Discovery
With over 8 million tourists every year, Corsica can pride itself on being one of the Mediterranean's leading destinations.
It's also a mythical destination for bikers who love nature.
Corsica in a few words
Corsica offers many breathtaking landscapes, with mountainous regions, steep-sided valleys, cliffs especially in the south, its perched villages, rivers and natural pools and of course, the coastline with its calanques and sandy beaches with turquoise waters.
Hop on your motorcycle, La Méridionale will take you on a journey through the 10,000 bends of the Isle of Beauty in the best possible conditions. On board our ships in a reserved area, our crew takes care of safely securing your motorcycle with straps and chocks that ensure it stays in place throughout the crossing.
Why you should discover Corsica by motorcycle
Corsica is a one-of-a-kind place given the diversity of its scenescapes that are just as magnificent as far-distant exotic ones, and given its incredible fauna and flora. Touring Corsica on a motorbike means first and foremost a feeling of total freedom. You take roads that are impractical by car, so there'll be much less tourist traffic, you go where you want, stopping as you please...
It's also the thirst for discovery that guides you through mountainous roads, sometimes chaotic paths to arrive in an out-of-the-ordinary calanque where you become one with nature.
Choosing to discover Corsica by motorbike also means experiencing a human adventure by meeting locals who will make you taste regional specialties but also other members of the motorcycle community with whom you'll enjoy riding. Finally, it's choosing to live your road trip as an epicurean, packing the bare minimum and enjoying everything you discover for what it's worth.
Discover our thousand bends stage between Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio
Discover Corsica differently with this special motorcycle itinerary we've designed for you connecting Ajaccio to Porto-Vecchio. Between winding roads, spectacular panoramas and authentic villages, this route of around 150 km is an invitation to adventure and escape. Download the GPX file and let yourself be guided through the wonders of the Isle of Beauty.
Preparing your motorcycle trip through Corsica
There are many ways to prepare for a motorcycle tour of Corsica. The best time to go is from April to mid-November. If you want to discover every facet of the island and make the most of every moment, you'll need at least a week. Here's a mini checklist of what you need to do and what you can expect to get the most out of your adventure:
- If you're taking your own motorcycle: give it a complete check-up before you leave
- If you're renting a fully-equipped motorcycle on site: check the terms of insurance, assistance in the event of a problem, if your mileage is unlimited, etc.
- Bring a road book with the various stages planned
- Choose your accommodation in advance and book it: camping, hotel, B&B, etc.
- Plan a fuel budget with the open stations you'll encounter along the way
- If you're taking the ferry with La Méridionale, you must arrive at check-in at least one hour before the ship's departure
Which motorcycle is best for discovering Corsica
Corsica has 1000 faces with a wide variety of landscapes: it ranges from the tarmac winding mountain road (watch out for animals waiting for you around every bend) to small secondary roads in really poor condition.
Whether you're on a big powerful bike or a 125cc, a roadster, a scooter or a sports bike, you'll find a suitable touristic route t take your motorcycle around Corsica.
Motorcycle type | Road type recommended | Mandatory license |
Trial (dirt bike) | Any type of terrain | X |
Road bike | Long asphalt roads | X |
Sports | Tarmac winding roads | X |
Custom | Long asphalt roads | X |
Roadster | Asphalt roads | X |
Scooter or other 125cc | Asphalt roads and tracks |
|
Advantages and disadvantages for each type of motorcycle
Type of motorcycle | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Trial (dirt bike) | All-terrain vehicle | Little comfort and storage space |
Road bike | Comfort and a wide choice of luggage | Avoid stony roads |
Sports | Mountain roads will delight riders | Little comfort and storage space |
Custom | Comfort and a wide choice of luggage | Avoid stony roads |
Roadster | Between trail and sportive | Avoid stony paths |
Scooter or other 125 cc | You can tour Corsica without a license | Plan for many stops for gas |
What equipment to choose for your motorcycle tour of Corsica
Discovering Corsica by motorcycle, means setting off on an adventure, discovering natural landscapes where flora and fauna live in total harmony. The picture may seem idyllic, but it can turn into a nightmare if you're not properly equipped. Here's a quick rundown of the equipment you need, both for your two wheels and for yourself.
