Raid Corsica

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Raid Corsica

Corsica

Bastia, Corsica

2024 Dates

June and September

Price

£1500.00 - €1625.00

Duration

7 days (Sun - Sun)

Group Size

Max 20

The definitive cycling tour in Corsica, our Raid Corsica Tour is one of our most popular trips and will be busy in 2024. If you’d like to join us on this incredible cycling tour in Corsica, make sure you book early as there are very limited spaces on this trip!

The Raid Corsica this tour really needs no introduction – an almost complete tour of the island coastal route and central spine of the island. Check out the itinerary to get a feel for our cycling tour in Corsica – one of our toughest undertakings.

You will need to get your carnet stamped to get your medal and certificate!

Day 1 BASTIA, MACINAGGIO, NONZA, CALVI.

Day 2 PIANA, CALACUCCIA, CORTE, GHISONI, ZICAVO.

Day 3 BASTELICA, AJACCIO, PROPRIANO.

Day 4 BONIFACIO, ZONZA.

Day 5 ALÉRIA, PIEDICROCE.


Tour Itenarary

Day 1: Biguglia-Bastia to Calvi (196km with 2369m ascent)

Wheels rolling 0730 for an early start, we'll be heading around the Cap Corse on a stunning coast road with spectacular views.  We'll follow the rolling coastal road to St Florent for lunch at around the 100km mark, before traversing the arid ‘désert des Agriates’.  You can stay on the “busy” main road to Calvi or turn inland on the D151 after L'Île-Rousse, a quiet undulating backroad with views of the Granite Mountains meeting the sea - and your destination of Calvi below you.

Day 2: Calvi to Calacuccia (158km with 2860m ascent)

Today you head to the other side of Mt Cinto, a rugged peak rising up to 2700m, just over 20km from Calvi.  There are some steep ascents to Les Calanches - a landscape of spikes and spires towering above the deep blue waters.  It's 11km up to Piana for a Carnet stamp, then about-turn and back down for the long but even gradient up to the highest road pass in Corsica to the Col de Vergio (1477 m). Finally it's a roll downhill to finish at the mountain hamlet of Calacuccia for the night.

Day 3: Calacuccia to Santa Maria Sicche (132km with 2690m ascent)

A great route exploring the forests and gorges of the southern uplands. Corte, the historic capital town, is good for a coffee stop but we won't stop for too long - you have 5 cols to get under your belt today, including the Col de Sorba (1311m)! After the last carnet stop of the day at Zicavo, the route is a tad technical as shown on this year’s Garmin route, we take the D83 heading towards Corrano and on to the quaint village of Santa-Maria-Siché is our destination for a warm welcome from the hotel.

Day 4: Santa-Maria-Siché to Sartène (160km with 2410m ascent)

We'll be heading out on to the main road of the D196 for a while until we start the climb out of Cauro on the D26. There's a fast descent into the town of Cauro, then a climb up to the mountain village of Bastelica. Time for a stamp and a coffee before heading around the lake to lunch stop at Ajaccio - the modern capital of Corsica. The D3 forks right towards Tolla and Lac de Tolla with stunning scenery.  There is a busy stretch on a main road out of Ajaccio after getting your stamp, but we turn off right onto the D302 though the mountains towards Pila-Canale and Sollacaro. Finally it's on to our destination Sartène - with the historical pirates of the town now replaced with tourists, this is your typical Corsican town.

Day 5: Sartène to Sari- Solenzara (188 km with 2430 m ascent)

Fast roads and good surfaces make for a quick start today. Enjoy the beautiful views and historic destinations (is this a cycling tour or a holiday?) - the roads are fast this morning!  Get your carnet stamped in the Marina of Bonifacio on the Southern tip of the island, where we will stop and have a coffee. We head up on the busy coast road before heading inland again for the mountains from Porto-Vecchio to Zonza and the Col de Bavella (1218 m).  A fabulous descent follows down to sea level to the days finish in Solenzara.

Day 6: Sari - Solenzara to Buguglia-Bastia (148 km with 2060 m ascent)

A good piece of fast rolling road during the mornings ride to warm up on! After Aléria we cut back into the hills. We're not finished yet, this is your last chance to take in a beautiful route. It is well worth the effort to get up, and through picturesque villages and terraced hillsides you'll see Corsica at it best. Watch out for the pigs! No, really. You'll come across them when they are not expected, like on fast and technical descents!  Eventually, after our last stamp in Piedicroce, we drop back towards the airport, on to the coast road and around the nature reserve of Biguglia, joining a sandy spur for the final run into Bugulia-Bastia, to the hotel where it all began only 6 days ago.  Now... it's beer o’clock!


Raid Corsica dates

Flights to Bastia from the UK are Sundays only, this trip will therefore run Sunday to Sunday.

June

2nd - 9th

9th - 16th

September

1st - 8th

8th - 15th

15th - 22nd

Pricing and Fees

Price:

£1500.00 – €1695.00

Single Supplement:

£225.00 – €280.00


Included on this tour

  • Half board including breakfast, afternoon tea and fantastic home-cooked 3 course meals every night (Except Wednesdays, our night off).
  • Return transfers from/to Basita airport (20min transfer).
  • Cereal bars and energy drinks to keep you fuelled up.
  • Experienced ride leaders.
  • Secure storage for your bikes - we know how much you love them!
  • Vehicle and driver back-up for major break downs.


What's not included

  • Food on the road.
  • Wine, beer or any hotel extras e.g. washing of kit (this can be added to the price of your room and paid for on check-out).