Randonnée Corsica

"Corsica is not France", read the road graffiti when the Tour de France visited the Île de Beauté for the first time in its 100-year history in 2013. And whoever wrote it had a point. With its blend of Italian and French heritage and a proudly independent spirit, Corsica feels a world apart from mainland France—and all the better for it.

With over a thousand kilometres of unspoiled, palm-fringed coastline and an almost limitless network of winding roads, Corsica offers far more than just famous climbs and high mountain passes. Its wild nature, rugged mountains rising to nearly 3,000 metres, and the island’s distinctive, locally rooted cuisine add even more character to this exceptional destination for cyclists.

We look forward to welcoming you for an unforgettable week exploring historic cliffside roads and breathtaking back-country climbs of this unique island.

Arrivals 

Corte

Hotel: Dominique Colonna

We begin our trip in the heart of the island—Corte, a town once made capital of the short-lived Corsican Republic by Pascal Paoli in 1755. Its position atop a craggy mount gives it the appearance of a fairytale citadel. Our Hôtel Dominique Colonna is nestled in the peaceful Restonica river valley.

*Arrivals, bike fitting and short spin in the afternoon.

Day One

Corte Loop

95km / 1650m

Our route takes us to the island’s only ski station, located at the end of the Gorge de l’Asco. Along the way, we’ll ride the corniche road, which winds between rocky cliffs and a stream descending from Monte Cinto—Corsica’s highest peak at 2,706 metres above sea level. The ride ends at the entrance of the valley, where we’ll enjoy lunch and a tasting of classic AOP Corse wines.

*After lunch, a 25-minute transfer will take us to our hotel.

For the non-riding guests, we propose a hike to Lac de Melu in Restonica Valley

- a stunning walk starting right at the doorstep of our hotel, following the stream and waterfalls.

* We can arrange car transfers before and after the hike to accomodate the needs os the walking group.

Day Two

Corte — Calvi

110km / 1900m

Hotel: L’Abbaye Calvi

Our second day in the saddle starts with a punch as we head north and wind our way into the foothills around Monte Cinto before the climb to Bocca Capanna. Then, with 50KM to go we reach the day's highest point, the Bocca di Battaglia, which has stunning views over the towns of L’Île-Rousse and Calvi towards France. From there, it’s mostly downhill. We roll all the way to the sea, the mountains behind us and waves crashing below, arriving in the vibrant port city of Calvi, where we’ll spend the next two nights.

The more relaxed riding group, along with the non-riders, will join the main group on the way to the second big climb of the day — Bocca di Battaglia. The walking crew can enjoy a short walk on the plateau, while the relaxed cycling group tackles the climb alongside the main riders. Everyone will meet at the top to enjoy lunch together.

Day Three

Calvi Loop

60km / 950m

We’ll begin the day by retracing the end of Stage 3 of the 2013 Tour de France, climbing all the way to the Col de Marsolino, the highest point of the day. From there, we descend to the island’s west coast, following a stunning coastal road that winds around the headlands and above the sands of the Golfe de Galeria and Baie de Crovani. With a shorter ride today, the afternoon is reserved for a visit to one of Corsica’s finest vineyards - Domaine Orsini, renowned for its rosé production. We’ll unwind with tasting vins, apéritifs and liqueurs, accompanied by a selection of local delicacies. The winemakers of AOP Corse Calvie produce frank, mouth filling reds and delicate whites and roses, with personalities that reflect their terrior and rich history.

Before we all head to the wine tasting followed by dinner, our non-cycling guests can enjoy a day exploring the charming old port town of Calvi. We highly recommend visiting the Citadelle de Calvi, the historic hilltop fortification offering stunning 360 views of land and sea.

Day Four

Calvi — Porto

90km / 1400m

Hotel: Hôtel la Marina

The longest coastal ride of our journey may also be the most challenging. While it doesn't feature major elevation gains, the road is rarely flat, winding continuously through maquis shrubland and rugged rock formations. The surface is as rough as the wild nature surrounding us, and with most sections exposed to the sea, we may find ourselves battling the wind. But every effort is rewarded with spectacular views that will accompany us throughout the day. We’ll finish our ride with a descent into the picturesque town of Porto, where we’ll have the chance to admire the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea, before we sit down to a well deserved dinner.

Our leisure cycling crew will have the opportunity to join the main group for the first part of the day, and again after lunch for the final descent back to our hotel. Meanwhile, the non-riding group can enjoy the stunning sea views along the route or take a walk to one of the nearby beach spots.

*We will arrange car transfers accordingly.

Day Five

Port — Ajaccio

25km / 550m

Hotel: SOFITEL Golfe Ajaccio Thalassa Sea & Spa

Today is our designated rest day, with two short ride options available: a leisurely 25 km route or a more challenging 45 km option. Although it’s a transfer day, we’ll still be riding through one of Corsica’s most dramatic landscapes—the Calanques de Piana, a stunning formation of red rock cliffs that form part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. After taking in the spectacular views, we’ll enjoy lunch by the sea before transferring to our final Hotel in Ajaccio, the Corsican capital, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. The famous statesman, warrior and master tactician never forgot his Corsican roots, and we'll raise a glass to him over dinner as we recover and prepare for the final two days of our Corsican campaign.

After the shortest ride of the trip, we’ll enjoy lunch by the sea at one of Corsica’s most stunning beaches — Plage d'Arone. Following lunch, two boats will pick up our guests for a scenic cruise to explore the red rock formation, cliffs, and the sea caves of Piana, this time from the sea level. This 3–4 hour boat trip is the perfect opportunity to relax and take in the beauty of the Corsican coast, accompanied by refreshing drinks and light snacks. The boats will take you directly to the final hotel of the event - the SPA Sofitel Golfe d'Ajaccio.

Day Six

Ajaccio Queen Stage

100km / 2000m

On our Queen Stage once again head towards the heart of the island, exploring the wild roads of the Park Natural Régional de la Corse - as we make our way into the mountains. After reaching our first pass, Col de la Tana, much of the day will be spent at altitudes approaching 1,000m, riding along balcony roads that winds at the base of the Castellu d'Ornucciu plateau. This is the most alpine-like stage of the event, featuring steady long climbs followed by exhilarating long descents into remote river valleys. This day truly captures what the island is known for - its spirit of independence and its rugged, raw beauty.

On the queen stage of the event, both the leisure riding group and non-cycling guests will have the option to either join the riders for part of the day or take a break and explore the town of Ajaccio at their own pace.

Day Seven

Ajaccio Final Loop

85km / 1600m

The final stage of our Randonnée takes us along winding back-roads between the Golfe d’Ajaccio and Coti-Chiavari, in the southern part of Ajaccio. If energy allows and spirits are high, we may follow the route of the Tour Génoise and visit some of the Genoese towers—historic coastal fortifications built by the Republic of Genoa, long before Corsica became a French island.

For the final day of the trip, we propose that the leasure riding group to joing the main crew, while non-cyclist enjoy a tour of the Genoese towers. We’ll all reunite toward the end of the ride and share one last seaside lunch together, before making our final journey — a short ride of less than 5 km — back to the hotel.

Day Eight 

Departures

After breakfast, we’ll assist with transfers to the airport or onward travel as guests begin their journey home. Thank you for riding with us—we hope to see you on another adventure soon.