Epic six-day cycling challenge around the stunning island of Corsica, 950 km circular route encompassing 14,900 m of ascent, taking in the cycling highlights of the island. Official route including registration plus certificate and medal for successful finishers. Stay in comfortable hotels (generally 3*) with traditional Corsican cuisine. Enjoy incomparable full support - two customised support vans with attentive, expert (and fun!) guides who are there to motivate you and assist you with everything you need while on the road. A tough but truly unforgettable cycling experience. The Raid Corsica is a fabulous cycling route created by the Parisian Audax club, showcasing the whole of this spectacular island. You will immediately see why Corsica is referred to as the 'Isle of Beauty'. It's mountainous and geographically diverse with a huge variety of terrain - coastlines lapped by inviting azure seas, flatland marshes, the 'Desert des Agriates', a wild interior of high granite peaks, and a huge National Park covering over a third of the island. It has a complex history, and influences from Italy and France are evident in the cuisine, architecture, language, and politics. This is an epic road cycling challenge in a magnificent location. In terms of difficulty, it's comparable to other raids of a similar length, such as Raid Pyrenean and Raid Alpine and while there are fewer big cols, you will be suitably tested by climbs such as the Vergio (1477m), Sorba, Verde, and Bavella which are all over 1200m altitude. Daily distances are actually a little longer than on other Marmot raids, with an average daily route of 161 km, making this a tough but manageable challenge for fit cyclists. As with all our tours, you'll be supported by two skilled Marmot guides (in our highly customised support vans) who are attentive and energetic. Their aim is to ensure you have an incredible holiday, squeezing the fun into every moment and helping you smash your goals. We're passionate about what we do, and we pride ourselves on our attention to detail and individual customer focus. While this is a group holiday, our guides are experts at supporting you as an individual and they are adept at quickly understanding your needs and aspirations. This is a truly fabulous tour if you're looking for your next cycling challenge - one you'll never forget! 6 days of stunning cycling, with detailed GPS route files provided. On-the-road support from two friendly and knowledgable guides both in customised support vehicles. Water and unlimited snacks (fruit, cake, nuts, snack bars etc) at support stops. 7 nights twin-share hotel accommodation including breakfasts. 7 three-course evening meals, with wine, beer or soft drinks included. Airport transfers on arrival and departure days at specified times. Raid registration and carnet. Plus medal/certificate for successful finishers. Our photos of you and your holiday, shared with you after the trip. Tips paid to evening meal restaurant staff on behalf of the group. Your money financially protected by ABTOT. Added consumer confidence and support via our ABTA membership. Your day will typically start with breakfast from 07:00. Your set-off time will vary according to your riding pace and will usually be between 07:45 and 08:45 - your guides will advise you on a departure time that works for you and for the support of the group as a whole. Lunch is typically served in restaurants and cafes from 12:00 to 14:00. Arrival time at the hotel at the end of the riding day is usually between 17:00 and 20:00, depending on riding pace as well as on the weather, and any unforeseen problems. Dinner is usually served at 19:30 (the guides will arrange a later dinner for anyone getting in after this time). Your guides may adjust these timings depending on the needs of the group or the weather conditions. We stay in comfortable 2* and 3* hotels with ensuite facilities. We have selected the hotels for their location and for their customer service towards cyclists. You will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender) unless you book a single room for a supplement. Each hotel has a garage/locked room to ensure that your bike has a comfortable night too. All the hotels have WiFi but it is not always reliable! Some only have WiFi in reception as opposed to in individual rooms. Also, WiFi can be slower in the evenings when many riders choose to upload their routes to Strava, stretching the bandwidth. We move on each night of this trip, so opportunities to use hotel laundry facilities (where they exist) are limited. However, we can help dry your hand-washed kit, so consider bringing some hand-wash detergent with you. The hotels and restaurants we use can cater for most dietary needs and allergies if we know what these are well in advance. Each day, your guides will also double-check with the kitchen, to ensure they have something suitable planned for you. Day 0: Arrival day. Transfers from Bastia Airport (BIA) with a journey time of approx. 