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Corsica: the best cycling holidays - Ajaccio to Calvi in 8 days
    • France - Corsica
    • 8 days
    • Cycling
    • Self-guided
      • From March to October
    • 2 - 10 travellers
      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming
      • Trip code : C1225
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About the Corsica: the best cycling holidays - Ajaccio to Calvi in 8 days trip

About the trip in Corsica

Your Corsica cycling holiday: Corsica island has been part of France for over 200 years, a mountain literally in the Mediterranean Sea, from its jagged coastline and sandy beaches to the serrated rocky summits that soar into and above the clouds, and everything in between, the landscapes are as sumptuous as they are contrasting. As for an active holiday destination, Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean appears as one of the best destinations! 

During this Corsica cycling trip, our itinerary will take you from Ajaccio, capital city of the island, to Calvi up north along the incredibly beautiful western coast of Corsica where you will discover some of the must-see sites such as the Calanches of Piana, gulf of Porto, Scandola nature reserve, Cargèse… all part of the Corsican Nature park! If you enjoy challenging yourself, cycling through incredible scenery on a top-notch bike and discover the insular Corsican culture and history, you will definitely be in for a treat! 

A ride in the Corsican lifestyle, on the best cycling itinerary of Corsica!!

Highlights of the trip

  • Cycling on scenic coastal road, along the jagged red cliffs of the western coast
  • Discover of Corsica’s prettiest villages, and wild beaches all along the route
  • Ajaccio, the charming main city of Corsica
  • Cargèse, a beautiful village famous for its two churches
  • The Calanches of Piana: the most spectacular road and its incredible geological formation
  • Porto, its wonderful gulf of Porto and its quaint seaside village
  • Galéria, its bay and beautiful sandy beaches 
  • Calvi, its citadel, cultural heritage and Corsican "art-of-living"


    Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From the blog

Corsica: the best cycling holidays, Ajaccio to Calvi in 8 days: Day by day

Day 1 - Your Corsica cycling tour starts in Ajaccio

  • Start your trip in Ajaccio, the Capital city of Corsica! 
  • Night in Ajaccio

  • Market every day except on Monday in Ajaccio

  • We recommend:
    . spend an     extra night in the heart of Ajaccio, the most important city in Corsica and birthplace of the most famous Corsican man: Napoleon Bonaparte! Wandering in its old city centre, visiting its citadel and irs quaint streets where restaurants and bars animate the nocturnal life of this relaxed city.
  • How to get to Ajaccio:
    Airport: regular flights and low-cost airlines from Paris, Nice, Marseille to Calvi, Ajaccio, Bastia
    Corsica ferry : regular ferry from Nice (corsica ferries) and Marseille (Corsica Linea, La meridionale)

Day 2 - Cycling from Ajaccio to Cargèse

  • Ride - Ajaccio > Cargèse 
    51 km / 31 miles - Ascent: +820 m / Descent: -740 m
  • You leave Ajaccio by bike, following the coastline. Soon, you attack the most difficult section of the entire western coast, with percentages of up to 12% (though short), inland on the 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 on the coastal road is the most scenic, winding along the jagged coastline to one of Corsica’s prettiest villages.   
  • Night in Cargèse
  • MEALS included: Breakfast
     

Day 3 - Cycling tour from Cargèse to Porto

  • Ride - Cargèse > Porto 
    31 km / 19 miles - Ascent: +610 m / Descent: -680 m
  • Leaving Cargèse you climb inland for 10km through a maquis-laden and remote valley, gaining almost 500m in altitude from sea level. 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 seas. You then freewheel down to the port-town of Porto, surrounded by the jagged red cliffs of the western coast.      
  • Night in Porto
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Biking from Porto to the mountains of Evisa and the Vergio pass

  • Ride - Porto > Evisa. You have different options:
    . Option 1 - Porto loop ride:  Porto > Ota > Porto
    Easy to Moderate - 19km, 11miles, +450m/-450m
    . Option 2 - Porto loop ride : Porto > Evisa > Ota > Porto
    Moderate - 34km, 21 miles, +1000m/-1000m
    . Option 3 -  Porto loop ride : Porto > Evisa > vergio pass > Ota > Porto   
    Challenging - 46 km, 29 miles, +1640m/1640m
    . Optionnal hike in the Spelunca gorge:
    Add 2 hours of hiking through the gorge, with several swimming opportunities along the path. The Speclunca gorge is certainly one of the best path to walk on in Corsica! 
  • The ride: 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 an optionnal hike through the spectacular Spelunca gorge, tightly encased below towering granite cliffs, with plenty of natural pools for a scenic and refreshing swim. 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 road pass: Corsica’s highest…
  • Night in Porto
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

