On the trail of the GR20 North

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.

About 11 km, 4h00, +700 m, -450 m.
Dinner and night at the gîte at Bonifatu, breakfast and picnic for tomorrow.

You leave Bonifatu for one of the longest stages along the GR20 (timewise). Crossing several rivers before reaching the famous Spasimata footbridge, you will arrive in the Valley of the Muvrella (mouflon) with its small lake. The viewpoints are numerous and simply superb. The GR20 continues down to the foot of the Monte Cinto, where you will spend the night in the ski resort of Haut Asco.

About 9.5 km, 8h00, +1300 m, -598 m.
Dinner and night at the gîte at Haut Asco (double room available at a supplement), breakfast and picnic for tomorrow.

To avoid the closed circle of solitude, you climb 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.

About 9 km, 8h00, +1200 m, -800 m.
Dinner and night in a tent at Vallone, breakfast and picnic for tomorrow.

Today you walk into the beautifully traditional Niolu, located at the heart of the island. You pass below 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 Golo Valley where you will find a series of natural pools before reaching Vergio.

About 14 km, 6h15, +975 m, -1020 m.
Dinner and night at the gîte at Vergio (double room available at a supplement), breakfast and picnic for tomorrow.

After an easy path you pass your first Col at Bocca San Pedru and then magic happens. The coastline stands out against the deep blue of the Mediterranean. On the other side, a glacial cirque is revealed which hides one of the jewels of the Corsican mountainq. Bordered by its pozzines, Lac de Nino is a welcome sight, complete with wild horses.

About 16 km, 6h00, +870 m, -689 m.
Night at the refuge at Manganu. Dinner, Breakfast and Picnic can be purchased locally.

Its a sharp climb and rocky up to the Capitellu Breche from where you have superb views of the lakes of Melu and Capitellu in the high Restonica. After some efforts to reach Bocca Muzella (2206m), you will descend to reach a small plateau where the Petra Piana refuge is located.

About 8.5 km, 6h00, +670 m, -465 m.
Night at the refuge at Petra Piana. Dinner, Breakfast and Picnic can be purchased locally.

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.

About 7 km, 4h30, +560 m, -965 m.
Night in tents at the refuge at Onda, Dinner, Breakfast and Picnic breakfast and picnic can be purchased locally.

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, you pass the Cascades des Anglais before arriving at Vizzavona.

About 10 km, 5h30, +630 m, -1140 m.
Dinner and night at the gîte at Vizzavona (double room available at a supplement), Breakfast tomorrow.

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