France – Corsica – Highest Peaks and Finest Valleys – Hiking without Luggage in Autumn
Comfort hiking trip with day tours without a backpack through Corsica's high mountains, valleys and coasts in autumn
from 1.720 € p.p.
„France – Corsica – Highest Peaks and Finest Valleys – Hiking without Luggage in Autumn“ lasts 18 days / 17 nights (coach travel) or 16 days / 15 nights (flight), costs from 1.720 € per person. Next departure: 17.09.2026. Tour operator: RAWAKAS – Reisen mit Charakter. Advice and enquiries via Sport Meisel — we reply within one working day.
Corsica, probably the most beautiful and greenest of the Mediterranean islands, holds many surprises. The island is considered a mountain range in the sea, with long sandy beaches and rugged rocky coasts. After the summer bustle, calm returns in September, the Mediterranean has pleasant bathing temperatures, and chestnut forests and maquis take on warm colours.
We explore the most varied regions: beaches, the high mountains around Monte Cinto (the island’s highest peak), the valleys of Nino, Golo and Asco as well as towns such as Calvi, Corte and Bonifacio. The hikes are done with a day pack only, so the heavy luggage stays at the base. Anyone who wants to skip a longer tour will always find a shorter alternative on site.
We stay in well-equipped camping chalets and bungalows as well as, at times, in typical hikers’ hostels (gîtes d’étape). In the evening we enjoy French-Corsican cuisine or cater for ourselves via the group kitty – ideally with a glass of Corsican wine. Sure-footedness and a normal head for heights are required.
Trip highlights
- Monte Cinto – Corsica's highest mountain (ascent or Lac du Cinto)
- Spasimata gorge with suspension bridge and bathing pools
- Balagne region with the artists' village of Pigna and San Antonino
- Lake Nino with wild horses and cattle
- Corte with in-depth sightseeing and the Tavignano valley
- Monte Renoso with 360° panoramic views
- Bonifacio – town above the sea with views towards Sardinia
- Rocky landscape of the Bavella towers and the Vizzavona–Corte train ride
Itinerary — day by day
1 Day 1 · Germany – Italy
Start at Dresden Neustadt station, drive via Chemnitz, Nuremberg, Munich and Lindau to the ferry port of Savona; cabin allocation and ferry crossing to Bastia.
2 Day 2 · Bastia – Calvi
Ferry arrival in Bastia (approx. 8 am), sightseeing and drive to Calvi.
3 Day 3 · Beach hike / arrival of air passengers
Easy beach hike to the taffoni rocks in the Gulf of Calvi, visit to the citadel and cathedral; arrival of the air passengers.
4 Day 4 · Spasimata gorge
Hiking tour from Maison de Bonifatu (GR20 variant) to the Spasimata suspension bridge and the pools.
5 Day 5 · Balagne – San Antonino – Pigna
Round trip through the Balagne with an easy hike from San Antonino to the artists' village of Pigna, then drive into the Asco valley.
6 Day 6 · Cirque de la Solitude
Either an easier hike to the Cirque de la Solitude or a demanding circular hike over the Muvrella (2,148 m).
7 Day 7 · Asco valley – Golo valley – Calacuccia
Drive through the Asco valley into the Golo valley, short hike through the Scala di Santa Regina, individual hikes from Calacuccia.
8 Day 8 · Monte Cinto
Very early start: in good weather an ascent of Monte Cinto, otherwise a visit to Lac du Cinto or shorter trails.
9 Day 9 · Lake Nino – Castel de Vergio
Hike from the Poppaghia forest house to Lake Nino with wild grazing horses, on along the GR20 to Castel de Vergio.
10 Day 10 · Corte – Corsica's secret capital
In-depth stroll through Corte with the museum in the citadel; no hiking programme.
11 Day 11 · Tavignano valley
Either a guided hike to the granite arch Arche de Corte or an individual tour into the Tavignano valley with pools for swimming.
12 Day 12 · Cascade des Anglais
Hike to the Cascade des Anglais waterfalls near Vizzavona, in the afternoon the train ride Vizzavona–Corte over the Gustave Eiffel bridge.
13 Day 13 · Monte Renoso – Solenzara
Early start to the Capanelle, hike past Lac de Bastiani to the summit of Monte Renoso with 360° panoramic views; optional Aleria.
14 Day 14 · Bonifacio
Drive to Bonifacio, coastal hike to the Pertusato lighthouse, a swim with views towards Sardinia and a stroll through town.
