Your itinerary
Day 1
Adventure starts in Corte
Our adventure begins in Corte, a picturesque town and the one-time capital of the island.Around 6pm, say salute to your tour leader and fellow travellers, where we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead during a welcome briefing. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome over dinner together, a three-course meal at a great restaurant close to the hotel.Want extra time in Corsica? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Walk up to Punta di u Corbu in the Restonica Gorges, back down through pine forests
Start the week with an exploration of the Restonica Gorges. From downtown Corte, we hike towards the Chapel of Saint-Antoine. The trail gradually climbs up to Punta di u Corbu, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.At the top of a small pass, we can enjoy superb views, before descending through a pine forest towards the Restonica River. The descent continues along the road, bordered by the crystal-clear waters of the river, back to the hotel. Today’s route involves a steep slope and some stony terrain.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 3
Tavignano Valley and the historic town of Corte
We walk up the Tavignano Gorge along part of the Mare a Mare (Sea to Sea), a long-distance hiking trail traversing the island from east to west. We stop for lunch next to beautiful rock pools where it’s possible to swim in good weather. On this route there is a steep, stony section to access the river.Return along the valley to Corte, where we have some time to explore. You may want to visit the citadel, a fortified château founded on a rocky peak in 1419. To go inside, you need to purchase a ticket to the Musée de la Corse, an anthropological museum in the barracks below. Alternatively, explore the historic centre, stopping at one of the many cafes, gelaterias and restaurants, or cool off with a swim in the Tavignano River.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 4
Hike part of the GR20 to Bocca Palmente; to Saint-Florent by the coast
We check out of our hotel in Corte this morning and transfer by bus (40-minutes) to the start of the hike in Vizzavona. We begin our walk along the GR20 to Bocca Palmente at a brisk pace. This route includes sections through pine and beech forest and spectacular views out to Monte d’Oro and the east coast. There may be the opportunity for an optional extension to the clear water of the Cascades des Anglais rock pools.After today’s hike, we transfer around two hours from Vizzavona to Saint-Florent to spend the next four nights by the coast. Our included dinner will be a three-course meal at the hotel.Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 5
Free day to discover Bastia
A transfer is included from Saint-Florent to Bastia (30-minutes). The day is free for you to discover the coastal town of Bastia, the emblematic city of Haute Corse, at your own pace. You may want to explore the citadel and emblematic old port or visit the Musée de Bastia, a place of remembrance and history. At the end of the day we return by private bus to Saint-Florent.Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Coastal walking to Punta Vecchiaia
Leaving directly from the hotel we walk in the direction of Olzo Beach, the starting point of the northern coastal trail of Saint-Florent. This untamed stretch of coastline offers views across the entire gulf, including landmarks such as the Genoese Mortella Tower, Punta Mortella, and Punta di Curza.Impressive limestone cliffs rise steeply and plunge into the turquoise sea. As the trail winds along secluded coves reveal themselves, the scent of the Mediterranean filling the air as we brush past the vegetation. The limestone rock formations stand in stark contrast to the rest of Corsica, which is predominantly granite or schist.This afternoon is free to visit Saint-Florent and soak up its charming village atmosphere. There is a small, picturesque fishing port and the historic Nebbiu Cathedral to discover.Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 7
Short boat ride; start Sentier des Douaniers
From Saint-Florent, we take a 20-minute boat ride to Lotu beach which marks the start of the Customs Officers’ Path. This coastal trail starts on the west side of the bay of Saint-Florent, a wild and rugged area featuring fragrant maquis vegetation and pristine sandy beaches.Along the way we discover the rich agro-pastoral history of the Agriates Desert, shaped by centuries of farming and seasonal livestock migrations. Today’s walk will include sweeping views and swimming stops in crystal-clear coves.Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 8
Adventure ends in Saint-Florent
The adventure ends after breakfast. Speak to your sales representative if you’d like to extend your stay with additional time in Corsica.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
Corsica is famous for charcuteries and brocciu cheese, fresh local herbs, gamey meats and fish.
A buffet breakfast is provided in each hotel and on walking days we’ll take a packed lunch with us for the trails. Please bring a reusable container to reduce waste.
