Compelling Corsica - Sea Kayaking and Mountain Hiking
Compelling Corsica was voted by National Geographic as one of the Best New Trips in 2015!
Rising dramatically from the Mediterranean Sea, Corsica is a fabled island that’s renowned for its fascinating history, rich biodiversity, and unique culinary delicacies. Throughout this 9-day/8-night trip, you’ll hike some of the island’s most beautiful trails and kayak through the UNESCO-listed Reserve Naturelle de Scandola while learning about its unique geological features and maquis vegetation.
Visit some of Corsica’s ancient archaeological sites and listen to “Corsican blues”, a unique form of polyphonic singing. Discover the island’s storied cities on guided walking tours and learn about their links to Napoleon and Victor Hugo. An integral part of the trip is sampling the unique flavors and ingredients of the island, which range from fragrant honey to cured meats and savory cheeses.
This memorable trip is led by talented, local guides who are passionate about sharing their deep understanding of this enchanting destination. It’s an opportunity to experience a corner of France that remains blissfully uncrowded and true to its cultural roots.
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Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Ajaccio – A Port City Steeped in History
Welcome to Ajaccio, the sun-soaked capital of Corsica, nestled between rugged mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ajaccio blends a proud Corsican identity with French elegance—pastel facades, café culture, and sweeping sea views.
This evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner and trip orientation.
Note: Ajaccio is easily accessed via direct flights from Paris and other cities in mainland France.
Day 2
Sea Kayaking – Isolella Peninsula
Weather permitting, we sea kayak to the Isolella Peninsula. After breakfast, we transfer to a nearby beach where our kayaks await. Following a safety briefing, we paddle along the scenic coastline of the Isolella Peninsula, where wind-carved rock formations like Sette e Nave meet the stories of ancient Corsica. The day will depend on the weather and our group’s ability.
We paddle for around four hours and enjoy lunch at a beachfront café. The warm Mediterranean may tempt you in for a swim before we return to Ajaccio for a relaxing evening and a dinner of French cuisine and Corsican wine.
Total Paddle Distance – 12 miles / 4 hours (may be altered based on the group’s ability.)
Day 3
Day 3: Paddle the Sanguinaires Islands, Travel to Piana
We drive north to the Sanguinaires Islands, an exposed and rugged archipelago home to seabirds and dramatic geology. Weather permitting, we paddle in the morning among these rocky islets before enjoying a picnic lunch. A protected area for birds, the islands are a place of wind, salt and quiet.
Afterward, we travel along Corsica’s west coast to the village of Cargèse, a hilltop town settled by Greek refugees in the 17th century. The highlight is a visit to the two small churches from the 1800’s – one built by Catholics and the other by descendants of the Greeks.
We continue on to tonight's destination, the village of Piana. This is a breathtaking village perched above the sea near the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Gulf of Porto that includes the Calanche of Piana, the Gulf of Girolata and the Scandola Reserve. Learn more about the reserve here. This will be our home base for the next three nights.
Total Kayak Distance: 4-8 miles / 2-4 hours (our route is decided by the group’s ability and weather).
Note: Weather will determine the order of our paddles on Day 2 and Day 3. If strong winds are predicted for Day 3, we would plan to do that paddle on Day 2. If the weather doesn’t cooperate and seas are too demanding for kayaking, we have a backup plan that includes two possible hikes.
Day 4
Sea Kayaking in the Scandola Nature Reserve
Today’s paddle begins just down the road from our hotel, launching into the waters of the Scandola Nature Reserve—an ecological jewel of volcanic rock, rare flora, and crystal-clear sea. After a safety orientation we begin paddling and when the sun is high overhead.
We enjoy a waterside picnic lunch, and then continue along the coast, possibly ending the day with a short walk in the Calanche de Piana before returning to our hotel and enjoying a delicious dinner.
Total Kayak Distance: 4-8 miles / 2-4 hours (may be altered based on the group’s ability).
Note: We base in Piana to allow us flexibility should weather conditions not allow us to kayak. The village is the perfect base for miles of trails, so we always have great alternatives to kayaking.
Day 5
Mediterranean Kayaking - Circumnavigating Capo Rosso
Wake up to an amazing view of the Mediterranean! Weather permitting, our goal is to paddle around Capo Rosso. Today’s paddle could be as long as 13 miles of rugged Mediterranean coastline. For groups preferring a shorter route, or if wind conditions shift, we’ll adapt the plan accordingly.
Expect beach stops, swimming opportunities, and another scenic picnic. At the end of the day, we’ll return to our hotel and enjoy another evening of good food and sunset views.
Day 6
Hike to the Col de Vergio and Travel to Corte
We leave the coast for the mountains today, heading to the Col de Vergio for a scenic loop hike to the Radule waterfalls. We follow sections of the GR20—considered one of Corsica’s most spectacular long-distance trails—through alpine forests and rocky valleys. Following a lunch at a shepherd’s hut, we drive through the Scala di Santa Regina gorge to Corte.
