Northern Corsica by Road Bike: Cap Corse to Castagniccia

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Tour

Road Bike, E-bike

Duration

8 days / 7 nights

Distance

401Km

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Selfguided

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Minimum 2 people

This tour requires a minimum number of travellers to depart.

🎂

Minimum age 16 years

Participants must be at least this age to join the tour.

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5/5 Challenging

Difficult, between 60 and over 100 kilometers per day with an elevation gain between 800 and over 2000 meters.

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Loop

The starting point is the same as the ending point, with overnight stays in different hotels and daily stages.

Short Description

This is Corsica at its most demanding and most rewarding — a road bike tour designed for strong cyclists who crave mountain passes, coastal drama, and the raw beauty of the island's interior. You will begin in Bastia and immediately tackle the wild Cap Corse peninsula, where the road traces the shoreline between ancient Genoese towers and plunging cliffs before crossing the Col de la Serra at the island's northern tip. The Désert des Agriates and the Balagne mountain villages will lead you to Calvi, then onward along one of Europe's most legendary coastal roads to Porto — the same route raced by the Tour de France peloton in 2013. After a rest day exploring the UNESCO-listed Calanques de Piana and Scandola reserve, you will face the tour's defining challenge: the Col de Vergio at 1,477 metres, climbed through the Spelunca gorge and the ancient Aïtone forest. The descent through the Scala Santa Regina to Corte is unforgettable. Your final stage crosses four mountain passes through the Castagniccia before rolling back to the coast near Bastia. With daily distances of 75 to 107 kilometres and elevation gains reaching nearly 3,000 metres, this tour will test your legs and fill your memory with the most spectacular roads Corsica has to offer.

Tour Program

Day 1: Arrival in Bastia
Depending on your arrival time, you will have the chance to explore the majestic Citadel, stroll through the picturesque lanes of the old port, and relax in the famous Place Saint-Nicolas.
Overnight in Bastia.

Day 2: Bastia – Saint-Florent via Cap Corse (82 km; +1407 m / −1399 m)
You will ride around the wild Cap Corse, following the east coast with exceptional panoramic views before crossing the Col de la Serra at 365 metres to reach the northern tip of the island. A must-do stage for discovering the full diversity of Corsican landscapes.
Alternative: 107 km (+1569 m / −1575 m).
Overnight in Saint-Florent.

Day 3: Saint-Florent – Calvi via La Balagne (66 km; +997 m / −999 m)
You will leave the Gulf of Saint-Florent, cross the Désert des Agriates and the Col de Vezzu at 311 metres, then reach the Balagne region with its picturesque mountain villages and superb panoramic views of the coast.
Alternative: 104 km (+1000 m / −989 m).
Overnight in Calvi.

Day 4: Calvi – Porto (75 km; +1331 m / −1289 m)
You will ride one of the most beautiful coastal roads in Europe, with spectacular views of a wild and unspoilt coastline. After crossing the Col de Palmarella at 408 metres, the Gulf of Girolata and the UNESCO-listed Scandola nature reserve will stretch out before you. This is the same iconic route covered by the Tour de France in 2013.
Overnight in Porto.

Day 5: Rest Day in Porto
A free day with endless options. You could relax on the beach, visit the charming village, take a boat trip to Scandola or the Calanques de Piana, or tackle a challenging loop over the Col de Sévi at 1,101 metres.
Optional ride: 95 km (+2283 m / −2281 m).
Overnight in Porto.

Day 6: Porto – Corte via Col de Vergio (83 km; +2895 m / −2493 m)
The tour's defining stage. You will climb the Col de Vergio at 1,477 metres through the Spelunca gorge and the magnificent Aïtone forest — more than 30 kilometres of sustained climbing. The reward is a 35-kilometre descent including the famous Scala di Santa Regina, a memorable experience you will never forget.
Overnight in Corte.

Day 7: Corte – Lucciana via La Castagniccia (95 km; +2894 m / −3281 m)
You will leave Corte, the historic capital of Corsica, and head through the Castagniccia — birthplace of Pascal Paoli and other emblematic figures. This is one of the most demanding stages, with four mountain passes including the toughest at the end. Once out of the mountains, you will roll back to the east coast and Lucciana, near Bastia airport.
Overnight in Lucciana.

Day 8: End of Tour
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end.

✅ What is included in the trip?

  • 🏨 Overnight stay and breakfast
  • 💼 Luggage transfer
  • 📞 Local telephone assistance 7/7
  • 🗺️ Maps
  • 📲 GPS or navigation APP

❌ What is not included?

  • ✈️ Journey to/from the starting point
  • 🍽️ Meals and drinks not listed as Included
  • 🚎 Transfers not listed as Included
  • 🖼️ Entrance fees and extras not listed
  • 🛡️ Travel insurance
  • 🌎 Tourist taxes

Northern Corsica by Road Bike: Cap Corse to Castagniccia

  • – Full circumnavigation of the wild Cap Corse peninsula by road bike
  • – Crossing of the Désert des Agriates and the Balagne mountain villages
  • – One of Europe's most legendary coastal roads from Calvi to Porto
  • – UNESCO World Heritage sites of Scandola and the Calanques de Piana
  • – Col de Vergio at 1,477 m — Corsica's highest road pass
  • – The Scala di Santa Regina descent to Corte
  • – Four mountain passes through the Castagniccia on the final stage
  • – Tour de France 2013 Stage 3 route

📋💸 Cancellation fees

Terms of cancellation:

Non-refundable likeonabike platform fee: 100 €

30 days before the departure: 100 € per person

29 - 16 days before the departure: 50% of the totale travel price

15 - 7 days before the departure: 90% of the totale travel price

7 days before arrival 100% of the total travel price

Starting from

€1,490/ person

or €1,580

Available

1 May 202630 Sept 2026

Departures

Every day of the week

Get a personalised quote.

Fill in our short form with your travel dates and group details. We'll put together a personalised quote and get back to you within 24 hours.

Ask for more info

We reply within a few hours, 7 days a week. During peak season it may take a bit longer, but never more than 12 hours.

Accommodation categories

To guarantee maximum flexibility, we work with carefully selected hotels across Europe. The exact list of properties is confirmed after booking.

Economy

⭐⭐

Economy

2–3★ hotels, charming guesthouses and Bed & Breakfasts. Simple, comfortable and locally run — ideal for travellers who prefer investing in the experience rather than the room.

Standard

⭐⭐⭐

Standard

3–4★ hotels, countryside farmhouses and B&Bs. A balance of quality and value, with welcoming ambience and excellent breakfasts to fuel your daily stages.

Superior

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior

4–5★ hotels and 3★ Superior properties. Premium comfort, refined interiors and attentive service — for travellers who want a little extra after a great day in the saddle.

How it works

🔍1

Choose your tour

Browse our curated selection of self-guided cycling holidays across Europe and find the route that suits your pace and style.

📋2

Request a quote

Tell us your travel dates, group size and any preferences. Our team will send you a personalised quote within a few hours.

🎒3

Receive your travel pack

Once confirmed, you receive everything you need: GPS tracks, hotel vouchers, route maps, luggage transfer details and our 7/7 assistance number.

🚲4

Ride & discover

Pedal at your own pace and enjoy the journey. We handle the logistics — you focus on the experience.

🙋 Frequently asked questions

  • What is the difficulty level of this tour?

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  • What type of accommodation is provided?

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  • How is luggage handled during the tour?

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  • What bikes are available for rental?

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  • What is the best season for this tour?

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