You will visit Corte, perched on a rocky crag in the middle of a mountain cirque in the geographical heart of Corsica. The old town, with its steep alleyways, is overlooked by the citadel. You will then head for the valley of La Restonica and its many natural pools...

Depart Calvi at 8.45 – Algajola 9.00 – Ile-Rousse 9.15
After Ile-Rousse, you will follow the coast and La Balanina to arrive in Corte, Pascal Paoli’s Corsican capital from 1755 to 1769, a town perched on a rocky crag in the middle of a mountain cirque in the geographical heart of Corsica. Visit the old town and its steep alleyways, overlooked by its citadel, which can be reached by 166 steps in the green marble of La Restonica. The town is important both historically and as a renowned university town (the university was founded by Pascal Paoli in 1765, and closed from 1769 to 1981).
After lunch we take the D623 to explore the Gorges of La Restonica. The river is surrounded by deep gorges that line the 15km road, and form a number of natural pools with translucent water, very inviting for a swim. The end of this road is a starting point for hiking paths. You can choose to take a dip or go for a walk. We return by the same road.

You will explore this mountainous region, covered in the chestnut trees which give it its name, dotted with hilltop hamlets with slate-roofed houses. You will visit the Orezza Spring en route, as well as some beautiful little villages...

Depart Calvi at 9.00 – Algajola 9.15 – Ile-Rousse 9.30
Set off for La Castagniccia, a mountainous region dotted with hilltop hamlets with slate-roofed houses. After Ponte Leccia, we take a winding little road surrounded by chestnut trees and herds of livestock, to reach Morosaglia, the birthplace of Pascal Paoli. Here you can visit the Museum of Pascal Paoli, the “Father of the Corsican Nation”. We then head for La Porta, in the heart of La Castagniccia, where you can visit the most famous Baroque church in Corsica, the church of St John the Baptist.
After lunch, we take the road for Piedicroce and Orezza, for a guided tour of the sparkling water Spring. We then head for the Eastern coast, to taste some local produce (cold meats, cheese etc.). After Cazamozza, we head for Ponte Nuovo, made famous by the battle in which Pascal Paoli fought the French in May 1769, ending the independence of the island (from June onwards, you can visit a place devoted to the history of this battle). End of the tour, returning via Ponte-Leccia and La Balanina.

After driving along a little mountain road, we offer an activity day in the magnificent setting of the Asco Gorges, where you can choose from canyoning, tyrotrekking or via ferrata

Depart Calvi at 9.15 – Algajola 9.30 – Ile-Rousse 9.45
After Ile-Rousse, we head for the Asco Gorges via the old road that connected Ile Rousse to Ponte Leccia before La Balanina was built. Via a little winding road, we reach the starting point for the adventure and leisure activities. A traditional “shepherd’s picnic” will be offered at the site.
Then, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Corsican mountains and the clear waters of the torrents, several activities will be on offer: canyoning with abseiling down waterfalls and jumping into the pools, tyrotrekking above the Corsican scrub and finally via ferrata, a fabulous journey between the rock and the void... It's your choice!
Return to Calvi at the end of the afternoon.

After crossing the Agriates Desert, you will reach the magnificent gulf of Saint Florent, before continuing to Murat and the Nebbio hills

Depart Calvi at 13.15 – Algajola 13.30 – Ile-Rousse 13.45
After Ile-Rousse, following the coast, we take La Balanina to the turnoff that takes you via a pretty winding road (the road to St Florent) across the mountains to the heart of the Agriates Desert, the old Genoa grain-store, a place of dual migration for the farmers of Cape Corsica and the Nebbiu shepherds, who lived by bartering. After a few kilometres during which you cross wonderful landscapes (rocks, scrubland, views over Cape Corsica etc.), you will reach the Gulf of Saint-Florent. Before entering St-Florent, we take the road for Oletta. 2.5km before Oletta, we take a small rocky path to arrive at the half-ruined Saint-François Convent. Then we continue to Murato to visit the town centre, via the Col de San Stefano, from where you can admire the Nebbiu hills (a region of vineyards, olive groves and pastureland, dotted by sheepfolds). As we leave the village, you can visit the Church of San Michele, isolated on a little plateau overlooking the Bevinco basin, with superb views over St Florent and the Agriates Desert. Built in 1280, it is known for its multi-coloured stone (white limestone and dark green valley rock) and roughly hewn sculptures of people and animals.
We return by the same route to stop at Oletta, a little village with white, ochre and pink houses nestling on the hillside. Opposite is the Mausoleum of Count Rivarola, the governor of Malta. The ewe’s milk cheese in the region is well-known, and some of the dairy produce from here is used in Roquefort. After Oletta, we continue descending to reach the Col de Teghime at 536 metres altitude, for panoramic views over St Florent, Nebbiu, Bastia and the eastern plain. A short stopover is made at Patrimonio to taste one of the best Corsican wines, before continuing towards Saint-Florent to visit the town. In the hollow of a magnificent gulf, the business capital of Nebbiu is primarily a seaside resort known for its watersports. Return via the Agriates Desert to end the tour.

We cross the Agriates Desert before following a 12km route that takes us to the famous beach of Saleccia, an immense expanse of white sand, where we stop for a swim

Depart Calvi at 13.15 – Algajola 13.30 – Ile-Rousse 13.45
After Ile-Rousse, following the coast, we take La Balanina to the turnoff that takes you via a pretty winding road (the road to St Florent) across the mountains to the heart of the Agriates Desert, the old Genoa grain-store, a place of dual migration for the farmers of Cape Corsica and the Nebbiu shepherds, who lived by bartering.
After a few kilometres during which you cross some magnificent landscapes (rocks, scrubland, views over Cape Corsica etc.), at the entrance to the village of Casta we follow the bumpy track which takes us 12km to the famous beach of Saleccia, a large white sand beach, one of the most beautiful in Corsica, frequently occupied by herds of cows. After a swim or a walk in the scrubland, we will return by the same track!

You will descend the length of the coast via Notre Dame de la Serra, L'Argentella and the castle of Prince Pierre, before reaching the Fango river where you can take a walk or a refreshing dip in the water...

Depart Ile-Rousse at 8.45 – Algajola 9.00 – Calvi 9.15.
After Calvi, we ascend to Notre-Dame de la Serra, which has superb views over the bay and the citadel below, then we take a small track to reach La Punta Revellata, with the wind turbines of Calvi opposite. Return via the coastal road to descend to the castle of Prince Pierre, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, nicknamed the Prince Noir (Black Prince) after the duel that cost the life of Victor Noir.
We continue via the old silver, copper and lead mine « L'Argentella », built in 1868 and given to the English, then abandoned as it was not profitable. Its ruins now lie imposingly amidst natural surroundings that have reclaimed their rights (eucalyptus forest, carob trees etc.) We then cross the Fangu delta and take a dip in its waters. The tour ends with a crossing of the Marsulinu, the shepherds' region.

For booking, availability and information contact our partner
Corse Voyages by telephone on +33 (0)4 95 65 00 47 or by e-mail!
www.corsevoyages.com/

Corse Voyages - Agence de Calvi
Immeuble les Remparts , Boulevard Wilson - 20260 Calvi