Camping de Bavella — Col de Bavella, Corse-du-Sud

Sitting at roughly 1,218 metres on the Col de Bavella, this is the kind of campground that stops you mid-drive. The Aiguilles spike the skyline, the forest smells like resin and stone, and the D268 twists right past the gate. It’s a proper small-scale Corsican site — pitches are tight, the vibe is mountain-simple, and in July and August it fills with hikers doing the GR20 as much as drivers doing the Alta Strada. Expect basic facilities: toilets, cold showers, and not much else. Fires are heavily restricted inside the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse — follow the rules or face serious fines.

Access is via the D268 from either Zonza or Porto-Vecchio — paved all the way, but narrow and relentlessly switchbacked. A standard 4WD or even a careful 2WD wagon gets there. Season runs May through October; winters close the col. No hookups. No dump station. Cash payment common. Book ahead for August or you’re sleeping in the car park.

Sleep under the Bavella Needles.