Corsica walking holidays

Corsica is the 4th largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located approximately 160 km from France, 90 km from Italy and 11 km from Sardinia. It became officially French in 1768, but maintains to this day a very strong sense of individuality with deeply rooted customs and culture and their own native language, Corsu, a mix of Italian and French that is spoken by approximately 150 000 people and still taught in some schools on the island.

Nicknamed the Ile de beauté in French (the Island of beauty), it certainly lives up to its name, with almost 1 000km of stunning coastline, 200 beaches, dense forests, high mountains and the Parcu di Corsica, the Corsican Regional Natural Park that makes up for about 50% of the island’s surface! Corsica’s economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, wine and animal farming.

Corsica walking holidays are a chance to uncover not only the incredible beauty of the island, but to mingle with the patriotic locals and immerse yourself in the Corsican way of life. It’s the trip of a lifetime!

Is Corsica good for walking ?


Walking in Corsica is a truly wonderful holiday for experienced hikers. The terrain can be steep and rocky with some technical parts (ladders and chains). We rate our Corsica walking holidays as moderate to challenging. You need good walking shoes and walking poles and be used to regular exercise. If you suffer from vertigo then this is not a recommended walking destination. For more information on how we rate our walking holidays please see here.

Aside from the difficulty level, the landscape is simply stunning ! Our self-guided Corsica hiking tours are very varied : walk along the jagged coastline with plenty of beaches and swimming opportunities. Head up into the mountains for some truly spectacular panoramic hikes and glistening lakes and enjoy the dramatic scenery as you head into the Gorges along the Tavignano River.

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Corsica walking holiday : Calvi, short & sweet
      • France - Corsica
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 4 days
      • From April to October
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Superior

Highlights of the tour -- a re-travailler

  • Coastal walk to the Revellata lighthouse, admiring the turquoise sea
  • Swimming opportunities on sandy secluded beaches
  • The best places and the best hikes in Corsica from the sandy beaches of Calvi to the wild mountain lakes of Corte



    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

Corsica walking holiday : Porto, short & sweet
      • France - Corsica
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 4 days
      • From April to October
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming

Highlights of your trip

  • The village of Piana by the Med Sea
  • The famous Calanches of Piana : superb granite walls chiselled by erosion
  • The Gulf of Girolata and the Scandola nature reserve : a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Swimming & relaxing on sandy secluded beaches




    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

      • 6 days
      • From April to October
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming

Highlight of the tour

  • Coastal walk to the Revellata lighthouse, admiring the turquoise sea
  • Swimming opportunities on sandy secluded beaches
  • Hiking trails through chestnut forests
  • 1 picnic included
  • The best places and the best hikes in Corsica from the sandy beaches of Calvi to the wild mountain lakes of Corte
  • Diverse landscapes with the best hiking spots in Corsica, a moderate walking grade
  • Strolling through Corte, one of the "must" historic places to stay in Corsica
  • Follow trails to blue mountain lakes, glittering natural pools and shepherds’ huts
  • Emerald waters of the Restonica gorge


    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

      • 6 days
      • From April to October
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming

Highlights of your trip

  • Strolling through Corte, the historic capital surrounded by mountain peaks   
  • Follow trails to blue mountain lakes, glittering natural pools
  • Girolata small fishermen’s village accessible only by foot or boat
  • Piana one of the most beautiful villages of France ands its famous Calanches
  • The emerald colored waters of of the Restonica gorge and the Spelunca Gorge 
  • Hiking through chestnut forest
  • Walk on an ancient mule path high above the sea, with fantastic views
  • Swimming on sandy secluded beaches
  • 1 picnic included

    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

Corsica walking holiday: from Calvi to Porto
      • France - Corsica
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 7 days
      • From March to October
  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming

Highlight of your walking tour

  • Experience the best of both sea & mountain walks
  • Girolata small fishermen’s village accessible only by foot or boat
  • Hiking through chestnut forests
  • The famous Piana Calanches and its spooky pink granite rock 
  • Beautiful coastal walk to the Revellata lighthouse, admiring the turquoise sea
  • Swimming opportunities on sandy secluded beaches
  • Piana one of the most beautiful villages of Corsica
  • Walk on an ancient mule path high above the sea with fantastic views
  • Enjoy discovering the Corsican culture

    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

What trekking route runs through Corsica ?

The famous GR20 hiking trail runs north to south of the island is considered one of the most difficult and yet beautiful hiking trails in Europe ! It is 180km long and takes an average of 15 days to complete.

 

What to expect on our Corsica walking holidays ?

Our Corsica walking holidays are based in Corte, Calvi and Porto. Depending on the number of nights you choose, you will have time to explore one, two or all three of these towns.

. Calvi, with its citadel perched on a rocky spur, its pretty cobbled streets and beautiful beaches is an ideal place to start your Corsica walking tour. Calvi is easily accessible by ferry from Marseille, by regular flights from many countries or by train from Ajaccio and Bastia.  

· Corte is located in the centre of the island, and offers a spectacular location at the foot of the mountains. It is the historical & cultural capital of Corsica, a lively and cosmopolitan university town. 

· Porto is located in the aptly named Gulf of Porto and is part of a Unesco world heritage site. It offers a wild coastline with jagged dark-red coloured rocks in stark contrast with the turquoise sea. You can travel to Porto by plane and by ferry from mainland France. 

In each of these three destinations, our self-guided Corsica walking holidays offer a range of accommodation options for you to choose from, from simple, to comfort, to charming. We have hand-picked the hotels, safe in the knowledge that you will be welcomed warmly & made to feel at home.   

 

What time of year to go walking in Corsica ?

Corsica enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate with an average of 300 sunny days a year, though temperatures can vary greatly from the coast to the mountain peaks. Walking in Corsica requires some foreward thinking… depending on your hike of the day, wear layers that are easy to peal on and off. You may feel a slight chill in the air when walking at high altitude in the mountains but then enjoy the feel of the sun on your bare skin as you emerge by the sea !  The best time of year is May & June and September & October, with September being the best sea swimming month ! 

 

Local cuisine

The local food on Corsica walking holidays will not disappoint ! Despite the 1 000km of coastline, Corsica is not known for its pescatarian cuisine although it is now more common to find fresh seafood in the restaurants and markets. No, Corsica is famous for its meat ! The first inhabitants of the island chose to live inland to escape from the threat of pirates on the water, so the traditional dishes are wild boar, veal, cured meats, sheep and goats cheese.

The hot summers and mild winter make Corsica an ideal place for vineyards. Corsica offers some excellent wines, very few of which are exported. They are to be enjoyed on the island itself, on a warm summer evening, accompanied by some delicious cured meat and local cheeses.

 We also offer cycling holidays in Corsica for a different way of exploring this beutiful island.