Walkable trails with some longer stages and inclines. Moderate level for hikes with some experience.
Breakfast included all days. For lunch and dinner, sample the delicious local cuisine prepared from seasonal produce.
Your journey between comfortable rural 2 and 3-star hotels ensures that you experience Corsica’s beauty with all the necessary comforts.
Carry only a small daypack, as you go about exploring this beautiful island. We will transfer your luggage.
Step into the picturesque island of Corsica and embark on an unforgettable journey along the mesmerizing Mare a Mare North trail. This remarkable walking holiday commences in the historic town of Corte, leading you through a captivating spectrum of Corsican landscapes.
Details
ItineraryThis walking holiday starts in the island’s historic capital, Corte. The rocky citadel dominates the town, and after dropping your bags at the hotel, you can take a walk around the old town, to discover the sights of this atmospheric place. Corte is situated on two magical gorges – the Tavignano and Restonica. The Tavignano o˞ffers a walk along an old mule path, a route used by shepherds into the isolated Niolu region and it makes for stunning walking. Steep cli˞ffs rise up above the pounding torrent and numerous rock pools allow you to cool o˞f.
Hotel: Hotel de la Paix ( or similar)
A short transfer takes you to the start of your walk in the Scala di Santa Regina. This trail is an old transhumance path that was used by shepherds leading their herds in and out of the Niolu valley. You walk down towards the lake towards the village of Calacuccia. Hotel Acquaviva is situated on the edge of the village and you can expect some ˡ ne cooking at a local restaurant, using the very best seasonal, local produce.
Hotel name: Hotel Acquaviva
Morning transfer to Col de Vergio .The Col de Vergio is a high mountain pass, the views are majestic; high peaks loom above. The trail goes down hill through the pines of the Aïtone forest to the outskirts of Evisa. You will pass rock pools and and then arrive at the chestnut woods with roaming pigs that mark your approach to the village. You will arrive in the centre of Evisa, a vibrant mountain village with a healthy climate before heading to your hotel.
Hotel: Hotel Scopa Rossa ( or similar)
Today you have the option of just relaxing, or taking a walk that follows part of the trail known as the MARE E MONTI It is a village to village walk leading through the surrounding chestnut woods and into a luxuriant maquis. You will arrive at the aban-doned hamlet of TASSU, a small treasure to investigate. You can continue on to the village of MARIGNANA which is situated directly across the valley from EVISA. Good walking and an insight into rural village life.
Hotel: Hotel Scopa Rossa ( or similar)
The path zig-zags down through the Spelunca gorge. Crossing a high arched Genoese bridge, you walk above the torrent on a balcony path towards Ota, a mountain village with a Mediterranean feel. The delicious smells from “Chez Felix” restaurant beckon, take a moment to sit and unwind. Your path leaves Ota, heading down to the coast at the Gulf of Porto – for an easier day, take a transfer from Ota to Porto and a boat trip to see the Scandola reserve. Stay at a comfortable 3* hotel in Porto.
Hotel: Hotel Kalliste (or similar)
This dramatic coastline is classed by UNESCO a site of world beauty. From Porto beach, you climb into the Calanques’ where you will discover an incredible site of granite needles, tortured shapes and rock sculpted formations dotted with maritime pine trees. The walk above the coast road follows the old mule path and o˞ ers some spectacular of the indented rugged coastline and its many creeks. Stay in a 3* hotel in the heart of the village.
Hotel: Hotel Les Calanches (or similar)
End of holiday in Piana, return to Ajaccio by Public bus; ( no public bus on sundays and bank holidays except in July and August)
Location And Getting ThereBastia Airport to Corte
From Bastia Airport, you can take a train to Corte via Casamozza, a scenic journey through Corsica’s rugged mountains and valleys that takes approximately 2 hours (details and schedules available at www.cfc.im). Trains run regularly, providing a comfortable and picturesque way to reach the island’s interior. Alternatively, a taxi to Corte costs around €120-150 and takes approximately 1.5 hours.
