Self-Launched: Hike Corsica's Mountains & Coast
8 days · Corsica, France
Exodus charges £2,790
No-markup version: ~£530 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Corsica is one of Europe's most dramatic hiking destinations — and you absolutely don't need a guided group tour to experience it. This self-launched itinerary follows the same route as Exodus's popular guided trip: mountain gorges and GR20 trails around Corte, then four nights on the coast near Saint-Florent for coastal walks and a boat trip along the Sentier des Douaniers. By booking your own budget hotels or guesthouses, travelling by local bus, and joining bookable day hikes or heading out independently with a trail map, you can do the whole thing for a fraction of the guided tour price. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Corte
Corte, Corsica
Fly into Bastia Poretta Airport (the most convenient entry point) and take the Chemins de Fer de la Corse (CFC) train to Corte — a scenic 1.5-hour ride through the mountains costing around £10. Check into your guesthouse or budget hotel in central Corte. Spend the evening exploring the atmospheric old town, grabbing a Corsican charcuterie board and a glass of local wine at one of the restaurants near the citadel. Corte is a compact, walkable town — get your bearings tonight.
🚌Fly to Bastia; CFC train Bastia → Corte (~£10)
🛏Hôtel de la Paix or similar budget hotel/guesthouse in Corte (est. £40–55/night for a twin room)
- →Arrive and check in to accommodation in Corte
- →Evening stroll through Corte's old town and citadel quarter
- →Dinner at a local restaurant — try Corsican charcuterie, brocciu cheese and Nielluccio wine
Restonica Gorges — Hike to Punta di u Corbu
Restonica Gorges, Corte
Head out early on foot from central Corte towards the Chapel of Saint-Antoine, then follow the well-marked trail up to Punta di u Corbu for panoramic mountain views. Descend through pine forest to the Restonica River and walk back along the road into town. The full loop is around 11 km with approximately 600m ascent — a moderate-to-challenging day. Download the trail on Komoot or AllTrails before you go (both free). Pack a picnic lunch from the Corte market or a local bakery. No guide needed — this is a well-signposted trail popular with independent hikers.
🚌On foot from Corte town centre
🛏Hôtel de la Paix or similar budget hotel/guesthouse in Corte (est. £40–55/night)
- →Hike to Punta di u Corbu via Chapel of Saint-Antoine (~11 km, ~600m ascent)
- →Descend through Restonica pine forest to the river
- →Picnic lunch on the trail
- →Download route on Komoot or AllTrails (free)
Tavignano Valley & Exploring Corte
Tavignano Valley & Corte
Walk the Tavignano Gorge trail — part of the Mare a Mare long-distance route — up to the beautiful rock pools where you can swim on a warm day. The route is around 10 km with a steep, stony section to access the river; allow 4–5 hours at a relaxed pace. Return to Corte in the afternoon and explore at leisure: climb up to the Citadelle (entry to the Musée de la Corse costs around £6) or wander the Haute Ville. Treat yourself to a gelato and an Aperol Spritz at one of the terrace cafes.
🚌On foot from Corte town centre
🛏Hôtel de la Paix or similar budget hotel/guesthouse in Corte (est. £40–55/night)
- →Hike the Tavignano Gorge (Mare a Mare trail, ~10 km)
- →Swimming stop at the Tavignano river rock pools
- →Visit the Citadelle and Musée de la Corse (~£6 entry)
- →Afternoon free to explore Corte's cafes and old town
GR20 Section to Bocca Palmente, then on to Saint-Florent
Vizzavona → Saint-Florent
Take the CFC train from Corte to Vizzavona (around 30 minutes, ~£5) to access the GR20. Hike the well-marked trail through pine and beech forest to Bocca Palmente (around 16 km), with the option to detour to the Cascades des Anglais rock pools — a gorgeous swimming spot. After the hike, take the bus from Vizzavona towards Corte, then connect by bus or shared taxi to Saint-Florent (around 2 hours total, ~£15–20). Check in to your coastal accommodation. Celebrate with dinner at a harbour-side restaurant in Saint-Florent.