Day 5 - From Porto to Galeria

  • Ride - Porto > Galeria 
    50 km / 31 miles - Ascent: +680 m / Descent: -680 m
  • 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":
  • Extra walk option : here a possible out-and-back hike (1 ½ hours) along the "Sentier du Facteur = postman trail" leads to a hidden beach for a swim.
  • Beyond the Col de la Croix the road heads down into a secluded valley, and reach the Bocca di Palmarella pass at just over 400m before a long, winding, and very scenic descent to Galeria.
  • Night in  Galéria
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

Day 6 - From Galéria to Calvi

  • Ride - Galéria > Calvi
    37 km / 22 miles - Ascent: +500 m / Descent: -500 m
  • From Galeria, you pedal northbound on a remote, coastal road, winding with gradual climbs and descents with constant sea views. The stone beach at Argentella (km14) can provide a swim break, 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. 
  • Night in Calvi
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

Day 7 - To Calenzana, start of the mythical GR20 hiking path

  • Ride - Calvi > Calenzana > Calvi 
    41 km / 26 miles - Ascent: +570 m / Descent: -570 m
  • There’s no getting around the arduous first 13km towards Calenzana, complete with a false-flat incline on long straightaways. But once up in Calenzana, start of the mythical GR20 hiking path, you’re practically touching the island’s 2000m peaks, on 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.    
  • Night in Calvi
  • MEALS included: Breakfast

Day 8 - End of your Corsica holiday

  • End of your trip in Calvi, after breakfast. Bye bye Corsica! 
    Free day in Calvi: let yourself be amazed by the beautiful historical centre of Calvi, famous for its Genoese Citadel overlooking the city and its kilometer long of white sandy beaches and turquoise-blue water. Truly stunning! 

  • We recommend:
    . Have an extra night in Calvi and explore its beautiful citadel perched on a rocky spur , its pretty cobbled streets. You will enjoy the great views of the coast, and the beaches nearby. A great combination of historical centre, traditions and beaches! 
  • Experience the rest of Corsica, from Calvi: we would be happy to propose some beautiful extra walks and hikes from Calvi.
  • Return from Calvi:
    . Airport: regular flights and low-cost airlines from Paris, Nice, Marseille to Calvi, Ajaccio, Bastia 
    . Corsica ferry : regular ferry from Nice ( corsica ferries) and Marseille ( Corsica Linea, La meridionale).

More Corsica cycling trips

Corsica: the best cycling holidays - Ajaccio to Calvi in 6 days
    • France - Corsica
    • 6 days
    • Cycling
    • Self-guided
      • From March to October

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming

    • Highlights of the trip

    • Cycling on scenic coastal road, along the jagged red cliffs of the western coast
    • Discover of Corsica’s prettiest villages, and wild beaches all along the route
    • Ajaccio, the charming main city of Corsica
    • Cargèse, a beautiful village famous for its two churches
    • The Calanches of Piana: the most spectacular road and its incredible geological formation
    • Calvi and its citadel, the Gulf of Porto
    • Galéria, its bay and beautiful sandy beaches 
    • Day 4 + Day 5 - Extra walk Options : along the "postman trail" , and in the Spelunca canyon


      Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

    From 1300 € / pers
    Corsica: the best cycling holidays - Ajaccio to Calvi in 7 days
      • France - Corsica
      • 7 days
    • Cycling
    • Self-guided
      • From March to October

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming

    • Highlights of the trip

    • Cycling on scenic coastal road, along the jagged red cliffs of the western coast
    • Discover of Corsica’s prettiest villages, and wild beaches all along the route
    • Ajaccio, the charming main city of Corsica
    • Cargèse, a beautiful village famous for its two churches
    • The Calanches of Piana: the most spectacular road and its incredible geological formation
    • Calvi and its citadel, the Gulf of Porto
    • Galéria, its bay and beautiful sandy beaches 
    • Day 4 + Day 5 - Extra walk Options : along the "postman trail" , and in the Spelunca canyon


      Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

    From 1390 € / pers
    Corsica: the best cycling holidays - Ajaccio to Calvi in 8 days
      • France - Corsica
      • 8 days
    • Cycling
    • Self-guided
      • From March to October

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort
      • Charming

    • Highlights of the trip

    • Cycling on scenic coastal road, along the jagged red cliffs of the western coast
    • Discover of Corsica’s prettiest villages, and wild beaches all along the route
    • Ajaccio, the charming main city of Corsica
    • Cargèse, a beautiful village famous for its two churches
    • The Calanches of Piana: the most spectacular road and its incredible geological formation
    • Porto, its wonderful gulf of Porto and its quaint seaside village
    • Galéria, its bay and beautiful sandy beaches 
    • Calvi, its citadel, cultural heritage and Corsican "art-of-living"


      Go Private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

    From 1390 € / pers
    Trip details
    Corsica: the best cycling holidays - Ajaccio to Calvi in 8 days
        • France - Corsica
        • 2 adults (2x1390€)
        • 0 children (0x1390€)
      • 8 days
      • Simple
    Total 2780€
    Deposit 900€
    Book now !