HOLIDAY DETAILS
The Area: Best known as the birthplace of Napolean Bonaparte (although as an adult he rarely visited his homeland), Corsica is probably the most beautiful of all the Mediterranean islands. Situated in the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, with mainland France to the north and the Italian peninsula to the east, it is a fairly small island, only about 185km from north to south and 85 km wide (which is about half the size of Wales and only a third of the size of its Italian neighbour Sardinia). Much of the island is rocky and mountainous, and the population of around 250,000 is scattered amongst coastal towns and small mountain villages. The interior contains rocky crags, empty valleys, deep gorges
and pine forests, where there are apparently more wild boars than people. However around the coast there are some fabulous beaches of white sand, and hillsides covered in the spiny sweet smelling maquis, Corsica’s best known plant.
Over the centuries the island has been fought over by the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, French, Italians and even the
British, but none were able to fully establish themselves or control the island’s native population. In 1768 the Genoese sold
the island to the French, and today Corsica is part of France, but still remains fiercely independent. It has its own
regional assembly, and some eighty percent of islanders still speak Corsican. However there remains a strong Italian
influence on the island, and this can be seen in the islands architecture, and felt in the local culture. It is a
fascinating island, and the beautiful scenery makes it an ideal destination for a cycling holiday.
The Tour: This is a Fully Supported Holiday with a leader, and backup vehicle to carry all the luggage and
provide any necessary assistance. The holiday is designed to enable you to see as much of this beautiful island as possible,
- the rocky western coast (where there are also some lovely beaches) as well as the rugged interior of the island.
Much of Corsica is hilly or mountainous and this trip does involve a fair amount of climbing and descending. The first
section of the route from Calvi takes you along the coast, and through the coastal mountain ranges, where there is a lot of up and down, although none of the climbs are particularly long or steep. You then move into the interior of the country, and here there are some quite long climbs over moderately high passes, although these are mostly well graded, and should not prove too much of a problem to regular riders. The final part of the holiday returns to the coast as you head around the Gulf of Ajaccio, and here there are a few short steep climbs.
The daily distance is between 30 and 55 miles. Traffic is generally light along most of the route, indeed much
of the riding is on small narrow mountain roads, which provide some excellent cycling. However the final part of the route into Ajaccio can be busy. There are no rest days on this trip.
Accommodation & Food: Accommodation is in small family run hotels, mostly graded 2* or similar, offering clean and comfortable rooms. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single member of the same sex – unless you have
paid the single room price for the holiday. We book rooms with ensuite facilities where available, but this cannot always be
guaranteed. Breakfast is provided at the accommodation, most hotels also have a restaurant attached for an evening meal, or
there is at least one other restaurant nearby.
Start: The holiday starts at Nice, from where we take the ferry to Calvi. Flights are available to Nice from many regional airports in the UK. The ferry departs at 16.00, so to allow time to transfer to the port you will need to ensure you are in Nice by 13.00. The sailing time to Corsica is 4 hours. Note: The cost of the flights to and from Nice are not included in the cost of the holiday. You may book flights yourself (or make your own alternative arrangements), or if you wish us to make the booking for you we can do so (an additional fee is payable). A separate form will be sent to you.
Finish: The cycling ends at Ajaccio. The last day is fairly short so you should have time to explore Corsica's largest town. We spend the night in Ajaccio and the following morning catch the ferry back to Nice. The ferry arrives in Nice at 15.00 and transport is provided to take you to the nearby airport for the flight back to the UK (Note: If you wanted to spend time in Nice it is obviously possible to stay an additional night and this could be arranged if required).
Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service to take your bicycle from your home in the UK
to the start of the holiday, and return it to your home at the end of the trip (additional fee payable).
Documents: You require a passport to visit France. Nationals of some other countries also require a visa. Non EU passport holders should check with the nearest French Embassy. You are also required to have travel insurance for the duration of the holiday. If you do not purchase insurance from us you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable alternative policy.
Bikes: All types of cycle are suitable for the trip. The most important thing is that your bike functions properly and that you are comfortable riding it. However you should make sure that it has suitable gears as this trip does take you through hilly countryside with a lot of up and down, and in addition there are several long climbs over moderately high passes. Most people will require a cycle with a triple chainset. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow 'slick' tyres.
You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike, as the route does cross some wild exposed areas with little in the way of shelter and no services.
Weather: The weather in Corsica is generally very reliable, and in September it is usually warm and sunny. Temperatures should be in the mid 20’s.
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