The Bavella Needles are a chain of jagged granite peaks above the Bavella pass (1,218 m), between the Alta Rocca and the east coast. They rise to 1,857 m at Punta Alta. You can drive there from Porto-Vecchio (47 km, 53 min) or Bonifacio (75 km, 1 h 20), or take a guided 4x4 tour. It is the mountain counterpart to Lavezzi: the same granite, but at 1,200 m, in the Corsica regional nature park, where camping is banned.
Key facts
- Bavella pass: 1,218 m; highest of the Needles: 1,857 m.
- From Porto-Vecchio: 47 km, 53 min; from Bonifacio: 75 km, 1 h 20.
- The GR 20 passes at the foot of the Needles, with an alpine variant.
- Regional nature park: camping strictly banned on the site.
Key facts
| Key fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Bavella pass | 1,218 m, between the Alta Rocca and the east coast |
| Highest point | Punta Alta, 1,857 m (tower VI) |
| Accessible to walkers | Punta di a Vacca, 1,611 m (tower III) |
| From Porto-Vecchio | 47 km, 53 min |
| From Bonifacio | 75 km, 1 h 20 |
| Protection | Corsica regional nature park (created in 1972) |
Driving times: OpenStreetMap (OSRM), to the pass.
The landscape
The seven towers of Asinau, the Needles proper, raise their walls above pines twisted by the wind. The granite takes two forms: one, coarse-grained, erodes quickly; the other, pinkish and very hard, forms the spires. Tafoni, hollows eaten upwards into the rock, give it the look of a petrified sponge, just like the boulders of Lavezzi.
Walking and climbing
- Hiking: the GR 20 passes at the foot of the Needles, and its alpine variant gets closer via Bocca di u Pargulu (1,662 m). The i Paliri refuge is on the descent towards Conca.
- Climbing: practised since the 1920s, with routes up to grade 8 and up to 700 m high at Punta di u Furnellu.
- By 4x4: guided tours leave Porto-Vecchio through the Ospedale forest (from €175 on GetYourGuide, rated 5 out of 5, checked on 9 November 2026).
Pairing it with Lavezzi
From Porto-Vecchio, you can do Bavella one day and a trip to Lavezzi the next. As camping is banned at both sites, stay in town: see where to stay.
Book a trip
Guided trips to Bavella and the Alta Rocca
Porto Vecchio: Ospedale Forest & Bavella Needles 4x4 Tour8 hours★ 5.0 (132 reviews)from €175Check availability- Porto Vecchio: Cuscionu Plateau & Alta Rocca 4x4 Tour8 hours★ 5.0 (36 reviews)from €175Check availability
"From" prices checked on 9 November 2026 and may have changed.
Affiliate links: IlesLavezzi.com earns a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. "Show live prices" loads the GetYourGuide module, which sets its own cookies (learn more (in French)).
Frequently asked questions
Can I do Lavezzi and Bavella on the same day?
It is possible but tight: a morning at Lavezzi from Bonifacio, then 1 h 20 on the road to the pass. Two days is better, or start from Porto-Vecchio, which is closer to Bavella.
Which needle can you climb without technical climbing?
According to Wikipedia, Punta di a Vacca (1,611 m, tower III) is the only one accessible to ordinary walkers.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Timetables, prices and rules change: confirm before you go.
- Wikipedia (French), Bavella Needles, accessed 9 November 2026
- OSRM on OpenStreetMap, driving times to the Bavella pass, accessed 9 November 2026
- GetYourGuide widget, 4x4 tours from Porto-Vecchio, accessed 9 November 2026