Our destination for the night is the historic capital of Corsica, Corte. Corte is the heart of the island’s political, social and cultural life and in 1755 was the capital of the Corsican republic led by Pasquale Paoli who led the island to independence from the Genoese. He is also responsible for giving Corsica a democratic constitution that was in important reference for the American Constitution more than three decades later. A university was founded in Corte in 1765 and closed in 1769. It reopened in 1981 and today some 4000 students make up half the town’s population during the academic year. Perhaps nowhere else in Corsica can you dig as deeply into the spirit of freedom and self-determination that is the hallmark of the Corsican people as you can here in Corte.
After dinner enjoy a stroll in town and you may happen upon some informal singing at one of the many bars.
Day 7
Alta Rocca Mountains and Zonza
We drive south along the eastern coast of Corsica, then inlandd to the Col de Baella. After lunch, we depart on a two hour hike on a peaceful forest trail beneath the towering granite spires, beginning at the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges monument.
After our hike, a short drive takes us to the mountain village of Zonza where we enjoy a relaxed local dinner.
Day 8
Santa Lucia Hike, Filitosa and Return to Ajaccio
Driving from our mountain village of Zonza we drive a short distance to start an easy loop hike called the Santa Lucia de Talla-Chapelle San Ghjuva trail. Our morning hike offers sweeping views of Corsica’s mountainous interior and sea-swept coastline. We then visit Filitosa, one of the island’s most significant prehistoric sites, home to enigmatic granite menhirs dating back over 5,000 years.
Back in Ajaccio, we celebrate the journey with a farewell dinner.
Day 9
Transfer to Airport on Own, or Explore More of Corsica
You may choose to extend your time in Corsica with a train ride to Bastia—a lovely seaport city designated as a French “Town of Art & History”.
To get from Bastia to Paris, there are direct flight options as well as ferries to get to Livorno, Italy (near Pisa) and other towns including Marseille, Nice and Toulon. Schedules and information can be found here.
Dates & Rates
| Dates | Adult (USD) | Child (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||
| Jun 15, 2026 to Jun 23, 2026 Lowest Tier Price | $5,390£0€0$0$0 | $5,390£0€0$0$0 |
| Sep 04, 2026 to Sep 12, 2026 Lowest Tier Price | $5,390£0€0$0$0 | $5,390£0€0$0$0 |
Supplementary Information
2026 Tiered Pricing
- 6-8 people - $5690 per person
- 9-12 people - $5390 per person
2027 Tiered Pricing
- 6-8 people - $5990 per person
- 9-12 people - $5690 per person
Single Supplement: If you are a solo traveler and wish to have your own accommodations throughout the tour (or if we are unable to pair you up with another solo traveler), an additional single supplement of $990 USD is required.
Custom departures available. The above departures are already set and can be chartered as a private tour by paying for 10 spaces. In addition, depending on group size, availability of guides, and accommodations, we can also arrange custom trips on other dates between April and late September.
Tiered Pricing Explained: Our trips are budgeted for full or near-full sign-ups which enables us to offer trips at the lowest possible price. Because of numerous fixed costs, it is more expensive to operate a trip for a small group. Therefore, on some of our trips, in order to avoid having to cancel a trip, we have a “tier-pricing” system to avoid canceling a trip with a low number of sign-ups. We have found that most people also prefer this alternative to having a trip cancelled. Thus, you will note on our trip prices there may be a different price for 6-8 people versus 19-12, etc.
ALL PRICES IN US DOLLARS. We will do our best to adhere to the itineraries and trip descriptions listed on our website. However, tour itineraries or subcontractors (such as taxis, cruise boats, or hotels) may change slightly due to reasons beyond our control including but not limited to Acts of God, wind, waves, inclement weather, or others. We always welcome you to call us to clarify any item - often this is the best way to fully clarify expectations - call us collect or on our toll-free number. You will be sent a pre-trip email with the latest details within a month of your tour - it is your responsibility to check in with us prior to your trip to see if you have all the information you need. We will always do our best to provide you with the best possible tour and to fully meet your expectations to the best of our ability.
We may initially invoice you at the higher tier price, and refund the difference depending on the final group size. Trip costs quoted are based on foreign exchange rates current at the time of this printing. We reserve the right to raise the trip fee if there are exceptional cost increases beyond our control.
Tour Includes:
- Service of our Adventure Consultants
- Certified professional kayak guide(s) and hiking guide(s)
- Certified professional, experienced bilingual tour leader
- Kayak rental, and the transportation of the kayaks
- Specialized equipment needed for applicable activities such as kayaks, paddles, personal flotation devices, etc.
- Accommodations as noted in the itinerary
- All meals as noted in itinerary
- Private pre-tour orientation meeting
Not Included:
- All air fares to, from and within Corsica and France
- Transfers to/from airport to tour hotel(s)
- Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, gratuity to main tour leader and kayak guide, souvenirs, etc
- Hotel before and after your tour dates
- Travel Protection Plan (Travel Insurance)
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