Corsica GR20 hike guided tour

Day 1: Arrival in Bastia and transfer to Calvi

We meet at the airport (Bastia). This day is compatible with arrivals before 10AM. If you are catching a flight later please check with me so we can arrange something. A 2 hr minibus transfer takes us to Calvi, a seaside town. During the afternoon you can either explore beautiful Calvi, have a dip in the water, or take a walk with me. If we have time we can attempt climbing Capu di a Veta, the highest summit above Calvi.

– Night in hotel, dinner not included
– Access to luggage

Day 2: Transfer from Calvi to Calenzana and walking to Bonifatu

Short taxi drive to Calenzana, which is the official GR20 starting point. This day will be an great warmup before the proper GR20. We will enjoy beautiful panoramas of the surrounding villages and the coast. To have a gentle warmup, on this day the hike is quite short. We will have time to bathe in rock pools, then start the climb up to Bonifatu.

-Night in Gîte with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 5 hrs
– Altitude change: +800 / -540 m

Day 3: From Bonifatu to Haut Asco

On this day we start early. It will be a spectacular trekking day, but long and hard. We ascend to the Bonifatu cirque, sheltered by the forest from the sun. Reaching Carrozzu refuge, we take a short break before starting again for the renown Spasimata footbridge, which hangs on top of a beautiful waterfall for 30m. This is the most photographed location of the whole GR20!

Then we go up to the Spasimata slabs using chains and fixed cables, and get to the valley of Muvrella. Muvrella is Corsican for “mouflon” (wild sheep). With luck, we will spot some! Then a climb takes us to the Bocca di a Muvrella (2000 m). A short and hard section ends in the Bocca di Stagnu (2010 m), our second pass. The scenery from here is stunning: we can appreciate the west coastline, together with the mountains surrounding the entrance to the Cirque de la Solitude. A quite steep and scrambly descent follows, taking us to Haut Asco (1422 m), an ancient ski station.

– Night in a hotel with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: Around 8½ – 9 hs
– Altitude change: + 1480 / -600 m

Day 4: Haut Asco to the Bergeries to Vallone

Following a huge landslide in June 2015, today’s route no longer takes the Cirque de la Solitude. It has been closed by the park authorities, and is unlikely to reopen.

There is now a new route through spectacular terrain. This new route makes what used to be a long, tough day into a longer, tougher day, as we head towards Monte Cinto, the highest peak in Corsica. We reach the remote Lac de Cinto, then continue up to a high pass, the Bocca Crucetta at 2450m. From here we have a long descent to the Tighjettu refuge and down to the Bergeries de Vallone, an old shepherd’s hut in a delightful setting, with nearby rockpools for bathing.

Accommodation: Camping (tent provided in-situ, you do not have to carry it), dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: Approx 7 hours

Altitude gain / loss: +1600m / -1600m

Day 5: Hike from Vallone to Castel de Verghio

The day begins with an easy stretch, walking in the laricio pine forest. Then it turns more scrambly until we get to the Bocca di Foggiale. It is close to the Ciotulu I Mori refuge, at the base of the stunning Paglia Orba summit. From here there are beautiful views, on one side the lake Calacuccia and on the other the valley of Golo. Then we go down until the Golo river, where we can have a dip in great rock pools. The day is not over yet, we walk along the river for some time, then cross the forest and get to an ancient ski station, Castel de Verghio. Here we can choose between a hotel or gîte, and there is a small shop.

– Night in hotel or gîte with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: Around 6 – 6½ hs
– Altitude change: +970 / -1020 m

Day 6: Hike from Castel de Verghio to A. Sega refuge

The route on this day is truly stunning. It is again a long day, although the scenery starts changing. We ascend to the St Pierre pass (1452 m) and then to the incredible Nino lake (1743 m). Surrounded by little ponds with grassy meadows called pozzines, it’s an ideal area for horses, wild pigs and cattle to graze. Then we go to Vaccaja (1621 m), an active goat farm, before stepping of the GR20 to go to the Sega refuge. Beautiful rock pools render this location delightful. Furthermore, staying off-the-beaten track allows us to spend some calmer time away from the crowds. The owner is friendly and the meals hearty.

– Night in refuge with dinner included
– No access to luggage
– Walk: around 8 – 8½ hs
– Altitude change: +965 / -1200 m

Day 7: Hike from A. Sega refuge along Tavignanu gorge to Corte

The day is shorter today, enabling us to enjoy taking our time while we go through the stunning Tavignanu gorge. There are some perfect swimming spots here. Finally, we reach Corte, a historic town. If everything goes according to plan we will have some time to discover Corte. Free evening, eating at a local restaurant.