Return Journey from Corte to Bastia Airport
For the return trip, you can take a train from Corte to Bastia Airport via Casamozza, with a travel time of around 2 hours. A taxi for the return journey costs approximately €120-150 and takes about 1.5 hours.
AccommodationExamples of accommodation on this tour:
Accommodation
This tour is designed for two participants sharing a double, twin, or family room. Solo travelers should anticipate an additional surcharge for single occupancy in double rooms. On certain routes, particularly those involving high alpine huts, private rooms may not be available due to limited capacity or late bookings. In such cases, shared accommodations will be required and will be clearly indicated in your itinerary.
Linen & Towels
Most huts and hotels provide linen and towels. In rare instances where you need to bring your own towel and sleeping bag liner, this requirement will be clearly outlined in your itinerary.
Luggage Transfer
Luggage transfer is included on most stages of our tours. However, some remote huts are inaccessible by car. In these cases, you’ll need to carry a few extra essentials in your daypack, and your luggage will be delivered to your next hotel the following day. This will be clearly specified in your itinerary.
Included Services
Add to this tourWhen booking this tour online, you will get the option to add the following services:
GuaranteeThis tour is fully covered by the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund (Rejsegarantifonden), ensuring financial protection and security for all participants. The guarantee covers situations such as company insolvency, securing refunds for canceled trips or necessary repatriation. Importantly, this protection applies to travelers of all nationalities, not just Danish citizens. By booking with a company registered under the Danish Travel Guarantee, you can embark on your adventure with confidence, knowing your investment is secure and your travel experience is safeguarded, regardless of your country of residence. Learn more here.
WeatherCorsica offers exceptional hiking conditions from April to October, with daytime temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C, depending on the season and elevation. In April and May, the island’s trails burst into life with blooming wildflowers and verdant landscapes, providing stunning contrasts against Corsica’s rugged terrain. Lower trails are ideal for exploring during this mild and peaceful time.
June, July, and August bring warmer weather, with temperatures peaking between 25°C and 30°C. Coastal paths and shaded mountain trails, such as those in the Restonica Valley or around Corte, offer stunning views and refreshing breezes. Early mornings and evenings are perfect for longer hikes, including sections of the famed GR20.
In September and October, temperatures cool slightly to 20°C to 25°C, with the crisp autumn air and fewer crowds making it a tranquil time to explore. The island’s mix of dramatic peaks, lush forests, and picturesque villages creates an unforgettable hiking experience.
Difficulty
This tour is categorized Moderate
Well maintained and fairly wide trails, but with some challenging segments such as steep inclines and some technical, rocky parts. Fairly good form is necessary. Participants should be able to hike 15-20 km on a flat road with little difficulty. Suitable for children from 12 years of age.
FAQIf you cancel your tour 60 days or more before the departure date, you will lose your deposit. If you cancel your tour between 60 and 45 days before the departure date, you will lose 50 per cent of the total tour price. If you cancel your tour within 45 days of the departure date, you will lose the full amount. If you fail to turn up on the first day of your tour, Outdoor Europe may not be able to make arrangements for you to join the rest of the tour, and you will lose the full payment. If, for any reason, Outdoor Europe has to cancel your tour, you will be offered an alternative tour or a full refund.
You can book your tour directly on the Outdoor Europe website. Choose the tour from the dropdown menu, select the date you would like to start, and the number of participants in your group. You can either pay a deposit (60 days or more from the start of your tour) or pay the full amount. Click ‘book’ and follow the instructions. Once we have confirmed your payment, you’ll receive your confirmed tour itinerary within 10 days. There may be seasonal variations in the time it takes us to arrange everything. Please note that programmes on the tour pages are only examples — there may be several differences in the final programme you receive.
When booking your tour, you can choose to pay by credit/debit card or direct bank transfer. Direct bank transfers will generally take longer to process, while credit and debit card payments are processed instantly. You are, by default, asked to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the tour. If you choose this option, you will be asked to pay the remaining 75% one month before your tour. Please be sure to follow the payment links you receive in your invoice or reminder email, which we will send you when the second payment is due.
