On the trail of the GR20 North: sportive version
7 days / 6 nights
Corsica - GR20 - GR20 North - Independent walking
Without guide - Singles - Comfort - Luggage transfer
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
Meet with our taxi driver in Calvi in the morning for your transfer to Calenzana. This little village, surrounded by olive trees, is the official start of the GR20.
You walk through the forest of Bonifatu, past magnificent viewpoints over the villages of the Balagne.
Walk: 4 hours.
Altitude gain & loss: +800m, -540m.
Experience a change of scenery with the canyon of Spasimata and the little lake of Muvrella. Today, you walk into a mineral setting with an impressive volcanic mountain against the backdrop of turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. You then go past the Bocca di Stagnu and descend to the foot of the highest summits in Corsica, located in the valley of Ascu.
Walk: 8 hours.
Altitude gain & loss: +1300m, -598m.
To avoid the Cirque de la Solitude, closed to the public since 2015, you cross the Great Barrier Reef by the itinerary of Monte Cintu and through the Pointe des Éboulis. From Bocca Minuta, you descend to the small valley of Straciaconne where you may have the chance to observe mouflons (a type of wild sheep).
Your accommodation, the shepherd hut in Vallone, is in an ideal setting with the backdrop of a starry sky for the night.
Dinner at the hut and night in a tent.
Walk: about 8h30
Altitude gain & loss: +1200m, -800m
Your setting for the day is the valley of the Niolu, located at the heart of the island. You walk past 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.
Walk: 6h15.
Altitude gain & loss: +971m, -1017m.
Your journey begins between sea and sky with the crossing of Bocca San Pedru. The magic takes place once you cross the Bocca a Reta and see the jagged coastline plunging into the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. On the opposite slope, a glacial crater conceals the lake of Ninu, a Corsican treasure nestled in a lush green setting. Bordered with pozzines (a type of peat bogs), the lake is also a sanctuary for wild horses, which can often be seen grazing peacefully around it. You then follow a little stream, which soon becomes the great Tavignanu River.
Walk: 7h20.
Altitude gain & loss: +600m, -640m.
After a final dip in the natural pools around the refuge, you begin your walk alongside the Tavignanu River, in the shade of Lariccio pines. During the walk, there are plenty of opportunities for swimming in the river. At the end of the day, you arrive in Corti.
Night in a hotel in Corti.
Walk: 4 hours.
Altitude gain & loss: +720m, -1400m.
Your holiday ends after breakfast.
Departure board
Any day from the beginning of June to mid-September.
Technical information
- Calvi.
- Corte.
- 4 nights in gîtes d’étapes (dormitories for 5-6 people with shared bathrooms).
1 night in a tent in Vallone.
1 night in a hotel in Corte.
Please be aware that facilities will be basic and normally on a shared basis (except in hotels). Hot showers should be available at each accommodation, but water may be limited due to high demand.
Double bedroom accommodation:
Nights in rooms of two are available on this particular trip. Your night in Vallone will be spent in a private tent for two.
Single accommodation:
Nights in single bedrooms are not available on this particular trip.
Extra accommodation:
If you require additional nights before the start of your trip or after the end of your trip, then our team can book this for you (subject to availability). Please notify us (on your booking form or by email) at the time of your booking. Payment for extra accommodation should be made to us one month before the start of your trip.
- Minimum two.
- 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.
- The luggage transfers are not included in your trip.
- 3 nights in double room : 110€
- Maps of hike 1:25000 : 42€
- Accommodation.
- Dinners from day 1 to day 5.
- Breakfasts from day 2 to day 7.
- Picnics from day 2 to day 7.
- Taxi transfer from Calvi to Calenzana on day 1.
- Transfers not included in this itinerary (including for example transfers due to bad weather or physical ailments).
- Transfer from Calvi onwards.
- Dinner on day 6 in Corte.
- Entrance fees to tourist sites.
- Optional activities.
- Beverages.
- Holiday insurance.
- Luggage transfers.
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