The Island of Corsica
A Mountain in the Sea
Tour Dates
9 – 16 September 2025
Tour Cost
€3,695 per person
Single supplement: €385
This 7-night itinerary explores the intriguing and endlessly fascinating island of Corsica. Turquoise seas, towering green pines and red granite rocks make this a landscape full of contradictions. We start in the colourful port of Bonifacio on the island’s southern tip before heading up the west coast to Piana and the beautiful Gulf of Porto. Our final stop is the former capital, Corte, an historic town lying at the geographical heart of the island and encircled by a backdrop of monumental granite mountains. With an age-old determination to keep their island pristine and unspoiled, the Corsicans have maintained an environment which offers a true paradise for hikers.
Surprising as it may seem, the easiest way to join this tour is to fly to Olbia in the north of Sardinia. Olbia is well served with flights from across Europe and the UK and the airport is just a 15 minute journey from the town itself. We will meet the group with our vans at the airport and a short ferry crossing brings us to Bonifacio on the southern tip of Corsica. The tour finishes in Bastia, at the airport or the ferry port.
What is included?
- 7 nights’ accommodation in three wonderful hotels
- Two experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- All meals including excellent wines
- Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as much or as little as you please
- Transport in air-conditioned minibus
- All museum entries and cultural visits as per the itinerary
- Comprehensive pre-trip information
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
Hike in the pristine scenery of Corsica’s granite landscape
Enjoy the island’s bounty – goat and sheep cheeses, cured meats, chestnuts and wild boar stews
Follow a section of the famous GR20 long distance route across the island
Walking / Terrain
There are 6 days of walking on the trip. We walk on coastal paths, rocky trails and mountain tracks with significant ascents and descents (up to 800 metres on Day 5 and 600 metres on Day 7). The walking is rugged, so sturdy walking boots, with good ankle support, are essential. Walking poles are highly recommended, especially on steeper sections. Whilst the climate is generally good at this time of year, we are walking in the mountains so need to be prepared for changes in conditions.
Shortest/Longest Day: 5km/3.1 miles: 16km/9.9 miles
We have graded this hike a Level 4. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at Slovenia and Friuli, Southern Italy or The Wilds of Abruzzo.
Accommodation
Hotel Santa Teresa: A comfortable hotel in the old part of Bonifacio, with views across to Sardinia.
Hotel Capo Rosso: Situated on the edge of Piana, this hotel has spectacular views across the Gulf of Porto and its rugged coastline. There is an outdoor pool.
Hotel Dominique Colonna: Deep in the Restonica Gorge, this hotel is built on the banks of the river and has an outdoor pool.
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
We meet at Olbia airport in Sardinia at 11.00 am before a short drive takes us to Santa Teresa Gallura on the northernmost point of the island. After time for lunch in the town, we take the short ferry ride across to Bonifacio in Corsica, where we stay for two nights. After a welcome drink in the hotel, we have dinner in a lively restaurant in the port.
Day 2
We leave the hotel on foot and walk through the old citadel to join a coastal path with magnificent views back to Bonifacio. There is time for a dip in the sea before our picnic lunch. We return to the hotel by van with free time to visit the formidable fortifications of Bonifacio and explore its many shops and cafes. Dinner tonight is in a restaurant in the old town.
(8.5km/5 miles)
Day 3
Today we leave Bonifacio and make our way up to the west coast of the island. We stop for coffee in the hilltop town of Sartène, in the heart of one of Corsica’s flourishing wine regions, before continuing our drive along the coast with increasingly stunning views. We stop for lunch before arriving at our hotel near Piana, officially voted one of the most beautiful villages in France. As the sun is starting to set, we take a short hike through the UNESCO World Heritage Calanques de Piana to explore the area’s dramatic granite rock formations. We walk to dinner in a delightful restaurant in the village.
(6.5km/4 miles)
Day 4
A short drive takes us to the start of our walk out to Capu Rossu, a spectacular headland jutting out to sea and the most westerly point of the whole island. We follow a path through the maquis before climbing steadily on a rocky trail to a 15th-century Genoese watchtower, perched 450 metres above the sea, affording fabulous views in all directions. We descend by the same route and, after our picnic lunch, return to Piana by van. There is free time to explore the village or relax by the pool before dinner in the wonderful restaurant at the hotel.
(10km/6.2 miles)
Day 5
We leave Piana after breakfast and head for the impressive granite interior of the island, where we are more likely to see grazing pigs and goats on the road than any other cars. Our hike starts at the Col di Vergio (1478m) and we follow a section of the famous GR20 long-distance route up a beautiful valley with stunning rock pools. We climb 800 metres to a high ridge before descending back into the valley, perhaps dipping our toes in the water en route. There is no van access at lunchtime today, so both guides will hike in the picnic. After the hike, our drive to Corte takes us through magnificent red granite gorges and ancient pine forests. We stay the final 3 nights of the tour in our hotel in the Restonica Gorge. Dinner is in a fabulous Auberge close to the hotel.
(14.5km/9 miles)
Day 6
Today we walk a section of the famous Mare a Mare long-distance hike which crosses the island. We set out from just outside the town and climb into beautiful pastures with increasingly stunning views back to Corte and Monte Rotondo. We pass through a pretty village before our picnic lunch at a remote chapel. Short descent in the afternoon to another hilltop village from where we drive back to the hotel. Time in the afternoon to explore the town of Corte, once capital of an independent Corsica, before dinner in a local restaurant.
(13km/8 miles)
Day 7
We start our hike near the Citadelle of Corte. Our hike follows the mule trail once used by Napoleon’s parents when fleeing from the French Army, whilst Letizia was pregnant with the future Emperor. This is now part of the Mare a Mare long-distance hiking trail. We climb gently with increasingly spectacular views of the Tavignano Gorge to reach a series of rock pools where there is the opportunity for a refreshing dip before our picnic – which your guides have hiked in for you. We return to Corte on the same trail and have time to relax at the hotel before our final dinner.
(13km/8 miles)
Day 8
We return to Bastia airport for 11.30 am or ferry port for 12.00 pm.
