Corsica Trekking Holiday

After meeting at the airport we transfer to our first nightstop. From Bastia on the East coast we drive to Ponte Leccia a mid-way dividing point. The road heads for the west coast, in a southerly direction towards Calvi. The coastal road is stunning; we head towards Calvi then make towards the outskirts, to a small gite in the forest. This is a good opportunity to have a relaxing lunch, take a stroll, swim and siesta before packing your back pack ready for the trek.You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Dinner

The trek begins with a challenging first day with most of our walking uphill.  Leaving the auberge we head up hill on a forest trail through the Cirque de Bonifatu, near to the mountain refuge of Carrozzu.  We cross a swing bridge and continue our ascent into the mountain range.  The route leads up through the Spasimata slabs and towering mountains to a small lake, the Lac de la Muvrella.   From the col above, the view of the lake and back towards Calvi makes the effort of the climb worthwhile.  We traverse across to a second col before starting the steep and technical descent to our night stop, the old ski station of Haut-Asco.  An age old forest of pine trees marks the end of a dramatic first day.  Approximately 7/8 hours walking / 9kms. Ascent 1600m; descent 700m.

You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today's stage of the trail is perhaps the most famous and one of the toughest sections as we walk up out of the valley.  A long steep ascent leads us up to the Col Perdu, the entrance point to the famous Cirque de Solitude. This cirque, a deep dark chasm, drops down a good couple of hundred meters and is assisted by ladders and chains.  Once at the base of the cirque we cross and begin our ascent on the other side.  The trail is equally steep and you will need to be sure-footed, patient and agile. Although a tough and tiring day the landscape of this geological wonder makes for a perfect distraction when our limbs start to ache. Once at the exit col, the Bocca Minuta, we can start on the final walk down to our night stop, a small cabin and collection of tents situated by a mountain torrent.  Approximately 7 hours walking / 8kms. Ascent 1000m; descent 1000m. In case of snow during the early season an alternative route will be walked on this day.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trail leaves Vallone through a Laricio pine tree forest before heading steeply uphill to the refuge of Ciottolu di Mori, situated at 2000m, it is the highest refuge on the GR20. The refuge is nestled neatly between two large mountains, the solid massif of the Paglia Orba with it’s dark red volcanic rock and the massif of the Tafunatu. Once we have enjoyed a drink on the refuge terrace, we can continue along the trail that becomes a wonderful ridge walk.  There are views of the indented west coast line, the sea and the village of Piana. We follow the Golu valley down hill. We continue to the ski station Castel di Vergio our night stop.  Approximately 6 hours walking / 11kms.  Ascent 650m; descent 650m. 

You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For the first hour or so this morning the trail is unusually flat and progresses steadily through the woods.  An abrupt turn off will take us up hill to a high saddle called the Col St Pierrre.  The trail follows a ridge  from the col  offering stunning views on both sides.  We cross a high airy plain before the lake comes into sight.  The ‘Lac de Nino’ is a summer paradise for grazing animals; it’s a glacier lake that is surrounded by green spongy turf and runnels of clear water.  From the lake, we walk on to arrive at the shepherd’s cabin, Vaccaghja, home to Noel and his goats. Finally we cross the plateau of Camputile to arrive at the GR20 refuge of Manganu.  Approximately 7 hours walking / 12kms. Ascent 800m; descent 600m.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On this tough and strenuous day, we leave the refuge taking the GR20 uphill across a couple of small plateaus, crossing scree and boulders.  The landscape soon becomes rocky and mineral, the boulders giving way to scree as we approach the high point, the Capitello breche.  From the breche we have views down onto Capitello lake, the deepest on the island at 43m, and just below it, we can see Melo lake.  Our trail stays above contouring them both. In the near distance is Corte, the island’s historical capital.  We walk on to pass above a third lake, the Rinosu,  before arriving at a mountain pass, the Col de Muzzella.  The décor is almost lunar as we make our way across the last section and down to Petra Piana refuge. Approximately 7 hours walking / 10kms.  Ascent 1000m; descent 700m. In case of snow we will take an alternative route.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From Petra Piana the GR20 follows a high airy ridge, undulating up and over a series of summits along the way.  There are views in every which direction.  Although the going is tough, the day is shorter and we will arrive at the next refuge in time to relax. The GR20 has two possibilities between these refuges, so in bad weather, the ridge walk is replaced by the valley variant. L’onda refuge is a working sheep and goat farm, there are plenty of animals around and the cheese is freshly made. The specialty here is homemade cheese and spinach lasagna for dinner!  Approximately 5 hours walking / 7kms.  Ascent 450m; descent 840m. If the

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we make our way back up on the ridge and continue steadily along it to the col.  Here, the trail descends the other side of the mountain range, giving views down into the valley and the massif of Monte d’Oro.  We descend down stone slabs towards the river and the famous ‘Cascade des Anglais.’  The high mountain ambiance gives way to woods, mountain ash and maple trees. The river is made up of a series of rock pools, small canyons and chutes of water.  There are plenty of inviting places to have a picnic and take a refreshing dip.  We follow the river down to Vizzavona, this is where we will found our night stop.  It is the midway point in the GR trail and a boundary point between the two Corsican counties.  Approximately 6 hours walking / 8kms. Ascent 800m; descent 1200m.

