Welcome to Hooked on Walking and our wonderful walking holiday in Corsica. Our hiking vacation in Corsica is available as a self guided walking tour available for departure on most days ( see schedule below).  Corsica offers an impressive diversity of landscapes , cultures and history. We invite you to discover this ‘secret’ little explored island. Our hiking tour starts right in the Alta Rocca National Park, known for its villages lost in the middle of the mountains, your hiking holiday will take you to the Mediterranean Sea using well marked trails. You will walk under endemic forest, you can swim in beautiful rivers and brooks, you will see prehistoric sites, you will visit very old churches, and you will cross the Corsican scrub. This walking vacation emphasizes on the Corsican gastronomy and the discovery of the local culture and traditions.

Available daily 26th June to 24th July ( not Sundays )
1st April to 15th October Mondays , Wednesdays and Fridays.
Level 3 self guided tour

Day 1 – Arrival Ajaccio
Depending of your arrival time, you reach your hotel in the centre of Ajaccio. Here You can leave your luggage and visit the town. You have various possibilities and activities available. The Fesch Museum is famous for its paintings, the birth place of Napoleon is open to visits. You can have a rest on the Tino Rossi’s fishing port or even have a swim close to the citadel. You are free to take the dinner anywhere as possibilities are very numerous.

Day 2 – Ajaccio to Zonza
If you did not have time to visit Ajaccio yesterday, it is possible to do so today. Your transfer by bus will be in the middle of the afternoon. An optional walk is possible on the “sentier des crêtes” close to Ajaccio but we suggest you enjoy a boat tour to the Sanguinaire Island. Then your transfer to Zonza which will take approximately 2 hours 40 minutes through wonderful landscapes. It is a charming village in the heart of the Alta Rocca National park. You will be able to admire the whole valley from the centre of the village.

Day 3 – From Zonza to Aullène
Today you follow the path northwest , eventually changing to west taking you across the river Saint Antoine. You arrive soon at the village of Quenza, after having crossed the Criviscia river. The chapel of the village is more than 1000 years old and is classified as a historic building. You continue and after a refreshing bath in the Codi, you pass on a footbridge, you then enter the forest. Now you penetrate the Corsican scrub and the way leads you straight to the sheepfolds of Lavu Donacu before leading you to Aullène, your stop for the night.
Walking time approximately 4 hours , terrain up 636m, down 580m.

Day 4 – From Aullène to Santa Lucia di Tallano
Today you leave via the chestnut trees and arrive soon at Sierra di Scopamena. You will notice on the way the old mill restored by the Natural reserve of Corsica. After several brooks, paths in forests and in the middle of strawberry trees, you will finally go down towards Santa Lucia di Tallano, a pretty mountain village built of granite houses. Santa Lucia di Tallano is famous for its convent, its tower dated of the 15th century, the extremely rare rock which is the "corsite" (diorite), as well as its museum of the olive oil.
Walking time approximately 6 hours, Terrain up 824m, down 1212m.

Day 5 – From Santa Lucia di Tallano to Burgo
After the Romanesque chapel from the 12th century named Saint Jean Baptist, you take the path which goes down through oaks frees to the bridge of Piombatu which spans Rizzanese. Then you will cross Loreto di Tallano and the ruins of Altanaria. After a wonderful panoramic view of  Bavella and the villages of the Alta Rocca, you will cross two ravines and then arrive in Fozzano. You will see its famous tower from the 15th century before visiting the famous tomb of Colombia, the heroin of the novel of Mérimée written in 1840. Do not miss the sunset on the sea from the terrace of your lodging, it is unforgettable!
Walking time approximately 6 hours, Terrain  up 675m, down 945m.

Day 6 – From Burgo to Olmeto
Your path leaves from the middle of the forest to the hamlet of Maratu. You soon arrive in the middle of the Corsican scrub and climb in direction of the woods to the Pass of Vint' Unu. Forests of oaks and brooks follow one another sometimes leaving room for large rock blocks. You arrive then at the village of Olmeto which offers a fantastic views of the area.
Walking time approximately 6 hours, terrain up 780m, down 607m.

Day 7 – From Olmeto to Porto Pollo
Today you set out again towards the sea. Your route will offer you some fantastic views of the Gulf of Valinco. You will cross oak forests, walk between pretty low stone walls, will pass under the olive-trees and finally, after the bridge which spans Taravu, you will approach your stop for the night, Porto Pollo. The great beach of Porto Pollo is all yours. This pretty seaside resort offers many activities related to the sea and nature (horseback riding, boating, water skiing, jet-ski, quad...). If you wish to benefit longer of this stop, do not hesitate to let us know!
Walking time approximately hours, terrain up 395m, down 620m.

Day 8 – From Porto Pollo to Ajaccio
Today you can transfer by bus early morning in order to bring you back to Ajaccio. End of your holiday in Ajaccio. We advise you to spend a few extra days in Porto-Pollo. This is a beautiful sea resort offering many activities (horse-riding, quad, boating, biking, diving…) with a beautiful white sand beach.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
We have graded this tour as a level 3 hiking holiday. You will walk 4 to 6 hiking hours per day on good and well-marked trails with elevations detailed above .

ACCOMMODATION
Nice family hotels or guesthouses.

2008 Prices

How to get there
By plane to Ajaccio ( or Bastia ) airport. Private transfers are available from Bastia to Ajaccio.
From Bastia to Ajaccio you can take a slow but very scenic local train (between 4 and 5 hours)which will cost around 22 Euros per person.
For a private transfer, the cost will be of £125 per person, and it will take around 2 hours 15 to reach Ajaccio.
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