Cap Corse to the Castagniccia
8 days / 7 nights
Corsica - Leisure cycling - E-bike tours - Self-guided - E-bike
Without guide - Families - Mobile app
Last updated: 29/07/2024
On this cycle holiday you will discover the coast of Corsica as well as its interior. The kilometres follow one another but they are far from being the same; with different landscapes every day. You will meet proud island inhabitants who will want to share their enthusiasm with you for their local culture and gastronomy. This is a great trip that will leave you with fantastic memories of Corsica and will make you want to return for more!
You will be accommodated in carefully selected hotels, rooms in a guesthouse or inns according to the availability at the time of the reservation.
Trip available with our digital road-book.
Your day by day program
Your holiday starts in Bastia at your hotel in the afternoon. If you have time to discover the capital of "Haute Corse", it's worthwhile visiting the old port and the citadel. From the old city there are wonderful panoramic views over the sea and surroundings. For dinner, we advise you to go to the old port which has a very lively atmosphere in the summer.
Night in Bastia.
This morning you'll pedal along the east side of the Cape of Corsica, only a stone's throw from the sea. You'll then cross the island to join the west coast of the Cape with its dramatic cliffs. The route is strewn with Genoese and Paoline towers as well as old convents and mills. The landscape, including the small fishing ports is splendid.
Riding distances:
59km (D+ : 1071m ; D- : 1794m ; Min. : 1m ; Max. : 381m)
or 79km (D+ : 1357m ; D- : 1081m ; Min. : 1m ; Max. : 358m)
Night stay in a charming village.
Today you'll leave the Cape to pedal southward towards Saint-Florent. According to your chosen route, you will be able to discover the village of Patrimonio, famous in the whole of Corsica for its vineyards. Tastings are possible in the cellars of the village. In Saint-Florent, do not fail to visit the citadel and to stroll around the port and its small commercial streets.
Riding Distances:
31km (D+ : 401m ; D- : 699m ; Min. : 2m ; Max. : 306m)
or 48km (D+ : 911m ; D- : 1212m ; Min. : 5m ; Max. : 524m)
Night in Saint-Florent.
Today you are in the heart of the Desert des Agriates. From hamlet to hamlet, you cross this superb 'desert' covered in the local maquis scrub (which has a fantastic smell and is amazing in the spring when the maquis is in blossom). Returning to the coast, you will soon arrive at your accommodation, not far from Ile Rousse.
Riding Distances:
48km (D+ : 843m ; D- : 642m ; Min. : 1m ; Max. : 363m)
69km (D+ : 1296m ; D- : 1098m ; Min. : 1m ; Max. : 458m)
or 80km (D+ : 1531m ; D- : 1330m ; Min. : 1m ; Max. : 683m)
Night in a village near to Ile Rousse.
Today you'll get 2 options: resting and lazing around or exploring the pretty villages of the Balagne by bike. 2 loops for you today: a short one towards Codole lake or a longer one towards the bewitching stone villages perched in the middle of nowhere, with an astonishing beauty that hasn't changed with time.
Riding Distances:
approximately 30km (D+ : 489m ; D- : 492m ; Min. : 62m ; Max. : 374m)
or 76km (D+ : 1500m ; D- : 1500m ; Max. : 530m)
Night in the mountains, in a 3-star hotel
You will continue through the villages of Balagne, discovering superb testimonies of the past through ancient churches and convents. You will follow the border of the Natural Park of Corsica to the Golo valley, your stopover for the night. This day will be marked by the many animals you will meet in freedom: cows, pigs, goats...
Distance to cover :
51km (D+: 957m; D-: 1600m; Min: 129m; Max: 919m)
or 63km (D+ : 1143m ; D- : 1807m ; Min. : 97m ; Max. : 922m)
Transfer from Ponte Leccia to your hotel in Lucciana (about 45min).
Night in a 3* hotel.
This last day of cycling is not the least. It will take you to the villages of Castagniccia known for their chapels, the many natural springs and the ancestral culture of the chestnut. The Royal Milan, this impressive bird of prey, which is very common in the region, will certainly not fail to hover over your heads. You will cross many rivers and streams before coming into view of the coast.
Distance by bike :
Approximately 37 km (D+ 662m/D- 661m/Min. 13m/Max. altitude 629m)
53 km (D+ 1198m/D- 1332m/Min. 13m/Max. altitude 745m)
or 60 km (D+ 978m/D- 973m/Min. 13m/Max. altitude 732m)
Second night in your hotel in Lucciana.
After your breakfast, a transfer can be organized towards the airport or the ferry port. End of holiday.
Departure board
From April to the end of October.
Technical information
- Your hotel in Bastia on the afternoon on day 1.
- After breakfast on day 8 - near Bastia airport.
- 6 nights in 3* hotels, 1 night in local inn.
- Minimum of 2 persons
- This program offers you the choice of distance you wish to ride each day, however, please be aware that on all routes there are a lot of hills! You can adapt the stages to your ability. The distances vary from a minimum of 30km to a maximum of 80km. The longest minimum stage is 63km. The first stage is the longest, but also the easiest in terms of terrain.
- Your luggage is carried by vehicle if you choose this option.
- Single room : 350€
- June and September departures : 45€
- July and August departures : 130€
- Cost for luggage transfer (to be shared between the number of participants) : 940€
- Hybrid bike rental : 190€
- Electric bike rental : 250€
- Aluminium road bike rental : 275€
- Carbon road Bike rental : 345€
- Nights in hotels or guest houses, in double rooms
- Breakfasts
- Local telephone assistance
- Your personalized application with details of each stage (a smartphone is required).
- Luggage transfer
- Transfers not included in the programme
- The insurance
- Drinks, meals (except breakfasts)
- Bike rental
Map
Clients feedback
We are sadly done with our cycling trip in Corsica and actually on our way from Bastia to Marseille. We loved our trip I think I can say it exceeded our expectations in every way! Scenery was spectacular all of the hotels were very unique and made each place a different experience. The bikes were great and the e bike was the best I have had. We did all of the longest options and found them challenging but doable. It was great having all 3 options every day this is the first trip where we have been given this opportunity every day!
The only negative was the WiFi was non existent except for in Bastia. There was very limited at the 2nd to last night hotel (one on highway with pool). This probably should be noted somewhere in notes that is all I would say there.
Additionally we wanted to thank you so much for pulling such a great trip together with like 3 days notice it truly was incredible.
We hope to be back to Corsica and will definitely use you all again to help us with our plans whether it be Corsica or elsewhere.
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