A French Walking Experience 'Sans Pareille'

This famous route runs for much of the length of Corsica: The Scented Isle. You will be walking amidst rugged granite spires, weaving in and out on tracks amongst giant Lariccio pine trees with the omnipotent mountains floating between the sky and the sea. There is always the scent of cistus, oregano, juniper and pine resin in the air. The views lead the eye ever on to new perspectives of rock, forest, lake, river, sea and sky, on this island ‘Mountain in the Mediterranean’.

The GR20 is the most challenging walk in the Grand Randonnee series and claimed to be the hardest popular long distance footpath in Western Europe. It is a walk that reaches places that are normally the reserve of the rock climber. We follow the route as far as Bavella (95% of the GR20), passing the highest mountains of Haute Corse, spiralling around the jumble of jagged peaks, through beautiful forests which continue to provide leafy window views across to giant granitic spires. In fact, you will experience a whole range of walking conditions from rock scrambling to walking around the grassy meadows of Lac de Nino. Then there are rocky screes up to the amazing Breche de Capitello and also well-graded trails that would have originally been droving routes.

Our tour commences at Calenzana, near Calvi, ends in the forest around the village of Bavella and reaches its climax in the famous Cirque de Solitude - a head for heights is required. The beauty along the trail continues all the way, amongst the adamantine rock bathing pools and the shepherd huts of the high mountains, where you can try cheeses prepared fresh that day. In between our bivouac sites are the picturesque mountain refuges. A descent is made every two to three days into the valleys to recuperate in the little red-roofed villages that we pass through, these hotel stops allow us to carry less weight on this classic backpacking tour. This mountain journey is tailored for the more seasoned walker who enjoys sleeping out under the stars on occasions and is at home on difficult rocky trails.

Accommodation and Itinerary

14 nights/15 days - Day 1. Arrive Ajaccio. Transfer to hotel at Calenzana. 2. Ascend foothills to reach the granite ridges that overlook Melaghia Valley and the Piobbu refuge. 3. You will have amazing views walking around the ridge behind the Col di Avartoli and on the steep descent to Carozzu. 4. Follow the Spasimata Gorge to a small lake at Muvrella and over the Punta Culaghia to Haut Asco, chalet hotel. 5. Walk across famous Cirque de la Solitude. Ascent of Bocca Minuta and then down to bivvy at Bergeries Ballone. 6. Climb to Refuge des Mori and descend through forests to a chalet hotel at Castel di Verghio. 7. Climb to Col de St. Pierre with superb views of Paglia Orba and the Cinto range, then past Lac de Nino to Manganu. 8. Ascend to the beautiful Breche de Capitello (2225m). Ridge walk to the Col de la Haute Route and onto Onda. 9. Traverse Monte d’Oro to Vizzavona, country hotel for 2 nights. 10. Free day in Vizzavona. 11. Long walk to Col de Verde.
12. You will now notice the contrast between the granite peaks of Haute Corse and gentler, wooded mountains of Corse du Sud, but still some good ridge walking. Stay at Usciolo refuge.
13. Follow woody meadows and ridge to climb Mt.Incudine (2134m).Descend to Asinau Refuge.
14. Trek to Bavella, bus to Zicavo, where we stay in a 1* hotel. 15. Morning transfer to Ajaccio and return flight.

Sherpa Notes

Max Altitude
Nearly 2400m (max ascent 1300m in a day). A high level of fitness is required for this walk. We require details of previous walking experience before accepting reservations. The terrain is very rugged and there are exposed sections requiring head for heights. It can also be very warm.

Support
Limited road access makes this a full backpacking trip: baggage is sent on by road on four occasions, but you should be prepared to carry your own gear for two or three days at a time.

Accommodation and Meals
Hotels on 6 nights, otherwise open bivouac near mountain refuges. Picnic lunches are included on trek, dinners included on 4 nights only. Single hotel accommodation is not available.

Internal Travel
Ajaccio to Calenzana by bus at the start and Zicavo to Ajaccio by bus at the end of the tour.

Sherpa Expeditions, 131a Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0RF, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 8577 2717 Fax: +44 (0)20 8572 9788
sales@sherpa-walking-holidays.co.uk
home | inn-to-inn walks | escorted tours | cycle tours | walkers britain | himalayas | tailor-made expeditions