Equipment for the motorcycle and the biker
To get the most out of your two-wheeled adventures in Corsica, you need to be well equipped:
- Map or GPS
- Helmet, gloves, boots, motorcycle jacket or even fully-body leathers. From July onwards, leather jackets are difficult to handle, bring a breathable jacket
- Motorcycle license and other documents in airtight packaging in case of rain
- Fuel budget
- Please bring luggage to store your belongings: a top case or side cases
- Bring rain pants...
Gear for your walking excursions
- Hat / cap
- Sunglasses
- T-shirt
- Shorts
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Camera to capture the magic of the moment
- Tent and sleeping bag if you plan to stop at campsites
Itinerary ideas for your motorcycle road trip in Corsica
We propose 2 types of itinerary here: one for experienced riders and suitable for custom bikes departing from Ajaccio and the other for novice bikers departing from Bastia.
Discover Corsica on a custom bike
We suggest this itinerary for experienced riders, to discover Corsica with their custom bike. We advise you to take a ferry to the port of Ajaccio, the starting point of your trip which will end a week later in Bastia.
From Ajaccio, drive along the coast to Propriano. Between Propriano and Sartène, we advise you to visit the natural park of Olva where you can discover Corsican species through a botanical trail as well as domestic animals native to the region, all roaming free.
Continue on to the Ventilegne pond, where you can go kitesurfing if you're sporty and a thrill-seeker. After this stop you'll head to Bonifacio, where you can take time to admire the Bouches de Bonifacio natural park and its limestone cliffs.
Then drive on to Porto Vecchio. A few kilometers away, you can visit the archaeological site of Ceccia to admire remains from the 4th millennium BC and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views. Continue on winding roads inland to Corte, where you can visit the Museum of Corsica. Then join Piana and its dreamlike calanques, listed as a World Heritage site. Then visit the Scandola reserve and its red granite cliffs, also a Unesco World Heritage site. Near Galeria, it's the Fango Valley that awaits you, with its crystal-clear torrent, forest and mountains.
If you love festivals, then make a stop in Calvi for the "Calvi on the rocks" if you're around at the beginning of July. Cross the Balagne and take a break at Ile Rousse to see the Pietra lighthouse. Then ride along the Gulf of Saint Florent and around the Cap Corse by motorcycle to Bastia.
An easy route for discovering Corsica by motorbike
Starting from Bastia this time, head for Saint Florent then ride along the magnificent Agriates Desert. Head inland through the Regional Nature Park until you get to Corte. There, take time to stroll through the fabulous Restonica Gorges and why not take a dip in Lake Melo or Capitello.
Then head to Aléria to discover local gastronomy and the Corsican cold cuts. A little further along your motorcycle tour, enjoy the sandy beaches of Solenzara and Favone and the Polischellu Waterfalls.
The next stop is Porto-Vecchio. On the way, take time to discover the archaeological sites of Cucuruzzu and Capula. The Aiguilles de Bavella are a breathtaking sight at sunset.
Pursue your route with the exceptional sites by heading to Palombaggia and its white sandy beaches surrounded by red rocks, which are among the most beautiful in Corsica. The next stop on your road trip will be Bonifacio and its limestone cliffs.
The scenery continues to unfold along winding mountain roads: Sartène, Campomoro, Propriano, Porto pollo and all the way to Ajaccio, the finish of your trip.
Invitation to travel
- Activities
Hiking in Corsica
- Activities
What to do in Corsica?
- Activities
Sanguinaires Islands
Our destinations
Ajaccio
Porto-Vecchio
Tangier
Marseille
