The great Ajaccio to Porto Vecchio journey

Welcome at Ajaccio station (or at your hotel - on request). Transfer (40 mins) to the village of Bisinao. As you walk along, you'll discover dense scrubland, Mediterranean vegetation, numerous viewpoints over the Gulf of Ajaccio, the traditional village of Pietrosella with its stone houses, and then Coti-Chiavari, with its plunging view over the Gulf.

A fine day's hiking from Coti-Chiavari along paths that dominate the southern end of the Gulf of Ajaccio with its coves, Punta di a Castagna and Capu di Muru. Then the view opens out over the Gulf of Valinco and the snow-capped mountains of the south-east before descending to the hamlet of Marmurtagna. Finally, the arrival in the Bay of Cupabia will reward your efforts. The path runs alongside a beach of fine sand and pure, clear water. 

You'll cross the Taravu plain, one of the great prehistoric sites, before reaching the sheepfolds of Bocca di a Coppia, at the foot of Monte Barbatu. These shepherd's huts are still in operation, and the lucky ones will be able to find traditional cheese in the spring. The location is magnificent, overlooking the Gulf of Valinco. Once you reach the hamlet of Raghja, it's downhill to Olmeto, a very authentic village.

Transfer to the village of Burgo. From Burgo, you'll reach the village of Fozzano. Here you can admire its famous 15th-century tower and the house of Colomba, heroine of Mérimée's novel. You will then descend into the Rizzanese valley before reaching the 12th-century church of St-Jean-Baptiste and the village of Sainte Lucie.

The region is famous for its olive oil and mills, which you can discover on an educational trail. You will follow the paths between the villages before climbing Punta Tighjarellu, which will take you into the Rizzanese valley and its bubbling waters, before reaching the magnificent village of Serra di Scopamena and then Aullene.

Follow the path through the maquis to the Lavu Donacu sheepfolds and the old chestnut mill. You will pass through the hamlet of Ghjalicu, a former pastoral summer pasture. The route winds its way between large granite boulders to reach the Romanesque chapel of St Laurent, near which you can admire two major archaeological sites in Corsica: Cucuruzzu and Capula, before arriving at the traditional village of Levie.

The path winds its way through a large oak grove, before joining the river Fiumicicoli and small fields planted with olive trees. It winds its way through arbutus and heather to reach a chestnut grove overlooking the village of Carbini, famous for its 11th-century Pisan church. You'll then head off into the foothills of the Cagna massif and admire the views over the Ospédale lake before reaching Cartalavonu and the viewpoint over Porto-Vecchio. 

You will begin the long descent to the plain. There is an exceptional view of the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, considered to be the most beautiful in Corsica. The path continues through scrubland and cork oaks before rejoining the road and the great city of salt, Porto-Vecchio.