Mountains & Villages of Corsica

Customer Reviews

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  Caroline Allen

  · July 18th, 2011
  A friendly small hotel in a pictureque village, laid back walking through unspoilt forests, wildflowers and clean air.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Swimming in pristine mountain pools. Sipping beers cooled in mountain streams.What did you think of your group leader?Rudy was very thoughtful and looked after all the guests very well. Walks were well planned to suit all guests and to see as much of the area as possible, An excellent leader.Is there anything else you would like to add?Trip notes accurate about the vegetarian food, may be a good idea to take some snacks.. Starters and desserts (and house wine) generally very good but mains could be a bit sparse.
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  Trip date: July 2011
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  Paul Mason

  · January 8th, 2011
  Corsoca is a beautiful island with superb scenery , well organised , well led holday , weather was very good. The group worked well , supportive of people of different speeds of walking , some fun characters & good stories.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Several times we walked from the woodland into high open areas with superb views. My wife & I and I are keen to do the GR20 at some stage.What did you think of your group leader?Very knowledgable of the routes - never any doubt. He led at an appropriate speed for all and knew about local history , flora & fauna. He was flexible e.g. the train service on Corsica is a variable feast & he was able to adapt to alternatives  when appropriate.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Corsica isn't high on awareness as a destination , but well worth a trip. Good beaches on the day off walking , but would bother with the bus tour of Ajaccio.
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  Trip date: January 2011
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  Ruth Billingham

  · October 9th, 2010
  I had heard that Corsica was a beautiful island and I wasn't disappointed. The scenery was amazing and the people friendly and welcoming.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?As a general walker I was unsure how I would cope with mountains, however, I need not have worried as although some walks were more strenuous than others, the pace overall was leisurely and the views were certainly worth some of the hard slogs! I was also lucky to be with a great group of people.What did you think of your group leader?Our group leader Chris was knowledgable, patient and generally laid back.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Corsica is beautiful and a great walking destination.  The hotel Beausejour met all our needs and the atmosphere was traditional with excellent food and wine!  I had not been on a group walking holiday before so had no real expectations.  What I would say is go and enjoy every minute of it - I had a great week.  The weather was good too!!
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  Trip date: October 2010
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  Martyn Yorke

  · October 3rd, 2009
  A great holiday, with good walking despite the rain . A basic hotel, although very clean. Breakfast and lunch were as expected very simple , but the dinners were excellent with wild boar, the highlight of the week. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The only real dry and sunny day , when because it was a rest day most of the group decided to go to Ajaccio,  just 4 of us took the train to Corte and walked the Tavignano Valley. A walk not to be missed !What did you think of your group leader?Katherine was excellent, very knowledgable of the area , explained everything in detail, was aware of all the groups capabilities and fun to be with. Certainly the best leader in my 12 trips with Exodus/ Explore etc. An abosulute credit to Exodus.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Yes take more Euoros than reccomended, Certainly if you like the Hotels red wine ! Oh, and take a waterproof, it does rain in Corsica !
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  Trip date: October 2009
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  Simon Wilkins

  · October 13th, 2008
  A beautiful and friendly location, easy going group and experienced leader made up for an unexpectedly cold and wet week. We enjoyed a week of varied and enjoyable walks around our base in Bocognano. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Walking along a path with an unfolding view of Corte on our last day with the smell of wild herbs and butterflies emerging from the undergrowth and finally feeling like we were in the mediterranean!What did you think of your group leader?Frank was a kind, friendly and experienced leader who did a very good job of leading a fairly large walking group of different abilities, especially as he had not led in Corsica before and had only had a few days to acquaint himself with the walks. Frank made sure that we had a good mix of walking and relaxation, making sure that we could stop for coffee or a beer and admire the view.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Wherever you go walking, take at least one, if not more sets of good waterproofs. Some people had only brought lightweight waterproofs expecting fine weather and got soaked.  Is there anything else you would like to add?Personally I would have liked more walks that involved a good climb to get above the treeline, although I appreciate that the holiday is marketed as Corsican Mounains and Villages, and I did enjoy the coffee stops. The group got on really well together and even on the free day got together to go to Ajaccio, swim in the sea and have lunch. The sea is beautful and warm - I would recommend a swim. The railway journeys were spectacular and fun. The hotel was friendly and clean.
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  Trip date: October 2008
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  Patricia Holder

  · July 11th, 2008
  This was a really marvellous trip; everybody I'd spoken to about Corsica said it was a beautiful place. I was a little concerned in case my expectaions were too high, but in fact they were exceeded.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The views of the mountains; walking through the forests and the maquis; swimming in the clear rivers at the base of waterfalls; the abundant and varied wildflowers, were all marvellous.At the end of a day's walk what could have been better than relaxing, in good company, with a glass,or two, of the local wine watching the sun on the mountains from the terrace of the ideally situated Hotel Beau Sejour?What did you think of your group leader?Karl Mather was an excellent leader; one of the best I've encountered. He was well informed and organised, but flexible and took everybody's abilities into consideration.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Book as soon as possible; Corsica is a wonderful place and Bocognano is still unspoilt.At the Hotel Beau Sejour the rooms are somewhat dated, and the bathrooms minute, but they are clean and comfortable; the food is plentiful and very good, and above all the "patron" and staff are friendly and helpful.We were told that Corsica was expensive, as with most places it depends were you are; the bars and cafes in the mountain villages are very reasonable, but drink in Ajaccio obviously costs much more.Is there anything else you would like to add?I've travelled quite widely with a number of different companies, but this was me first trip with Exodus, and I was favourably impressed. It was also good value.
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  Trip date: July 2008
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  Sarah Naish

