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MARE
ET MONTI CORSICA
PROGRAM
13 days walk
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Day
1 : Calvi
If
you fly in to Ajaccio you can take the train to Calvi (€25,- not
included).
Your holiday starts at your hotel in Calvi, after checking
in, you have the opportunity to explore the town. If you would like
to start your holiday in Ajaccio consult us at the moment of reservation.
Night at your hotel in Calvi. Evening meal not included.
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Day
2: Calenzana to Bonifatu
At
8am transfer by taxi to Calenzana (included).
Leaving Calenzana your
route follows the famous GR20 along an old mule trail, you climb progressively
up to the Ortiventi fountain, from where you can look back at Calenzana
and the villages of the Balagne. You then drop down on to an old path
known as the postman’s route, which cuts through the forest of
Sambuccu. You pass a small Col before going gently down hill to reach
the Figarella bridge. Once across the bridge you follow the left bank,
and then a slight climb up to the ‘Auberge de la foret’.
Night and evening meal at the auberge in Bonifatu
Standard package:
chambre d'Hôtes .
5h00 effective walking, +590m altitude, -287m
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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 hotel in Montestremo or Galeria. You will
get a transfer from Tuarelli to either Montestremo or Galeria
Standard
package: Gite (dormitory in Montestremo) or Hotel ** or *** in Galeria.
7h00 effective walking, +620m altitude, -1050m.
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Day
4: Roundwalk Vallée du Fango at Galeria or walk from Montestremo to
Galeria
You
walk from the the beach at Galeria village to the beach at the Fangu
river. If you feel more like walking instead of swimming you ga make
a round walk by the Pont des Cinq Arcades and reach the Tra Mare et
Monti to come back in Galeria. 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 hotel in Galeria.
If you start in Montestremo you will walk in
the Valley of the Fangu to Ponte Veechiu. At le Fango 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 hotel in Galeria.
Standard package: Hotel
** or ***.
2h00 effective walking, +221m altitude, -271m
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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 Crète 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. Girolata can only be reached
by boat or on foot. So you will have to take whatever you need for one
night. The other luggage will be brought directly to Curzu.
Standard
package: dormitory.
6h00 effective walking, +754m altitude, -784m.
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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.
Standard package: chambre d'Hôtes.
6h00 effective walking,
+675m altitude, -1135m.
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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 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/Chambre d'Hôtes in Serriera .
3h30 effective walking, +364m
altitude, -604m.
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Day
8 : Serriera to Porto
Light
stage. Leaving Serriera head to the bridge Pont de Serriera over the
Santa Maria stream you head to the beach at Bussaglia. After enjoying
some swim climb up to the Bocca Lenzana before going down to Porto.
A very pleasant touristy but authentic village at the beautiful Golfe
de Porto with subtropical vegetation with woods of Eucalyptus trees.
If you want to you can rent here a car to visit the Calanches of Piana.
Night and evening meal at Hotel in Porto.
Standard package: chambre
d'Hôtes.
6h30 effective walking, +880m altitude, -570m.
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Day
9 : Serriera to Ota
The stage starts with a transfer bacj to Serriera. 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 chataignes’
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.
Standard package: chambre d'Hôtes.
6h30
effective walking, +880m altitude, -570m.
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Day
10 : Ota to Evisa
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 to
arrive in Evisa with bars, bakers and post office in the village of
Evisa (after 7,5 km)
** hotel in Evisa.
After Evisa you are not going to Marignana but you can do a round-walk
by the Mare a Mare Nord (Sentier de découverte) to the Piscine a Madre
(natural pools in the Aitone stream) and back to Evisa the same way
(14,1 km). Next day however a longer walk from Evisa via Marignana.
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.)
12,5
km, 5h00 effective walking, +650m altitude, -260m.
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Day
11 : Evisa to Marignana and E Case
You
will not have your luggage today.
Starting from Evisa you will reach
Marignana after 5 km and 2 hours walking.
After 6,2 km you reach
the Bocca a u Mamucciu at 824m alt. By the Mare a Mare Nord and the
Mare e Monti Nord combined you reach after 22km and 8,5 hrs walking
(if you started from Evisa) the dormitory of E Case.
