Horse riding in Corsica: from the Taravu ridges to the GR20

Final check of your belongings and bags, which will be transported by the aid station.

Departure at 10am for the adventure.

Crossing the Vachetigre domain to cross a hill which, apart from magnificent viewpoints, will plunge us into the heart of the Corsican maquis.

Crossing Cupabia beach. One of the most beautiful in Corsica!

We go back up through the Maquis towards Barbara and Albert's restaurant: a Tola di Mariola.

A refined farm-style restaurant in the heart of a magnificent estate overlooking the sea.

We have to leave again, and that's where 500m of elevation gain await us to climb to the heights of the village of Coti.

One last gallop on the tracks, and here we are arriving in this magnificent village, with a break in front of its very beautiful church.

Arrival at the Hotel Le Belvédère, dinner and overnight stay in this place run by a father and his daughters facing the sea and the Sanguinaires Islands.

After a delicious breakfast overlooking the sea, we set off through villages and forests towards the Gradeddu pass. Along the way, we discovered fabulous views of the Gulf of Ajaccio and the Taravu valley and its plain. A final glimpse of Porto Pollo and we arrived in La Baracca.

Lunch at the Baracca table, with a Neapolitan pizza chef at the stoves and very good Corsican dishes.

Back in the saddle, we progress through the dense maquis to Goia di a natura, a haven of peace built in the heart of lush nature for a snack break with crepes and refreshments.

In the afternoon, we continue to the village of Pietrosella. We proceed through a dense forest and along ancient mule tracks carved into the stone. We continue to Bisinao, passing between centuries-old trees, including a large oak tree that is at least 500 years old.

A few gallops in the morning of our journey.

Arrival in Bisinao. Overnight stay and dinner in a guesthouse.

Starting from Bisinao, we climb up to Pedilonga, an ancient route used for control and communication in the Middle Ages and up until the last century by shepherds moving their flocks to summer pastures. A rocky outcrop overlooks us, the site of an old castle belonging to Corsican lords.

Several beautiful trails allow you to gallop to reach the Saint Georges pass and its iconic inn, perched at 757 m. On the menu, the greatest classics of island cuisine prepared by the women of the Renucci family.

We leave the inn after this lovely gastronomic break.

We headed towards Campo and to do so, we took old agricultural paths and former wheat fields which have now become dense forests of oak and chestnut trees.

A pleasant progression through the woods with a clearing that offers a fabulous view of the Taravu mountain and the Alcudina perched at over 2000 meters altitude.

We continue our journey along very well-preserved mule tracks surrounded by granite walls erected by the ancients.

A peaceful walk leads us to our accommodation for the night in the village of Campo. A fabulous early 20th-century castle. A cozy little castle in the village of Campo, restored by a Belgian family 25 years ago. A warm welcome and impeccable comfort.

Departure from Châtelet to reach the village of Frasseto.

Crossing through centuries-old forests of chestnut and oak trees.

Progress through the forest to a picnic on a rocky outcrop which is an ancient medieval fortress "a punta di Bozzi".

And surely before that, a caste of prehistoric men.

We continued our afternoon journey through the forest to the village of Tasso, perched at an altitude of 900 meters. This village is where our family lived, and they used to welcome people from the plains during the summer season. Dinner was at our family home. Overnight stay in a guesthouse in the village.

Tasso left after retrieving the horses from the field.

Descent through chestnut groves bordered by magnificent stone walls.

Crossing through the villages of Giovicacce & Sampolo.

Crossing the “di u pinu” bridge

Arrival in Cozzano then a steep climb, partly on foot, of nearly 1000m

elevation gain with a lunch break in the ferns.

We then join the GR20 to travel in Crete to the Basseta sheepfold.

Walk on the Cuscione plateau

One. One of the jewels of Corsica, an immense summer pasture plateau where water runs through natural lawns.

Meal in the sheepfold

One last gallop on the tracks before loading the horses into the van for the return to the stable.