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Route Rating Level 3 to Level 5

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RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Premiere Inns
  • $5,198 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$800 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

8 DAYS, 7 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 3 lunches and 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Olbia, Sardinia, Italy/Ajaccio, Corsica, France or Olbia, Sardinia, Italy

Special Interest

Cooking, Culture & History, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Swim

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Sardinia and Corsica Biking Tour

Sardinia & Corsica Biking

From Mountains to Beaches on the Mediterranean Isles

Perfectly suspended between Africa and Europe in the Mediterranean's cobalt waters, the enchanting islands of Sardinia and Corsica are the setting for our new eight-day biking odyssey. Pedal Sardinia's high interior mountains to turquoise waters and exquisite stretches of white-sand beach, and acquaint yourself with a unique and magical part of Italy and the Mediterranean that is far off the tourist map. And to the north, continue through the ruggedly beautiful French island of Corsica, which blends the flavors of Italy, France and Spain in one of the world’s most spectacular locations.

View other trips in Europe France

Day 1 Oliena

Meet in Olbia  Saddle up for a heart-pumping bike ride from the coast through sleepy sun-soaked villages. 

Day 2 Bitti

Spin inland along rolling hills draped with vineyards to the town of Nuoro, nestled on the slopes of Mount Ortobene  Learn the art of pasta-making (and eating) at a cooking class  Over dinner, we're treated to a fascinating concert of the traditonal polyphonic music.

Days 3-4 San Pantaleo

Spin up to a high plateau through an ancient Nuraghe site filled with large honeycomb-shaped stone buildings  Take advantage of the hotel's spa, head for the famous Costa Smeralda beaches or pedal along the quiet northeast shores - the day's activities are up to you!

Days 5-6 Zonza

Ferry across the Strait of Bonifacio to the French isle of Corsica On the Mediterranean’s most mountainous island, tackle a breathtaking route, passing quaint mountain towns and dramatic vistas Opt for a ride through the countryside, sharing the road with pigs and cows, or spend the day hiking the rugged alpine trails at the Col de Bavella Indulge in Corsica's unique flavors during visits to an olive oil mill and cheese farm.

Days 7-8 Porticcio

Gear up for a metric century taking you through the rugged (and hilly!) countryside to the spectacular western coast Unwind at our elegant seaside hotel  Time permitting, enjoy one a last spin along the coast or kick back on the beach before ferrying back to Sardinia.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

Sardinia is dotted with rustic villages where time has been frozen for years. Sheep herding, fishing, and olive cultivation are still major ways of life here. Very few tourists come through this way, so what you see, eat and experience is as real as it gets. Our stay on the Costa Smeralda has time built in for checking out the beaches...a must do on this island. Corsica is amazing, too – it's like a mini France! You can be on a world-class white sand beach one hour, then hiking high alpine trails the next. The roads are quiet (and steep in places!) making for excellent cycling. We can't wait to have you join us on these lesser-traveled islands!
Jeff Cantarutti - Regional Manager, Europe

All Guest Reviews

For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Sardinia and Corsica tour experts. For biking tours in Europe France, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Europe France biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe France walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe France multisport tours click here.

Sardinia & Corsica Biking

MEDITERRANEAN RETREATS: Premiere Inns*

Su Gologone Hotel

Oliena, Sardinia (1 night): This secluded villa offers comfortable colorful guest rooms and a swimming pool at the foot of Sardinia’s rugged mountains.

Hotel Su Lithu

Bitti, Sardinia (1 night): Perched above the quaint town of Bitti, this vibrant villa presents tastefully adorned rooms and a sun-baked terrace overlooking the dramatic landscape.

* With 1 Casual Inn night

Petra Segreta Resort & Spa

San Pantaleo, Sardinia (2 nights): Nestled in the lofty valley of Buddeo and overlooking the breathtaking Costa Smeralda, this tranquil resort makes the art of relaxation easy with a beautiful pool and full spa.

Hotel de Tourisme

Zonza, Corsica (2 nights): This rustic retreat high in the Corsican peaks is by no means lavish, but the comfortable guest rooms, heated pool and extraordinary setting make for a charming refuge.

* With 2 Casual Inn nights

Hotel le Maquis

Porticcio, Corsica (1 night): Blending Mediterranean modishness and Corsican quirk, the elegant Hotel le Maquis offers unrivaled seaside seclusion.

Sardinia & Corsica Biking Sardinia & Corsica Biking

Hotel le Maquis

Sardinia & Corsica Biking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 4  3 Route Options Available
  • 18, 24, 42 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 3 to 4  2 Route Options Available
  • 38, 49 miles
  • 3000 - 5500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 3 to 5  2 Route Options Available
  • 36, 68 miles
  • 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 1 to 2  2 Route Options Available
  • 14, 21 miles
  • 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 2 to 3  3 Route Options Available
  • 16, 23 miles
  • 500 - 3500 feet elevation gain
  • Optional 5-mile hike
Day 6
  • Levels 2 to 3  2 Route Options Available
  • 27, 40 miles
  • 1700 - 3500 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Level 3 to 5  2 Route Options Available
  • 34, 63 miles
  • 1500 - 3500 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Level 1  1 Route Option Available
  • 12 miles
  • 1200 feet elevation gain

*Please note: On some days we encounter significant elevation gains, making our routes more challenging than the mileage might suggest.

Sardinia & Corsica Biking Sardinia & Corsica Biking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles