Mediterranean Island Hopping

Experience the Best of Coastal Cycling on Corsica and Sardinia

Get ready to be dazzled on the NEW twist of our French and Italian Island Escape. Now in its 25th year!

Destination

Italy, Corsica, France, Sardinia

Activity

Biking

Level

Intermediate

Duration

12 days / 11 nights

If you seek views, love to swim, crave seafood specialties, and seek a one-of-a kind bike tour that goes deep into the heart of two island cultures. This award-winning tour is calling your name!

From $6,895 PP

Book Now

Schedule A Call

Download Itinerary

If you seek views, love to swim, crave seafood specialties, and seek a one-of-a kind bike tour that goes deep into the heart of two island cultures. This award-winning tour is calling your name!

Exotic Sardinia and Corsica are showcased in this ultimate European getaway. Outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, nature and water lovers alike will be dazzled by this trip’s dramatic beauty. This new north-to-south route follows the coastline with spectacular seaside views, before heading inland towards the secret heart of Sardinia. Distinct and exotic, Italian-influenced Sardinia and French-flavored Corsica enchant all who visit their Mediterranean shores and magical hills. In hilly Corsica, called the “beautiful city” by the ancient Greeks, we’ll cycle by jagged purple-pink rock formations, dramatic white cliffs, and translucent blue coves.

We’ll also pedal through the astonishing glittering-red granite rock walls of Les Calanques, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Sardinia, pastel houses fade into chestnut groves and cork forests, rolling hills take us to thousands of prehistoric Nuraghi towers, and sculpted pink rock formations and dunes melt into the sea. Indulge your deepest Mediterranean fantasy on this Italian island hopping tour.

Tour Essence

Explore the Catalan-inspired coastal town of Alghero
Take to the seas on a private, island-hopping boat excursion on the coast of Bonifacio
Marvel at the glittering-red granite rock walls of Les Calanques, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Experience French and Italian cultures back-to-back
Cycle through spectacular limestone mountains and along stunning oceanfront cliffs
Savor local and fresh seafood cuisine
And so much more!

What to Expect

Terrain

Hilly with coastal riding

Start Location

Calvi, Corsica

End Location

Cagliari, Sardinia

Mileage

Average Daily: 45 miles Total: 495 miles

Bikers on the Mediterranean Island Hopping tour holding hands while biking

Recognition

This tour was featured in National Geographic Traveler's "Tours of a Lifetime" in 2011.

Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.

What’s Included

Van support
Expert, bilingual guides
A walking tour of Bonifacio
Boat excursion with lunch on board
Shuttles at the beginning, during and at end of the tour

What’s Included

Use of a carbon road bike equipped with Garmin Edge Touring GPS
Ciclismo jersey and water bottle
Two water bottle holders
Map holder on handlebars and a Garmin Edge GPS
Handlebar bag
Tire pump
Combination bike lock
Gel-padded saddle
Choice of pedals
Card with your tour leaders’ mobile phone numbers

Pedal Options

Flat pedals
Half-toe pedals (without straps)
Toe cage pedals

What’s Not Included

Helmet
Optional: clipless pedals with shoes
Optional: your own saddle

All accommodations
All breakfasts
2 lunches
8 dinners

This new north-to-south route follows the coastline with spectacular seaside views, before heading inland towards the secret heart of Sardinia. Distinct and exotic, Italian-influenced Sardinia and French-flavored Corsica enchant all who visit their Mediterranean shores and magical hills. In hilly Corsica, called the “beautiful city” by the ancient Greeks, we’ll cycle by jagged purple-pink rock formations, dramatic white cliffs, and translucent blue coves.

Dates

2019

Sep 4-15

Available

Sep 18-29

Full

Oct 2-13

Limited Spaces

From $6,895 PP

$1,000 Optional Single Supplement

Book Now

Schedule A Call

Download Itinerary

Any of our tours can be made private. Contact us to learn more.

