Corsica: the best cycling holidays - Ajaccio to Calvi in 8 days

You leave Ajaccio by bike, following the coastline. Soon, you are confronted with the most difficult section of the entire western coast with gradients (though a short distance) of up to 12% on the inland D61 road. The commercial landscapes of Ajaccio quickly gives way to a "maquis" vegetation of aromatic herbs before reaching the bay of Sagone (lots of restaurants here). The final push to Cargèse is the most scenic, winding along the jagged coastline to one of Corsica’s prettiest villages.   

Ride : Ajaccio > Cargèse  | 51 km - 31 miles | Elevation : +820/-740m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Cargèse

Leaving Cargèse, you climb inland for 10km through a maquis-laden and remote valley, gaining almost 500m in altitude. You reach a pass before descending into the village of Piana, listed among the most beautiful villages in all of France. Beyond Piana you head through the sheer granite cliffs of the Calanches de Piana, quite possibly the most spectacular road on the entire island, hovering vertiginously above a chaos of red rock formations that dive into the sea. You then freewheel down to the port-town of Porto, surrounded by the jagged red cliffs of the western coast.      

Ride : Cargèse > Porto | 31 km - 19 miles | Elevation : +610/-680m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Porto

In an otherwise rocky and brush-laden island, this is an incursion into a verdant and spectacular valley, where the only traffic jams on the road are due to cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and even donkeys. Before reaching the perched village of Ota, we highly recommend leaving the bike securely locked and enjoying a short hike through the spectacular Spelunca gorge, tightly encased below towering granite cliffs, with plenty of natural pools for a scenic and refreshing swim (+2h walking time) . If your cycling legs are up to it, you can also continue your gradual climb up to the authentic village of Evisa or even the Col de Vergio pass: Corsica’s highest! 

Easy ride : Porto > Ota > Porto | 19 km - 11 miles | Elevation : +450/-450m
Moderate ride : Porto > Evisa > Ota > Porto | 34 km - 21 miles | Elevation : +1 000/-1 000m
Challenging ride : Porto > Evisa > Vergio Pass > Ota > Porto | 46 km - 29 miles | Elevation : +1 640/-1 640m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Porto

Leaving Porto, you continue northbound along the coastal road hanging spectacularly above the Mediterranean. You pass the sleepy villages of Partinello and Curzo before reaching the "Col de la Croix". Here it is possible to lock the bikes and continue on foot for an out-and-back hike (1 ½ hours) along the "Sentier du Facteur" - the postman trail - which leads to a hidden beach for a swim. Beyond the Col de la Croix the road heads down into a secluded valley and you reach the Bocca di Palmarella pass at just over 400m in altitude before a long, winding, and very scenic descent to Galéria.

Ride : Porto > Galéria | 50 km - 31 miles | Elevation : +680/-680m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Galéria

From Galéria, you pedal northbound on a remote and winding coastal road, with gradual climbs and descents and with constant sea views. The stone beach at Argentella (14 km in) is an ideal place for a rest and swim and there with a restaurant along the way. Just before entering Calvi, if you can muster the courage to take a detour to Notre Dame de la Serra chapel, you’ll be rewarded with outstanding views of the bay of Calvi. 

Ride : Galéria > Calvi | 37 km - 22 miles | Elevation : +500/-500m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Calvi

There’s no getting around the arduous first 13km towards Calenzana, complete with a false-flat incline on long, straight stretches. But once in Calenzana, the start of the mythical GR20 hiking path, you’re practically touching the island’s 2 000m peaks, pedaling along back country roads, passing villages so small they’re no longer even named. You’ll pass 500-year-old olive groves and reach the previously-named Montegrosso with towering vistas over both sea and mountains before a freewheeling descent back to the plains.    

Ride : Calvi Loop | 41 km - 26 miles | Elevation : +570/-570m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Calvi

End of your trip in Calvi after breakfast. Bye bye Corsica! Depending on your departure plans, enjoy some free time to explore Calvi and the beautiful historical centre, famous for its Genoese Citadel overlooking the city and its kilometre long white sandy beaches and turquoise-blue water. Truly stunning!
We recommend having an extra night in Calvi for a full exploration!

Meals included : breakfast