Walk the legendary GR20 route in Corsica! This version of the GR20 runs along the mountain range across Corsica and offers stunningly beautiful mountain scenery. The trip starts with an overnight stay in Ajaccio on the coast and on day two you will drive from Ajaccio to Bavella, where the hike starts. The last hike of the tour is from Asco down into the valley, where you will be picked up by a transfer to Calvi for your final overnight stay.
On the amazing hike from Bavella to Asco, we will provide your accommodation in camps, refuges, huts and small hotels all located in incredibly beautiful spots in the mountains. All meals are arranged by your mountain hosts and we provide luggage transport most days. It should be mentioned that there will be up to four days on the trek where you will not come into contact with your transported luggage, so luggage will need to be carried for several days in the mountains.
About the route
This is a very challenging hike where you will hike about 6-9 hours daily - sometimes longer. You can expect steep ascents and descents and several days offer more than 1000 meters of altitude. Temperatures can vary greatly in the mountains. It is important to be in good shape and have experience in hiking and trekking. It is important to be sure-footed and experienced in scrambling.
Here you can see the stunning scenery and some of the views that come with walking Corsica's GR20
See more pictures »You arrive in Ajaccio, where you check into your hotel. If you have arrived by car, it can be parked at the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the city.
Luggage transport: you will not have access to your transported luggage every day and therefore on some stretches you will need to carry luggage for several days in your rucksack. This backpack should therefore be 35-45litres and sleeping bag should be carried everywhere. In the following programme we write "Contact to Luggage" on the days when you have access to your transported luggage.
Accommodation: hotel in Ajaccio
During the day you will be driven to your accommodation in Bavella. This region is known as Alta Rocca and Bavella is one of Corsica's most famous peaks with high mountain passes and peaks shrouded in mystery. The drive to Bavella takes approximately 2½ hours and there will be time to settle in before dinner.
Contact to Luggage
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
From the Col de Bavella, take the alpine version of the trail to Asinau. It takes you steeply uphill and past the granite peaks of Acellu, Ariettu and Vacca. It's an unforgettable walk along the ridge. The path is rocky and in some places has a chain railing to support you over the larger stones. You descend into the valley and from here follow an easy track through the woods. You cross a small river and then walk uphill to Asinau, where you spend the night.
Distance: approx. 7km
Walking time: about 5 hours
+750m / -550m
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
After breakfast you continue your hike along the beautiful ridge of Monte Alcudina, which is 2134 moh. From here the views are absolutely stunning and on clear days you can easily survey the trails in the area and choose your own route. You leave the high alpine area and go down towards the famous Cuscione plateau. This is the island's largest plateau, spreading over a full 50 square kilometres and housing a diverse landscape of forests, meadows adorned with small streams. The area is perfect for grazing livestock and you will be staying in a shepherd's hut on the edge of the plateau.
Distance: about 8km
Walking time: about 3½ hours
+560m / -560m
Accommodation: tent at the refuge
Contact to Luggage
Today you continue your hike on the GR20 in Corsica by following the trails on the plateau. Along the way, you'll cross wide open meadows with small streams and waterholes. You hike up through an ancient dwarf forest to the Col de l'Agnone, from where you begin one of the most beautiful ridge walks of the tour, where the path is challenging and at times seems insurmountable. The elements have shaped the granite cliffs over time into a stunning spectacle and hiking here is a fantastic experience. The trail zigzags over the ridge and finally reaches the Usciolu refuge, which is located in a sheltered spot a little further down the humming mountain.
Distance: about 13km
Walking time: about 5 hours
+820m / -600m
Accommodation: tent at the refuge
This day's hike offers a very special landscape with beautiful views. From the refuge you continue along the ridge that separates the Taravo and Fiumorbu valleys. The trail descends towards the Col de Laparo. You pass the GR Prati refuge (1,820m) and we recommend a stop here, where there is a great view of Corsica from the rooftop terrace. Weather permitting, it's even possible to see as far as the neighbouring islands of Elba and Monte Cristo. The descent is rapid to the Col de Verde (1,289m).
