10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Corsica

Coscione Plateau is an elevated piece of land where you'll find incredible flora and fauna, including vibrant green spaces with spongy lawns and horses. Horses, pigs and cows dot the landscape here, and you can see them all during your visit.

Much of the region is the result of a former glacial melted lake, with green areas that developed from the moisture and small pools called pozzines prevalent throughout the plateau. Several trails make it easy to traverse on foot or with a bike. You'll find it all in the southern part of the island north of Zonza.

Cuttoli-Corticchiato heritage trail is an easy hike that will take you past several iconic landmarks and vibrant nature in a convenient loop. It was originally a mule track, but it has since developed into a stunning trail the whole family can enjoy. Its difficulty has been rated as very easy.

When you embark on this trail, you'll find yourself travelling through the Chemin des moulins, or the path of the mills, letting you feel as if you've stepped back into the 19th century. You can see it all for yourself near the western coast of the island by Punta San Petru.

Serra-di-Ferro village is a historic and quaint community where you'll find verdant greens, a relaxing beach and historic buildings to explore that are often unseen by travellers. The marina by the coast is especially popular with those who are looking for some fun by the water whether it's sunning on the beach or going boating.

Farther inland, you'll find green fields and forests with cows and horses around. This is also where you'll find Basi and Filitosa, with the former being a notable site for neolithic relics. It's all located on the southwestern coast south of Ajaccio.

Castagniccia is a region that has been largely unchanged by the passage of time, contributing to the unique environment that's home to the world's largest chestnut forest. The region is named after its chestnut trees that were planted in the Middle Ages to make the region self-sufficient.

When you visit, you'll find a unique landscape of steep hillsides, dense forests and quaint little villages. It's relatively slow here, with everything seeming to go at a relaxing place, so it's a top destination for travellers looking to escape the city. You'll find it in the northeastern part of the island northwest of Aleria.

The Lavezzi Archipelago is a set of 8 islands offering wonders for travellers interested in impressive natural features surrounded by turquoise waters. The most notable geological traits of these islands are their granite boulders with their massive size and impressive composition.

The beachfront offers a relaxing escape from busier beaches around the mainland, though the quaint creeks can be worth a visit as well if you're looking for some tranquillity. You can even find a lighthouse and ruins of centuries-old chapels around the islands. It's all located off the southeastern coast of Bonifacio.

The path to the Altare is a picturesque hike that takes you through some of the most stunning areas of the island on a well-traced trail. When you walk along this path, you'll find yourself passing old fields and pastures, with some featuring traditional clay-roof sheepfolds.

When you embark on this path, it's important to recognise that it's considered to be moderately difficult. Plus, the total hike is a point-to-point route that takes about 5 hours to complete. You can try it for yourself starting in Asco on the north side of the island.

The Forest of Libio is a thriving green space with towering trees and an atmosphere of tranquillity that travellers can enjoy away from the city's hustle and bustle. One of the more unique aspects of this forest is that it's located at a high elevation, specifically around 1,128 metres above sea level.

When you visit this forest, you'll find yourself near the foot of Mont Cervello, which is located to the south, offering picturesque views of its peak. You can explore all of it for yourself on the east side of the island about halfway between Poggiolo and Rosazia.

The menhirs of the Pinzu pass are stone columns that were set up by people who lived on Corsica thousands of years ago, and there are convenient hiking trails nearby. Although there were originally several standing stones, only 1 is still situated upright, as the rest have fallen over the ages.

When you visit, you'll have to trek a hiking path that extends for a bit over a mile from the old village of Petricaggio. You can see it all for yourself on the west side of the island's northern peninsula.

The Bruzzi trail is a thrilling trail that not only showcases impressive flora but features stunning views of Mont Sainte-Victoire as well. In fact, the view of Mont Sainte-Victoire is one of the first major spots along the trail, but it's only the beginning.

As you continue along the trail, you'll come across Arbitru Bay as the trail branches off towards the sea along a stone wall. The trail is rated as easy, and it only takes about 2 hours or so to complete. You'll find it all around Viagenti near the island's southern shore.

Cardo's coolers is a historic site where people centuries ago would make ice, and you can see it for yourself after a picturesque hike from the village. The structures were used for turning snow into ice for the village and Bastia, and they date back to between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Getting to the coolers requires just a short hike from Cardo that lets you take in the vibrant greenery of the surrounding area at your own pace. You'll find it all for yourself just outside of Cardo, which, in turn, is just outside of Bastia on the eastern coast of the northernmost peninsula of the island.