This depends on the individual tour and when you book it. When hiking in the Alps, most people stay in dorms or shared rooms as the availability of single, double and family rooms are limited. We can only guarantee your own room on certain tours such as in the Lys and Ayas Valleys — but only if you book in time. If this is your preference, we will do our best to ensure you get your own room, but please expect to spend some nights in shared accommodation if there is limited availability.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer this service with all our packages. Often, the huts or hotels we work with are in locations that can only be reached by foot or helicopter. Indeed, when choosing a tour that includes baggage transport, there may be one or two exceptions depending on the route. This will appear clearly on the tour page and in the program you receive when your booking has been confirmed.
All our tours include the day of arrival and the day of departure. This means that a six-day tour will include five nights of accommodation, a seven-day tour will include six nights, and so on. On the first day, guests are usually expected to arrive in the afternoon. And the program does not include any activities except for a briefing by our representative on the first evening. On the day of departure, guests are free to decide if they want to leave directly after breakfast or go on a shorter tour before their journey home.
Most of our tours will include Half Board (HB) services, which means breakfast, a three-course dinner, and a light-packed lunch. Please check the individual tour page for details, however, as variations occur with certain tours.
We specialize in self-guided tours. These tours are designed for travelers who love the independence of hiking, skiing, or running on their own but want to know that everything else is taken care of. In some cases, we are able to offer luggage transport to lighten your load as you enjoy the Great Outdoors.
Whether you’re already a group of friends, business colleagues or a sports club looking for an active mountain adventure, we can design and organize your Alpine tour for you. We also offer guided group tours for individual participants on fixed dates.
Yes, absolutely! Outdoor Europe can design the perfect mountain adventure for you and your friends or colleagues. Whether you want to hike, ski, run, cycle or climb, we have the expertise and experience needed to create a bespoke package for any level of experience or physicality. Please contact us if you would like us to create a customized package for your group.
There are few better ways to spend time with your children than with an active holiday in the mountains. Sharing a mountain adventure with your child is a memory that will last a lifetime. We try to design child-friendly variations (marked ‘family’) of all our Alpine tours. Children can hike, ski or bike a lot longer than you might expect, as long as you make it entertaining for them. However, they will respond instantly to the way you behave, so please consider whether you are able to create a safe environment for your children when faced with the many different challenges of an alpine environment.
Yes, we are able to offer a discount for children on most of our tours, provided they are not yet 13 years of age on the first day of the tour. Please see the individual tour page for our child discounts.
Many single travellers chose Outdoor Europe due to our high level of service and our expertise in self-guided mountain tours. And the safety of one of our representatives will only ever be just a phone call away. However, please expect additional costs, as our prices are based on two persons — the industry standard for outdoor tours of this nature. Private rooms and other services are often more expensive for individual travellers. You can find information about any additional costs for individual travellers on the tour page.
We are all different. Some of our clients are 70+ and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others may be twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental ability of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for level of physicality, which you can learn more about here. You are of course welcome to call us and we will do our best to advice you. Find your level of physicality here (link to Find your level page).
Our local partners know every square inch of this beautiful Alpine region. During the introductory briefing, you will receive an app, physical maps and a phone number to call if you need advice. In some cases, you’ll be able to forward your location to a local guide with the press of a button. This may prove helpful if you become lost.
We recommend that you speak to your insurance provider to ensure your existing policy covers mountain-based activities such as hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. Please note that any costs relating to emergency situations and the potential need for evacuation are the sole responsibility of the client.
We are all different. Some of our clients are more than 70 years old and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others are twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental capabilities of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for the level of physicality involved, which you can learn more about on our Find Your Level page. You are, of course, welcome to call us, and we will do our best to advise you.
Enjoying the mountains with your best friend can be a joyful experience, which is why we try to make our tours dog friendly wherever possible. Unfortunately, it is not always possible due to local rules. Selected tours are marked ‘Dog Friendly’ on the tour page. This means that your dog can stay with you in your private room or, in a few cases, the hut will have a separate or external room for dogs. Please refer to the individual tour page for more information.
Additional Information| Month | April, May, June, July, August, September |
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