🚌CFC train Corte → Vizzavona (~£5); bus/shared taxi Vizzavona → Saint-Florent (~£15–20)
🛏Hôtel L'Onda or similar budget hotel in Saint-Florent (est. £45–65/night)
- →Hike the GR20 from Vizzavona to Bocca Palmente (~16 km)
- →Optional detour to Cascades des Anglais rock pools for a swim
- →Evening arrival in Saint-Florent — dinner at a harbour restaurant
Free Day in Bastia
Bastia, Corsica
Take the local bus from Saint-Florent to Bastia (around 30–40 minutes, ~£5 each way). Bastia is Corsica's largest and most atmospheric city — explore the Vieux Port, the clifftop Citadelle, the ornate Baroque churches of Terra Nova, and the Musée de Bastia (entry around £5). Grab lunch at the covered market (Marché de Bastia) for cheap, authentic Corsican produce. Return by bus to Saint-Florent in the evening.
🚌Local bus Saint-Florent → Bastia and return (~£10 round trip)
🛏Hôtel L'Onda or similar budget hotel in Saint-Florent (est. £45–65/night)
- →Explore Bastia's Vieux Port and Terra Nova citadel quarter
- →Visit Musée de Bastia (~£5 entry)
- →Lunch at Marché de Bastia — local charcuterie, cheese and Corsican street food
- →Browse Baroque churches of the old town
Coastal Hike to Punta Vecchiaia
Saint-Florent Coastal Trail
Walk directly from your hotel to Olzo Beach, the start of the northern coastal trail out of Saint-Florent. The 15 km trail winds past the Genoese Mortella Tower, dramatic limestone cliffs, turquoise coves and fragrant maquis scrubland. This is a completely self-navigable trail — download it on Komoot beforehand. Pack a picnic lunch from a local boulangerie. Return to Saint-Florent in the afternoon for a wander around the fishing port and the historic Cathédrale du Nebbiu.
🚌On foot from Saint-Florent
🛏Hôtel L'Onda or similar budget hotel in Saint-Florent (est. £45–65/night)
- →Hike the northern coastal trail from Olzo Beach to Punta Vecchiaia (~15 km)
- →Pass the Genoese Mortella Tower and limestone cliff formations
- →Picnic lunch in a secluded coastal cove
- →Afternoon: explore Saint-Florent village and Cathédrale du Nebbiu
Boat to Lotu & Sentier des Douaniers Coastal Walk
Agriates Desert Coastline
Book a morning boat taxi from Saint-Florent harbour to Lotu Beach (boats run daily in season, tickets around £10–15 each way — book at the harbour or via Les Bateaux de Saint-Florent). From Lotu, walk the famous Sentier des Douaniers (Customs Officers' Path) — a 13 km coastal trail through wild maquis, past Saleccia and Ghignu beaches, with frequent swimming stops in crystal-clear water. The trail ends back in Saint-Florent. A spectacular, entirely self-navigable day with no guide needed. Final dinner out in Saint-Florent.
🚌Boat taxi Saint-Florent → Lotu Beach (~£12); walk back to Saint-Florent along the trail
🛏Hôtel L'Onda or similar budget hotel in Saint-Florent (est. £45–65/night)
- →Boat taxi from Saint-Florent to Lotu Beach (~20 min, ~£12)
- →Hike the Sentier des Douaniers (Customs Officers' Path, ~13 km)
- →Multiple swimming stops at Saleccia and other pristine Agriates beaches
- →Final evening dinner in Saint-Florent
Depart Saint-Florent
Saint-Florent → Bastia
After breakfast, check out and take the local bus back to Bastia (around 30–40 minutes, ~£5) in time for your onward flight from Bastia Poretta Airport. Alternatively, extend your stay in Corsica — the island rewards slow travel, with plenty more beaches and trails to explore.
🚌Local bus Saint-Florent → Bastia (~£5)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Breakfast and check-out
- →Bus to Bastia for onward flight
- →Optional: last coffee and pastry at Bastia's Place Saint-Nicolas
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£530 | £2,790 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,260 per person (81%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£530
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched: Hike Corsica's Mountains & Coast cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £530 per person for 8 days in Corsica, France. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £530 — a saving of roughly £2,260 (81%) per person.
How long is the Corsica, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Corsica, France.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, culture trip through Corsica, France, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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