From Corte to Porto, via the Niolu, the Col de Vergio, Evisa and Ota: discover a classic Corsican hike over 4 days of moderate level walking, with accommodation in ** or *** hotels.

The walk begins in Corte, a historic town dominated by its rocky citadel, before continuing through the Niolu valley. From Albertacce, you climb to the Col de Vergio, the highest road pass on the island, following transhumance paths steeped in history and sections of the famous GR20. The descent takes you through the Aitone forest and its chestnut groves to Evisa, a mountain village nicknamed 'the pearl of the mountains', surprisingly close to the sea. The journey ends in Ota, after crossing the Gorges de la Spelunca, a place where lush vegetation rubs shoulders with breathtaking panoramas of the Gulf of Porto, encapsulating the essence of Corsican beauty.

Highlights

  • Rural village life from mountains to the sea
  • Luggage access
  • Point to point  - 3 days walking 
  • Confortable  ** or *** Hotels 
  • Start in Corte and end in Porto 
Duration
5 days/ 4 ngiths
Type of holidays
Hiking-Walking
Accesses
Ajaccio
Bastia
Level
2 - Moderate
Carrying
Without bags

Itinerary

Day 1

Corte

This walk begins in the island's historic capital, Corte. The rocky citadel overlooking the town is a sight not to be missed. After dropping off your luggage at the hotel, you'll have the chance to wander around the old town and explore the sights of this place steeped in history. Corte is nestled between two spectacular gorges: the Tavignano and the Restonica.

NB: If you arrive in the morning or the day before, you can take the opportunity to walk through the Tavignano valley. Following an old mule track once used by the shepherds of the isolated Niolu region, this walk takes you through some exceptional scenery. There are numerous natural pools along the way, inviting you to take a refreshing dip.

Distance
14 km
Duration
6h00
Ascent / descent
+480 m / -480 m
Night
Night in Corte
Day 2

Corte to Vergio

Morning transfer to the Niolu valley to reach the start of the stage. From the village of Albertacce, you'll begin your ascent to the Col de Vergio, Corsica's highest road pass, following an ancient transhumance trail steeped in history. From sheepfold to sheepfold, you'll explore the traditional life of the region's shepherds. You will then take a section of the legendary GR20, a long-distance hiking trail renowned for its spectacular scenery, to reach the summit of the Vergio pass.s. 

Distance
16 km
Duration
6h30
Ascent / descent
+840 m / -300 m
Night
Night at Col de Vergio
Day 3

Vergio to Evisa

From the Col de Vergio, the path winds through the laricio pines of the Aitone forest, descending to the lush chestnut groves on the outskirts of Evisa. The views along the way are majestic, with high peaks dominating the horizon. Arriving in Evisa, at an altitude of 830 metres, you'll be greeted by a lively mountain village, surprisingly close to the sea. Known locally as 'the pearl of the mountains', Evisa charms with its exceptional natural setting and unspoilt heritage.
 

Distance
11,5 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+80m / -720m
Night
Night at in Evisa
Day 4

Evisa to Porto

You'll reach the village of Ota, nestling beneath Capu San Pretu, via the Spelunca Gorges, which offer a breathtaking natural spectacle. Ota is a lively place, adorned with historic Genoese bridges, bright bougainvillea and lush lemon and fig trees. On the descent, the view over the Gulf of Porto is a kaleidoscope of colours, with red cliffs, deep blue sea and the imposing silhouette of the Genoese tower.

Distance
14 km
Duration
6h00
Ascent / descent
+320m / -1170m
Night
Night at in Porto
Day 5

Porto

End of your holiday in Porto after breakfast. Possibility of extra nights and transfers by bus or taxi to Ajaccio

Programs have been drawn up according to the latest information available at the time of writing: imponderables are always possible and situations beyond our control may alter the course of the program.

Dates and prices

Departure on request every day from May to September. 2 persons minimum.

Please select your departure date from the calendar below to find out the rate and begin your booking.

Pick a date
Price includes

Accommodation with breakfast (days 1  4), on  half board (days  2, & 3), luggage transfers, transfer from Corte to Albertacce, travel dossier with A4 copies of IGN maps, walking notes and access to our guidance application.