You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We now begin the southern section of the GR20. Setting out from Vizzavona, the trail is well graded and takes us progressively up through the forest to Bocca Palmente. On a clear day there are views of the East coast with its flat plains and sea lagoons.  Dropping down across the other side of the mountain range, the trail takes us past a series of shepherd’s homes and on to Capanelle an old ski resort. The walking is easy underfoot and we can cover ground at a good pace.  Approximately 5 hours walking / 15kms. Ascent 900m; descent 250m.

You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is spent walking through forest on a part of the trail called the Chemin de Ronde. Leaving Capanelle we walk towards the shepherds’ cabins, called the bergeries de Traglyiette.  The mountain that dominates here is the Monte Renoso, it is one of the major summits in the high imposing central granite chain that divides the island.  The walk progresses easily on and we cross the plateau du Gialgone and continue to Col de Verde.  Approximately 4.5 hours walking / 13kms. Ascent 350m; descent 650m.

You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a long day as we leave the forest and head in to the mountains again.   Coming out of the gite, we cross over the road at the col and head up a forest track.  After a considerable, early morning effort we leave the tree line below us and once again we are up in the high mountains. The trail leads up to a great ridge walk, rather rocky, and rough underfoot and with a truly alpine ambiance.  The views are surprising, as if no one could decide which side to plot the path. One minute we are on the left of the ridge marveling at the Eastern plains and the coastline, and then we change sides to the Taravo valley and a series of small dotted isolated villages.  The trail remains high all the way until we come to our night stop, the refuge of Usciolu situated in a sheltered position just below the ridge.  Approximately 7.5hrs walking /  12kms. Ascent 1150m; descent 700m.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From the refuge of Usciolu the trail stays very high at around 1800m altitude, along a ridge called the Arete a Monda. The trail takes us past the ‘Punta di l’Usciolu’ summit and the ‘Punta de a Scaddatta’.  Coming off the ridge, we walk through a forest of dwarf oaks, dropping progressively down to a col called, ‘Bocca di l’Agnone’. We quickly loose height and penetrate into a large plateau area known as the plateau of Cuscione.  This area is particularly lush, its good grazing ground and we cross plenty of small streams and rivers.  We walk towards the Bergeries de Bassetta, past a small chapel and onto our night stop, the bergerie of Croce.  Approximately 5 hours walking /  13kms. Ascent 600m; descent 820m.

You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From the bergerie of Croce, we initially take a forest track, before heading up hill, passing very close to an old astronomy observatory.  We trek in a southerly direction along a ridge, passing at an altitude of 1743m, this lovely high saddle is called Bocca de Chiralba.  This walk is great and the views of the plateau and superb landscape is inspiring.  It’s not without effort, as we pull up to 2025m altitude on the ridge of the Mone Alcudina Mountain.  This beautiful summit is easily accessible from here, a challenge not to be missed!  From the summit we walk back down picking up the GR20 path we head steeply down hill towards the Asinau river and valley below. We then push on up and over the alpine ridge to arrive at Bavella gite. Filling up our water bottles at the spring, we leave the refuge heading down hill to the foot of the valley where we cross the river.  Once across the river, the trail is relatively flat and leads through the pine woods.  We arrive at an intersection of paths.  We head up hill taking the alpine variant.  Rapidly gaining height we are soon amongst the high needle summits, the famous ‘Aiguilles de Bavella’ the granite peaks have a lovely reddish hue here.  There are some sections that require you to use your hands and a short passage has a chain in place to make the passage across the rocks easier. Approximately 8 hours walking /19kms. Ascent 1115m; descent 1410m.   

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From Bavella we cross the col and head down a lovely forest trail that is off the beaten track.  We cut down through small paths and trails that will take us swiftly down to the local horse racing track.  Once again we take slip routes through the forest to emerge in the lovely vibrant village of Zonza where we will no doubt head straight into the village brasserie for a celebration drink! We can check into our gite and enjoy a relaxing afternoon swim in the river or the village swimming pool set in a lovely park. There's even time for a massage in the village bienetre centre before a farewell dinner in a village restaurant.  Approximately 4.5 hours walking / 9kms. Ascent 0m; descent 500m. You will have access to your main luggage tonight.

Overnight Basic Gite Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving the rugged scenery of Corsica's interior behind we transfer this morning from Bavella to Ajaccio airport where the tour ends.

Included meals: Breakfast