Sea kayaking in the calanques of the Island of Beauty

Discover the calanques of the Island of Beauty by sea kayaking in an itinerant 7-day trip!

Our stay around the calanques of Piana and the Scandola Reserve, both classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is certainly the wildest sea kayaking route! Its inaccessibility and the rugged coastline favor a discovery that is both surprising and magnificent. As you dive and camp on the beaches, you will discover a “wild” Corsica.

Unforgettable moments of relaxation and discovery, the sea and the coast are intimately linked to reveal a palette of colors of a rare intensity.

Program of the stay in the calanques of the island of beauty

Sunday: Ajaccio – Bussaghia

The meeting point is at Ajaccio Airport at 2:30 pm (or at our camp base located at Eccica-Suarella). Then, the guide will help you to prepare your kayaks, and give you a quick introduction to the trip. Once we are ready, we will drop you off at the Gulf of Porto. You will sail approximately 30 minutes to reach your first night beach to bivouac.
First night bivouacking on the beach.

Monday: Bussaghia – Girolata

Our sailing will allow us to discover the Northern part of the Gulf of Porto. We will sail around sea caves, discover an arch the sea has carved into the cliff, in order to reach Girolata. This village, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of a kind as it is only reachable from the sea.
Dinner and night bivouacking on the beach.

Tuesday: Scandola Nature Reserve

This will be undoubtedly the most significant stage of your trip. We will sail within the nature reserve of Scandola. This geological treasure is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was created about 300 million years ago thanks to many volcanic eruptions. 

Dinner and night bivouacking on the beach.

Wednesday: Girolata – Ficaghjola

This morning we will be heading South. The scarlet colour of the mountains there go well together with the turquoise blue sea and offer us a landscape with gorgeous colour contrasts. This day will allow us to cross the Gulf of Porto to reach the well-known cove of Ficajola hidden in the rocky inlets of Piana.

Dinner and night bivouacking on the beach.

Thursday: Ficaghjola – Arone

In order to reach the beach of Arone, we will sail the length of the rocky inlets of Piana and sail around Capo Rosso and his tower which overhangs the entire sea. You are not about to forget this amazing stage where there are hidden coves and scarlet granite cliffs.

Dinner and night bivouacking on the beach.

Friday: Arone – Stagnoli

This morning we will leave the beautiful beach of Arone in order to sail the length of the cliff that is majestically thrown into relief. We will finally reach Cargèse. This day will be devoted to the visit of this former Greek city, known for its Christian and Orthodox Catholic rites that learned to coexist.

Dinner and night bivouacking on the beach.

Saturday: Stagnoli – Sagone

This will finally be our last sail. We will reach the port of Sagone for a last lunch before dropping you off at our camp base where you started the trip. Tidying up of the gear and drop off at the airport of Ajaccio.

End of the trip.

We are currently working on the agenda of 2025 !

Included gear :

Required sea kayak, approved life jacket, skirt for the watertightness, paddle, hermetic plastic bags, portable stove, tarpaulin in case of rain.

We do use single seater and two seaters kayaks in which all the stuff will be loaded in order to sail completely independently.

We recommend bringing your own hermetic bags that will fit your stuff (electronic devices, clothes, bedding), such as hermetic plastic bags. Note that even though we do  provide hermetic bags, a tear might occur. Plastic bags will be used as an extra protection.

Even though the compartments are sizable, please take only the things strictly necessary. Sizeable stuff (such as clothes, sleeping bags and inflatable mattress) will be put at the extremities of the kayaks, when heavy stuff (such as jars and cans of water) will be put against the cockpit. 

Not included gear : 

For the sailing part : 

  • Anti-UV ray lycra (ideally long sleeve t shirts)
  • swimsuit and short in order to limit the friction
  • water shoes (or sports shoes)
  • windcheater, sun hat or cap, sunscreen, sunglasses ideally tied to a lace 
  • flask of 1L minimum

For the bivouac part :

  • sleeping bag 10°C modestly sized (if wanted you can add a bivvy bag for the humidity
  • self inflating mattress (please avoid the sizeable mattress such as exercise mat)
  • self inflating cushion
  • headlamp (or flashlight)
  • kitchen utensils set (hermetic box “Tupperware” of 0.6L, cutlery, tumbler)

Clothing :

  • fleece jacket or ultralight down jacket (for cool mornings and evenings)
  • one or two outfits (tshirt, short and underwear)
  • Jean or tracksuit

Hygiene : 

  • biodegradable soap, shampoo and toothpaste
  • microfiber towel
  • biodegradable toilet paper

Potentially : camera, diving mask, snorkel, deck of cards, cash for the beach restaurants.

First-aid kit : 

  • personal medicine if you are subject to specific disorders (allergies and so on)
  • necessities to avoid and treat blisters (dressings such as “Compeed”)
  • necessities to relieve ankle and knees problems (strips such as “Elasto”)
  • necessities to clean an insignificant wound (soaked compress)
  • Sunscreen for the skin and for the lips
  • Necessities to relieve intestinal discomforts due to a change in your diet (probiotics, Smecta, Imodium, Tiorfan)
  • Necessities to relieve headache and sore muscles (mineral salt or electrolytes for example)
  • Necessities to relieve the stings
  • Necessities to relieve the seasickness

Please seek advice from your doctor and from your pharmacist. Please note that you will have to carry your first-aid kit with you, in this way do only bring what is strictly necessary. Therefore, make sure you have an extra bag provided for this, on which will be written your name and the name of the stay you take part in.

Camping

Under the stars if the weather permits.
Attention: no showers or toilets on the route, so it is important to procure a foaming soap with sea water that you will find at a shipchandler.
Plan a sleeping bag (moderate volume), and a ground mat (ideally self-inflating).

Catering

Continental breakfasts, cold cooked lunches and hot meals for dinner. Each and every meal is prepared with the assistance of the entire group. Every meal is provided with fresh vegetables and local products. Varied menu all along the trip.

The sea

We will be located on the West Coast which is more exposed to gales. However there is mostly a calm sea during mornings. A breeze often appears at midday, meaning we will be sailing for the most part in the morning.

Please note that the weather forecast, as well as the shipping forecast, might oblige us to change our itinerary. The guide only can take any decision of this kind to ensure the safety of the group.

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