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Itinerary:
q
Day
1: Arrive Ajaccio. On arrival transfer by
taxi or airport bus to the railway station for a
scenic journey through the mountains on the old
rack railway to Corte. Taxi and train fares
(about £17 per person) are not included in the
tour price. For
example, Train:
Depart Ajaccio 16.20. Arrive 18.33 in Corte.
(Check times.)
If
you arrive in Bastia you also need to take a
taxi to the station and the train to Corte.
q
Day
2: Clients are transferred by taxi to
Sermano to start this day’s walk back to
Corte. 18km/6 hours. A good warm-up day as we
traverse the hills and valleys from Sermano
through maquis and chestnut, past a couple of
sleepy villages with interesting churches and
then descend from a high grassy pass, past cork
oak and beeches to Corte, the ancient capital of
the island.
q
Day
3: Corte to Calacuccia. 22.5km/9-10 hours.
We pass through the densley-forested Tavignano
Valley and over the Col de la Croix before
descending to the barraged Lac de Croix, and our
hotel in the village of Calacuccia. At 850m.
This is an unavoidably long day but we hope you
will agree that the spectacular scenery provides
adequate compensation. Possibility of shortening
the walk by using a taxi (approx. 90 Euros).
q
Day
4: Calacuccia to Castel di Vergio. 14.5km/5
hours. Via
the “chemin de ronde” to the Col de Vergio
(1,477m/4,845ft). Today we ascend to the
watershed, past shepherds' huts and with views
of Monte Cinto (2,706m/8,875ft) the highest peak
in Corsica. Transfer back to your hotel in
Calacuccia. This trip can be done in reverse if
preferred, making it largely a descent.
q
Day
5: Transfer from Calacuccia to Col di Vergio
(or just below) to start walk (cost included).
Col di Vergio to Evisa. 9.5km/3 to 4 hours. In
the morning we walk down through a forest of
Lariccio pine, passing waterfalls and
magnificent chestnut trees, to reach the
attractive village of Evisa (850m/2,788ft) with
its fine views of the valley.
In the afternoon we can explore the
village, which is famed historically for
chestnut production.
q
Day
6: Evisa
to Porto. 13km/4 to 5 hours.
In the morning we continue our descent of
the Spelunca Gorge, to Ota, another picturesque
mountain village where we take lunch. Continuing
on we arrive at the scenically located beach
resort of Porto where there will be time for a
swim, a walk up to the old Geonese fort, maybe a
boat ride and always time for a great evening
meal at one of the seaside restaurants, perhaps
enjoying a great seafood dish.
q
Day
7: Porto
to Ajaccio. Morning at leisure in Porto.
Then
you need to walk up to the bus stop, which is
1.5 km away from the port, so bring portable
bags and not too much weight to make it easier
for you.
Take
a coach at approx 14.00 hours along the corniche
road which winds into and around the Calanches
National Park (consisting of impressive coastal
cliff formations) to Ajaccio. This is a direct
service, which takes approx 2.5 hours. (This is
not included in tour price, and does not run on Sundays.
This is why we do not start the trip on a Monday
as to do would make day 7 a Sunday. If you do
opt to make day 7 a Sunday you will need to take
an expensive taxi transfer.) In Ajaccio,
welcome back to a busy cosmopolitan
Mediterranean town with an impressive harbour
and old winding streets crammed with little
restaurants and boutique shops.
q
Day
8: Departure from Ajaccio. Local bus or taxi
to airport. |