Go Private

Itinerary

Download Itinerary

Start Location

Calvi, Corsica

Fly Into

Calvi airport

End Location

Cagliari, Sardinia

Fly Out Of

Cagliari airport

Download Itinerary

STYLED MAP

Day1

Calvi, Corsica

Bienvenue – welcome to Corsica! Our journey begins in the charming coastal outpost of Calvi. Warm your muscles up with a brief ride in the Balagna, the region of Northern Corsica famous for pink granite landscapes and mouthwatering local wine.

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

12 miles

Riding Terrain

Hilly with some climbs and gorgeous views

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Hotel La Villa

Hotel La Villa is a 5-star accommodation in Calvi, right in the heart of the Balagne. You’ll be surrounded by unique and diverse landscapes and the ultimate luxury.

Luxury Level5 stars

Day2

Porto

Our tour gets off to a great start today with one of the most scenic rides of the entire itinerary. The first miles out of Calvi will challenge you, but the view will it worthwhile. After mile 17, it’s smooth sailing along an incredible road that zigzags in and out of the trees, passing mountains lush with eucalyptus trees, meandering cows and goats, and coral-colored points along the sea.

Average Mileage

50 miles

Riding Terrain

Hilly with some climbs and gorgeous views

Accommodations

Hotel Belvedere

Hotel Belvedere is placed in an ideal location in the pedestrian area at the foot of the Genovese tower of Porto. It offers an amazing view over the harbor, the eucalyptus wood and the beach.

Luxury Level

Day3

Porticcio

Today’s ride has an incredible variety of scenery. Just after we start, have your camera ready for the next ten miles as we pass through the astonishing coastal area of Les Calanques, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose red and pink granite spires soar above the sea. For the next few miles, we ride along a wonderful coastal road with white sandy beaches. The last climb to Col de San Bastianu leads into a well-deserved descent into Aiaccio, Corsica’s capital.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

50/60 miles

Riding Terrain

Rolling with climbs, descents and coastal riding

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa

Situated on the western shoreline of one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful islands, Radisson Blu rests on Agosta Beach outside the village of Porticcio. A short trip around the bay takes visitors to the Imperial City of Ajaccio, the historic birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Luxury Level

Day4

Propriano

Early in the day we hit the hill of Coti Chiavari on a spectacular and quiet road that winds up through scented bushes. This is the essence of the Mediterranean. Later, the terrain gets flatter and we end at a lovely hotel with time left for a dip in the clear waters of a private beach.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

35 miles

Riding Terrain

Hilly with some climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Hotel Marinca

Hotel Marinca is located on the far side of Valinco Bay, about three miles from the center of town. In addition to its private beach, it has a pool and wonderful views of Propriano.

Luxury Level

Day5

Bonifacio

Today’s road is wide and hilly with views of the craggy coastline and sea to your left. After the start we climb to Sartene, the ancient capital of Corsica. Its austere atmosphere and ancient dark granite buildings will send your imagination into overdrive. The road continues alongside the coast until we reach our final destination for the day, the city of Bonifacio.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

44/53 miles

Riding Terrain

Hilly with some climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Santa Teresa

Located in the very south of Corsica, Hotel Santa Teresa boasts an exceptional setting in the Genovese stronghold of Bonifacio. Situated at the tip of the peninsula, this peaceful haven overlooks the cliffs for superb views of Sardinia and the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel has 44 air-conditioned rooms with ocean views.

Luxury Level

Day6

Arzachena

Today we leave the beautiful island of Corsica to Sardinia, another jewel of the Mediterranean. We ride the ferry to Santa Teresa di Gallura, in Sardinia, and from the harbour we will start our ride towards the region called Gallura. The scenery will change soon, from the limestone of Bonifacio to the rounded granite rocks of Sardinia. This is the region where the Vermentino di Gallura wine is made, a lightly sparkling white wine, dry and mineral, that matches perfectly with the fish of the Mediterranean. Our hotel is just outside the town of Arzachena, located in the countryside and with the typical Italian/Sardinian charm, the best way to appreciate the difference with the Corsican style. OPTION: We can shorten the day to 35 miles and 2,297ft, and plan a wine tasting at the Capichera Winery, very close to our hotel and probably the best Vermentino di Gallura.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch

Average Mileage

Riding Terrain

Hilly

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations

Mediterranean Island Hopping

Luxury Level

Day7

Arzachena Loop

From Arzachena we ride straight down to Palau where, after a short ride on a ferry, we will reach La Maddalena island that gaves the name to the La Maddalena Archipelago, the biggest and most spectacular marine park in Italy. After a short loop of the island we cross the bridge to Caprera Island, known as the Garibaldi Island. This is the place where Garibaldi, after his precious tribute to the Italian unification, decided to spend the last part of his life and where he’s been buried in 1882. After a short visit to his house and his grave we can cycle back to the pier at La Maddalena and back to Palau. From here we will ride along the main Costa Smeralda road back to Arzachena and to our hotel. OPTION: Boat ride from Palau around the La Maddalena Archipelago (a must see). Lunch provided on boat.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

Riding Terrain

Hilly

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Mediterranean Island Hopping

Luxury Level

Day8

Li Cuncheddi

Today’s ride will drive us to the heart of the Gallura region and along the Costa Smeralda coast. It’s this part of the coast which made Sardinia famous for its beautiful beaches in the 60s, when Karim Aga Khan, an Ismaelit prince who fell in love with the island, started building the most luxurious hotels in the Mediterranean. Since that time Sardinia, from a land of shepherds and agricultures, became a worldwide appreciated holiday destination. We will enjoy a picnic meal together today.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

Riding Terrain

Hilly

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Mediterranean Island Hopping

Luxury Level

Day9

Budoni

Today we will leave the granite rocks of Gallura and we enter the Baronie region where the limestone raise out the sea 150 million years ago (Sardinia is one of the oldest lands in Europe), and for millenia, glacier after glacier shaped the region with this big limestone massifs, rounded and separated by lush valleys. Oak forests and cork tree farms will surround us during the ride. It will be a very peaceful day going across a very quiet territory where the only sounds will be the wind between the trees and some goat bells.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

Riding Terrain

Hilly

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Mediterranean Island Hopping

Luxury Level

Day10

Oliena

Spectacular stage today. Starting from the coast, after a nice warm up along the coast, we will take on the long climb up to Mont’Albo. It’s a nice steady grade with a stunning view of the coast all the way up. It will be a ride in the wilderness with a privileged view from the ridge of the mountain down to the valley. An amazing descent will lead us down to the other side of the Mont’Albo and towards another majestic limestone massif called Monte Corrasi. Our hotel is settled just at the foothill and is an experience hotel with a unique style. We’ll enjoy a picnic meal together.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

52 miles

Riding Terrain

Hilly

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Experience Hotel Su Gologone

Experience Hotel is a 4-star accommodation that lies at the foot of Supramonte, a mountain steeped in folklore. It’s a large, white villa that blends perfectly with the surrounding landscape of juniper trees and wild olives. With a swimming pool and views of the horizon, this hotel combines quality service, comfort and tradition.

Luxury Level4 stars

Day11

Santa Maria Navarrese

The last ride will be along one of the most spectacular roads in Sardinia. From the hotel up to Genna Silana it’s a long but gentle climb with a stunning view on the Flumineddu valley that starts from the Gorroppu Canyon, the highest canyon in Europe with its cliffs more the 1315 ft high. A stop to take a memorable photo is definitively worth it. The ride approaching the town of Baunei is a fun rolling road in a very unspoilt environment, full of wildlife and dramatic views. After Baunei the last adrenaline-filled downhill to the sea where we can celebrate the end of our unforgettable adventure in the Mediterranean islands.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

Riding Terrain

Hilly

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Mediterranean Island Hopping

Luxury Level

Day12

Arrivederci!

It’s time to say arriverderci to the charms of the Mediterranean! After breakfast around 9 am, we provide a two-hour group shuttle to Cagliari Airport, or a two and a half hour shuttle to Olbia.