Sporty pace
GR20 in 12 days: the complete itinerary, stage by stage
Twelve days is the reference split for a full GR20 traverse: sporty enough to fit in two weeks off, reasonable enough not to turn the trail into a race. It's also the format we followed on the ground.
The pace
Why 12 days?
It's the best compromise between duration, budget and enjoyment for a regular hiker. It forces a few big days, but leaves time to live the GR20. For the lived account of this split, day by day, see our GR20 in 12 days story.
What this split demands
Good fitness, consistency and accepting the chain: getting up early, walking long, managing heat and descents.
What this split gives
A complete, coherent traverse, with a real switch at Vizzavona and an arrival at Conca still full of energy. Sporty, but not inhuman.
The stages
The detailed stage table
Distance, elevation gain, estimated walking time and difficulty for each day. These are exactly the figures our planner computes, from the OpenStreetMap track of the GR20.
| Day | Stage | Distance | D+ | D- | Time | Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calenzana → Ortu di u Piobbu | 10.9 km | +1,380 m | -130 m | 5h08 | 5/5 |
| 2 | Ortu di u Piobbu → Ascu Stagnu / Haut-Asco | 12.2 km | +1,380 m | -1,460 m | 5h55 | 5/5 |
| 3 | Ascu Stagnu / Haut-Asco → Tighjettu | 8.3 km | +1,160 m | -920 m | 4h27 | 4/5 |
| 4 | Tighjettu → Castel de Vergio | 14.8 km | +710 m | -960 m | 4h52 | 4/5 |
| 5 | Castel de Vergio → Manganu | 16.4 km | +630 m | -430 m | 4h50 | 4/5 |
| 6 | Manganu → Onda | 18.3 km | +1,250 m | -1,430 m | 6h53 | 5/5 |
| 7 | Onda → Vizzavona | 10.2 km | +650 m | -1,120 m | 3h52 | 3/5 |
| 8 | Vizzavona → E Capannelle | 13.8 km | +940 m | -270 m | 4h53 | 4/5 |
| 9 | E Capannelle → Prati | 17.6 km | +840 m | -640 m | 5h36 | 5/5 |
| 10 | Prati → A Matalza | 21.8 km | +900 m | -1,300 m | 6h50 | 5/5 |
| 11 | A Matalza → Foce di Bavedda / Col de Bavella | 20.5 km | +890 m | -1,090 m | 6h28 | 5/5 |
| 12 | Foce di Bavedda / Col de Bavella → Conca | 17.7 km | +430 m | -1,390 m | 5h04 | 4/5 |
| Total | 12 stages | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | -11,250 m | 64h48 |
How to read these numbers? The time shown is an estimated walking time (excluding breaks) for an average pace; on the trail, add stops, meals and weather. The D+ / D- are rounded, smoothed GPS values: the total track distance stays 182.4 km.
Watch out
The demanding days
On this split, one day stands out for its length or elevation gain. Plan an early start, carry water and keep some margin for a rough patch.
Manganu → Onda
18.3 km, +1,250 m of gain, ~6h53 walking. Start early and don't rush it.
Accommodation
Where to sleep on this route
The 11 nights of this split, from start to finish. Book the Park refuges early in season — details, contacts and prices on our GR20 accommodation page.
- Night 1 Ortu di u Piobbu 1540 m
- Night 2 Ascu Stagnu / Haut-Asco 1443 m
- Night 3 Tighjettu 1679 m
- Night 4 Castel de Vergio 1408 m
- Night 5 Manganu 1589 m
- Night 6 Onda 1400 m
- Night 7 Vizzavona 941 m
- Night 8 E Capannelle 1617 m
- Night 9 Prati 1811 m
- Night 10 A Matalza 1414 m
- Night 11 Foce di Bavedda / Col de Bavella 1218 m
Your way
Adapt this itinerary to your level
This split is a balanced starting point. In the planner you can change the duration, the direction (North-South or South-North), your pace and your pack: the stages, distances, times and difficulty recompute live, and you can download the GPX track for each day.
Level required
Who this pace is for
The right split depends above all on your mountain experience and your preparation. Here, honestly, is who this format suits.
Beginner
Too intense for a first long mountain experience.
Fit but no mountain experience
Possible but risky: better to keep more margin.
Regular, well-prepared hiker
The ideal profile for this complete, realistic format.
Experienced hiker
A coherent, efficient split with no dead time.
Methodology
How we calculate these numbers
Compare
Other durations and variants
This pace isn't for you? Compare it with the other GR20 splits — each page details its stages, elevation gain and difficulty.
Keep going