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On the trail of the GR20 North

9 days / 8 nights
Corsica - GR20 - GR20 North - Independent walking
Without guide - Luggage transfer

Last updated: 21/02/2024

price from 750 € per pers.

The mighty GR20: a fantastic itinerary from the North-West to the South-East of the island! From the Balagne region to the centre of Corsica, discover stunning gorges, alpine lakes...


Your day by day program

1
From Calenzana to Bonifatu

Meet with your taxi driver in Calvi this morning for your transfer to Calenzana. This little village, surrounded by olive trees, is the official start of the GR20. You walk through up through the forest of Bonifatu, past magnificent viewpoints over the villages of this beautiful region of the Balagne.

Distance: 11km
Active Walking time: 4 hours.
Altitude gain & loss: +700m, -450m.

2
From Bonifatu to Haut Asco

After breakfast, you will leave Bonifatu for one of the longest stages along the GR20 (timewise). Once more crossing several rivers before reaching the famous Spasimata footbridge, which is 30 metres in length and suspended above a waterfall (a great location for photos). You will arrive in the Valley of the Muvrella (mouflon) with its small lake. The viewpoints are numerous and divine from the passes. The route continues to the foot of the Monte Cinto, the highest summit of Corsica, where you will spend the night.

Food: B,L,D
Accommodation: Gite (double room available at a supplement)
Distance: 9.5km
Active Walking time: 8 hours.
Altitude gain & loss: +1300m, -598m.

3
From Ascu to Vallone

To avoid the mythical Cirque de la Solitude, closed to the public in 2015, you cross the "Great Barrier" crossing the slopes of Monte Cintu and over the highest point on the GR20 the Pointe des Éboulis. You drop down to the small Melarie valley where you may have the chance to see mouflons. Your accommodation, the shepherds hut in Vallone, is in an ideal setting by a stream, with the backdrop of a starry sky for the night. Dinner at the hut and night in a tent.

Distance: 9km
Active Walking time: 8h30
Altitude gain & loss: +1200m, -800m

4
From Vallone to Verghju

Your setting for the day is the beautifully traditional Niolu, located at the heart of the island. You pass at the foot of the most beautiful summits in Corsica, the Paglia Orba and the strange Capu Tafunatu. When the weather is good, you can get a stunning viewpoint over the gulf of Porto before plunging into the small valley of the Golo.
The shepherd’s hut of Radule and a series of natural pools punctuate your walk towards the forest and the Castel di Verghio.
Dinner and night at the gîte, hotel room at a supplement.

Distance: 14.5km
Active Walking time: 6h15.
Altitude gain & loss: +971m, -1017m.

5
From Verghio to the Manganu refuge

We pass Bocca San Pedru between sky and sea. The magic happens after passing Bocca a Reta. To the east, the coastline stands out against the deep blue of the Mediterranean. On the other side, a glacial cirque is revealed which hides, in a green setting, one of the jewels of the Corsican mountain. Bordered by its pozzines, Lake Nino welcomes a herd of wild horses.

Food: B,L
Accommodation: Refuge.
No access to your main luggage.

Distance: 16km
Active Walking Time: 6h00
Altitude gain & loss: +869m, -689m

6
From Manganu to Petra Piana

Stream and rocky bars follow one another before reaching a plateau of pozzines. Then the Capitellu breach will offer you a breathtaking view of the lakes of Melu and Capitellu. After some efforts to reach Bocca Muzella (2206m), you will descend to reach a small plateau where the Petra Piana refuge is located.

Food: To be paid on spot.
Accommodation: Refuge.
No access to your main luggage.

Active Walking time: Around 6 hours
Altitude gain & loss: +670 m, -465 m

7
From Petra Piana to l'Onda

A rather short, aerial and panoramic stage between the massifs of Monte Rotondo and Monte d'Oro. Be careful, some tricky passages when the wind blows (but a variant is possible)! On a clear day, you will have the chance to see the Gulf of Ajaccio.

Food: To be paid on spot.
Accommodation: Refuge.
No access to your main luggage.

Distance: 7km
Active Walking time: 4h30
Altitude gain & loss: +560 m ; -965 m

8
From l'Onda to Vizzavona

Last day on the northern part of the trail. A magnificent stage awaits you from the Onda refuge towards Vizzavona, passing through the magical Agnone valley at the foot of Monte d'Oro. After the Turtettu footbridge, here we are in front of a multitude of small waterfalls and streams. Between forest and clinking of water, you arrive slowly towards Vizzavona.

Night and dinner in Vizzavona.
Food: D
Accommodation: Gite or hotel (double room available at a supplement)
Possible access to your main luggage.
Active Walking Time: About 6.5 hours
Altitude gain & loss: +630 m ; -1140 m

9
End of trip in Vizzavona

End of your GR20 adventure in Vizzavona, Corsica, you can reach Calvi, Ajaccio and Bastia by train.

Departure board

Every day from the beginning of June to mid-September.

Technical information

Fact sheet
Starting point
  • Calvi.
End
  • Vizzavona.
Accommodation
  • In gîtes d’étape (dormitory style), 4 nights in tent.
    4 nights can be in rooms of two (upon availability).
Number of people
  • Minimum two.
Level of difficulty
  • Terrain: well-marked paths but very technical terrain (rocky and uneven). You need to be sure-footed and have plenty of relevant mountain experience. Walking: from 4h30 to 8h15 per day.
Carrying
  • Luggage transfers available 4 days on 8 (see prices on options)
Options
  • 4 nights in double room (per person) : 205€
  • Luggage transfer supplement (4 days out of 8). Per person, for a group of two hikers. : 540€
  • Luggage transfer supplement (4 days out of 8). Per person, for a group of four hikers. : 270€
Included
  • Accommodation in privates gîtes (dormitories) and in tents.
  • 5 Dinners
  • 5 Breakfasts
  • 4 Picnics
  • Taxi transfer from Calvi to Calenzana on day 1.
  • Local hotline
  • Route notes and maps on our app (a smartphone is necessary with an extra charger).
Not included
  • Transfers not included in this itinerary (including for example transfers due to bad weather or injury)
  • Transfer from Calvi onwards
  • Luggage transfers (see options)
  • Beverages
  • Everything not mentioned on the "included" section

Map

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