The Beauty of Corsica from Calvi to Corte – 7 Days

DISTANCE - BELOW AVERAGE

Distance is not a major consideration in your training program. However, you should still incorporate some long walks as it will increase your cardiovascular fitness.

ELEVATION - ~AVERAGE

Elevation training is undoubtedly a consideration in your overall training program. Try to include some form of elevation in more than 40% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand or up and down small hills, boring as that sounds, is incredibly useful. Elevation is often the chief walk killer, not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

MIXED TERRAIN

ROCKY

Whilst preparing for walking on rocky terrain, you must focus on the development of balance, strength, and agility. Integrate targeted strength exercises, such as lunges, squats, and step-ups, to fortify your leg muscles, with a particular emphasis on enhancing stability on uneven surfaces. Balancing exercises are essential. Undertake core strength activity, coupled with exercises such as planks and russian twists to enhance balance. As you progress, include hikes on progressively rougher terrain to acclimate to rocky conditions. Additionally, the appropriate footwear with good ankle support and tread for grip are essential. Stay mindful, watch your step, and use trekking poles for added stability.

UNEVEN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a nuanced blend of physical and mental readiness. Commence your regimen with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a foundational groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is pivotal, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups to enhance both stability and power. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement. The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritize options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

AVAILABILITY

April through to October (before or after upon request). Possible snow early in the season in the mountains and very hot during summer. If a walk is not possible due to those reasons or any personal reasons, any extra charge due to modifications on the spot will be at an additional cost not covered by Auswalk.

HOW TO GET THERE AND

Travelling to the Start of the walk

The walk starts in Calvi at your first accommodation and ends in Corte. Please refer to your itinerary. You will need to get yourself to Calvi. There are regular Aircorsica flights to Corsica from Paris, Nice and Marseille or you could opt for a ferry from Nice, Marseille or La Ciotat. You can also arrive in Bastia and catch a train via Ponte Leccia. From the end of your walk, you will need to organise your travel away from Corte. To make it easy we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.

By plane: The easiest option would be to fly into Paris, Marseille or Nice and then fly into Calvi. There are many airlines that fly these routes. Below are possible websites that provide a number of different carriers to choose from.

https://www.kayak.com/flights 

http://www.google.com/flights

By train: The train from Bastia to Calvi will take around 4.2 hrs and will cost around AUD$30-45. Please find below ways to book.

https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times

https://en.oui.sncf/en/tgv

By bus: You can also travel by bus from Bastia to Calvi, which will take around 2hrs and cost AUD$23-50, depending on supply and demand. Please find below ways to book.

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Bastia/Calvi

Travelling from the End of the walk

By bus: The bus to Ajaccio takes around 1hr 45mins. Or take a train to Bastia, Calvi or Ajaccio. Travel times vary from 2 hrs to 3hr 40 mins depending on the location. You can then travel via ferry or plane back to the mainland.

https://www.rome2rio.com/

By plane: There are regular flights and low-cost airlines from Calvi, Ajaccio, Bastia to Paris, Nice or Marseille.

WALKING

The walk is moderate + walk. Walks average 12.5km with 600m of elevation each day, which takes around 5 hours. Due to rocky terrain, some trails can be more rocky than others, and therefore may take some time to walk if you are not used to this type of terrain. We do our best to calculate a fair estimation of the walk, the indicated walking time is based on no rest, no stop, no picnic, this time can vary according to walking abilities.

There are many opportunities to add more walking if you’re up for it. If you choose the challenging options you must have hiking experience and can negotiate rocky, technical terrain. You don’t mind a little scrambling along the way and you must be confident at orienteering and using a compass.

This is a beautiful area with many fabulous historic attractions on top of the fabulous walking routes, with an overarching mountainous and uneven/rocky terrain.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice in our FAQ section.

WEATHER

From March the temperature begins to rise so be prepared for warmer days if you walk in summer. Shoulder season is by far the best time as the weather is perfect for walking and the added advantage of having fewer people around in the villages and on the coast (we walk away from the populated areas on the walk so crowds are not an issue).

In June, July and August the hikes should be completed early, especially the ones in Calvi & Tavignano gorge. At the end of March/April and October/November, there is a risk of snow fall in Corte (mountain Lakes).

See the weather information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine details and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.