Twelve days on foot across the backbone of Corsica. Reputed to be one of the most demanding trails in Europe — and the most beautiful.
The GR20 at a glance
Short answers to the questions you ask yourself before diving into the story.
Who is it for ?Fit, well-prepared hikers. This is not a first multi-day trek.
When to go ?Late June – early July and September. Summer stays hot and very crowded.
How many days ?16 days in the classic version, 12 in the sporty version like us.
What budget ?From ~€500 self-sufficient to €1,300+ staying in refuges. Excluding transport.
And water ?Water at refuges and sheepfolds. Plan for 1.5–2 L on the long exposed sections.
Do I need to book ?Yes, it's mandatory. The Park refuges through the official booking system, the rest directly.
What pack ?Aim for 8–10 kg excluding water and food. Broken-in, ankle-high boots.
How to get there ?Plane or ferry, then bus or taxi : Calvi → Calenzana in the north, return from Conca in the south.
The route, at a glance
184 km of planned route, from the granite north of Calenzana to the wild south of Conca. Twelve stages, twelve nights in a refuge or sheepfold. Click a number to read the stage.
Plan my stagesThe twelve days
Calenzana → ConcaDifficulty: 1 accessible → 5 very committing
NorthCalenzana → Vizzavona · high granite mountains
Calenzana → Ortu di u Piobbu
The real start
Ortu di u Piobbu → Carrozzu
First day as a pair
Carrozzu → Haut Asco
The Spasimata
Haut Asco → Ballone
The big northern stage
Ballone → Castel di Vergio
A breather towards Vergio
Castel di Vergio → Petra Piana
The very long day
Petra Piana → Vizzavona
Descent back to civilisation
SouthVizzavona → Conca · forests, lakes and Bavella
Vizzavona → Col de Verde
The south truly begins
Col de Verde → Usciolu
Learning to listen to your body
Usciolu → Croci
A mental grind
Croci → Paliri
Bavella and the storm
Paliri → Conca
The end of the trail
The GR20 leaves little room for improvisation.— Journal, day 1