Coastal route from Ajaccio to Porto-Pollo, discovering picturesque beaches and hilltop villages on quiet roads rich in heritage. 

From Ajaccio, the route follows the south Coast of the Ajaccio Gulf. The road travels beach to beach, from Porticcio, then to Agosta, Isolella, Rupione and then the Mare e Sole beach with silver white sand. The route rises progressively in the maquis to join the ridge and the belvedere village of Coti-Chiavari. Then begins a beautiful descent towards the beach of Cupabia and the village of Porto-Pollo, located in the Gulf of Valinco. This stay consists of short stages that take small side roads. Your days are punctuated by the discovery of a region endowed with a rich natural, cultural, historical and architectural heritage that we meet at every turn.

Highlights

  • From Ajaccio to Porto-Pollo by the coast
  • Private or hire bike
  • Point to point  - 3 days cycling
  • ** and ***   Hotels   
  • Start and end in Ajaccio
Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Type of holidays
Cycling
Access
Ajaccio
Level
2 - Moderate
Carrying
Without bags

Itinerary

Day 1

Ajaccio

Go directly to your hotel in Ajaccio. The day is dedicated to the discovery of the imperial city. Enjoy the sweet life of the city on a terrace of the port or at the edge of the beaches. 

Night
Night in Ajaccio
Day 2

Ajaccio to Coti-Chiavari

The route joins the south shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio, along the beaches of Porticcio, Agosta, Ruppione before arriving at the beach at Mare e Sole or the Plage d'Argent. Then, the road climbs towards the old penitentiary, enters a thick scrub to reach the crest near the village of Coti-Chiavari. 

Distance
40 km
Ascent / descent
+660 m / -180 m
Night
Night in Coti-Chiavari
Day 3

Coti-Chiavari to Porto-Pollo

A short stop while downhill punctuated by beautiful beaches. This will be an opportunity to make a detour to the Cala d'Orzu, before reaching the beach of Cupabia and the village of Serra-di-Ferro, then dive to the seaside town of Porto-Pollo. You can enjoy the beach or visit the wetlands at Tanchiccia.

Distance
32 km
Ascent / descent
+400 m / -860 m
Night
Night in Porto Pollo
Day 4

Porto-Pollo to Ajaccio

A more "mountainous" stage with a route that rises above the Taravu valley and joins the Gradellu pass, which offers a superb panorama. Begins a majestic descent to the beach of Agosta and Porticcio. This is where you take the shuttle boat to Ajaccio. In case of cancellation of the shuttle for weather reasons, the return is by road (+15km).

Distance
40 km
Ascent / descent
+690 m / -690 m
Night
Night in Ajaccio
Day 5

End of the stay in Ajaccio

Holiday ends after breakfast.

Programs have been drawn up according to the latest information available at the time of writing: imponderables are always possible and situations beyond our control may alter the course of the program.

Dates and prices

Departures everyday from May until the end October.

Please select your departure date from the calendar below to find out the rate and begin your booking.

Pick a date
Price includes

Accommodation including breakfast, luggage transfers between hotels, trip dossier containing your maps, route notes and access to our guidance application. 

Price does not include

Transfer to and from Ajaccio (available at a supplement), 5€ / person reservation fee, unscheduled transfers, drinks, picnics, extra activities, holiday insurance, bike hire.

Supplements/Discounts

Bike hire : contact us for a quote.

Insurance

We offer comprehensive multi-risk insurance specifically adapted to our adventure trips (contract no. 7482 Assurinco). The rates are as follows: 4.00% of the price of the trip for French residents, 6% of the price of the trip for residents from the European Union (EU) outside France. For non-EU residents, the rate is €90 per person. See insurance details.

Group discount

Groups of 3 people or more can benefit from a discount. Please contact us for details.

Technical informations

Starts

At your first hotel in Ajaccio, please ask for details of taxi transfers.

Ends

At your hotel in Ajaccio after breakfast, please ask for details of taxi transfers.

Access

Ajaccio airport or port.

Hébergement

  • Hotel in double/ twin rooms: 1 nights in ** Hotel (Coti Chiavari) and 3 nights in *** Hotels (Ajaccio and Porto Pollo).
  • Single room supplement to be requested when booking.

Meal

Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam).

Number of participants

Reservations for minimum of 2 participants. 

Guiding

Self-Guided Biking. We provide you with a Travel Dossier complete with IGN map and Topoguide created by our team. During your bike tour our 24-hour assistance service will also be able to answer all your questions and, if necessary, bring you useful tips for the smooth running of your stay.

Level

Moderate - These holidays are designed for people looking for an active holiday. A reasonable level of physical fitness is required. You must take part in at least one sporting activity at least once a week. Stages of between 20 km and 40 km per day. Maximum cumulative altitude difference of 1000 metres per day. First experience of a cycling tour is recommended.

Luggage transfers

You need to carry a small day sack only with a water bottle, camera, picnic and wind jacket. The main luggage will be transported by vehicle between the different accommodations.

The digital roadbook

Once you have confirmed your holiday, you can download our application. It's easy to use and it offers a number of functionalities:

  • Precise route guidance with alerts in the event of deviations.
  • View your starting point, accommodation, current position, mileage.
  • Discover points of interest via interactive content with descriptions, photos and audio. 
  • In an emergency, send an SOS alert with your GPS coordinates. 
  • Contact function to share messages, photos and videos with our team during your stay.

Extensions

Take advantage of a stay extension during your tour with Corsica Aventure.

If you'd like to discover Corsica before or after your holiday, our team can offer you ideas for accommodation and activities. If you prefer to arrive a few days earlier or extend your stay for a few days, we can book your extra nights on the island, depending on your arrival city.

Here are a few hotels we recommend for those of you who would rather organise their extra days themselves:  

Ajaccio

  • Hôtel Le Dauphin 2*/ Tél : 04 95 21 12 94.
  • Hôtel Kalliste 3* / Tél : 04 95 51 34 45.
  • Hôtel Albion 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 66 70.
  • Hôtel San Carlu 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 13 84.

Propriano

  • Hôtel Bellevue / Tél : 04 95 76 01 86.
  • Gîte-hôtel U Fracintu / Tél : 04 95 76 15 05.

Porto

  • Hôtel Kallisté / Tél : 04 95 26 10 30.
  • Hôtel Le Belvédère / Tél : 04 95 26 12 01.
  • Hôtel Le Méditerranée / Tél : 04 95 26 10 27.

Piana

  • Hôtel Les Calanques / Tél : 04 95 27 82 08.
  • Hôtel Les Roches Rouges / Tél : 04 95 27 81 81.

Calvi 

  • Hôtel Belvédère 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 01 25.
  • Hôtel Les Arbousiers 2* / Tél : 04 95 65 04 47.
  • Hôtel Christophe Colomb 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 06 04.
  • Hôtel Balanea 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 94 94.

Bastia

  • Best Western Montecristo Bastia / Tél : 04 95 55 05 10.

Map

Your itinerary:

Pictures
of the holidays

Reviews for Minibreak - Cycling in the Valinco

(5)

Voyage along the south coast, overlooking the sea for most of the way....

Translated from French by Deepl

Cedric 01/09/2020Minibreak - Cycling in the Valinco