Bastia to Ajaccio: Cycling Corsica's Stunning West Coast

Day 1: Arrival in Bastia
Your trip will begin in Bastia, the capital of Haute-Corse. You will settle into your hotel in the afternoon and spend time exploring the ancient Citadelle, the Place Saint-Nicolas, and the old harbour. Excellent restaurants await for your evening meal.
Night in a 3\* hotel.

Day 2: Bastia – Saint-Florent (26 km; +584 m / −581 m)
You will ride over the Col de Teghime at 536 metres, where a spectacular panorama stretches across both sides of the island. On the descent toward Saint-Florent, you will pass through Patrimonio and its renowned vineyards — a wine tasting stop is highly recommended. For the more ambitious, an 85 km alternative takes you north onto Cap Corse and over the Col de Santa Lucia.
Night in a hotel.

Day 3: Saint-Florent – Île-Rousse (48 km; +883 m / −685 m)
You will leave the bay of Saint-Florent and ride through the Désert des Agriates, where the scents and colours of wild maquis fill the air in springtime. After roughly 30 kilometres, the coastline reappears with a superb view of the "red island" sheltering the harbour of Île-Rousse.
Night in a 3\* hotel.

Day 4: Île-Rousse – Galéria (66 km; +690 m / −900 m)
You will continue southward to Calvi, with the option of riding through charming mountain villages with sweeping sea views or taking the shorter coastal road. In Calvi, the imposing Citadelle overlooks the bay and is well worth a visit. From Calvi, 37 kilometres of one of Europe's most scenic coastal roads will carry you to a small fishing village for the night.
Alternative: 78 km (+933 m / −1148 m).
Night in a 2\* hotel.

Day 5: Galéria – Porto (51 km; +585 m / −564 m)
This will be a day of breathtaking scenery. After a warm-up, you will climb the Col de Palmarella at 408 metres, from where the UNESCO-listed bay of Scandola stretches out before you. You will then cross the Col de la Croix, enjoy sweeping descents, and ride through the villages of Curzu and Partinello before reaching the magnificent bay of Porto.
Night in a 3\* hotel.

Day 6: Porto – Cargèse (31 km; +703 m / −660 m)
You will climb out of Porto to discover the famous Calanques de Piana, another UNESCO World Heritage site with extraordinary red granite rock formations. After crossing the village of Piana, you will reach Cargèse, an ancient settlement founded by Greeks in the 18th century.
Night in a 2\* hotel.

Day 7: Cargèse – Ajaccio (49 km; +752 m / −831 m)
Your final day on the bike will offer the option of a round-trip to the bay of Lava and its magnificent beaches. An early arrival in Ajaccio will allow you to visit the Îles Sanguinaires at the northern cape of the bay, or explore the city, including the Tino Rossi harbour and Napoleon's birthplace.
Night in a 3\* hotel.

Day 8: Departure from Ajaccio
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end. Bike pick-up at the hotel if rented. Transfer to the airport or back to Bastia by train available on request.