Corsica GR20 Complete

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Day 1: Ajaccio to Bavella

This holiday starts on a Sunday in Ajaccio port opposite the CCI building at 14.00h; the first transfer will take you directly to Bavella, where you check-in at your first accommodation. The region is known as the Alta Rocca, and Bavella is one of the most famous peaks on the island. The journey takes approximately 2h 30min. Time to settle into the gite before the evening meal.

• Overnight in a gite in Bavella, dinner included

Day 2: Bavella to Asinau | 7km

From the high mountain pass Col de Bavella you start walking on the trail that is called the Alpine variant. It leads steeply uphill before reaching the base of several granite pinnacles, such as the Acellu, the Ariettu or the Vacca. It is a superb ridge walk. The trail is rough under foot and equipped for a few metres with a chain that helps stability across the granite rocks. You plunge into the valley before following an easy trail through the woods. After a river crossing, you ascend a hill up to Asinau Bergerie or refuge.

• Walking: 7km, 5h, ↑750m ↓550m
• Overnight in a refuge in Asinau, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• No luggage transfer – your main luggage will be transported directly to the Day 3 accommodation

Day 3: Asinau to Coscione Plateau | 8km

You walk up to the magnificent ridgeline of Monte Alcudina, whose summit reaches 2,134m altitude. There are fantastic views, and on a clear day, you can pick out your route and see where you are heading. You start descending towards the famous Cuscione plateau. This is the largest plateau on the island and spreads over some 50sq. km. This large wild space is a mix of forests and open spongy green land full of runnels of water, great grazing land in the summer months. Your night stop is a shepherd’s cabin situated on the edge of the plateau.

• Walking: 8km, 3h 30min, ↑560m ↓560m
• Overnight in a refuge at Coscione plateau, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Luggage transfer included

Day 4: Coscione Plateau to Usciolu | 13km

Today you pick up the trail on the plateau and cross the wide-open green pasture with its streams and little water holes. You make your way uphill through an age-old forest of dwarf oak trees up to the Col de l’Agnone. From here, you start possibly one of the best ridge walks; it is very exposed, the trail is ambitious, and it is hard to imagine that there is a way through. The elements have wonderfully sculpted the granite, and the decor is awesome. The trail topples back and forth over the ridge, to one side then the other. Usciolu refuge occupies a sheltered position a little lower down; it is a hive of mountain activity.

• Walking: 13km, 5h, ↑820m ↓600m
• Overnight in a tent at Usciolu refuge, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• No luggage transfer – your main luggage will be transported directly to the Day 5 accommodation

Day 5: Usciolu to Col de Verde | 15km

This walk has some exceptional scenery with great views. From the refuge, you continue along the ridge that separates the valley of Taravo and the Fiumorbu. Next, the trail plunges towards the Col de Laparo. You will pass the GR refuge, Prati (1,820m); it is worth stopping to enjoy the airy rooftop views of the island and enjoy the lush, spongy fresh ground. It is sometimes possible to see the islands of Elba and Monte Cristo. The descent winds rapidly down in and out of the forest to your destination at the Col de Verde (1,289m).

• Walking: 15km, 7h 30min, ↑850m ↓1,250m
• Overnight in a gite at Col de Verde, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Luggage transfer included

Day 6: Col de Verde to Capanelle | 12km

The trail undulates gently today and mainly contours through a forest of pine trees. These majestic tall, straight lariccio pines with smooth silvery bark are very much a symbol of the island. Today’s walk is essentially traversing the flanks of the dominating mountain, Monte Renosu. A steeper section leads us to the small shepherds’ hamlet of Traghjette. There is just one shepherd that lives here now, following the age-old lifestyle of transhumance and producing cheese. A last short walk before you arrive at a ridge where you can see your night stop and the cabins of Capanelle, which is a low-key ski station in the winter.

• Walking: 12km, 4h, ↑580m ↓350m
• Overnight in a gite in Capanelle, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Luggage transfer included

Day 7: Capanelle to Vizzavona | 16km

This is the last stage of the GR20 southern section; the walk makes for a leisurely day. You leave Capanelle (1,568m), taking a path that is more or less on the same level and along easy terrain. You pass through some idyllic spots, past remote traditional stone cabins and luxuriant vegetation. You continue to Bocca Palmente 1,640m, from where on a clear day, the views are exceptional, the looming massifs of the Monte d’Oro and the Rotondu tower above. You drop down into a thick forest of pine and beech trees for a relaxing descent; the trail loops back and forth, lacing down to the Vizzavona area (920m), the midway point of the GR20.

• Walking: 16km, 5h, ↑190m ↓860m
• Overnight in a gite in Vizzavona col area, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Luggage transfer included

Day 8: Vizzavona to L’Onda | 10km

Today is the first stage of the northern section of the GR20. The start of the walk will depend on where your first night’s accommodation has been booked. Next, you embark on a slow, steady ascent to the Brêche de Muratellu (2,100m). The path leads alongside the Cascade des Anglais up to Muratellu, affording stunning views of the Monte Rotondu, before descending to l’Onda refuge.

