Corsica (20 – 26 April 2025)

Arrival day: Saturday April 19

Arrive in Ajaccio. Short taxi ride to Porticcio. Set-up bikes and go for a test ride.

Stage 1: Porticcio to Propriano (89km / 1,440m or 122km / 2,495m)

Our week begins on the beach in Porticcio, and takes us deep into the mountains before finishing once more near the beach in Propriano. The first climb to the col de Belle Valle is an easy one, taking us to the first of many delightful hilltop villages, Bisinao.

Next is a wonderful balcony road with views over the steep maquis-covered slopes to the south, shades of green and blue merging and fading into the distance. The road winds in and out of the folds in the hillside, while maintaining a fairly constant altitude for 6km or so. Descent to Ampaza through a cool green tunnel, the trees interlocking overhead.

Forciolo is another pretty hill-top village, with lots of pink oleander and a water fountain. During our recon startled pigs scampered before us on the road, darting left and right, squealing before diving for safety in the maquis.

The Discovery and Challenge routes diverge soon after. Those who are up for it will climb the steep, irregular climb to the col de la Vaccia, followed by the scenic succession of the col de la Tana and the col de St Eustache.

Both routes join again for the final descent to our new hotel, in Propriano.

Stage 2: Propriano to Propriano (82km / 1,650m or 101km / 2,090m)

After a short climb around the back of Propriano we go back down and along the coast to the first climb, at km 8. The road twists and turns through the maquis with occasional glimpses of the sea. We pass a couple of small villages before Sartène at km 29.

Sartène is said to the “the most Corsican” of Corsica’s towns. It is very unspoilt, the centre remaining much as it was in centuries past. Shortly after, we turn on to a series of minor roads.
The Challenge and Discovery routes separate at Tirolo, km 52. The Discovery route descends and crosses the valley to the final climb to Arbellara before opening out with stunning views across the gulf.

The Challenge route takes on the hardest climb of the day just after Chialza. It is very irregular with two descents in the middle and frequent pitches over 10%. Once over the route continues east, winding in and out, up and down through the maquis before Orone where it starts descending. There’s a remarkable 11th century Roman church and separate spire in Carbini. We pass several more charming, characterful hilltop villages before the final climb and descent back to sea level.

Stage 3: Propriano to Porticcio (69km / 1,100m or 94km / 1,650m)

We get quickly off the main road and on to a quiet route, leading to a nice, easy climb to Olmeto. Built on the flank of a steep hillside, Olmeto has retained much of its original charm and character. The architecture is traditional. Prickly pears grow wild by the side of the road, the town is surrounded by olive groves and the gardens are full of flowers and fruit trees.

We redescend to sea level and follow the coast road, going up and down and in and out on the northern side of the gulf.

The Discovery route stays on this road, while the Challenge route makes an excursion up a couple of valleys and climbs. The first of these is to Calvese, on an excellent, wide road through mature olive groves. A delightful descent follows through the maquis, sometimes closing overhead like a green tunnel, and then vineyards at the bottom, part of the Ajaccio AOP.

The third climb is the longest, taking us to the highest point of the day at the col de Gradello (529m) at km 61.

The descent and final few kilometres to Porticcio provide lovely views across the rocky coast line and deep azur sea.

Stage 4: Porticcio to Porticcio (85km / 1,370m or 123km / 2,250m)

The first 13km are along the coast, then we make a left turn on to the climb to the col de Gradella. This is a lovely, quiet, sinuous road with a steady gradient. The first 2km are lined by an avenue of eucalyptus trees. In a bend we pass a nineteenth century prison. Up higher the eucalyptus are replaced by the holm oaks, cork oaks, myrtle and strawberry trees of the maquis.

We continue on a minor road through several hilltop villages, traversing a hillside with a chaos of tumbling granite boulders, seemingly held back only by the thick, contorted roots of dense maquis. A bit higher up, there’s plenty of shade from chestnut trees before the col Saint Georges (758m) at km 66.

From here there’s a wonderful easy, fast descent. The Discovery route continues this all the way to Porticcio, while the Challenge route turns off up the Gorges du Prunelli for another climb.

It is a quiet, scenic road up the north-western side of the valley, well above the lake. We get two cols for the price of one, first at the head of the valley then the second shortly after turning back to the south west and the long descent back to Porticcio.

Stage 5: Porticcio to Cargèse (64km / 940m or 91km / 1,590m)

After 4 days we need a bit of a rest, so this is the easiest day of the week. We turn off the main road 4km after leaving Porticcio and climb up and above the airport and the coastal plane. We ride through Bastellicaccia and a residential area on the ridge before the two routes separate.

The Discovery route drops back down to the valley floor and then makes a short climb to Afa, before joining the easy climb to the col de Linstincone (km 27) and on to the col de San Bastiano (km32). From here there’s a long, easy descent back down to sea level. From here on the route follows the coast road to Cargèse.

The Challenge route heads further inland and higher up to take on two other climbs, the Campianu at km 23 and the Sarzoggiu at km 47. These are quiet roads meandering through smallholdings and maquis, far from the tourist spots on the beach. The occasional village is replete with bougainvillea, oleander and the ever-present figs, and we pass several vineyards.

If the planned distance seems a bit short, we can easily add a loop to make the total ride 111km and 2,005m. You only have to ask!