30 min at various times throughout the day and Bastia ferry terminal is in short walking distance from our start hotel in Bastia. The hotel is ideally located for the town centre with its shops and cafes and there's a small beach (Plage de Toga) 400 m to the north. There will be time to assemble your bikes and have a welcome briefing, followed by a great dinner, where you can get to know your fellow riders. Day 1: Bastia to Calvi. Cycling around Cap Corse on a unique and stunning coast road with spectacular views. Arrive at the picturesque harbour town of St Florent about 106 km into your ride for a well-earned lunch, before climbing up to the rocky plateau of the ‘Desert des Agriates’ and the remote Bocca di Petraiolu (357m). A fabulous descent sees you back on the coast road and heading south to l'Ile Rousse. From here, you head inland again on a beautiful backroad into the hills.The reward for your efforts is a great view of the mountains and coast from the Bocca di Salvi (509m) towards your destination Calvi way below. Calvi is one of the top tourist destinations on the island and if you have the energy for a dip in the sea or a stroll around the marina you will see why! It really is a beautiful spot. Day 2: Calvi to Calacuccia. Ride to the rural interior of Corsica, on the far side of rugged Mt Cinto at 2700m, Corsica's highest peak. Spectacular start to the day, as you head out on the stunning coast road that undulates south from Calvi. Once over the Col de Palmarella (408m), you descend to Porto. This is at the base of the climb through Les Calanches - a landscape of rocky spires high above the deep blue sea. You'll get to see them in both directions on your excursion to Pina over the Col de Lava (491m) for a carnet stamp. After lunch, you've got a fabulous climb ahead of you! The Col de Vergio (1477m) is the highest road col in Corsica, starting from sea level! This is a spectacular climb into the high mountains. You're rewarded with a long descent to the mountain hamlet of Calacuccia, where we stay the night. Day two done! Day 3: Calacuccia to Santa-Maria-Siché. Starts with a cracking descent down a road that snakes alongside a stunning river gorge before climbing up the Col d'Ominanda (653m). The historic capital town of Corte is well placed for a coffee stop to help fuel you over the five cols on today's ride! Heading southwards through the lush, forested interior of the island, over the Col de Sorba (1311m) the Col de Verde (1289m), and the Col de la Granaccia (865m), you eventually arrive in Santa-Maria-Siché for a warm welcome from the hotel. Enjoy a hearty dinner and swap tales with your fellow riders ... It's a big day and we're certain it's one you'll never forget! Day 4: Santa-Maria-Siché to Sartène. Head up to the mountain village of Bastelica for a carnet stamp and cafe stop. From here you descend on blissfully quiet, small, rural roads to the coast and Ajaccio, the modern capital of Corsica. There is a short stretch on a main road to get your carnet stamped on the edge of Ajaccio, but you're soon back on the coast road, linking one deserted beach with the next. The views of the Mediterranean are picture postcard-perfect. Climbing up the Col de Coti-Chiavari (486m) leads you into the coastal hills of Corsica's jagged western edge. You'll be rewarded with spectacular views as you make your way to the delightful coastal town of Propriano - perfect for mid-afternoon ice cream! From here it's just one more climb to get to our hotel in Sartène, which is famous for its pirate history (today it's a historic, typically Corsican and pleasant town). Day 5: Sartène to Aléria. On the menu today are smooth roads, beautiful views, and historic destinations - everything you could possibly want from a cycling holiday! A fast, undulating road takes you to the incredible natural harbour at Bonifacio, on the very southern tip of the island where we pause for a coffee and a carnet stamp. From here, we head back northwards to Porto Vecchio, on Corsica's east coast, where we turn inland and climb the Bocca d'Illarata (991m) to the delightful little mountain town of Zonza. Next up is the truly stunning Col de Bavella (1218m), where you're surrounded by towering granite peaks and sparse pine trees. A fabulous descent takes you back to sea level before a rare, flat stretch of road to Aléria, where we stay the night. Just one last push is needed tomorrow ... Day 6: Aléria to Bastia. Your final day in the saddle! With the end of the challenge in sight, you'll warm up with a slightly flatter start today, before exploring the hills that overlook Corsica's north-east coast. The climb is well worth the effort - it's a stunning route through picturesque villages and terraced hillsides, peaking out on the Col de St Agostino (685m). Eventually, you descend to the coast and join a small road that runs along a coastal spur between a lagoon and the sea, leading to our hotel just south of Bastia. It has a pool and is within strolling distance of the sea. Why not take the opportunity of a dip in the warm waters of the Med that you've been eyeing up this week? Enjoy celebrating your incredible achievement tonight - you certainly deserve it after six days of epic cycling! Chapeau! Day 7: Departure day. Time to say 'Au revoir' to Corsica as it's home time. We offer included transfers from the hotel to Bastia Airport (BIA), a journey of approx. 15 min, or to the ferry terminal (25 min). We're sure your memories of this fabulous cycling challenge will last a lifetime!
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