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 Valinco

Coastal route from Ajaccio to Porto-Pollo, discovering picturesque beaches and hilltop villages on quiet roads rich in heritage.

From Ajaccio, the route follows the south Coast of the Ajaccio Gulf. The road travels beach to beach, from Porticcio, then to Agosta, Isolella, Rupione and then the Mare e Sole beach with silver white sand. The route rises progressively in the maquis to join the ridge and the belvedere village of Coti-Chiavari. Then begins a beautiful descent towards the beach of Cupabia and the village of Porto-Pollo, located in the Gulf of Valinco. This stay consists of short stages that take small side roads. Your days are punctuated by the discovery of a region endowed with a rich natural, cultural, historical and architectural heritage that we meet at every turn.

Highlights

From Ajaccio to Porto-Pollo by the coast
Private or hire bike
Point to point - 3 days cycling
** and *** Hotels
Start and end in Ajaccio

Duration

5 days / 4 nights

Type of holidays

Cycling

Access

Ajaccio

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

Ajaccio

Go directly to your hotel in Ajaccio. The day is dedicated to the discovery of the imperial city. Enjoy the sweet life of the city on a terrace of the port or at the edge of the beaches.

Night

Night in Ajaccio

Day 2

Ajaccio to Coti-Chiavari

The route joins the south shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio, along the beaches of Porticcio, Agosta, Ruppione before arriving at the beach at Mare e Sole or the Plage d'Argent. Then, the road climbs towards the old penitentiary, enters a thick scrub to reach the crest near the village of Coti-Chiavari.

Distance

40 km

Ascent / descent

+660 m / -180 m

Night

Night in Coti-Chiavari

Day 3

Coti-Chiavari to Porto-Pollo

A short stop while downhill punctuated by beautiful beaches. This will be an opportunity to make a detour to the Cala d'Orzu, before reaching the beach of Cupabia and the village of Serra-di-Ferro, then dive to the seaside town of Porto-Pollo. You can enjoy the beach or visit the wetlands at Tanchiccia.

Distance

32 km

Ascent / descent

+400 m / -860 m

Night

Night in Porto Pollo

Day 4

Porto-Pollo to Ajaccio

A more "mountainous" stage with a route that rises above the Taravu valley and joins the Gradellu pass, which offers a superb panorama. Begins a majestic descent to the beach of Agosta and Porticcio. This is where you take the shuttle boat to Ajaccio. In case of cancellation of the shuttle for weather reasons, the return is by road (+15km).

Distance

40 km

Ascent / descent

+690 m / -690 m

Night

Night in Ajaccio

Day 5

End of the stay in Ajaccio

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 Ajaccio (available at a supplement), 5€ / person reservation fee, unscheduled transfers, drinks, picnics, extra activities, holiday insurance, bike hire.

Supplements/Discounts

Bike hire : contact us for a quote.

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 Ajaccio, please ask for details of taxi transfers.

Ends

At your hotel in Ajaccio after breakfast, please ask for details of taxi transfers.

Access

Ajaccio airport or port.

Hébergement

Hotel in double/ twin rooms: 1 nights in ** Hotel (Coti Chiavari) and 3 nights in *** Hotels (Ajaccio and Porto Pollo).
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.

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.

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.

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.

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