  · July 10th, 2008
  Corsica was not my first choice of country to visit before this trip, but I will be back! The walks covered a number of different areas of the lower mountains and coast, and showed me what a wonderful traditional French island it is. The hotel had great views over the central mountains and the food was fantastic.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Almost every day had an opportunity to bathe in waterfall pools, woodland rivers or the sea.  The walk finishes were varied, always with the opportunity for a cold beer, and with the added surprises such as the bar in the tiny old town square in Corte where the bar still bears the bullet holes fired during the war.  Each walk covered a different type of habitat, with farmland, pine or beech forests.   The last day finished on the beach which was a great wind-down to the week, whilst the sea proved to be several degrees warmer than the freshwater pools used earlier in the week!The hotel offered very good food and far more than you could possibly eat, although we tried our best!The walking areas were reached by train which was a n experience in itself as it winds arund the mountains and through tunnels.What did you think of your group leader?Very good.  He showed that he loved the island and what it could offer walkers and visitors. Do you have any advice for potential travellers?The walks are technically easy, but the end of June is very hot (over 35 degrees) which can make it harder if you are not fit.  The beer is good, but expensive, and soft drinks are also expensive - around London prices, so take a bit more money than suggested in the trip notes.Is there anything else you would like to add?Visit Corsica!  Don't be put off by arranging the flights separately, the Easyjet suggestion in the trip notes worked very well.
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  Trip date: July 2008
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  Inge Muller

  · October 4th, 2013
  Fabulous scenery, great walks, beautiful scents of the maquis, excellent guide (Rudi) etc. etc. Everything I had hoped Corsica would be, and so much more. The trip has inspired me to dot THE big one next year, the GR20. Can't wait !!!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Standing on top of a mountain taking in the scents of the maquis; dipping my feet in mountainstreams; seeing the rare and indigenous Corsican tortoise; tasting ANYTHING with chestnuts that I came across; enjoying the many butterflies evrywhere; every day brought new delights.What did you think of your group leader?Rudi was extremely helpful and considerate - taking care of everybody, that is, looking after the slower members in the group whilst recognizing that others were quite capable to go at a faster pace at times, and always making very clear where along the route we'd all gather together again. He made sure everybody was happy to do their own thing on the free day, offering a number of suggestions. I chose the ridge walk just outside Ajaccio, which was safe to do by yourself - great suggestion ! That's where I spotted my tortoise, by the way. He inspired me to do the GR20, so here goes !Do you have any advice for potential travellers?GO !!!!You'll be amazed at the scenery and the unspoiled nature of Corsica. The people are lovely, and you won't be disappointed in this choice of Exodus trip.Is there anything else you would like to add?Could Exodus organize even more trips to Corsica, apart from the Mountains and Villages and the GR20 ? I'll be on them all !
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  Trip date: October 2013
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  Rosemary Anne Abrey

  · September 17th, 2013
  Overall a very good trip, dramatic mountain scenery with a good friendly guide called Suzie. Enjoyed using the local trains to get to starts of some of the walks, and particularly enjoyed the welcome breaks she gave us for bathing/paddling in the streams and pools as the weather was hot. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Enjoyed using parts of the GR20.What did you think of your group leader?Great! Very friendly and looked after us very well. She joined in with all our activities including having a meal out at local restaurant on our day off from the hotel.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?You definately need one or two sticks. Strong walking shoes are ok but boots are probably the best footwear.
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  Trip date: September 2013
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  Roger Rosewarne

  · July 31st, 2013
  A good week of walking in a mountain landscape using the scenic mountain railway to access most walks. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The view from my hotel window and from the train windows.Walking in the mountains and river gorges and cooling off at the end of the day with a local beer flavoured with chestnut flowers in the Bar des Amis .   What did you think of your group leader?Rudi was an excellent, considerate and thoughtful leader with an impish sense of humour. He allowed those of greater ability to walk on ahead  to a meeting point at their own pace  and most walks provided a shorter circuit for those who felt it necessary. We seemed to stumble across a bar most days and he even had the keys of an old shepherd's hut where we could brew up.  On one walk he had gone there earlier and hidden cans of drink for us in a cold mountain stream - - - a kind thought.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Bocognano was ideally situated and by-passed by the main road traffic. There were a couple of restaurants, a small shop, the Bar des Amis and a good artisan bakery. Guessing when the shops/restaurants would open was a skill that would take more than a week to acquire.  The station was only a short walk from the hotel.    The hotel was as implied in the Trip Notes - - - a bit old and quirky but with friendly and helpful staff and a laid back cat. Much more fun than an impersonal modern one. Rudi's advice that Corte would not provide enough interest for a full day's visit was well founded. We all went to Ajaccio on the rest day. Our thanks to John, an ex French teacher who got our tickets !   Is there anything else you would like to add?There were old shepherd's huts in the mountains and most had a clear spring of drinking water close by to save  us carrying  too much.I would have liked some harder/higher mountain walking on a couple of days but all such holidays are a compromise unless you want to go for the full GR20.
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  Trip date: July 2013