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FROM BASTIA TO AJACCIO ALONG THE WEST COAST
price from 978 €
Corsica - Leisure cycling - 8 days
Is there a better way than sitting on a bike to enjoy the various landscapes Corsica is know for? We don't think so. This trip leads you from the Northern capital, Bastia, to Ajaccio, birth place of Napoleon. You will head along the coastline for most of the time. Don't worry about getting bored; Cap Corse is wild and uncrowded, Balagne has wonderful beaches and sweet mountain villages, the area around Porto has the "reserve naturelle de Scandola" and the "Calanques de Piana" (both part of UNESCO w.h.)... all very different areas. Accommodations offer comfortable double rooms, in 2* or 3* hotels
Day 1 Bastia Your trip starts in Bastia, in the afternoon. Your hotel room is ready and depending on your arrival time you can visit the city. Specially the Citadelle and the old harbour are worth spending some time. Also a good place for your diner.
Night in a 2* hotel
Day 2 St Florent This first stage leads you over the col de Teghime (536m), where you have a beautiful view on both sides of the island. On your way down to St Florent you can stop in Patrimonio for a "short" wine tasting. The area is well known for its vineyards. For the very courageous ones a 85km stages can be done by cycling North into the Cap Corse and over the col de Sta Lucia (381m).
Distance: around 26km Or 87km
Night in a 2* hotel in St Florent
Day 3 The Corsican desert You leave the bay of St Florent and head through the "desert des Agriates". No sandy dunes but as far as you can see hills all covered with macchia. After about 30km you reach the coast again, with a superb view on the point sheltering the harbour of Ile-Rousse. Your overnight stop is a village just above it.
Distance: around 48km
Night in a 3* hotel
Day 4 The Balagne Today you continue Southwards to Calvi. You can stay in the heights and ride through some nice mountain villages (with see view for most of them) or go down and along the coast (more traffic as you're on a main road).
Once in Calvi you have to (at least) visit the Citadelle overlooking the bay.
From here you still have 37km to go, on an old road, along some cliffs, that seems nearly abandoned (as the main traffic is lead on a newer road through the inside). A small fisher-village is waiting for tonight.
Distance: around 79km
Night in a 2* hotel
Day 5 Porto After a few warm-up km you start to climb the col de Palmarella (408m). From the top you can see the bay of Scandola (natural reserve and UNESCO w.h.). Further you pass the col de la Croix, all downhill, and cross the villages of Curzu and Partinello, before taking the last short climb that separates you from the bay of Porto.
Distance: around 51km
Night in a 2* hotel (with Pool, if available) in Porto.
Day 6 To the "golfe de la Liscia" This stage starts with a climb, out of Porto, into the famous "Calanques de Piana". A stunning rock formation (also part of UNESCO w.h.) where you have to take a few pictures! Then you'll cross the village of Piana and Cargese (ancient village built by the Greeks in the 18th c.). From there you follow the coast again until the "golfe de la Liscia".
Distance: around 53km
Night in a 2* hotel
Day 7 Ajaccio Already your last day on the bike. As it isn't too far to Ajaccio, you can do a round-trip to the bay of Lava and its magnificent beaches (where most of the sunbathers are cows). An early arrival in Ajaccio allows a visit of the "iles sanguinaires" at the North cape of the Ajaccio-bay, or of the city (Tino Rossi harbour, Napoleons birth house...).
Distance: around 31km (straight)
Night in a 3* hotel
Day 8 Tour end After breakfast, your tour comes to an end. If you rented bikes, we'll pick them up at the hotel. Transfer to the airport or back to Bastia (possible by train) on request.
Starting point In your hotel in Bastia, in the afternoon.
End In your hotel in Ajaccio, after breakfast, on day 8.
Accommodation Double rooms in 2* and 3* hotels.
Number of people From 2 participants
Level of difficulty Medium: stages from 26km to 62km, with up to 800m h.d. On some you have the choice between 2 routes; longer or shorter
Carrying Your luggage gets transferred from one accommodation to the next. You only have to carry what's needed for the day.
Options - Single room : 210€
- Hybrid bike : 145€
- Road bike : 205€
- Jersey Corse : 39€
- Start in July/August : 60€
Included The nights (breakfast included, except for night 6) in double rooms. The luggage transfers on each stage. A 1:100000 map and the route notes for the itinerary.
Not included Transport to Bastia and from Ajaccio. Unplanned transfers. Meals and drinks. Insurances. Personal spendings. Bike rental.
