilltop chapel where you will have magnificent vistas of the bay of Calvi, its citadel and the Reginu valley. The path is easy underfoot for most of the way with some rocky sections, taking you through Corsican scrub or maquis until you reach the chapel of Notre Dame de la Serra. The original religious sanctuary was destroyed during a siege in 1740, but a new chapel was built in the first half of the 19th century. Admire the chapel’s simple architectural design, its Baroque bell tower and the large statue of Notre Dame de la Serra atop a rock, before returning back to Calvi. About 3 hours of walking.
6 miles (9 km)
-
4. Day four
Explore Calvi, transfer to Corte
You are free to explore Calvi this morning or just relax enjoying a picnic on the nearby beach. You could take a boat trip to Girolata and the Scandola Nature Reserve or take the train to Algajola where you will be rewarded with some stunning views. Early afternoon, you will be transferred to your second hotel, in the town of Corte - the historic capital of the island. Nestled at the base of several valleys it houses the island's only university and is filled with authentic cafes and restaurants.
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5. Day five
Corte to Lake Melo
Set in an Alpine environment, today's steep paths include 'easy' scrambling passages with chains and ladders. We recommend starting this 2.5 hour walk early in the morning to avoid the crowds and enjoy the stillness of the lakes. You transfer from your hotel to a shepherd's hut part way up the mountains at an altitude of 1370m. The walk climbs steadily from here up the valley on a rocky path, passing a shepherd's hut, which sells its own cheese in the summer season, before reaching Lac di Melo. We provide you with a picnic lunch today but there are additional refreshment options; you can stop at one of the two "Bergeries" - one is 30 minutes before the end of the walk, the other is at the finishing point.
2 miles (4 km)
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6. Day six
Corte to Les Gorges de Tavignano
We provide you with a picnic lunch today for your 4 hour walk which starts in the center of Corte. You pass the citadel and as soon as you leave the town, you find yourself in the heart of the wilderness. The cobbled path is easy to follow, with no steep ascents or descents, following the Mare a Mare path along the bank of the Tavignano river before entering the high mountains into a gorge. The scenery becomes more dramatic with every step. Halfway along the walk, the path descends to a footbridge which crosses a river. Here you will find natural pools, perfect for a refreshing swim before you return via the same path with magnificent views of the valley below. Those on the luxury tour have a transfer to/from the centre of Corte.
Note: During July and August this hike is not advisable (unless started really early) as it is too hot and there is no shade. Instead we suggest a free day to relax or enjoy other activities (such as canyoning, a bike tour, or a tree rope tour)8 miles (13 km)
-
7. Day seven
Depart
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Calvi.
Luxury
-
1. Day one
Arrive Calvi
Arrive in Calvi and check into your hotel, home for the next three nights. Enjoy a stroll around this fascinating old town from its yacht filled harbour and up through the winding cobbled streets and alley ways to the citadel. Cool off in a chic bar or Salon de Thé and lap up the Mediterranean charm.
-
2. Day two
Calvi to Revellata Lighthouse
Today’s scenic walk takes about 4.5 hours and is along the Sentier du Littoral, following the bare rock path along the jagged coastline. Discover the peninsula and its secluded little beaches which are perfect for swim on your circular walk around Point de la Revellata. From the Revellata Lighthouse you will have wonderful views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding mountains. Return to Calvi along a high path atop the peninsular.
9 miles (15 km)
-
3. Day three
Calvi to Notre Dame de Serra
Leaving the coast, your walk heads up to Notre Dame de Serra, a beautiful hilltop chapel where you will have magnificent vistas of the bay of Calvi, its citadel and the Reginu valley. The path is easy underfoot for most of the way with some rocky sections, taking you through Corsican scrub or maquis until you reach the chapel of Notre Dame de la Serra. The original religious sanctuary was destroyed during a siege in 1740, but a new chapel was built in the first half of the 19th century. Admire the chapel’s simple architectural design, its Baroque bell tower and the large statue of Notre Dame de la Serra atop a rock, before returning back to Calvi. About 3 hours of walking.
6 miles (9 km)
-
4. Day four
Explore Calvi, Transfer to Corte
You are free to explore Calvi this morning or just relax enjoying a picnic on the nearby beach. You could take a boat trip to Girolata and the Scandola Nature Reserve or take the train to Algajola where you will be rewarded with some stunning views. Early afternoon, you will be transferred to your second hotel, 2 km outside of Corte - the historic capital of the island. Nestled at the base of several valleys it houses the island's only university and is filled with authentic cafes and restaurants. Your hotel for the next three nights offers an enchanting setting on the banks of the river. The hotel does not have its own restaurant, but there is a nice Auberge next door for dinner and for 2 of your 3 nights, we include a taxi to and from Corte where there is a wide choice of restaurants.
-
5. Day five
Corte to Lake Melo
Set in an Alpine environment, today's steep paths include 'easy' scrambling passages with chains and ladders. We recommend starting this 2.5 hour walk early in the morning to avoid the crowds and enjoy the stillness of the lakes. You transfer from your hotel to a shepherd's hut part way up the mountains at an altitude of 1370m. The walk climbs steadily from here up the valley on a rocky path, passing a shepherd's hut, which sells its own cheese in the summer season, before reaching Lac di Melo. We provide you with a picnic lunch today but there are additional refreshment options; you can stop at one of the two "Bergeries" - one is 30 minutes before the end of the walk, the other is at the finishing point.
2 miles (4 km)
-
6. Day six
Corte to Les Gorges de Tavignano
We provide you with a picnic lunch today for your 4 hour walk which starts in the center of Corte. You pass the citadel and as soon as you leave the town, you find yourself in the heart of the wilderness. The cobbled path is easy to follow, with no steep ascents or descents, following the Mare a Mare path along the bank of the Tavignano river before entering the high mountains into a gorge. The scenery becomes more dramatic with every step. Halfway along the walk, the path descends to a footbridge which crosses a river. Here you will find natural pools, perfect for a refreshing swim before you return via the same path with magnificent views of the valley below. Those on the luxury tour have a transfer to/from the centre of Corte.
Note: During July and August this hike is not advisable (unless started really early) as it is too hot and there is no shade. Instead we suggest a free day to relax or enjoy other activities (such as canyoning, a bike tour, or a tree rope tour)8 miles (13 km)
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7. Day seven
Depart
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Calvi.