– Night in a 3-star hotel, dinner is not included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 5-5½ hs
– Altitude change: +720 / -1400 m

Day 8: Transfer to Vizzavona and hike to Capanelle

We will arrive in the south part of the GR20! From here on the walks become easier since it is less scrambly and we’ll have more opportunities to enjoy the views. The day starts with a trip to Vizzavona, either by train or private transfer (45 min – 1 h). Here we join again the GR20. We climb to Bocca Palmente (1640 m) through pine forests and shady beech. Fantastic views of the coast, plus Monte d’Oro greet us. Then we pass the Alzeta shepherds huts towards the U Cardu ridge. An incredible view appears, which includes Monte Renoso, our objective for the next day.

– Night in Gîte with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 6 – 6½ hs
– Altitude change: +1155 / -715 m

Day 9: Ascent to Monte Renoso and hike to the Verde pass

This day we will ascend to Monte Renoso (2352 m). It’s the highest peak of southern Corsica. Most people don’t get to see this true gem. The views from the top are my favourite of the whole trip. We can see perfectly both coasts. Moreover, we can appreciate the view of our previous and next paths. This climb is scenic and it’s not so difficult (mostly walking, not much scrambling). There is a descent to the stunning pozzine in the I Pozzi valley. Then we reach the Gialgone plateau and join back the GR20. A further 1:30-2 hs walking take us to the Verde pass.

If you feel tired and do not want to make the ascent of Monte Renoso, you can follow the easy GR20. In case of bad weather, we will also take this route.

– Night in Gîte with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 8 hs if Monte Renoso, or 5 hs without
– Altitude change: +815 / -110 m or +600 / -950 m

Day 10: Trek from the Verde pass to Cozzano

The day starts with an ascent up to a high ridge on our way to the Prati refuge. From there, the views are stunning. Often we get to see both coasts, on clear days we see the Elba island across the Ligurian sea. Then there is a scrambling section until the Laparo pass. Here we go off the GR20 to avoid the overcrowded refuges. Instead, we sleep in a gîte in Cozzano, a beautiful Corsican village.

– Night in Gîte with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 8 hs
– Altitude change: +750 / -1300 m

Day 11: Trek from Cozzano to either Bassetta or Il Croce

We go up through chestnut trees and maquis back to the GR20, and we get to the Arête a Mondi. We follow it until the Punta d’Usciolu (1815 m), then the Punta di a Scaddatta (1834 m) and finally the Bocca di L’Agnonu (1570 m). The path criss-crosses across notches through the ridge. It will be two hours of straightforward scrambling in occasions exposed. The views are stunning. Then we start the descent, passing the Bassetta sheepfolds, continuing until a gîte in Il Croce. Today is quite long, but reaching Il Croce rather than stopping at Bassetta will make tomorrow easier.

In case of bad weather conditions, we go on another route through the Zicavo village.

– Night in gîte or camping with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 8 hs
– Altitude change: +1000 / -550 m

Day 12: Trek from Il Croce to Bavella

This is long but truly spectacular. We go up to the Incudine pass. From here the views of Monte Cinto behind us and Sardinia facing us are wonderful. We also see the beautiful Aiguilles de Bavella, which is our destination. From the pass, the descent is quite steep across slabs until the Asinau refuge. Then follows an easy and short part through the woods. Afterwards, we go off the GR20 for an Alpine variant, through the Aiguilles de Bavella, a really fantastic journey, occasionally using chains. This is probably my favourite day of the whole trek. However, it can’t be done if the weather is very bad. If this is the case, we will take a transfer and have a short walk in and around Bavella.

– Night in Gîte with dinner included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 9-10 hs
– Altitude change: +1300 / -1400 m

Day 13: Hike to Conca, final point of the GR20, transfer to Bonifacio

This is a beautiful way to conclude the GR20, the views across the granite peaks are wonderful, and then we go into the pine forest. We get to the Paliri refuge. The scenery stays rugged throughout the way until Conca, a small village which marks the end of the GR20. We have a short dip in the water before taking a transfer to Bonifacio, which is one of the most beautiful towns on the island.

– Night in 3-star hotel, dinner is not included
– Access to luggage
– Walk: around 7 hs
– Altitude change: +700 / -1670 m

Day 14: Resting day at Bonifacio

This day you are free to explore this stunning Corsican town. There are different options: you can either go on a boat trip, discover the cobbled streets and historic alleyways, or embark on a cliff-top walk.

Day 15: Transfer: Bonifacio to Bastia airport

The last day starts early with a transfer (3 hs) to Bastia airport. You will be able to catch flights leaving at 10AM or later.