Vegetarians can be catered for, but the options can be more limited.
Boat to Lotu Beach & Sentier des Douaniers Hike
Cruise across the gulf from Saint-Florent to Lotu Beach, land on sugar-pale sand, and strike out along the Sentier des Douaniers. The path undulates through low maquis, skirting luminous shallows and dune-backed coves.
In the Agriates Desert, a protected coastal massif, traces of agro-pastoral life meet salt air and seabirds. Waymarked sections invite unhurried walking with time for sea dips in calm conditions, marrying Corsica’s maritime light with the solitude of its wild northwest.
Saint-Florent Coastal Walk to Punta Vecchiaia
Follow the northern coastal trail from Saint-Florent towards Punta Vecchiaia, a wild shoreline framed by turquoise water and wind-brushed scrub.
The path skirts pale limestone cliffs and pocket coves scented with cistus and myrtle. Across the gulf, the silhouette of the Genoese Mortella Tower recalls 16th-century watch posts that once guarded the coast—today a photogenic marker on a horizon of sea and sky.
Tavignano Gorge & Rock Pools on the Mare a Mare
Walk a scenic section of the Mare a Mare from Corte into the Tavignano Gorge, contouring above sapphire pools and polished granite. In warm weather, pause by swimmable rock pools where clear currents gather beneath sun-warmed slabs.
This age-old mule route threads Corsica’s interior, brushing maquis and cork oaks as the valley opens to long views. Return near Corte’s old town, where cafés and cobbles underline the island’s blend of rugged landscapes and lived-in history.
GR20 Taster: Vizzavona to Bocca Palmente
Tackle a taster of the legendary GR20 from Vizzavona, climbing through beech and pine to the Bocca Palmente pass. From the crest, gaze across Monte d’Oro and far towards the Tyrrhenian horizon, with ridgelines scrolled like a relief map.
Your leader sets a steady pace on rocky, rooty paths typical of Corsica’s high trails. When conditions allow, a short detour to the Cascades des Anglais offers cool pools and cascades—an invigorating finale to the day’s ascent.
Corte Welcome Briefing & Corsican Dinner
Meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers in Corte for a concise welcome briefing that outlines the week’s hikes and terrain, plus tips on local etiquette and kit.
Continue to a local bistro for a three-course Corsican dinner, showcasing island specialities such as charcuterie and brocciu alongside rustic chestnut notes and local wines. The evening captures the mountain town’s warm pulse and sets a friendly rhythm for the journey ahead.
Saint-Florent Seaside Dinner
Dine beside the Gulf of Saint-Florent with a three-course seaside dinner served at your hotel.
Menus lean into fresh Mediterranean flavours—think grilled fish, island herbs and citrus—while the harbour’s lamps glimmer across the bay. It’s a relaxed close to a day of walking, with the murmur of the port setting an easy, coastal tempo.
Corte Citadel & Musée de la Corse
Visit the Corte Citadel, a 15th-century stronghold perched on a rocky spur, and step into the Musée de la Corse housed in the former barracks.
Displays on pastoral life, craft traditions and identity add depth to what you’ve seen on the trails, while the perched fortress delivers far-reaching views over the Tavignano and Restonica valleys. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to opening hours.
Bastia Citadel & Old Port Discovery
Explore Bastia’s Terra Nova citadel and amble down to the Old Port, where pastel facades cluster around bobbing fishing boats.
Inside the Musée de Bastia at the Governor’s Palace, learn how Genoese rule shaped the city’s Genoese heritage—from baroque churches to maritime trade. Museum entry is at additional cost and bookable on tour during your time in Bastia.
Restonica Gorges & Punta di u Corbu Hike
Hike into the Restonica Gorges from the heart of Corte, following a steady ascent towards the Chapel of Saint-Antoine and the ridge of Punta di u Corbu. Pause at airy viewpoints across serrated granite peaks before descending through aromatic laricio pine to the crystal-clear Restonica River.
This classic valley walk reveals Corsica’s highland character: polished rock slabs, swimmable pools and traces of pastoral life. Expect some steep, stony sections that reward sure-footed walkers with wide vistas and a strong sense of mountain island wilderness.