• Walking: 10km, 6h, ↑1,220m ↓710m
• Overnight in a refuge in L’Onda
• No luggage transfer – your main luggage will be transported directly to the Day 11 accommodation

Day 9: L’Onda to Petra Piana | 7km

The high-level route follows the ridge, via the summit of Pinzi Corbini (2,021m), to Petra Piana refuge (1,840m).  This is a short but challenging ridge walk, steep and exposed. In bad weather, there is an alternative lower valley option. Tonight you camp in the vicinity of Petra Piana refuge (1,840m).

• Walking: 7km, 4h 30min, ↑680m ↓260m
• Overnight in a tent in Petra Piana, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• No luggage transfer

Day 10: Petra Piana to Camputile Plateau | 10.5km

From Petra Piana, a short uphill section takes you to the high ridge above the refuge. The trail is rocky, almost lunar in ambience. You pass a mountain col and continue on the high route. The views are spectacular, with Corte, the island’s historical capital, in the distance and a series of wonderful glacier lakes to discover. From the small Brèche above Lake Capitello, you plunge downhill to Manganu refuge, situated on the edge of the Camputile plateau.  The shepherd’s cabin Vaccaghja is 20min further on across the plateau.

• Walking: 10.5km, 7h ↑700m ↓940m
• Overnight in a tent in Camputile plateau, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• No luggage transfer

Day 11: Camputile Plateau to Col de Vergio | 14.5km

The GR20 is well-marked, leading gently uphill, a relaxing walk through beech woods, and across the spongy green turf to the Lac de Nino. A morning stop to have a snack and relax on the banks of the lake.  At 1,743m, this glacier lake is in a lovely, sheltered bucolic spot, surrounded by spongy peat, with runnels of water and wells, ideal grazing ground for ponies and other animals in the summer. The air is fresh, tinged with the scent of alder and the fragrance of the high mountains. From the lake, a classic walk leads along a high ridge with magnificent views and the occasional blue glint of the beckoning sea. Finally, you drop down at the Col St Pierre to join a flat horseshoe-shaped trail to Castel di Vergio, the island’s small ski station.

• Walking: 14.5km, 6h ↑570m ↓750m
• Overnight in a gite in Col de Vergio, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Luggage transfer included

Day 12: Col de Vergio to Melarie Valley | 13km

Following the GR20, you walk to Radule, a huddle of stone cabins well camouflaged against the mountain rock. Then, the GR20 trail follows the Golu torrent up the valley towards its source. Midway up the valley, your route crosses the torrent, a good place to take a break on the smooth sun-baked rocks, a paddle and a swim for the brave. The trail shortly leaves the floor of the valley and heads up to the ridgeline. There are clear views of the villages dotted on the west coast and the indented outline of the island in the sea. The refuge Ciuttolu di I Mori (2,000m), the highest refuge in Corsica, is situated between two daunting mountains, the Tafanatu and Paglia Orba. You can enjoy a high, alpine environment; these massifs are home to the wild mountain mouflon (a wild sheep). From the refuge, you head for the Col de Foggiale. From the pass, the GR20 falls away steeply downhill, a stunning descent through a chaos of sharp granite rock and giant, grand, old pine trees. Once down to an altitude of 1,400m, you cross the Viru torrent, and the approach to Vallone cabin begins.

• Walking: 13km, 5h 30min, ↑950m ↓970m
• Overnight in a tent in Vallone, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• No luggage transfer – your main luggage will be transported directly to the Day 13 accommodation

Day 13: Melarie Valley to Haut Asco | 7km

Today is a tough, high-altitude mountain walk.   You make your way uphill progressively to the foothills of the Monte Cinto, the highest summit on the island.  The climb is steep, rocky and slow.  After a couple of hours, you arrive at Bocca Crucetta; a ridge leads to the daunting ‘Pointe des Eboulis’ at 2,607m; this is the highest point on the GR20, the view is spectacular.  From here, the path plunges to the small lake on the other side. After that, the trail continues downhill; the scree, the rocks, and austere décor give way to a river and woods as you approach the old ski station of Haut-Asco.

• Walking: 7km, 8h, ↑1,200m ↓1,200m
• Overnight in a gite in Haut Asco, breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
• Luggage transfer included

Day 14: Haut Asco to Calvi | 12km

From Haut Asco, a superb ascent takes you to Bocca Di Stagnu (2,010m) at the foot of the Muvrella (2,150m). From Lake Muvrella, the view over Calvi bay is incredible. After Carozza refuge, you continue the descent to Bonifatu. Transfer to Calvi. The tour ends in Calvi at about 18.00h. You can extend your stay in Calvi, continue to Ajaccio or fly back home.

• Walking: 12km, 7h, ↑650m ↓1,530m
• Breakfast, picninc lunch; no overnight is included
• Luggage transfer included to Calvi

This itinerary is an example of the itinerary we aim to adhere to, correct at the time of publication. Should situations arise that are beyond our control, such as severe weather conditions, or other factors that could put your safety at risk, it may be possible for the itinerary to be modified.

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Ferries to Ajaccio and Bastia are available from Marseille and Nice; timetables can be checked here. From Calvi there are trains to Ajaccio. Train and bus schedules on Corsica be checked here