Stage 6: Cargèse to Porto (82km / 1,790m or 109km / 2,425m)

If not quite the longest stage – we are saving that for last – this is definitely the most visually stunning.

Both routes begin by returning along the coast to Sagone, where we begin the 21km climb to the col de Sevi . This is an easy climb for the first 13km to Vico, from where the road gets significantly steeper, with several pitches at 13-14%. The climb is now far more irregular, with steep pitches interspersed with false flats and even slight descents.

The two routes separate in the descent. The Challenge goes on to climb the col de Vergio, the highest in Corsica, while the Discovery goes directly to the descent through the Gorges de la Spelunca.

This is a quite extraordinary scene of natural beauty: the rock formations are wild and dramatic, the red granite formed into fantastic shapes by the combined forces of tectonic plate movement and subsequent erosion by wind and water.

If possible, our final climb of the day is even more stunning than the gorges. We ride through the world-famous UNESCO heritage site of the Calanques de Piana, where the huge tortured red granite rock formations contrast against the deep azure sea.

Stage 7: Porto to Porticcio (99km / 1,935m or 121km / 2,710m)

Our final day is not only the longest, it also gives us the chance to see the fabulous Gorges de la Spelunca a second time. To add to the fun of this climb there is often an astonishing amount of livestock on the road. Black and brown pigs and piglets are anywhere and everywhere together with herds of long-haired goats, and higher up, cows and their calves. Beware, the piglets are very funny but can be a bit dangerous as they take fright, squeal and dart back and forth unpredictably.

Both routes go back over the col de Sevi and down to Vico, where the Challenge route takes a quiet meandering road into the interior before tackling the Bocca di Tartavellu, while the Discovery follows the more direct, but still quiet road over the Bocca di Sarzoggiu.

Both routes finish with a long easy run-in to Porticcio on a false-flat descent.

If anyone is feeling they haven’t done enough, we can easily stretch this final ride to 134km and 3,175m by adding one more climb to enjoy before it’s all over…

Departure day: Sunday April 27

Accommodation throughout the trip will be in on 4* hotel, two 3* hotels and one 2* hotel (for one night only. Meals will be in a different restaurant each night, chosen for the quality and authenticity of the food.

Apologies for the delay since our return, but I just wanted to pass on to you a huge thank you for our recent Alpine week cycling – we both think of it as one of our best holidays/trips we’ve done for many years! A tremendously well organised and enjoyable ride, which I would gladly recommend to anyone. I just wish I’d had the sense to take a few additional days recovery on the French Riviera instead of flying straight home and turning to work!
(Jonathan, UK)

Thank you so much for a fantastic week. I truly enjoyed myself every single day. Despite the fact that I was overly defensive descending, I feel as though I learned a lot and gained confidence by the end of the week. Although I have been riding for years, I never had any type of instruction or guidance previously. On my first ride back today, I could feel a difference in descending and ascending. The week did wonders for me. I loved cycling prior to the trip, but love it even more now. You all did a first rate job organizing and planning for all of us. (David, USA)

Thanks for a fantastic trip.  It was exactly the right level of challenge I was looking for, gave me a few climbs that were missing from my palmares and felt very rewarding to have completed.  I would say it absolutely met my expectations and given my experience with cycle tours, that was a good thing. I think there were a few things that actually differentiated you from other tours:

1) The option of a post-ride massage was a great help in keeping the legs fresh for the following day and Franck was certainly very proficient in his craft.  I’m an experienced multi-day rider and found this very beneficial.

2) Having Franck take some fantastic pictures really added to positive memories of the trip and helped capture what makes riding through the mountains so special. (David, UK)
An awesome experience. Here are some of the things I liked:

Great routes: Some great routes with lots of cols I haven’t ridden before. Roselend, Iseran and  Izoard were among my favourites. Also Galibier (which I had done before). I think the balance between the standard routes and the challenge to be about right (I did the standard). In general I think the standard routes were hard but doable – even in these very hot conditions.

Great company: It was a great group of people (both guests and staff) to travel with. This include being able to link up with Stephane before the trip

Becoming a better descender: I certainly felt like I became a more comfortable and safe descender during this trip. In part trough the instruction from Russ, but also from descending (slowly) with other people that are better descenders than me and lots of practice during the trip.

Franck: Being everywhere taking care of peoples bodies and bikes (Lars, Denmark)

PACKAGE PRICES

From Sat 19 April (arrival) to Sun 27 April (departure)

• Twin-share:                        €3,125
• Single supplement:              €325

5% reduction for returning clients; 10% reduction for a second trip in the same year. Ask for the code.

YOUR MONEY IS SAFE

As required by EU law, your payments are fully protected by an approved insurance policy against the very unlikely event of financial failure/insolvency of Alpine Cols. Full details are on the page “About Us“.

INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE

• Accommodation
• Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner, including mineral water with the meals)
• On-the-bike guiding, and coaching if desired
• On-the-road support vehicle with free energy drinks and snacks.
• Mechanical assistance
• Photographs taken during the week (digital copies)

NOT INCLUDED

• Travel to/from Ajaccio
• Airport transfers
• Bicycle hire
• Minibar or drinks at the hotel bar
• Coffee or snacks during café stops
• Massage (optional extra, where possible)