Massif de Corse, entre met et montagne

With its 8,722 km² and an average altitude of 568 meters, Corsica is the smallest but most mountainous of the three large islands of the western Mediterranean. It is 183 km long and 83.5 km wide.

Corsica has seven massifs, ranging from high to medium mountains: Monte Stello, Tenda and Monte Astu, Monte Cinto, Monte San Petrone, Monte Rotondo, Monte Renoso and Monte Incudine. It has ten peaks over 2,000 m and its highest point, Monte Cinto, reaches 2,706 meters.

The Isle of Beauty has a Regional Natural Park which covers 51% of the island's territory. It was first classified in 1972 and reclassified for 15 years in November 2018.

The legendary GR 20®!

Corsica is renowned for its GR 20® long-distance hiking trail (Fra Li Monti by its original name), considered the most difficult trail in Europe, but also one of the most beautiful!

Marked out in 1971, it is a 200 km, very sporty trail, reserved for seasoned hikers. It requires excellent physical condition, regular hiking practice and a good knowledge of the mountain environment. With more than 11,000 meters of positive elevation gain, the GR20® can be covered in 16 days from Calinzana (northwest) to Conca (far south of the island). The northern part is quite technical with rocky terrain, while the southern part is greener and more rolling.

It is not recommended to do this circuit before June because the refuges are not yet guarded and some trails may still be snow-covered. From the end of August, the drying up of water sources can be problematic.

Some of the most beautiful spots on the GR20®: Aiguilles de Bavella, Lake Mélo and Capitello, Lake Nino and its "pozzines", Monte Cinto, the Cascades des Anglais.

Transverse hikes

If the GR20® seems too difficult for you, you can opt for the transverse hikes. Without any particular difficulties, but physical, they will allow you to discover Corsica differently:

• Mare è Monti: North from Calinzana to Carghjese (7 to 10 days); South from Purtichju to Pruprià (5 days).
• Mare a Mare: North from Moriani (8 to 12 days); Center between Ghisunaccia and Purtichju (7 days); South from Purti-Vechju (5 days).
• Transhumance Trail: connects Balagne to Niolu, from Calinzana to Corscia in 5 stages of 5 to 6 hours per day.

Many other hiking trails will allow you to discover the Isle of Beauty on foot: coastal paths, customs trails, discover the Genoese towers, the Agriates desert, the Sanguinaires Islands, the calanques...

Before going hiking in Corsica, don't forget to equip yourself well: backpack, comfortable shoes, water bottle, hiking poles... Discover our adjustable and lightweight hiking poles, including our Massif telescopic pole from Corsica!

Don't hesitate to consult our article "Choosing your hiking poles carefully".

Sources: https://visit-corsica.com; http://www.le-gr20.fr/ ; https://www.corse-randos.com