Close your right fist, with your thumb over your fingers. Now point your index finger and you have an almost perfect representation of the island of Corsica β essentially a mountain range jutting out of the Mediterranean, whose highest peaks remain snowcapped well into the spring. Now close your eyes and picture a stone chapel perched atop a small hill, with sheep-studded fields at its feet and jagged mountains behind, or a fast-running river cutting through a steep ravine of pink granite β essentially any jaw-dropping landscape you can conjure β and you have an almost perfect understanding of why Corsica is a destination for those who love the outdoors.
With few museums, art galleries, cinemas or theaters to frequent, visitors pack itineraries with hiking, swimming, sailing, kayaking, diving and great food that's more mountain than maritime.
Graffiti β usually in Corsican, which is closer to Italian than French β calling for independence crops up in unexpected places, and the Corsican flag a black profile facing left with a white bandana knotted at the back is displayed everywhere. If you want to dive deep into the wonders of Corsica, here are the top things to do on this stunning island. This mythical km mile hiking route, primarily along mountain ridges, from Calenzana in the north to Conca in the south, is what most people in France associate with Corsica along with the beaches , naturally.
One of the top hikes in the world , and reputed to be one of Europe's toughest, the GR20 will take an experienced hiker 16 days to complete, with every night spent in a refuge.
You can do a small segment in a day and get a taxi to pick you up, or end or start your hike at Vizzavona, where you can get a train.
