udget
package: dormitory.
Standard package: chambre d'hôtes.
5h00 effective walking, +590m altitude, -287m
Day 3: Bonifatu to Tuarelli
At a nearby bridge you follow a forestry track that is known as the ‘chemin
de ronde’, that gently climbs towards the south-west, passing the ruins of
the house belonging to Prince Pierre. You then progress into a forest of maritime
pines and green oak trees. At an altitude of 1200m you arrive at the Bocca
di Bocassa. After approximately 3 hours of a very rewarding and relaxing section
you arrive at Tuarelli rock pools, the perfect place for a laze on the sun
baked rocks and a swim.
Night and evening meal at gîte in Tuarelli.
Budget package: dormitory.
Standard package: dormitory.
7h00 effective walking, +620m altitude, -1050m
Day 4: Tuarelli to Galeria
You walk along the
old transhumance path linking Calvi to Niolu, a pleasant route lined with
junipers and myrtle bushes, this path also follows the course of the river
Fangu. Once at the Ponte Vechju, Paglia Orba is visible in the distance
dominating the landscape with an altitude of 2325m. From here you cross the
Fangu bridge and head on to the hamlet of Fangu. Your route then climbs into
the maquis and passes several old shepherds cabins. Your day’s walk finishes
with a short down hill stretch in to the village of Galeria where you are
rewarded with stunning views over Fangu.
Night and evening meal at gîte in Galeria.
Budget
package: dormitory.
Standard package: chambre d'hôtes.
4h00 effective walking, +221m altitude, -271m
Day
5: Galeria to Girolata
Today you start by
following a beautiful path shaded from the sun. Your path leads you to a natural
pool, and an uphill section alongside the river bank. You will shortly come
across an area of vegetation, after this you will emerge in to a forest of
oaks before reaching the Crête du Lucciu (697m). From here you will have remarkable
views over the gulf of Girolta, the Genoese tower and the red granite cliffs.
You continue west along the ridge path, to reach the River Cavone and the
coast. This is also a beautiful spot to swim, to cool off after your days
walk.
Night and evening meal
at gîte in Girolata.
Budget package: dormitory.
Standard package: chambre d'hôtes.
6h00 effective walking, +754m altitude, -784m.
Day 6 : Girolata to Curzu
From Girolata’s beach,
you follow the ridge path that runs alongside the coast, after around 3 hours
you will arrive at the foot of Punta di u Tartavellu, from here continue around
to the West to arrive at Bocca Ascencu (742m). Continuing along the ridge
path in a south-westerly direction you can admire exceptional views over Scandola’s
natural reserve, one of the largest natural sites in Europe, which displays
an explosion of colours and fantastic landscapes. Once at Capu di Curzu (852m)
you rapidly loose altitude as your path progresses into a series of loops
before reaching Curzu.
Night and evening meal at gîte in Curzu.
Budget
package: dormitory.
Standard package: chambre d'hôtes.
6h00 effective walking, +675m altitude, -1135m.
Day 7 : Curzu to Serriera
From the gîtes, you
climb through the village and head in a south-westerly direction along a path
that overlooks the village of Partinellu and the bay of Porto, the only French
natural site to appear on UNESCO’s world heritage list. You then start down
hill towards the River Vetricella, and after walking alongside the river for
around 50 metres, your path climbs, you will soon arrive at the ‘Chemin de
Serriera à Pinetu’. Once passing this you will shortly arrive at the
Bocca di u Furcatu, the last stretch before Serriera.
Night and evening meal at your hotel in Serriera
.
3h30 effective walking, +364m altitude, -604m.
Day 8 : Serriera to Ota
Leaving Serriera head
to the bridge over the Santa Maria stream, to climb up to the Lonca forestry
track and emerging into the forest. You will soon arrive at the rocky belvedere
a beautiful viewpoint over Serriera. Crossing through the pine and chestnut
forest, you can notice a ‘sechoir à châtaignes’ a small stone structure used
by the villagers to stock their chestnuts while they dried. On the way down
into the Vitrone ravine, the granite rock faces have a lot of distinctive
red porphyry.
Night and evening meal at gîte in Ota.
Budget
package: dormitory.
Standard package: chambre d'hôtes.
6h30 effective walking, +880m altitude, -570m.
Day 9 : Ota to Evisa and Marignana
From Ota you walk past
the Ceccaldi village restaurant, past braying donkeys, noisy hunting dogs
and colourful gardens, to pick up the path. Following the direction
of the river the path is down hill and in the shade of the olive trees.
You cross over the narrow, high arched Genoise bridge ‘Ponte Vechju’
and shortly arrive at the entrance of the Spelunca Gorge, a great rest and
swim spot. The first part of the gorge is fairly flat but once across
the second small Genoise bridge it starts to zig zag up hill, it is
well graded but there is a lot of altitude to gain.
In the afternoon, a series of winding steps cut down past the bars, bakers
and post office, leading through the village and onto the lowest road. Walking
away from the centre you soon come to a track that heads off into the old
chestnut tree woods. The path is easy under foot and was once a well trodden
link to the neighbouring villages. You will find all the typical plants that
make up the Corsican maquis as you make your way towards the Tavulella river.
Once across the river you will shortly arrive at the mystical hamlet
of Tassu, a peaceful little haven of houses, church and abandoned terracing.
Now just a short 20mins walk from Marignana.
Night and evening meal at gîte in Marignana
(dormitory).Night
and evening meal at gîte in Marignana.
Budget
package: dormitory.
Standard package: dormitory.
5h00 effective walking, +650m altitude, -260m.
Day 10 : Marignana to E Case
Evisa is the pearl
of the mountains, a vibrant mountain village, that has wonderful sunsets over
the nearby sea. It is known for it’s chestnut forests, a lot of
the recipes are still chestnut based. A trail will lead you through
the chestnut trees to the Aitone pine forest, here you will find a natural
beauty spot, the emerald green rock pools and chutes of water that make up
the piscines naturels. You will not have your luggage today. You get it the
next day at Cargese
6h30
effective walking, +610m altitude, -720 m
Day 11 : E Case to Cargese
You leave E Case via
a path that will give you some splendid views on the Golfe de Chiuni..
You then begin to edge your way down hill, passing the Santa Lucia shepherds
cabins and the village of Lozzi, situated just before your day’s destination
Cargese, a beautiful historical town boasting two churches ‘l’Eglise Latine’
and ‘l’Eglise Grecque’.
Night and evening meal at your hotel in Cargese.
5h00 effective walking, +380m altitude, -910m.
Day 12 : Cargese to Ajaccio
You leave Cargese by
bus in the morning (not included), once back in Ajaccio you have the
choice of 2 walks along the ‘Sentier des Crêtes’, a trail that overlooks the
gulf of Ajaccio with magnificent views out to sea, over the town and the surrounding
mountains. There is also the possibility of visiting the ‘îles Sanguinaires
by boat’.
Night at your hotel in Ajaccio.
From 2h30 to 4h00 effective walking, from +140m altitude to
+340m, from 6km to 11km depending on your chosen option.
Day
13 : Ajaccio
Your holiday comes to end at you hotel in Ajaccio, after breakfast.
Option of returning to Calvi, by taking the ‘Trinichellu’, Corsica’s rail
service, which runs from north to south via the centre of the island
(Not included : € 25).
De
aanbevolen tijd voor deze wandeling is het voorjaar, omdat het later in
het zomerseizoen erg warm kan zijn op de lager gelegen delen van het traject.