From Gravona and Pruneli's valleys to the land of the lords : the Corsican High Rock : Alta Rocca and his high plateau : Cuscionu
A 7-day tour to discover to enjoy snowshoes with sights to sea and panoramic views on highest summits of Corsica, you will be initiated to different techniques in snowhoesing and bombomsledging, in searching in case of avalanche or snowslide, in building iglous...your guide will tell you stories and fairy tales about winter, snow and this area.
We will hike around Vizzavona's pass and some parts of the Gr20, Val d'Ese's skking resort, shepherds huts and summits of Cuscionus plateau ….and if there are good conditions : 1 or 2 big ascents to summits above 2000m of high level (Rinosu at 2354m and Alcudina at 2134m)
Physical condition : we will adapt the days to each participant
Level :easy to mid / 4 to 6 hours per day
Activity : hiking, snowshoeing, skiing
Everything about the activities
Places : Vizzavona, Alta Rocca, Val d'ESE skiing « resort »
Meeting point : Ajaccio's airport or harbour
Availabilities : next departure : from the 17th to 23th of february 2019, from the 24th of february to 2nd of march 2019, from the 3rd to the 9th of march 2019 or any dates between 5th of january til 10th of April for an exclusive group
Prices for a 7 day tour :from 880 € per person (group of 8 to 14 persons) (4 nights in a dormitory in a « gîte d'étape «, 1 night in hôtel, 1 night in a hut :+25€ if you would rather stay at the gîte )/ 965 euros with 4 nights in a B&B « chambres d'hôtes » instead of the dorm (extra charge for double, twin, single room)
group of 7 persons in a dorm: 950 euros per person, 6 persons : 1060 euros each , 5 persons : 1186 euros each , 4 persons : 1402 euros each, , 3 personnes : 1750 euros, 2 personnes : 2465 euros, 1 personne en exclusif : 3715 euros.
Discount for 12-17 year old teenagers : -70 euros & for under 12 year old children : -105 euros
To carry each day: daily backpack with pic nic, in option sleeping bag, oversleeping bag and matress and food for dinner and breakfast if we spend a night in a hut or iglou
Included :
Mountain leader
corsican picnics in the nature except D 7
accommodation in a dormitory or B& B + 1 night in a hut 1 night in a hotel including dinner (except last one in Ajaccio)and breakfast
mini bus transfers
snowshoes and avalanche's search equipment
Not included:
dinner D6 and lunch D7
Travel to Corsica
Transfers to meeting points
other drinks and personal belongings
winter hiking stuff (backpack, shoes)
travel insurance
Detailled programm : From Prunelli's and Gravona's valleys above Ajaccio to the land of the lords : the Corsican High Rock : Alta Rocca
D1 : we will welcome you at the airport and we will go to the small skiing resort of Val D'Ese (about 1 hour of transfer)
Val d'Ese is a a small family skiing resort with a nice view to Ajaccio's bay :you will get the equipment for snowshoeing( snowshoes, poles, avalanche search equipement : tag, shovel, probe that will be carried in your backpack every day ) and you will follow your guide on the crest above the resort and have pic nic close to a hunter's hut at Astru pass, we will come back through Scaldasole crest to get down to the skiing resort. +/- 500m / 4h . We will have a transfer to Vizzavona (1h30) : dinner and overnight
D2 : We will take the famous GR20 until Palmente Pass and we will climb up until a peak called Punta I Zorpi (good conditions required). We will get back through the « lost woman » trail until Vizzavona . +/- 700 à 1050m – 5 to 8hours. 2nd night at Vizzavona
D3 : shpeherds 'huts discovering and summit around the pass : Punta Corbajola, Punta di Ceppu, Punta di Grado or Scarpiccia regarding snow conditions belle descente face à la vallée et passage au pied du fortin. +/- 400 à 750m / 4 to 7h .
We can also think about getting to Capanelle skiing resort to ascent Rinosu summit (2354m) if we have good conditions. Transfer to Alta Rocca area « High rock » ( 2h30/ 2h45 ) Dinner and overnight at the gîte or B&B.
D4 : at the door of the Cuscionu's high plateau from the shepherd's hut of Biturgia or Funtana Bianca, we will hike through crests and valleys until a summit called « Punta di Funtana di Spartuta » with a great view on highest summits of Corsica, the sea and even Sardinia island. Overnight in a hut or iglou ( or in the dorm or B&B, please specify it when you get registered) : +/-400 à 700m / 4 à 6h
D5 : Ascent of Tuzzaredda, Ghjavinghjola or Alcudina' summits whether the required conditions are good, with great slope to get down in bombomsledge : we will also analyse snow to understand what are good conditions with snow and avalanche risk.
D6: Hiking at the feet of the corsican dolomites ; Bavella if snow conditions are good or transfer to the cow's pass in order to discover the northern part of the plateau with its wonderful beeches forest – we will go to hot spring waters at the end of the day : +/-500m – 5 à 6h – Transfer to Ajaccio and overnight in a hotel
D7 : regarding your flight departure, we will enjoy the market of Ajaccio ; everyone will be free to have lunch wherever one want and spend some time at the city whereas others can go with the guide to the bloodthirsty peninsula to hike around a genoesan tour and discover plants of the coast. Transfer to the airport at about 3,30pm to be there at 5 pm (flight at 6,30pm)