Seasonal migration of livestock to summer pastures
This hike will allow you to discover a little-known aspect of the island: it will take you from the highest mountains in central Corsica to the chestnut capital, Evisa.
The trails you will follow are all ancient paths used for transhumance (Seasonal migration of livestock to summer pastures) and trade between the mountains and the coast since the 14th century. Chestnuts, cheese, lemons and olives were transported by mule. Larch, used in construction and for ship masts, was also transported by cart.
On the “Sentiers de Transhumance” (Transhumance Trails), you will follow in the footsteps of the shepherds who moved their flocks between the highlands of central Corsica and the sea, following the rhythm of the seasons.
The hike starts in Corte, the historic heart of Corsica, and continues to Evisa. On your way, you will pass through a variety of landscapes and exceptional natural sites: high altitude lakes overlooked by the highest peaks in Corsica. On the descent, the forest paths cross rivers and streams that hide numerous natural pools.
A natural environment where you can relax, bathe and dream.
Quality accommodation where available.
Dates
From 15 May to 14 July 2025
From 15 July to 15 September 2025
*Price per person based on 2 people
Prices*
1 090 €
1 240 €
From 4 persons
1 040 €
1 190 €
Day 1 Visit to Corte
Welcome to Corte in the late afternoon.
We will greet you on arrival and take you to your guest room, a large and charming residence. It is a country inn at the entrance to Corte, ideal for visiting the citadel and the old town.
Dinner in a restaurant with a family atmosphere.
Day 2: Restonica Valley & Alzu Plateau (1,650 m)
Start the day with an exceptional breakfast, carefully prepared by your hosts. Then a short 15 minute drive to the starting point of the hike in the Restonica Valley. You will follow an old path that climbs steadily and offers magnificent views of the famous Restonica Valley. Eventually you reach the ridge and discover the Alzu plateau. A summer pasture still used by shepherds who bring their sheep up here, the Alzu plateau is dotted with sheepfolds.
At the beginning of July you can even see how Brocciu cheese (a type of ricotta) is made!
As a bonus, there is a magnificent view of Corsica’s two highest massifs, the Cintu and the Ritondu.
Dinner in a restaurant that combines traditional dishes with flavours from other parts of the world.
Height difference: +/- 660 m
Duration: 5.30 hours
Day 3: Tavignano Valley
We follow the Tavignanu Valley along an old mule track. This path is now used by the Mare a Mare Nord.
In places it has preserved some beautiful cobbled sections. As you progress, the gorges narrow and the path crosses the torrent via the Russulinu suspension bridge. On the way back, it is possible to make a loop to follow the river and swim in the large pools of Tavignano.
Dinner at the agriturismo for a meal prepared with farm products.
Normal walk: Height difference: +/- 520 m
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Longer walk: Height difference: +/- 610 m
Duration: 5.30 hours
Day 4: La Scala di Santa Regina
Transfer to the micro-region of Niolu, which used to have the largest community of shepherds in Corsica. You will walk along an ancient path that still has some beautiful cobbled sections. You will cross the Scala di Santa Regina.
This path winds through the heart of a steep rocky massif. It passes a large waterfall and continues to a viewpoint. It then joins the Ruda river, which it crosses over an old Genoese bridge with beautiful pools for swimming. It then climbs to join the Niolu, where you will spend the evening in Calacuccia, the largest village in the area.
Height difference: +850 and -550m
Duration: 5.30 hours
Day 5: Lake Nino
The hike starts in the Valdu-Niellu forest. The path begins in a splendid Laricio pine forest and then becomes more mountainous.
The path becomes steeper when it reaches the Col de Stazzone. The view is magnificent: the Cinto massif on one side and Lake Nino on the other, with its green, flat meadows dotted with pools of water, known in Corsican as “pozzines”.
After your picnic at Lake Nino, the walk continues along the famous GR20. This ridge-top path offers magnificent views of the gulfs of Porto and Cargese. Following the GR20 you will reach the Vergio Pass.
Overnight on the Vergio Pass in a very GR20 atmosphere.
Height difference: + 880 m and – 630 m
Duration: 5-6 hours
Day 6 Radule Waterfall and Ciotulu di I Mori Refuge
Circular walk around the shepherds’ huts and the Radule waterfalls. On the way: shepherd’s huts, forests and swimming in crystal clear mountain streams. The more challenging walk takes you to the Ciotulu di I Mori refuge, the highest refuge on the GR20. The ridge path offers wonderful views over the Gulf of Porto and the entire Niolo area.
Extra night in Vergio with the GR20 walkers.
Normal walk: +/- 250
Duration: 4 hours
Sporty route: Height difference: +/- 700 m
Duration: 6 hours
Day 7: Mare e Monti – Chestnut walk
From Vergio to the village of Evisa (850m), following the Mare e Monti Nord trail, the path descends through the splendid Aïtone forest.
A short detour leads to the Saltu Pass.
The path crosses the Aïtone river on a long footbridge, where there is a series of beautiful natural pools with waterfalls. The walk continues along a signposted path, an educational trail about chestnut groves and the chestnut tree, the breadfruit of Corsica.
Overnight in a hotel in the small typical Corsican village of Evisa.
This is an opportunity to take home some Corsican products such as honey, candied chestnuts, charcuterie and Corsican cheeses.
Normal walk: Height difference: + 220m and – 800m
Duration: 4.30 hours
Longer walk: Height difference: + 350m and – 930m
Duration: 6 hours
Day 7: Ajaccio end of tour
Bus transfer to Ajaccio (arrival at 10.15am).
