A mountain range rising from the sea, Corsica holds the most arrestingly beautiful landscapes in the Mediterranean. From its cobalt blue gulfs and shell-sand beaches, hillsides of evergreen maquis give way to pristine oak, chestnut, and pine forests, awesome gorges, alpine lakes, and a spine of snow-streaked peaks and passes.
Among the many trails that penetrate its remotest corners, the GR20, following the island's watershed, has won an international reputation. But travelers can also trek at lower altitudes, along ancient mule tracks between snug stone villages where the cuisine, pace of life, and atmosphere has changed little in decades. Meticulously waymarked, Corsica's long-distance routes provide superlative trekking for all levels of fitness and proficiency.
This guide contains all the information travelers need to know for a hassle-free walking vacation in Corsica.
Freelance travel writer David Abram was born and brought up in south Wales and the Mendip Hills of Somerset. His first foray into the Corsican mountains came in 1986, during the sabbatical year of a French degree, when he stumbled upon some waymarks and followed them blindly for two days until wild pigs polished off his supplies. Since then, as an anthropologist and author of the Rough Guide to India, he's walked extensively in the Himalayas, Europe and North America but still regards Corsica as a benchmark trekking destination.