After your arrival there will be a very short transfer to your hotel where you’ll be able to lounge by the pool and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this hotel in the Lucciana commune. Depending on flight times there is also the chance to stretch your legs and cycle down to the beach alongside the Etang de Biguglia (a salt-water lagoon where, if you’re lucky, you can spot the resident flamingos).

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,800 Metres Approx.

We head straight for the quiet country roads that within approx 20 minutes will give us a taste of the ‘real’ Corsica. Having pedalled our way up through Borgo village, we will weave our way through the many classic villages of the Nebbio, gaining height and fantastic views across the Golo valley towards the Castagniccia and onwards down to the coast. A steep descent will take us to Ponte Leccia, after which we continue on minor roads before finishing our day with a climb into Corte.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 2,000 Metres Approx.

From here the adventure into the south of the island really begins. This morning we will be rewarded with a long but generally easy climb to the Col de Vizzavona (1,163m) winding our way up amongst the pine forest. This is a well known area for a range of outdoor activities, not surprising given the stunning views up towards the Monte D’Oro. From the Col, there’s a short and speedy descent to Bocognano, before we head deep into the Prunelli region on a quiet road which includes a stiff climb up to the Col de Scalella (1,193m). With Monte Renoso to our left, we descend to the little mountain village of Bastelica (a hotbed of Corsican nationalism), before heading west over the Col de Cricheto and onwards to the coast.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 2,400 Metres Approx.

Today we’ll enjoy some pleasant cycling along the coast towards the Port de Chiavari before swinging inland to climb up through the forest of Chiavari, where you’ll be surrounded by eucalyptus, holm oak and cork oak. Look out for the remains of the old prison camp ‘Le Pénitencier de Chiavari’ before heading over the Col de Cortoni and back down to the coast at Propriano, another popular seaside town. From here it’s a direct ride all the way down to the bottom of the island to the stunning port of Bonifacio, which perches precariously on the top of white limestone cliffs. Sardinia is now just a stones throw away!

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 2,100 Metres Approx.

Having reached the southernmost region of the island it is now time to change direction and start our journey back to the north. We get through 10kms of today’s stage rapidly as we leave the coast behind us and head inland on a flat straight road. Before long a left hand turn takes us away from the main road and into a network of very minor roads which lead us through numerous tiny villages and hamlets.

After stopping in one of the small villages for a morning coffee we’ll continue our journey inland as we take on Col de Bacinu, the first significant climb of the day which tops out at just over 800m above sea level. It’s a challenging but beautiful climb with magnificent views of the islands south-eastern coastline reaching far into the distance.

A long descent follows and delivers us to the start of our second challenge as the road begins to rise again through a series of mountain villages such as Carbini and Levie until eventually we arrive in Zonza which is ultimately where will end the day.

There is however more riding in store and for those not tempted to spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing in the lovely village there is an opportunity to ride the 18km out and back up to the magnificent 1,218m high Col de Bavella, one of the most famous attractions in the south of Corsica due to the fantastic backdrop of the ‘Aguilles de Bavella’ or needle like rocks that jut dramatically into the sky.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 2,100 Metres Approx.

This is a real treat of a day and cycling in Corsica doesn’t get much better than this! We head through the heart of the Alta Rocca region passing through many classic hillside villages. Our post breakfast warm up takes us up to the Col de la Vaccia (1,193m and only very recently tarmac’d), before descending to the established village of Zicavo (famed for its charcuterie). From here we depart for the climb of the day, as we pick our way through the semi feral pigs up to the Col de Verde (1,289m) where magnificent views on the ascent, pine trees and mountain air can be found in abundance. We can then enjoy another classic Corsican descent through the forest to Ghisoni. This quiet road provides some nice curves and undulations.

To top it all off we finish with a quick ride through the Défilé de l’Inzecca, a little known gorge with a few tight little turns and splendid views down to the river and the coast beyond. Following this, we turn back inland and climb once more before a final long (and breathtaking!) descent to our hotel for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,800 Metres Approx.

Our last day on the bikes sees us heading back to the north-eastern coast to complete our circuit and, like every other day in Corscia, it is packed with surprises.

We begin the day heading back towards Corte before a sharp right hand turn introduces the network of minor, virtually traffic-free roads that lead us deep into the “Castagniccia“, the island’s sparsely populated chestnut forest, a region rarely visited by tourists and one which seems to have been untouched by modern life.

The road rises, gently at first, through a series of tiny villages until we reach Bustanico, after which the road switches back and forth dramatically and ramps up sharply towards the first summit of the day.

What follows is a rollercoasting ride through some of the island’s wildest territory. Eventually we reach the summit of the Col de Pratu, our last significant ascent and a perfect spot to have lunch before making our way back down out of the mountains, via a series of beautiful rural roads, and back to where we started in the outskirts of Bastia

• Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast it is time to pack up our bags and bikes for the short trip to the airport and the journey home.