Corsica In Style

Day 1. Fly to Ajaccio or Calvi

Fly from the UK to either Ajaccio or Calvi (dependent on UK regional flights). Both these coastal towns have pretty areas with Mediterranean style cafes where you can sit and soak up the atmosphere. In both towns you have the choice of staying in 3 or 4 star hotels on your first night in Corsica.

Day 2. Scala Santa Regina Valley

From Ajaccio or Calvi you transfer by train and taxi to beyond Corte in to the Scala Santa Regina valley for your first walk. The valley trail is of great historical importance as the shepherds leading their herds in and out of the Niolu valley used it. It winds through a decor of granite cliffs, along a superb balcony path to the Erco Genois Bridge, before descending into the village of Calacuccia through an old chestnut grove.

Days 3 and 4. Evisa

Today you walk up through the forest, emerging at the famous 'Col de Vergio', a high pass marked with a dominant statue. This is the divide between the two Corsican counties, the North and the South and from here you can enjoy an airy view down on to Calacuccia Lake in the far distance. The walking is downhill through the majestic, tall, straight Aitone pine trees. A transition into chestnut woods marks the approach to the village. Evisa, situated at 830 metres, is a real favourite. Known as 'The Pearl of the Mountains', it has a fresh, bright climate and is only a short distance from the sea. On your second day in Evisa you have an optional village- to-village walk along trails that lead through the maquis vegetation and to the deserted hamlet of Tassu. The hotel in Evisa has a swimming pool and a splendid view down to the coast.

Days 5 and 6. Porto and Piana

From Evisa you walk down through the Spelunca gorge, with the rose coloured granite sea cliffs getting ever closer. The well-graded trail zigzags back and forth on its way down to the river. Once this path was the only access route between Evisa and your destination village of Ota. Situated at 300 metres, Ota couples mountain architecture with a hot Mediterranean climate and flora. In the gardens you will notice bright bougainvillaea, citrus and olive trees. The view towards the Gulf of Porto is a kaleidoscope of colour, red cliffs, shock blue sea and the bold Genoise tower. Porto is the prettiest part of the western coastline with its rugged indented sea cliffs and creeks. Spending a night here gives you the opportunity to swim or snorkel from the sandy beach. From Porto you head through 'les calanques', a section of heavily eroded mountains dotted with maritime pines, an unforgettable scene with the blue Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop. Piana is a sleepy village in a prime location overlooking 'les calanques', with the pink houses clustered around the village square. In both these coastal towns you have fine hotels and also the opportunity to visit some of the delicious fresh fish restaurants.

Days 7 and 8. Piana and Homeward

Depending on which airport you arrived into you have the opportunity to spend some further time walking around the beautiful area and coastal scenes around Piana before transferring back to either Ajaccio or Calvi to fly home.