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.

Escapade GR20 Sud sans guide, 3 jours faciles

A selection of sections of the GR20, allowing you to discover the Corsican mountains and enjoy the atmosphere of this legendary route. From the Col de Verde to Vizzavona in 3 days of moderate walking in a free formula. Access to luggage every evening, night in a gîte.

Suitable even for non-experienced mountaineers, this gîte-to-gîte tour will immerse you in some of the island's most beautiful forests. From the Col de Verde, take the GR20 towards the Prati refuge. The route continues along the ridges to Punta Della Cappella (2041 m), with views over the eastern plain. From Verde to Capanelle (1590 m), the balcony path runs alongside the Renosu massif. The GR20 then passes over the Col de Flasca, the Marmanu stream and the Traghjette and Capanelle sheepfolds. A pleasant climb takes you up to Bocca Palmente (1640 m), where you can see the sheepfolds that are still in use during the summer grazing season. The traverse ends in the Vizzavona forest (920 m).

Highlights

A discovery of the GR20
Access to follow-on bag
Point to point - 3 days walking
Accommodation in gîte
Starts in Ajaccio and ends in Vizzavona

Duration

4 days / 3 nights

Comfort

Bivouacs / Tents

Type of holidays

Hiking-Walking

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

From Ajaccio to the Col de Verde

Meeting point at Ajaccio bus station. Take the bus to Cozzano and then a taxi to your first gîte. If you arrive in Ajaccio the day before, we suggest a hike along the sentier des crêtes.

Night

Night at the Col de Verde

Day 2

The Prati refuge

From the Col de Verde, set in the heart of a centuries-old forest, you'll follow the GR20 to reach the famous Prati refuge, from which you'll be able to see the sea if the weather is clear enough. You can continue along the ridges, which offer magnificent views over the eastern plain, as far as Punta Della Cappella (2041 m).

Distance

10 km

Duration

4h30

Ascent / descent

+630 m / -630 m

Night

Night at the Col de Verde

Day 3

From the Col de Verde to Capanelle

From the Col de Verde to Capanelle (1590 m), a balcony route along the mountainside. In the shade of magnificent Laricio pines, the GR 20 climbs to the Col de Flasca, crosses the Marmanu stream, before reaching the Traghjette and Capanelle sheepfolds.

Distance

13 km

Duration

5h00

Ascent / descent

+710 m / -400 m

Night

Night in Capanelle

Day 4

From Capanelle to Vizzavona

This is the last stage of the southern part of the GR 20. A footpath leads you without difficulty to Bocca Palmente (1640 m). Here you will discover a number of sheepfolds still occupied during the summer grazing season. A pleasant descent into the Vizzavona forest (920 m). End of our services after the hike. Extra night in Vizzavona and extra day's walk on request. Train to Ajaccio available.

Distance

14 km

Duration

5h00

Ascent / descent

+310 m / -1000 m

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 on request every day from early May to mid-September. Registration possible for 2 people or more.

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

Please note that there are no buses to Cozzano on Sundays and public holidays (except July and August).

Pick a date

Price includes

Accommodation with half-board, picnics, local transfers, luggage transport, travel pack with roadbook, maps and access to our guidance application.

Price does not include

Drinks, reservation of 5€/ person, insurance, visits to sites and transfers ( bus from Ajaccio to Cozzano) not included in the programme, guide.

Supplements/Discounts

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 Ajaccio bus station at 3.30pm.

Ends

After the hike, transfer to Vizzavona station. For train connections to Ajaccio, please contact us.

Access

Ajaccio ferry terminal or airport.

Accommodation

Dormitories in gîtes with shared sanitary facilities. Hot showers every evening.

Meals

Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam)
Evening meal, often based on local specialities, including a starter, main course and dessert
Picnic lunches

Number of participants

A minimum of 2 people is required to register.

Level

Moderate, 4-5 hour stage. Trail with few technical difficulties. Find out more about our walking levels...

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.

Luggage transfers

Only your personal belongings for the day and your picnic. Luggage is transported by vehicle. If you wish to carry your own belongings, please contact us for a discount.

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