It is possible to
start with a taxi-transfer from Evisa to Marignana ( € 25 supplement).
If booked a transfer to Marignana and started from Marignana:6h30 effective
walking, +610m altitude, -720 m
Past the bars, bakers and post office you go through the village of
Evisa 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.
You will reach Marignana
after 5 km and 2 hours walking.
After 6,2 km you reach the Bocca
a u Mamucciu at 824m alt. By the Mare a Mare Nord and the Mare e Monti
Nord combined you reach after 22km and 8,5 hrs walking if you started
from Evisa, the dormitory of E Case.
You get your luggage the
next day at Cargese
6h30 effective walking, +610m altitude, -720
m
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Day
12 : 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.
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Day
13 : Leave Cargese for Ajaccio by bus.
Transfer
not included in the package. Not possible on Sundays!!)
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 Crètes’,
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 Iles Sanguinaires by boat’.
From
2h30 to 4h00 effective walking, from +140m altitude to +340m, from 6km
to 11km depending on your chosen option.
Your holiday comes to end
in Ajaccio.
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).
Although it is our intention to operate the itinerary exactly as detailed
above, it may be necessary to make changes as a result of factors beyond
our control. As a consequence, the itinerary or night stops may be modified
and we reserve the right to make changes when/if necessary. Abnormal conditions
can prevail in any Moderate holiday; be prepared to be flexible when necessary.
IMPORTANT
PRECISIONS
LEVEL
The walks
are on good footpaths and trails. You need to be used to walking and take
regular exercise to enjoy this holiday. There is between 5h00 and 6h00 effective
walking each day. The ascents and descents are constant. There will be between
400m and 900m ascension per day. The effective walking time is an indication
of how long it will take you, though walking speed varies enormously. The
estimations do not take into account time for route finding and stops along
the way.
CARRYING
You will
need to carry a day sack only, with your water bottle, camera, picnic and
gortex jacket.
Our bag-moving service means you can travel light. There
are two night stops that are not accessible by vehicle and you will need
to carry a minimum of personal gear for the night. This applies to Girolata
and somertimes to Revinda which are two spots of wild, natural beauty.
Your main luggage - will be transported by vehicle between the different
hotels. We ask you to please limit your main luggage to between 10-15kg
to facilitate the transportation and carrying for the taxis. It is also
important to consider that it may be necessary to carry your bags short
distances around at the start or end of your holiday, to and from the bus
station for example.
ACCOMMODATION
A mix
of hotels, chambres d'Hôtes and Gîtes
MEALS: Continental breakfast (tea,
coffee, bread, butter and jam) ; Evening meals in the Gîte restaurants,
often local specialities consisting of a starter, main course, cheese or
desert.
STARTING
POINT and END
The starting
point is at your hotel in Calvi at 12h00 onwards. It is also possible to
start your holiday from Ajaccio, please discuss with us at the time of your
reservation. Consult with us for left luggage facilities.
ORGANIZATION
We propose a self guided, independent walking formula. You choose your departure
date (you can start any day of the week) and we will take care of all the
rest. We transport your bags between the different night stops, provide
the maps and good walking route notes. This is a way of enjoying complete
flexibility, you dictate the walking pace and rhythm of your holiday.
DATES
Departures every Sunday from the
start of April to the end of October.
HOW TO
TRAVEL TO CORSICA
By Air
Direct charter flights during the season from Gatwick and Heathrow offered
by Air France, British Midland. Contact Holiday Options or Sky Marketing.
Scheduled services via Paris. You can also change at Montpellier or Nice
for connecting flights.
By Boat A high speed service BGV, overnight
ferries and semi-fast ferries offer a regular service to Ajaccio port. SNCM
Ferries - 61 Boulevard des dames - 13005 Marseille. Departs from Marseille,
Nice or Toulon. Corsica Ferries, Moby Lines, departs from Toulon, Nice and
Italie.
By Bus: Find all information at https://www.corsicabus.org/
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