Distance: about 15km
Walking time: about 7½ hours
+850m / -1.250m
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
Contact to Luggage
Today, the path winds in and out of coniferous forests of majestic Lariccio pines, whose silvery smooth bark is a symbol of Corsica itself. Today's hike crosses the sides of the dominant mountain, Monte Renosu. A steep section of the trail leads you to the shepherd village of Traghjette. These days, only one remaining shepherd lives here, keeping up this ancient way of life. A short hike takes you to the ridge, from where you can now see your next accommodation in the huts of Capanelle, used as ski huts in winter.
Distance: approx. 12km
Walking time: approx. 4 hours
+580m / -350m
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
Contact to Luggage
This is the last part of the southern GR20 in Corsica and is a relatively relaxing stage. You leave Capanelle (1,568m) and follow a largely flat path through easy terrain. Along the way you'll pass various idyllic spots, secluded stone huts and lush countryside. You continue to Bocca Palmente (1,640m), from where - weather permitting - you can enjoy the magnificent view of the great mountains of Monte d'Oro and Rotondu towering above you. You descend through a dense wooded landscape, where the path undulates back and forth all the way down to Vizzavona (920m). You are now halfway along the GR20 in Corsica.
Distance: about 16km
Walking time: approx. 5 hours
+190m / -860m
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
On this day the accommodation can be upgraded to a private room. To be selected on the booking form.
Contact to luggage (note, from here comes a stretch of 3 nights without contact to your transported luggage)
Today is the first stage of the northern part of the GR20 in Corsica. You start with a quiet climb to Brêche de Muratellu (2100m). The trail leads along the Cascade des Anglais up to Muratellu, where you can enjoy magnificent views of Monte Rotundu before hiking down to the l'Onda refuge.
Distance: about 10km
Walking time: approx. 6 hours
+1.220m / -710m
Accommodation: tent at the refuge
The high route follows the ridge over the summit of Pinzi Corbini (2,021m) to the Petra Piana refuge (1,840m). This is a short but challenging hike in steep and exposed landscape. In case of bad weather you can walk an alternative route down in the valley. Overnight in tent near the Petra Piana refuge.
Distance: about 7km
Walking time: about 4½ hours
+680m / -260m
Accommodation: tent near the refuge
From Petra Piana, take a short walk up to the ridge above the refuge. The path is rocky and looks almost like a moonscape. You pass a mountain pass and continue along the high route. The views are stunning, with Corte - the island's historic capital - looming on the horizon and a series of beautiful glacial islands to stop and explore. Over Lake Capitello, the journey descends to the Manganu Refuge, which sits on the edge of the Camputile Plateau. You will spend the night in a tent close to the refuge.
Distance: about 10.5km
Walking time: about 7 hours
+700m / -940m
Accommodation: tent near the refuge
The GR20 trail is well marked and takes you on a relaxing hike up through beech forest and over lakes to Lac de Nino. We recommend a short morning stop at the lake to enjoy a snack. The lake lies at 1,743moh and is set in a beautiful landscape surrounded by lakes with small streams running down the mountain. In summer the area is perfect for grazing ponies and other animals. From the lake you can take a classic hike along a ridge with beautiful views and glimpses of the blue Mediterranean Sea. Descend at Col St. Pierre and follow the path to Castel di Vergio, the smallest ski hut on the island.
Distance: about 14.5km
Walking time: 6 hours
+570m / -750m
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
On this day the accommodation can be upgraded to a private room. To be selected on the booking form.
Contact to Luggage
You follow the GR20 in Corsica to Radule, where stone huts stand camouflaged along the mountainside. The GR20 trail follows the Golu River up the valley to its source. Halfway up the valley you cross the rushing river and it's an excellent place to take a lunch break on the smooth sunlit rocks. It's also possible to jump into the water here - if you're brave. The trail leaves the valley floor and heads up to the ridge. From here you have a great view of the villages along the west coast of Corsica. Ciuttolu di I Mori (2000moh) is the highest refuge in Corsica and lies between the two great mountains of Tafanatu and Paglia Orba. Enjoy the high alpine area, which is also home to wild sheep. From the refuge, continue to the Col de Foggiale. After the mountain pass, the GR20 descends steeply through a beautiful landscape that is a chaos of rough granite and ancient conifers. You finally descend to 1400m, where you cross the Viru River and reach the Vallone huts.
