Choose your pace
GR20 itineraries: which split should you choose?
How many days to hike the GR20? It depends on your level, your time and what you're after. Here are the most common itineraries — the full trail in 10, 12 or 16 days, or just the northern or southern half — with their stages, distances and difficulty, so you can choose with eyes open.
Comparison table
Compare the GR20 itineraries
All these figures come from our planner, computed on the same OpenStreetMap track (182.4 km total). Tap a row for the stage-by-stage detail.
| Itinerary | Days | Stages | Distance | D+ | Difficulty | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full GR20 | 6 | 6 | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | Very hard | View |
| Full GR20 | 7 | 7 | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | Very hard | View |
| Full GR20 | 8 | 8 | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | Very hard | View |
| Full GR20 | 9 | 9 | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | Very hard | View |
| Full GR20 | 10 | 10 | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | Hard | View |
| Full GR20 | 12 | 12 | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | Sustained | View |
| Full GR20 | 16 | 16 | 182.4 km | +11,220 m | Sustained | View |
| GR20 North | 7 | 7 | 91.0 km | +7,160 m | Sustained | View |
| GR20 South | 6 | 6 | 91.4 km | +4,000 m | Sustained | View |
In detail
The five itineraries in detail
Each page details the stages, the elevation profile, the demanding days, where to sleep, and opens in one click in the planner.
On the trail
What twelve days really feel like
We walked the GR20 north to south in 12 days, Calenzana to Conca, in August 2025. On paper, twelve days is the benchmark split. On the trail, it held together — but it was never comfortable: three of our days ran past eleven hours door to door, breaks included, and the hardest part is never one stage in isolation. It's the accumulation — early starts stacking up, punishing descents, the pack.
The plan bent exactly once. On day 9 we were aiming for Bergerie de Croci and stopped at Usciolu instead; our bodies had made the call before we did. It was also the day we got our first view out to the sea, near Prati. Looking back, I would keep the real recovery night in Vizzavona, and I would trim the pack even further.
So how many days do you need? Answer three questions honestly: can you absorb long days back to back, is your pack genuinely light, and is there mental margin left when nothing goes to plan? If you are torn between two durations, take the longer one. The real risk of a fast split is simple: sticking to the plan on the day your body asks for a break.
Help me choose
Which itinerary is right for you?
A quick steer by profile — then fine-tune it in the planner, which adapts everything to your pace and pack.
First time in the mountains
Go for the GR20 in 16 days (relaxed pace) or the southern half, less technical.
Solid hiker, two weeks
The GR20 in 12 days is the best compromise: complete, sporty, but liveable.
Very fit, short on time
The GR20 in 10 days condenses the traverse — demanding and committing.
Only one week
Do the northern half: the most alpine and spectacular part of the GR20.
Sporty / trail-runner profile
Run in the mountains? Aim for a short format: 9, 8, 7 or 6 days — committing, for the very fit only.
Methodology
How we calculate these numbers
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