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.
Are you fit enough ?5 concrete situations, an honest verdict : go, train first, or start gentler.
When to go ?Late June – early July and September. Summer stays hot and very crowded.
How many days ?16 days classic, 12 sporty like us. Compare the durations, from 6 to 16 days.
Which direction ?North→South for the vast majority. Both directions compared with data.
What budget ?From ~€500 self-sufficient to €1,300+ in refuges — simulate yours line by line.
Do I need to book ?Yes, it's mandatory. The Park refuges through the official booking system, the rest directly.
How to get there ?Plane or ferry, then bus or taxi : Calvi → Calenzana in the north, return from Conca in the south.
Is it dangerous ?Hard ≠ dangerous. The real risks — storms first — and how to manage them.
What to pack ?Pack, shoes, sleeping kit : the field-tested list, nothing superfluous.
The hardest stage ?Stage 6, according to our data. The full ranked list of all 16.
The Mon GR20 tools
Three interactive tools built on the route's real data — free, no sign-up, and they run in your browser.
The stage plannerSplit your traverse day by day, at your own pace, in both directions — refuges, distances, climbs and GPX included.
The pack weight calculatorTick your gear, adjust the grams: your pack weight at stage start, computed live.
The budget simulatorOvernights at 2026 rates, meals, transport: your traverse budget, line by line.
The route, at a glance
182.4 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 in pictures
Sometimes a photo says it better than a thousand words why you go back.
The GR20 leaves little room for improvisation.— Journal, day 1