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Northern Corsica by Road Bike: Cap Corse to Castagniccia

Corsica, North

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Road BikeE-bike8 days / 7 nights401 km5/5ChallengingLoop

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.

Tour details

LoopSelfguidedMinimum 2 peopleMinimum age 16 years

✅ 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

🙋 Common questions

  • What is the difficulty level of this tour?

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📋💸 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

€1,404/ person

or €1,489

Available

1 Apr 202631 Oct 2026

Departures

Every day of the week

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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.

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Europe Active

This tour is provided by Europe Active. Life on a Bike acts as an intermediary platform connecting you with independent tour operators. Learn more

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