New Year’s 8-day Hiking tour through southern Corsica

Join Julie, local mountain leader, on this exploration of magical south Corsica to discover breathtaking landscapes and natural phenomena, as well as a rich cultural heritage in its picturesque villages.

Group

+1 Days

Jan, Dec

Intermediate

Beginner

Highlights

Experience the picturesque, typical villages of south Corsica
Sample local cuisine and olive oil/wine production
Discover an island full of cultural heritage
Enjoy a region full of breath-taking landscape

Description

On this 8- to 9-day tour through the splendour that is southern Corsica, the idea is to experience a taste of all the best things this magical island has to offer (and there’s a lot!). You’ll find this tour combining the very best of Corsica’s spectacular views, hidden-away island heritage and rare opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture and tradition.

Together we’ll explore the characteristic and picturesque southern Corsican villages, hike through grassy plateaus dotted with a thousand waterholes, take in the towering red granite spikes of Bavella and stroll on the fine, sandy beaches. There are many ways to experience this unique region and this is your opportunity to make the most of it.

We will visit characteristic, local points of interest and heritage sites such as old cathedrals and watermills to let the wonders of ancient island life soak in. Hiking through spectacular and ever-changing landscapes, we’ll pause to have delicious meals in typical, small restaurants and spend our nights in cozy B&Bs strewn along our route.

Whether our day is focused on discovering geological curiosities like the red rock granite spires, visiting well-kept archaeological sites like Cuccuruzzu, hiking wide pine forests or strolling in amazement through traditional, picturesque villages, we’ll be sure to sample local culture wherever we go – be it visiting old shepherd’s caves under waterfalls or sampling the fantastic olive oils of Sainte Lucie de Tallano.

Just when you thought the program was already packed with enough goodies, on New Year’s Eve we’ll arrange a delicious dinner and party at our B&B to celebrate the new year together.

Make your reservation now for an unforgettable New Year’s adventure to discover a taste of all the landscape, culture and heritage the magical region of southern Corsica has to offer.

If you’re looking for a shorter guide focused on the Alta Rocca region, have a look at my 3-day Alta Rocca Hiking Tour. If picturesque villages are what you’re after, I also offer an 8-day village to village hiking tour.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Dinner
Transport during the trip

Price details

This is the price to join a Group Tour.
Included in the price: Mountain leader, Corsican picnics in the nature every 2 days and lunches in hostels every 2 days, accommodation in a dormitory or B& B including dinner and breakfast, mini bus transfers.
Not included: picnic or lunch day 1 and 9 Travel to Corsica, transfers to meeting points, other drinks and personal belongings, hiking stuff (backpack, shoes), travel insurance.
Day 9 is optional (50 euros).
Options with extra charge: boat tour, yoga/qi gong class, foot reflexology (to book with your trip reservation).

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at Ajaccio Airport at 6.30pm and transfer to the charming B&B in the typical village of Serra Di Scopamène – dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Hiking loop

Loop above the village with great view on the dam, the corsican Dolomites : Bavella’s needles and Alcudina’peak (2134m). We will cross several typical villages of this High Rocks Area called Alta Rocca in Corsica to discover heritage sites such as watermill, old wash house, fountains, churches and chapels. Lunch in a typical hostel – dinner and overnight stay. (+/- 700m – 5h)

Day 3: Cuscionu's high plateau: granitic bowls and shepherds huts

Transfer (40 minutes ) to the old cross country skiing resort Bucchinera (1523m) to cross the plateau in a chaos of amazing granitic bowls to discover the shepherds huts and caves. We will have picnic in the nature and climb up to a panoramic summit. Depending on snow level, this day snowshoes could be necessary. (+150/-150m – 5h)

Day 4: Bavella's geological curiosities

The corsican “dolomites” are amazing. We will get to the great pine forest unil an arch called U Compuleddu in corsican language or “the bomb’s hole” in french. We can also keep going unil a great panoramic view on the south of Corsica : including eastern coast bays and even Sardinia island! Lunch in a restaurant at Bavella’s pass and dinner at the restaurant of the village. (+/-300 to 600m – 4-5h)

Day 5: Piscia di U Ghjaddu waterfall or Punta di A Vacca Morta at Ospedale's lake

Half-day hike to waterfall including a great cave that had been used by shepherds (+/-150m – 3h ) or great loop to Punta di A Vacca Morta, a panoramic view from the summit to the 2 southern lakes, great sight on Bavella’s Dolomites and even Sardinia. Picnic in nature and delicious new year’s eve dinner and party at our B&B. (+/-450 to 600m – 4-5h)

Day 6: Loop at Campomoro's bay

From the beach to the genovesan tour and along the coast for a great panoramic view on Valincu’s bay – picnic on a beach. (+/- 150m – 3-5h)

Day 7: Cuccuruzzu

We visit the archeological site of Cuccuruzzu and get down to the nice village of Sainte Lucie de Tallano, famous for its olives’ oil, to Fiumiccicoli’s wine domain and the sulfuring hot waters of Caldane.

Day 8: Bonifacio

Transfer to Bonifacio: 3 to 5 hours on the calcareous clifs to the nice city with the Pertusato cape in facing Sardinia. 1h boat trip along the cliffs or discover the city and its citadel. Roccapina’s pass, granitic holes. (+/-200m)

Day 9: Return

Transfer back to Ajaccio where we will enjoy the morning at the market or the small fishing harbour – option to a wine domain or a stop to the “bloodthirsty” peninsula before getting to the airport early afternoon.

Details

More info

Each participant needs to bring a 1-day backpack including water (1,5l minimum) and picnic, clothes to protect from the sun, rain, wind and cold.

Meeting point

Ajaccio airport at 6.30 pm on the 27th of December 2018. We will get back on the 4th of January 2018 in the early afternoon.

About the guide

Julie

Mountain Guide

I am a mountain leader based in Quenza, Corsica. I am state-certified and offer hiking and snowshoeing tours around this beautiful island. And for your added safety, I'm also a firefighter and lifeguard. I enjoy the feeling of freedom I get when in the mountains and also the humbleness that they require. The mountain is wonderful when shared!

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