Grand Tour of Corsica

We welcome you at the airport and we organize the transfer to the hotel in Porto by bus, with a stop in Cargese.
If your arrival time allows it; a visit and free time in the old town of Ajaccio (1h30).
Lunch: free.
After one hour’s drive, we visit Cargese, a small village created by Greeks … in
1676! 1 hour of easy walk in the nature and history.
40 minutes of a magnificient road are necessary to reach our final destination Porto.

Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Porto (seaside)
Lunch : not included (restaurant in Ajaccio)

Hiking : We embark on a small boat to see the Natural Reserve of Scandola and Girolata (2.5h)
Afternoon: hike in the Calanques of Piana.

Excursion : In the morning, boat trip to discover the Natural Reserve of Scandola and Girolata (2.5h).
In the afternoon, 1.5 hours of visit of Porto.
Option aquarium and museums, or free time on the beach.

Accommodation: 2-star hotel in Porto (seaside)
Lunch: picnic (included)

Bus transfer to the village of Piana : 12 km / 20 minutes
Hiking : Hike towards Capu Rossu and the Genoese tower of Thurgiu.  The panoramic views on the gulf of Porto and Calanques of Piana are stunning. Option, a more difficult walk : Capu d’Ortu
Walking duration : 3 hours /  8 km, elevation: 400 m.

Excursion : Easy walk around the Calanques de Piana amidst the red rocks, sculpted by the wind, the salt and the sea. Bring your camera !

Lunch : picnic (included)
Accommodation : 2-star Hotel in Porto (seaside)

Bus transfer to Evisa : 23 km / 40 minutes

Hiking :Evisa is a picturesque hill village, surrounded by the Aitone Forest and mountains. We will walk 2 hours among the old Laricio pines and chestnut trees, near a beautiful river, natural pools and on a Genoese arched bridge.  Option : Gorges of Spelunca.

Walking duration :  5.5 hours/ 15 km, elevation : 500 m

Excursion : Discovery of the Aïtone forest and its Laricio pines, chestnut trees and river pools (1,5 hour, easy). Visit of the village of Evisa.
Lunch : picnic (included)
Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Porto (seaside)

Bus transfer to St-Florent : 4 hours (125 km)

Transfer by bus from Porto to Calvi (2.5 hours) and crossing of the region known as « La Balagne ». 2 hours visit with the Citadel and meal at a restaurant (salad and platter of cold cuts)
For the afternoon :
Hiking : 2 hours hike and visit of the Village of Monticello and panoramic view of Rousse Island
Walking duration :  2 hours / 5,5 km, elevation : 230 m

Excursion : Discovery of the island of Pietra between rocks and paths by the sea or walk on the Martime path on the cape of Guardiola and the cala di Olivu (1,5 hour, easy).

1 hour bus transfer to the city of St-Florent and hotel

Lunch : Restaurant (not included)
Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Saint Florent / dinner at the hotel

Hiking : Arrival by boat (20 minutes) on the beautiful sandy beach of Lotu. The Agriates desert is a wild and preserved peninsula, with sandy beaches and turquoise water, covered with dense Mediterranean maquis. The hike on the coastal path brings us back to Saint-Florent,with splendid views on the mountains and on Cape Corse.
Walking duration : 5 hours, 10 km, Elevation 200 m

Excursion : Visit of Saint-Florent, the Saint-Tropez of northern Corsica. History, culture et tourism in the little port and discovery of the local products. In the afternoon, visit of the vineyard of Patrimonio and wine tasting.
Bus transfer, 20km.

Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Saint Florent / dinner at the hotel
Lunch : picnic (included)

Hiking : Nonza is a medieval village situated in an impressive location, perched on the top of sheer cliffs that plunge 100 meters to the sea below. Our hike offers views to the unusual grey sandy beach and to Cape Corse. The visit of the village passes by the ruins of an ancient castle and the painted church of Sainte-Julie.
Walking duration: 4,5 hours/ 11 km, elevation 500 m,  Bus transfer : 35 km
Lunch : picnic (included)

Excursion : amazing trip ! Cape Corse, villages and beaches
Discover the main French port for crayfish and enjoy the apéritif and arrival in Centuri at mid-day. In the afternoon, visit of the picturesque village at the very end of the Cape Corse. To go for a dip on a wild sandy beach is the best way to end the day before coming back to Saint-Florent.
Option: boat-trip for the day (supplement of approximately 45€)
Lunch :  not included (Option crayfish restaurant)

Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Saint Florent / dinner at the hotel

Bus transfer to Corte, in the heart of Corsica: 85 km / 2 hours
Hiking : Hike in the Castagniccia area, among the wild and most ancient chestnut (castagnu in Corsican) forests of the island. Here the water flows everywhere, the contrast is huge with other regions in Corsica. We’ll reach the isolated village of Piedicroce near the source of Orezza.
Walking duration: 4 hours /10 km, elevation : 500m.

Excursion : Visit of the villages at the heart of the chestnut forests, and visit of the source of Orezza… An easy and lovely hike with tasting of local products like chestnut, cheese and wine amidst the nature of Castagniccia.

Lunch : picnic (included)
Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Corte / dinner at the hotel

Bus transfer : 25 km

Hiking : transfer by bus to the beginning of the path. The road is magnificent, surrounded by giant cliffs and above the river. The hike reaches the famous lakes of Melo and Capitello, sources of the river Restonica.
Walking duration:  4 hours / 9 km, elevation: 550 m.

Excursion : Tourism and cultural visit of Corte and its area

Though Corte is a small town, it used to be the capital of the island from 1755-1769 under Pasquale Paoli – a name you will hear often in Corsica. We will lead you through the old town and we’ll reach the belvedere, which offers views on the famous valleys of Restonica. We will visit the Citadelle, a fortress of the 15th century dominating the town and a regional museum showing the history, the economy and the culture of the inhabitants.

Lunch : picnic (included)
Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Corte / dinner at the hotel

Bus transfer to the Alta Rocca : 125 km / 2h30
Hiking : the Bavella Needles are ideally situated in the Regional Nature Park of Corsica, with their impressive shapes and colours, ranging from red to grey and covered with immense forests. One of the nicest hikes is the « trou de la Bombe », a geological curiosity, accessible across a forest of the endemic Larriccio pines.
Walking duration : 3 hours / 8 km, elevation: 350 m.

Optional « Tour of the needles » 6,5 hours / 750 m of elevation

Excursion : Visit of the archaelogical sites Cucuruzzu (historical monument since 1982) and Capula and visit of the granite villages, typical of the area. The two sites are located on the Livia plateau in southern Corsica, in the Alta Rocca…
Option : easy hike in Zonza and Quenza.

Walking duration: 2 hours / 4 km, elevation 60 m.

Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Quenza (Zonza) / dinner at the hotel
Lunch : picnic (included)

Bus transfer to  Bonifacio : 50 km / 1 hour
Hiking : from Bonifacio, this very unusual hike starts at the Aragon stairs and reaches Capo Pertusato, 4 kilometers later. The views of the cliffs and the town are stunning and sometimes Sardegna and Lavezzi islands can be observed.
Walking duration : 4 hours /  9 km, elevation: 150 m.

Excursion : a visit of the old town, on the footpaths of Charles Quint and Napoléon Bonaparte. The writer Valery, a fan of Bonifacio, called the town « the city of cliffs ». You will love the atmosphere and the views of the area.
Option: boat trip to the Lavezzi islands (supplement of approximately 35€)
Lunch: picnic for hikers (included) or restaurant for excursionists: (not included)

Accommodation : 2-star hotel in Bonifacio or Propriano  / dinner at the hotel

Bus transfer to Ajaccio airport : 65 km / 1h30
Bus transfer to Figari airport : 22 km / 35 minutes
Last breakfast in Corsica and return by plane
Scheduling according to your flight time. Transfer to the airport
Lunch : not included