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Cycling Corsica Plus! Beaches and Bonifacio

Cycling Corsica, France
  • Length 11 days
  • From USD$6495
  • Style/Level Classic 4.0
  • Countries France
  • Begin/End Bastia/Bonifacio
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From the sea, Corsica appears as a large piece of Alpine Europe floating on a cobalt blue sea. Corsica is geologically more closely related to the Alps than it is to its larger neighbor to the south, the Italian island of Sardinia. But culturally and linguistically this birthplace of Napoleon is all Mediterranean. Palm-lined streets bustle with colorful marketplaces and the island’s official language, French, mingles with a variety of exotic dialects brought here from northern Africa, Italy, and the rest of the Mediterranean basin. An island of beauty, Corsica is also an island of delightful surprises for the touring cyclist.

If this sounds like a great ride but you’d prefer an 8-day tour check out Cycling Corsica

OR

Italy’s Sardinia island is a short ferry ride away so do both tours and save $400.

Highlights

  • Mountain scenery, Extraordinary coastal scenery, French and Mediterranean food, Picturesque villages, Beautiful Pisan and Genoese churches, Fabulous beaches, Impressive watchtowers along the coast, Wine Tasting.

Includes

Date Price Private room fee Note
May 7-17, 2025 USD$6495 USD$650 .
Book it
Sep 10-20, 2025 USD$6495 USD$650 .
Book it
DateMay 7-17, 2025
PriceUSD$6495
Private room feeUSD$650
Note.
Book it
DateSep 10-20, 2025
PriceUSD$6495
Private room feeUSD$650
Note.
Book it

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  • Total distance 436-524 km (269-323 miles)
  • Average daily distance 58 km (36 miles)
  • Tour style Classic
  • Tour level 4.0

Highlights: Historic capital of Corsica, sidewalk café, gourmet introductory dinner

Bright blue and white fishing boats and sidewalk cafés await you today as our tour begins near Bastia, Corsica’s historic capital and its most picturesque city. We recommend arriving a day early to soak in the charms of this centuries-old Mediterranean seaport. We’ll fit you with a bicycle this afternoon so you can ride to a viewpoint above the city, and then reconvene this evening for a traditional French gourmet dinner together.

Meals : Dinner
 Lodging : L’Alivi

Highlights: Scenic cycling in Corsica’s panhandle, Genoese history and settlements

After breakfast you’ll head north on an easy ride along the east side of Cap Corse, Corsica’s panhandle. You’ll want to stop for a snack or coffee in Erbalunga to see its Genoese coastal tower before cycling through the tiny port of Santa Severa. Stop for lunch and perhaps a swim in Macinaggio before heading inland to our hotel.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : U Sant’Agnellu

Highlights: Scenic cycling on Cap Corse, Mediterranean beaches

Today’s ride is one of the most spectacular bicycle rides in the Mediterranean basin. We suggest an early start as you’ll want to stop often for photographs. You can even take a swim during your lunch stop. Our route follows a chain of Genoese watchtowers, built along the coast in the late Medieval period to provide the local villagers early warning of impending attack by pirates. We’ll continue south along the west side of the Cap Corse to our hotel right on the water, located in the ancient Roman town of Saint-Florent.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel Dolce Notte

Highlights: 11th-century Pisan cathedrals, enchanting bay of Saint-Florent with nearby beaches

A stop to our first 11th-century Pisan cathedral begins our day. Pisa ruled Corsica unchallenged until 1133 A.D. when the pope divided the island between Pisa and rival Genoa. Our optional ride continues on to the most famous Pisan cathedral in Corsica as we wind our way through hilltop villages and river gorges.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Hotel Dolce Notte

Highlights: Beautiful coastal landscape with breathtaking vistas and Mediterranean beaches

You’ll head across the unique Désert des Agriates today. This stony landscape that was once rich with wheat fields is unlike any area on the island and offers some beautiful panoramas. After soaking up the views you’ll coast down to the beach for a refreshing swim if you wish. Our efforts today will be rewarded as we explore the coastal town of L’Ile Rousse with its charming center and beach. And if that’s not enough, we’ll watch the sunset into the sea.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel L’Escale ‘ Côté Sud

Highlights: Coastal to mountain scenery, spectacular wildflowers in season, Genoese history

You’ll head into Corsica’s interior today. This is the main “mountain day” on the tour, so take your time and enjoy the spectacular scenery. Climbing over the pass of Saint Colombano you’ll enjoy a wonderful cruise down the Navaccia river valley to Ponte Leccia, named for the 17th-century Genoese bridge still in use. You’ll then have a steady long climb to be rewarded with a beautiful descent through chestnut forests as we head into one of Corsica’s most interesting regions.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Le Refuge

Highlights: Ancient capital of Roman Corsica, luxurious beachfront hotel

The trend today is down though there are a few hills that will certainly get your attention before you reach the coast. Our destination, Aléria, was one of the principal Roman trading towns and capital of Roman Corsica by 170 B.C. From Aléria we’ll shuttle just under an hour to our luxurious beachfront hotel.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 Lodging : Le Pinarello Hotel

Highlights: Visit Pinarello’s charming little port, relax at the beach, or take a challenging ride into the hills

Our hotel is on the beach, and you may very well want to spend the day soaking in the sun there. Go for a swim in the clear blue waters of the bay, unwind by the hotel’s swimming pool, or sign up for some pampering at the hotel’s wellness center. Pinarello beach is one of the many beautiful beaches to the north of Porto-Vecchio. The sea is azure blue, and the 1.2 km long, narrow sweeping beach has soft white sand, is backed by dramatic mountains and overlooked by a Genoese watchtower. Pinarello has a pretty little port and plenty of opportunities for refreshments and water sports. For those of you who want more cycling, we’ll offer an incredible roller-coaster ride on the famous Route de Bavella.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Le Pinarello Hotel

Highlights: Visit Porto Vecchio and the Seaside fortress of Bonifacio

This morning we’ll ride through Porto Vecchio a well-known seaside resort, bounded on the west by the relief of Ospedale and to the east by the Tyrrhenian Sea. We will then continue onto Bonifacio at the southern tip of Corsica. This magnificent village perched on limestone cliffs was the prize possession of both the Pisans and Genoese who fought over it for over 150 years.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel du Roy d’Aragon

Highlights: Morning ride along the coast to the lighthouse, guided tour of Bonifacio

This morning we’ll have a leisurely ride out to a lighthouse and some beautiful alcoves. We’ll regroup in the afternoon with a local guide to reveal Bonifacio’s intriguing history. Tonight we’ll celebrate our final dinner together.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Hotel du Roy d’Aragon

Highlights: Bon Voyage!

Our tour ends this morning after breakfast. Sardinia is just a few miles across the Strait of Bonifacio, so maybe you plan to explore more of the Mediterranean. Whatever your plans, bon voyage!

Meals : Breakfast

Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.

Pre-trip planning checklist

France travel planning page

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  • Spectacular scenery, less “touristy” than most tours, very diverse accommodations, great food. It was a cyclist’s paradise!! Take advantage of the optional rides!

    Karen H., Redlands, CA – September 2023

  • The routes in the Corsica trip made for the best riding I’ve ever experienced; great surfaces, little traffic, and spectacular views every day

    Anne K., Portsmouth, RI – Sept 2019

  • We had a lovely, lovely experience. We loved the guides, the route and even the weather was great. We loved this tour!

    Kathy K., Seattle, WA – May 2018
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