Price does not include

Reservation fee of 5€ / person, travel insurance, drinks, picnics, site visits and transfers to Corte and Ajaccio, travel to Corsica.

Supplements/Discounts

Supplement higher hotel category in Corte, Evisa and Porto:  

€60/person (April, October) , €80/person  (May, June) and €100/person (July, August and September).

Insurance:

We offer comprehensive multi-risk insurance specifically adapted to our adventure trips (contract no. 7482 Assurinco). The rates are as follows: 4.00% of the price of the trip for French residents, 6% of the price of the trip for residents from the European Union (EU) outside France. For non-EU residents, the rate is €90 per person.

Group discount:

Groups of 3 people or more can benefit from a discount. Please contact us for details.

Technical informations

Starts

At your first hotel in Corte.

Ends

At your hotel in Porto after breakfast.

Access

Ajaccio Airport or port. If you arrive into Calvi or Bastia, please ask for details of transport connections. 

Accommodation

  • Hotel in double/ twin rooms: 3 nights in ** Hotels (Corte, Vergio, Evisa) and 1 night in *** Hotel (Porto).
  • Single room supplement to be requested when booking.

Meal

  • Continental or buffet breakfast depending on the accommodation.
  • Evening meals  (based on local specialties, including a starter, a main course and a dessert). Dinner in Corte and Porto not included. 

Luggage transfers

During this walk you will carry only a small day sack with a water bottle, camera, picnic, trailfood, sun and wet weather gear. Luggage is transported by vehicle, point to point.

Number of participants

Reservations for minimum of 2 participants. 

Level

Moderate - trail with few technical difficulties.

Guiding

Self-Guided Walking. We provide you with a Travel Dossier complete with A4 copies of the IGN maps and a walking guide created by our team. During your hike our 24-hour assistance service will also be able to answer all your questions and, if necessary, assist you with the smooth running of your stay.

The digital roadbook

Once you have confirmed your holiday, you can download our application. It's easy to use and it offers a number of functionalities:

  • Precise route guidance with alerts in the event of deviations.
  • View your starting point, accommodation, current position, mileage.
  • Discover points of interest via interactive content with descriptions, photos and audio. 
  • In an emergency, send an SOS alert with your GPS coordinates. 
  • Contact function to share messages, photos and videos with our team during your stay.

Extensions

Take advantage of a stay extension during your tour with Corsica Aventure.

If you'd like to discover Corsica before or after your holiday, our team can offer you ideas for accommodation and activities. If you prefer to arrive a few days earlier or extend your stay for a few days, we can book your extra nights on the island, depending on your arrival city.

Here are a few hotels we recommend for those of you who would rather organise their extra days themselves:  

Ajaccio

  • Hôtel Le Dauphin 2 /* Tél : 04 95 21 12 94.
  • Hôtel Kalliste 3* / Tél : 04 95 51 34 45.
  • Hôtel Albion 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 66 70.
  • Hôtel San Carlu 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 13 84.

Propriano

  • Hôtel Bellevue / Tél : 04 95 76 01 86.
  • Gîte-hôtel U Fracintu / Tél : 04 95 76 15 05.

Porto

  • Hôtel Kallisté / Tél : 04 95 26 10 30.
  • Hôtel Le Belvédère / Tél : 04 95 26 12 01.
  • Hôtel Le Méditerranée / Tél : 04 95 26 10 27.

Piana

  • Hôtel Les Calanques / Tél : 04 95 27 82 08.
  • Hôtel Les Roches Rouges / Tél : 04 95 27 81 81.

Calvi 

  • Hôtel Belvédère 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 01 25.
  • Hôtel Les Arbousiers 2* / Tél : 04 95 65 04 47.
  • Hôtel Christophe Colomb 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 06 04.
  • Hôtel Balanea 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 94 94.

Bastia

  • Best Western Montecristo Bastia / Tél : 04 95 55 05 10.

Map

Your itinerary:

Pictures
of the holidays

Reviews for Mini Island mystery

(3)

The app is the big highlight of this stay, we found it very practical and accurate, it saved us from taking the wrong path several times....

Translated from French by Deepl

Cyrielle 03/06/2024Mini Island mystery

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