Mare a Mare North: Crossing Corsica

Five days crossing Corsica from east to west on the Mare a Mare Nord, an alternative to the GR20 that favours villages over ridges. The route starts at Moriani-Plage on the east coast, reaches Sermano and its chestnut groves where polyphonic singing survives, then Corte, the island's historic capital with its citadel and the Restonica gorges, Albertacce in the upper Niolo valley, Evisa at the gateway to the Spelunca gorges, and finally Cargese with its Greek and Latin churches facing each other. Elevation gain stays moderate and nights are spent in village lodges, which makes the route feasible without camping gear. April to June and September are the best windows, as summer is punishing at low altitude.