Homer Wasn’t Stupid
That’s the title of a fascinating article in the May 2009 issue of Outside magazine, featuring Corsica as “a summer island too fantastical to be real”.
Author David Vann and his wife tackled the 60 mile long “Mare a Mare Sud” hike that traverses the southern part of the island from Porto-Vecchio to Propriano on the opposite coast. After hiking all day they spent every night on gîtes (hostels) while sampling delicious food and warm hospitality through several mountain villages along the trail.
For those outside of the U.S., you can order the May issue of Outside magazine here. (Be sure to specify you want the one dated May 2009). The article also features Turkey, Croatia, Sardinia, Crete, Sicily and the Alpes-Maritimes of France. (Hopefully, this information will become available online at a later time).
Where to stay
Gites d’étappe provide basic, clean accommodations and good food. Reservations are recommended if traveling from June to August. Some of the hostels and mountain refuges are closed from October to April. I highly recommend carrying a light, easy to assemble tent, to avoid having to worry about finding a shelter.
Gites in the South of Corsica provides detailed information on all the rural accomodations for hikers in the south side of Corsica. The site is only partly translated to English but it’s easy to follow.
Plan B – (My Way)
Let Corsica Aventure do all the planning and thinking for you. Just show up, hike and enjoy the view. (Cost: About 600 euros per person for the “Mare a Mare Sud”, www.corsica-aventure.com. For more information, download my Easy Guide to Trekking in Corsica).
When to Go
Late spring and early fall are the best times for hiking in Corsica. Even in the hot months of July and August, you’ll need a light jacket and a sleeping bag in the evening, specially up in the mountains.
Getting There
See my 6 Tips for Booking Flights here. Another option that could save you money is to fly from London to northern Sardinia with EasyJet and from there take a ferry to Corsica to either Propriano, Bonifacio or Porto Vecchio.
Additional Information
http://www.corsica-hiking.com/ provides step by step descriptions and photos of the “Mare a Mare Sud” hike.
If you have any questions, you may also contact me via email at liz [at] corsicajourneys [dot] com or use the contact form on this site.
Wherever you end up going this year, try to include some hiking or walking in your plans. Happy Trails!
Filed under: Hiking in Corsica
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Yeah, I can’t wait to fly across the ocean to hike all day and sleep in a tent or a ‘mountain refuge’, while spending Euros.
I bet it would be an awesome experience though. Nice review.
Hi Marcie,
You don’t have to rough it if you don’t want to. You can stay in a nice hotel or resort and enjoy short day walks that overlook the ocean or spend a day in the mountains and 90 minutes later be on the beach.
Thanks for stopping by!
http://www.corsicajourneys.com/category/day_trips/
a great review, really makes me want to undertake a major hike.
Lance
Brittany Holidays offer much less challenging walks, but you’ve given us a reason to try Corsica – I thought it was just sun and sand and beach umbrellas
Unlike Marcie, I prefer to hike and “rough it” a little bit. Tour busses, etc. move too fast; it’s impossibe to get a real “feel” for the land. Of course, I also like to stay in luxury hotel and eat gourmet foo. Let’s cal me…flexible.
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