You can visit Ajaccio by following a route through the pedestrian streets, the religious buildings and the citadel, which will allow you to
Important information about departure dates:
From 24 June to 25 August: daily departures.
Other dates: Departure every day except Sundays and 1 and 22 May.
Arrival and departure
Day 1: Arrival in Corte at a time that suits you.
Day 8: End of trip in Evisa. Bus transfer to Ajaccio (arrival around 10.15am).
In April and May, we recommend our “West Coast” and “Mare e monti sud” tours, where the temperature is ideal.
To get to Corsica, you can take advantage of Sailcoop sailing boats.
If you choose this low-carbon mode of transport, Altipiani will give you a 5% discount on your stay. Sailcoop will also give you a 5% discount on a one-way trip and 8% on a return trip.
To get to Corte, take the train from the main Corsican cities: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and L’Île-Rousse.
Train timetables
If you are coming by plane, be aware that connections with Figari airport are complicated.
Day 1 Visit to Corte
Welcome to Corte in the late afternoon.
We will greet you on arrival and take you to your guest room, a large and charming residence. It is a country inn at the entrance to Corte, ideal for visiting the citadel and the old town.
Dinner in a restaurant with a family atmosphere.
Day 2: Restonica Valley & Alzu Plateau (1,650 m)
Start the day with an exceptional breakfast, carefully prepared by your hosts. Then a short 15 minute drive to the starting point of the hike in the Restonica Valley. You will follow an old path that climbs steadily and offers magnificent views of the famous Restonica Valley. Eventually you reach the ridge and discover the Alzu plateau. A summer pasture still used by shepherds who bring their sheep up here, the Alzu plateau is dotted with sheepfolds.
At the beginning of July you can even see how Brocciu cheese (a type of ricotta) is made!
As a bonus, there is a magnificent view of Corsica’s two highest massifs, the Cintu and the Ritondu.
Dinner in a restaurant that combines traditional dishes with flavours from other parts of the world.
Height difference: +/- 660 m
Duration: 5.30 hours
Day 3: Tavignano Valley
We follow the Tavignanu Valley along an old mule track. This path is now used by the Mare a Mare Nord.
In places it has preserved some beautiful cobbled sections. As you progress, the gorges narrow and the path crosses the torrent via the Russulinu suspension bridge. On the way back, it is possible to make a loop to follow the river and swim in the large pools of Tavignano.
Dinner at the agriturismo for a meal prepared with farm products.
Normal walk: Height difference: +/- 520 m
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Longer walk: Height difference: +/- 610 m
Duration: 5.30 hours
Day 4: La Scala di Santa Regina
Transfer to the micro-region of Niolu, which used to have the largest community of shepherds in Corsica. You will walk along an ancient path that still has some beautiful cobbled sections. You will cross the Scala di Santa Regina.
This path winds through the heart of a steep rocky massif. It passes a large waterfall and continues to a viewpoint. It then joins the Ruda river, which it crosses over an old Genoese bridge with beautiful pools for swimming. It then climbs to join the Niolu, where you will spend the evening in Calacuccia, the largest village in the area.
Height difference: +850 and -550m
Duration: 5.30 hours
Day 5: Lake Nino
The hike starts in the Valdu-Niellu forest. The path begins in a splendid Laricio pine forest and then becomes more mountainous.
The path becomes steeper when it reaches the Col de Stazzone. The view is magnificent: the Cinto massif on one side and Lake Nino on the other, with its green, flat meadows dotted with pools of water, known in Corsican as “pozzines”.
After your picnic at Lake Nino, the walk continues along the famous GR20. This ridge-top path offers magnificent views of the gulfs of Porto and Cargese. Following the GR20 you will reach the Vergio Pass.
Overnight on the Vergio Pass in a very GR20 atmosphere.
Height difference: + 880 m and – 630 m
Duration: 5-6 hours
Day 6 Radule Waterfall and Ciotulu di I Mori Refuge
Circular walk around the shepherds’ huts and the Radule waterfalls. On the way: shepherd’s huts, forests and swimming in crystal clear mountain streams. The more challenging walk takes you to the Ciotulu di I Mori refuge, the highest refuge on the GR20. The ridge path offers wonderful views over the Gulf of Porto and the entire Niolo area.
Extra night in Vergio with the GR20 walkers.
Normal walk: +/- 250
Duration: 4 hours
Sporty route: Height difference: +/- 700 m
Duration: 6 hours
Day 7: Mare e Monti – Chestnut walk
From Vergio to the village of Evisa (850m), following the Mare e Monti Nord trail, the path descends through the splendid Aïtone forest.
A short detour leads to the Saltu Pass.
The path crosses the Aïtone river on a long footbridge, where there is a series of beautiful natural pools with waterfalls. The walk continues along a signposted path, an educational trail about chestnut groves and the chestnut tree, the breadfruit of Corsica.
Overnight in a hotel in the small typical Corsican village of Evisa.
This is an opportunity to take home some Corsican products such as honey, candied chestnuts, charcuterie and Corsican cheeses.
Normal walk: Height difference: + 220m and – 800m
Duration: 4.30 hours
Longer walk: Height difference: + 350m and – 930m
Duration: 6 hours
Day 7: Ajaccio end of tour
Bus transfer to Ajaccio (arrival at 10.15am).
You can visit Ajaccio by following a route through the pedestrian streets, the religious buildings and the citadel, which will allow you to
Dates & Prices
Prix jusqu’à 3 personnes
Prix à partir de 4 personnes ou plus
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Agnès