What are the other main hikes in Corsica?

The Mare e Monti hikes are ranked as one of the island's great must-do trails, just after the king of Corsican mountains, the GR20, which offers the conditions of a high mountain trek.

When do you recommend walking the Mare a Mare trails in Corsica?

Mare a Mare tours can be enjoyed from March to October. In spring, you can discover the flowers of the maquis, with its thousand colours and strong essences; in summer, you can enjoy swimming and the shade of the forest-covered passages; and in the autumn, you can appreciate the special light and tranquillity of the villages.

Which guidebook covers the Mare a Mare?

The official guidebook is entitled 'Corse Entre mer et montagne'. It is published by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRandonnée) and the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse (Parcu di Corsica). The guide describes six routes: the "Mare e Monti", the "Mare a Mare" and the "Sentier de la Transhumance". It is available to buy online from the FFRandonnée shop.

What level of hiking is required on the Mare a Mare?

The Mare a Mare trails present no particular technical difficulties and are less demanding than the GR20. The trail is well signposted, with signs all along the way. Of the three trails, Mare a Mare North is considered the most difficult. In general, these trails require an intermediate to advanced level of hiking. They cross a wide variety of terrain, including mountainous areas with steep slopes, forest passages and coastal paths. The routes can be long and often include significant ascents and descents, requiring good stamina and experience of mountain walking. Although some sections are accessible to less experienced hikers, basic self-sufficiency in navigation, water and food management, and knowledge of first aid are recommended. Good physical condition is also recommended to manage the daily stages, which can last several hours.

Minibreak - Cycling in the Balagne

Come and discover the treasures of this micro-region, where mountains and sea meet, by bike.

This easy going biking mini break explores the villages of the Balagne in Northern Corsica, this area is the garden of Corsica and exploring the region is made easy with short distances to cover whilst seeing the area’s gems. Sant’Antonino, Monticello, Pigna, Feliceto, Cateri, Montemaggiore, perched villages all with immense character, nestled below the high mountainous backdrop, you are never far from the sea and there is so much to explore.

Highlights

The villages of Balagne and Calvi
Private or hire bike
Point to Point - 3 days cycling
** or *** Hotels
Start in Ile Rousse and end in Calvi

Duration

5 days / 4 nights

Type of holidays

Cycling

Access

Calvi / Ile Rousse

Level

2 - Moderate

Carrying

Without bags

Customise your holiday Groups, families or businesses, tailor this holiday to your needs or request a discount Download factsheet A question about this holidays? Contact us

Itinerary

Day 1

Île Rousse

Go directly to your hotel in Île-Rousse. After your installation, you will discover the small streets, the lighthouse of the island of Pietra or you will enjoy the beach.

Night

Night in Ile Rousse

Day 2

Monticello & Reginu Valley Tour

The road climbs to the beautiful village of Monticello, discovering great views of the coast. Then, it flows into the Reginu Valley and along the Codole Lake, before reaching the village of Santa Reparata and down to Ile Rousse.

Distance

26 km

Ascent / descent

+620 m / -620 m

Night

Night in Ile Rousse

Day 3

Corbora, San Antonino and Pigna

The route climbs up the coast towards Corbara and its monastery and arrives at the village of artisans "Pigna", before climbing to San Antonino, one of the most beautiful villages of France, located on its rocky promontory. The return is by the seaside.

Distance

31 km

Ascent / descent

+690 / -690 m

Night

Night in Ile Rousse

Day 4

Ile Rousse to Calvi

The road runs along the seaside crossing the small seaside town of Algajola before joining Lumio. The stage becomes more mountainous, the secular olive trees offer a saving shade as Montemaggiore approaches. This village offers a breathtaking view of the mountains, the plain and the bay of Calvi.

Distance

36 km

Ascent / descent

+660 m / -660 m

Night

Night in Calvi

Day 5

End of the stay in Calvi

Holiday ends after breakfast.

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

Departures everyday from May until the end October.

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

Pick a date

Price includes

Accommodation including breakfast, luggage transfers between hotels, trip dossier containing your maps, route notes and access to our guidance application.

Price does not include

Transfer to and from Ile Rousse (available at a supplement), 5€/person reservation fee, unscheduled transfers, drinks, picnics, extra activities, holiday insurance, bike hire.

Supplements/Discounts

Bike hire: please contact us for a quote

Hotel upgrade: 4* Hotel in Ile Rousse available at a supplement €200 (April, October) €300 (May, June), €330(July, September) and €380 (August).

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. See insurance details.

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 L'Ile Rousse.

Ends

At your hotel in Calvi after breakfast.

Access

Calvi airport or Ile Rousse port.

Accommodation

Hotel in double/ twin rooms: 3 nights in ** Hotel (Ile Rousse) and 1 night in *** Hotel (Calvi).
Superior category hotels in Ile Rousse available at extra cost.
Single room supplement to be requested when booking.

Meal

Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam).

Number of participants

Reservations for minimum of 2 participants.

Luggage transfers

You need to carry a small day sack only with a water bottle, camera, picnic and wind jacket. The main luggage will be transported by vehicle between the different accommodations.

Level

Moderate - These holidays are designed for people looking for an active holiday. A reasonable level of physical fitness is required. You must take part in at least one sporting activity at least once a week. Stages of between 20 km and 40 km per day. Maximum cumulative altitude difference of 1000 metres per day. First experience of a cycling tour is recommended.

Guiding

Self-Guided Biking. We provide you with a Travel Dossier complete with IGN map and Topoguide created by our team. During your bike tour our 24-hour assistance service will also be able to answer all your questions and, if necessary, bring you useful tips for 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

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