GR20 — crossing Corsica north to south
Fifteen days of granite, chains and refuges across the Corsican mountains. The hardest trek in western Europe.
On the GR20 you use your hands — chains, rock slabs and long descents that punish the knees. The north is the technical half, the south runs faster.
You sleep at park refuges, in your own tent or one rented on the terrace. There are no villages en route except Vizzavona, which splits the traverse and offers a train bail-out.
How many km and how many days?
The full route is 180 km and about 15 days. Enter any km and days: if you are not doing it in one go, split it into several trips.
13 days, 179.9 km and 12000 m of climbing: about 13.8 km a day and 12 nights on the way.
The towns with beds on this section give 13 legs; to stretch it to 15 days add rest days when you build the plan.
- Calenzana → Ortu di u Piobbu13.3 km · 1200 m D+
- Ortu di u Piobbu → Carrozzu13.3 km · 1200 m D+
- Carrozzu → Asco Stagnu13.3 km · 1200 m D+
- Asco Stagnu → Tighjettu14 km · 920 m D+
- Tighjettu → Manganu14 km · 920 m D+
- Manganu → Petra Piana14 km · 920 m D+
- Petra Piana → L'Onda14 km · 920 m D+
- L'Onda → Vizzavona14 km · 920 m D+
- Vizzavona → Capannelle14 km · 760 m D+
- Capannelle → Prati14 km · 760 m D+
- Prati → Usciolu14 km · 760 m D+
- Usciolu → Asinau14 km · 760 m D+
- Asinau → Conca14 km · 760 m D+
Create your account and keep going with these 13 days.
It is free and takes a minute.
- Save the plan and pick up where you left off
- Carry it on your phone, map and times included
- Send it to your group with one link
- Download the itinerary and the calendar
Stages and sections
Approximate distances and climbing. Every guidebook and GPX varies by a few kilometres.
Stops along the route4
Four facts per village — what is worth a stop, where to sleep, where to eat and the practical warning.
Sleep — Ortu di u Piobbu, Carrozzu, Asco Stagnu
Eat — Refuges with basic supplies
Good to know — Last shopping before the mountains
See on the map
Sleep — Tighjettu, Manganu, Petra Piana, L'Onda, Vizzavona
Eat — Castel di Vergio, Vizzavona
Good to know — Refuge serves dinner, no shop
See on the map
Sleep — Capannelle, Prati, Usciolu, Asinau, Conca
Eat — Bergeries de Capanelle and Basseta
Good to know — Train station — easy bail-out point
See on the map
Sleep — Capannelle, Prati, Usciolu, Asinau, Conca
Eat — Bergeries de Capanelle and Basseta
Good to know — Bus to Porto-Vecchio to get back
See on the map
Daily distance by level
Travel and paperwork
Season — June to September. Snow lingers in the north in June and the south is brutally hot in August.
Keep it in your calendar
Once you build this route as a plan, every stage is a card with time, duration and place. From the plan link anyone can download the calendar (.ics) or add it to Google Calendar and Outlook, with reminders before each day and before payment or confirmation deadlines.
What to lock before you leave
- Book refuges the day they open — summer sells out.
- Carry two litres minimum — some sections between springs are long and exposed.
- Thin gloves for the chains on the Cinto section.
- Check the forecast before each col — afternoon storms are serious.
Frequently asked questions
In Keago this route becomes a plan — one card per stage with time and duration, the daily track, each night's accommodation with link and location, the meals, and both travel tickets where the whole group can see them. Everyone confirms and you know who is missing.
Create your account and keep building your GR20 — crossing Corsica north to south plan.
It is free and takes a minute.
- Save the plan and pick up where you left off
- Carry it on your phone, map and times included
- Send it to your group with one link
- Download the itinerary and the calendar