Distance: about 13km
Walking time: about 5½ hours
+950m / -970m
Accommodation: tent at the refuge
This day offers a tough high alpine hike. You start walking uphill until you reach the area of Monte Cinto, the highest peak on the island. The ascent is steep and slow. After a few hours you arrive at Bocca Crucetta and continue along the ridge to the impressive "Pointe des Eboulis", which is 2,607moh and is the highest point on the GR20 - the views are stunning! From here, the path goes straight down to a mountain lake and continues downwards, the mountain landscape turning into forest and rivers as you approach the old ski hut at Haut-Asco.
Distance: about 7km
Walking time: approx. 8 hours
+1200m / -1200m
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
On this day the accommodation can be upgraded to a private room. To be selected on the booking form.
Contact to Luggage
From Haut-Asco you hike up to Bocca Di Stagnu (2,010m) at the foot of Muvrella (2,150m). From Lake Muvrella you have an excellent view of Calvi Bay. After the Carozza refuge, continue the descent to Bonifatu.
You are picked up and driven to Calvi, where you have your last overnight stay of the tour.
Distance: around 12km
Walking time: approx. 7 hours
+650m / -1530m
Accommodation: hotel in Calvi
Contact to Luggage
This is the last day of the journey. You check out of the hotel in the morning.
Due to safety reasons this tour requires a minimum of two people.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
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The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Corsica are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
It works like this:
Getting there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio
On this trip you will stay in hotels, refuges and tents.
In the big cities before and after the trip you will stay in hotels. During the trek itself you will stay in refuges (dormitories) and in tents.
The tents are pop-up igloo tents and they are set up or handed out at the refuges when you arrive. You do not need to bring your own tent (unless you wish to do so).
Upgrading to hotel rooms is possible in Vizzavona, Vergio and Haut Asco (3 nights). This upgrade can be selected on the booking form.
Breakfast is included throughout the tour and consists of things like tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter and jams. (Day 1 and 16 only breakfast is included).
Lunch is provided at breakfast and you will need to bring your own lunch box for this. The packed lunch may include rice, pasta, lentils and couscous salad.
Dinner is served in the refuges and usually consists of a starter and a main course.
If you have special requirements for the food (e.g. allergies or other), please write this in the message box when booking. There are limited options for vegetarians, vegans and special diets cannot be accommodated due to the remoteness of the trek.
Luggage transport is included, but it is not possible for the cars to reach all accommodation. For this reason, there will be days when you will not come into contact with the transported luggage. Check the daily programme to see which days you will have access to your luggage.
Note: Your tour pack should be 35-45 litres and remember that it is necessary to bring a sleeping bag on this tour.
You will recieve the following documentation
Upon booking
You recieve practical information about the tour in a digital format
One month before arrival
You recieve your hotel list and your voucher (hotel list is often supplied upon booking)
Upon arrival
You recieve the welcome package which contains the printed version of the road book, luggage tags, local specific vouchers and if you have rented bikes then they will also be delivered and fitted at the first hotel.
This tour has difficulty grade 4.
Grade 4
Trekking with daily walks of 6-8 hours, often in difficult terrain and higher altitude. There will be longer ascents and descents. Requires endurance and strong knees and ankles. Requires good hiking boots and "outdoor" clothing. There will be major fluctuations in temperatures.
Read more about our Grading System
Here you can get an overview of the entire route and the elevation profile for each day. The data shows the data from the GPX-files related to the tour. Notice that the routes are sometimes updated, which means that there might be small variations.
Colors
Blue routes: The route as normal
Red routes: Variations/options (such as shortened or extended routes)
Travel Insurance In general we recommend that you are covered by a good travel insurance covering at least Medical Expenses, Illness, Personal Accident, Baggage and Repatriation. The customer is responsible to take the necessary travel insurance that covers these costs. Bering Travel, or our local partners, do not have any responsibility for our customers not being covered by a necessary travel insurance. You have to arrange your insurance in your home country.
It can be hard to plan your trip according to the weather, but to give an idea of the local climate, you can see the data below:
We are members of the Travel Guarantee Fund (nr. 2529) and have all available insurances. This covers you regardless of your nationality. Read more about that here.
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