​​​ Lost Paradises Travels - Europe  

​FRANCE - Corsica

The island’s appeal lies in its superb natural landscapes. With its magnificent mountain scenery and delightful seascapes, Corsica is full of surprises. Shaped and hollowed by erosion, the striking red granite cliffs known as the Calanche de Piana plunge steeply into the sea. Also remarkable is the hamlet of Girolata, overlooked by a Genoese fort and only accessible by boat. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Gulf of Porto is a breathtaking sight, with its granite cliffs soaked by the sun and its multi-coloured pebble beaches. Although very different in character, the Straits of Bonifacio, which separate Corsica from Sardinia, are equally stunning. The GR20 is notoriously challenging. The 180-kilometer-long (112 miles) trail connects the villages of Calenzana and Calvi, thus stretching from the northwestern to the southeastern part of the island of Corsica. The GR20 is easily Europe’s toughest hiking trail, winding hikers through iconic pine forests, high into the jagged mountains, and over superb rocky routes over the course of two weeks.