15 Day 15 · Rocky landscape of the Bavella towers
Drive to the Col de Bavella, hike in the rocky landscape of the Bavella towers; optional ascent of tower 3 (easy climbing).
16 Day 16 · Free time
Day at leisure on the sandy beach or for individual sightseeing in Solenzara.
17 Day 17 · Ferry / return flight
Early departure to Bastia; air passengers fly back from approx. 10 am, the ferry departs around 11 am and reaches Savona in the evening.
18 Day 18 · Arrival in Germany
Return journey by coach via Munich and Chemnitz to Dresden (arrival approx. 1:30 pm).
Services
Included
- Coach travel to Corsica from/to Dresden (via Munich, Lindau) – or flight
- All ferry crossings
- Corsican entry tax
- All transfers on Corsica
- All camping chalet nights (mostly twin rooms)
- 4x gîte nights in shared rooms
- Guided hiking programme
- German tour guide
Not included
- Meals (except self-catering via the group kitty)
- Flights (with the flight option)
- Additional airport transfer
- Bed linen
- Final cleaning of the accommodation
- Half board / additional restaurant visits in gîtes/hotels
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
Optional extras
- Meals via the group kittyapprox. €13.00 per person/day
- Flights (flight option, e.g. Eurowings from/to Berlin)approx. €480.00
- Extra twin room (subject to availability)€220.00 per person
- Ferry cabin berth (outward)from €30.00 p.p.
- Twin cabin on the ferry (on request)approx. €60.00 p.p.
- Small-group surcharge (6-7 people)€60.00 p.p.
- Bed linen (hire)€6-12.00 per night
- Final cleaning of chalets€50-80.00 per chalet
Accommodation & meals
Accommodation
Camping chalets in twin rooms (shower/WC, small kitchen) as well as 4x gîtes d'étape in shared rooms (up to 8 people); twin rooms in gîtes bookable optionally
Meals
Self-catering via a group kitty (shopping and cooking together, approx. €13 per person/day); in gîtes/hotels half board or breakfast additionally possible, restaurant visits optional
Difficulty & requirements
Sure-footedness and a normal head for heights required, fitness helpful. Individual hikes with easy climbing; shorter alternatives are available for longer tours. Not suitable for people with limited mobility.
Getting there & back
Coach travel from/to Dresden with the ferry Savona–Bastia, alternatively an individual flight to Calvi/Bastia (flight approx. €480)
Dates & prices
Frequently asked questions
What does “hiking without luggage” mean?
The hikes are day tours with a light day pack from fixed bases. The rest of your luggage stays at the accommodation – there is no heavy carrying over several days.
Can I skip strenuous tours?
Yes. A hiking programme is planned for almost every day; anyone wanting a rest day or not wishing to join the longer hikes will always find an alternative programme with the tour guide on site.
How are meals organised?
Mostly self-catering via a group kitty with shopping and cooking together (approx. €13 per person/day). In gîtes and hotels, half board or breakfast is additionally possible, restaurant visits optional.
What accommodation can I expect?
Mostly well-equipped camping chalets in twin rooms with shower/WC and a small kitchen, plus four times a gîte d'étape (hikers' hostel) in a shared room. Twin rooms in the gîtes can be booked for a surcharge.
Operator & travel security
This trip is operated by RAWAKAS – Reisen mit Charakter. Sport Meisel arranges this trip. The travel terms of the operator apply.
- Package travel insolvency insurance certificate of the tour operator
- Emergency number: +49 351 4245 0892
- Processed under German travel law (§ 651a ff. BGB, EU Package Travel Directive).
What our travellers say
Thank you so much for this wonderful trip. For your many tips and stories and for looking after us all so well. Anyone who goes to Corsica without you only has themselves to blame, because they miss out on so much. Thank you again!
Hello Sven, can this holiday be topped? After some initial scepticism about my fitness, that was settled right at the start. So my holiday became a wonderful experience, partly through myself and partly through your encouragement. The island is spectacular – I have fallen in love. Many thanks!
I have just looked through my photos of the hiking trip to Corsica again. I enjoyed it very much, I am thrilled! I greatly enjoyed the landscape and the weather as well as our group under Sven's competent leadership. Greetings from autumnal eastern Switzerland, Jon.
Hello Sven, Lio and I arrived home safely and would like to thank you for two wonderful weeks on Corsica. It was superbly organised down to the last detail and yet always relaxed. The tours were perfectly matched to the group and truly spectacular. It does not get any better!
Sport Meisel in pictures
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