Selvaggio Blu

Saturday 29thst April  to Saturday 6th May 2023

This is a big one, the ‘Wild Blue’, a 4 to 5 day trek through one of the last pieces of wilderness on the Mediterranean coast and considered one of the best (and hardest) walks in Europe. Along the way there will be beautiful beaches, scrambling up to grade IV, several abseils, jaw-dropping views, and wild camping every night. Pop it into a Google image search and then get in touch! 😊 

We have these dates pencilled in the park authority’s diary, so they are unlikely to change (again). Permit numbers per day for this walk are restricted and although there is currently good availability this may change. I’m also keen to get organised reasonably early so that we can get decent deals on flights, accommodation, etc., so please get in touch soon if you want to share these costs! 

To limit what we must carry and due to the lack of natural water sources we will be hiring a company to provide food and water drops to us, at the end of each day. However, walking will be over rough ground, with plenty of assent and decent, whist carrying your bivouac and abseil equipment, along with food and water for the day, so a good level of fitness will be required.  

There are also lots of other walking and climbing options around Santa Maria Navarresse. So, this would also be a good opportunity for anyone who would like to visit the surrounding area to either, stay on after the walk or to do your own thing whilst we are walking and join up with those doing the walk afterwards. 

If you would like to join this trip contact me and I will send you a more detailed information pack. Due to the logistics and permit restrictions the number of places in the group is limited, so if you are keen to join contact me early. That said, if the trip proves popular, I would be happy to help someone else organise a second group. 

The Plan 

Several of us will be flying out on Friday the 28th April, to get a head start on arranging supplies and permits. You’re welcome to join us if you want to split the cost of car hire or feel free to fly out on the Saturday if you want to save a day’s annual leave.  

Friday the 28th April 

Fly out, pick up the hire car(s), drive to Santa Maria Navarresse. 

Saturday the 29th April 

Pick up our permits, buy supplies and drop them off with the logistics company. Anybody not flying out on Friday will have to join the group at some point today. 

Sunday the 30th April – Thursday the 4th May, walk the Selvaggio Blu!  

We are aiming to do the medium length variation of the walk (Santa Maria Navarresse to Cala Sisine) over 5 days, the daily times, and distances vairy from 3.5 to 10.5 hours, and 2 to 19 km. I have made a detailed itinerary of route options, with daily distances and grade breakdowns and will send it out as part of the information pack, just get in touch. We will discuss as a group which option, we would like to take, once I know who is interested. 

Friday the 5th onwards 

You can then either head straight home on the 5th or decide head back with me on the 6th. Alternatively there are there are lots of other walking and climbing options in the area, if you want to stay longer. 

What to bring 

A detailed recommended kit list is in the information pack, just get in touch. The walk is usually tackled in a ‘fast and light’ style, so a bivvy instead of a tent is recommended and minimal gear for wild walking, scrambling, and abseiling will be shared amongst the group. 

Services 

There is and outdoor shop, as well as food shops and restaurants in Santa Maria Navarresse.  

Accommodation 

There are lots of Airbnb options in Santa Maria Navarresse for before and after the walk, which one we go for will depend on the group size. Bivouacs are the recommended option whilst walking but a light tent is also possible, if you are willing to carry it.  

Food 

It is not realistic to carry all the food and water required to complete this trek independently, as such several outdoor companies in the area offer logistical services. They will drop off food and water for us at our designated camping spot at the end of each day, either by boat or 4×4. As a group we will need to provide our own food and water packaged and labelled for each day and drop this off with them before we set out. 

Transport 

A hire car is the best way to get to Santa Maria Navarresse, as well as get around the island after the trek. The logistics company will take us from the end of the trek back to Santa Maria Navarresse. 

Details

Start: 28 or 29/04/2023 

End: 05 or 06/04/2023 

Organisers: Will Beaumont 

Venue: Santa Maria Navarresse