Bastia to Conca
This holiday starts on a Saturday in Bastia, the first grouped transfer will take you directly up to Conca, where you check into your first accommodation. Conca is the first stop at the start of the GR20, the journey takes approximately 2h30. Time to settle into the gite before the evening meal with the group, night in the gite at Conca.
Conca to Bavella
This first day is really hard and a good introduction to the pace and the challenge ahead. The trail leads uphill from the village of Conca, we take your overnight gear on to the next night stop so you don’t have to carry it. The GR20 follows the traces of an ancient transhumance route through the rocky landscape of pines and granite blocks. The route continues to the Paliri refuge at just over 1000m altitude, then crosses the Finosa col before arriving at the hamlet of Bavella below the mighty Bavella needles. Access to bags.
Bavella to Cuscionu Plateau
Today is a challenging day from the high mountain pass, the Col de Bavella, before dawn you take the trail that is called the Alpine variant. It leads steeply uphill before passing at the base of several granite pinnacles. You plunge down into the valley before following an easy trail through the woods towards Asinao refuge before heading steeply up to the magnificent ridge line of Monte Alcudina, with the summit at 2134m altitude. You leave the high ground and head down towards the famous Cuscione plateau. This is the largest plateau on the island. Your night stop is a shepherd’s cabin situated on the edge of the plateau. Access to bags.
Cuscionu plateau to Cozzano
Today you pick up the trail on the plateau and cross the wide open green pasture with it’s 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 granite has been wonderfully sculpted by the elements and the decor is awesome. The trail topples back and forth over the ridge, to one side then the other. At the end of the day we drop down to the village of Cozzano, a hive of activity in the heart of the mountains. Access to bags.
Cozzano to Col de Verde
This walk has some really special scenery with great views. From the refuge you continue along the ridge that separates the valley of Taravo and the Fiumorbu. The trail plunges down towards the Col de Laparo. You will pass the GR refuge, Prati (1820m) 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. (1289m). Access to bags.
Col de Verde to Vizzavona
The trail undulates gently today and mainly contours through a forest of pine trees. These majestic tall straight lariccio pines with a silvery smooth bark are very much a symbol of the island. Today's walk is essentially traversing the flanks of the dominating mountain, the Monte Renosu. You continue to Bocca Palmente 1640m, 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 Vizzavona (920m) the midway point of the GR20. Access to bags.
Vizzavona to Petra Piana
Today is the first two stages of the northern section of the GR20. You embark either on a steady ascent to the Brêche de Muratellu (2100m). The path leads alongside the Cascade des Anglais up to Muratellu, affording stunning views of the Monte Rotondu, The high level route follows the ridge, via the summit of Pinzi Corbini (2021m), to Petra Piana refuge (1840m). This is a short but challenging ridge section, steep and exposed. In bad weather there is an alternative lower valley option that will be taken direct to Petra Piana. Tonight you camp in the vicinity of Petra Piana refuge. (1840m / 6037ft). No access to bags.
Petra Piana to Camputile plateau
From Petra Piana a short uphill section takes you to the high ridge above the refuge. The trail is rocky, almost lunar in ambiance. You pass a mountain col and continue on the high route. The views are spectacular, with Corte, the island’s historic capital in the distance and a series of wonderful glacier lakes to discover. From the small Brèche above Lake Capitello, we plunge downhill to Manganu refuge situated on the edge of the Camputile plateau. No access to bags.
Camputile plateau to Col de Vergio
The GR20 is well-marked, leading gently uphill, a relaxing easy walk through beech woods, and across the green spongy turf to the Lac de Nino. A morning stop to have a snack and relax on the banks of the lake. At 1743m 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. You drop down at the Col St Pierre, to join a flat horse shoe shaped trail to Castel di Vergio, the island’s small ski station. Access to bags.
Col de Vergio to Melarie Valley
The GR20 trail follows the Golu torrent up the valley towards its source. Mid way 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 ridge line. From here 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 (2000m), the highest refuge in Corsica, is situated between two daunting mountains the Tafanatu and Paglia Orba. From the refuge the GR20 falls away steeply downhill, to Vallone. No access to bags.
Melarie Valley to Haut Asco
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 2607m this is the highest point on the GR20, the view is absolutely spectacular. From here, the path literally plunges down to the small lake the other side. The trail continues downhill, the scree, the rocks and austere décor gives way to a river and woods as you approach the old ski station of Haut-Asco. Access to bags.
Haut Asco to Carrozzu
From the ski station at Haut Ascu, a superb ascent takes you to Bocca Di Stagnu (2010m) at the foot of the Muvrella (2150m). From Lake Muvrella the view over Calvi bay is incredible. From here you drop down to the refuge at Carrozzu. You arrive at Carrozzu, a refuge surrounded by box trees, with great sunsets! Camp at Refuge. No access to bags.
Carrozzu to Ortu di U Piobbu
The first part of this walk is outstanding, the ambiance is high and airy as you enter into a semi-circle of high mountains, the Cirque de Bonifatu. The trail works its way around the edge of this large cirque and the panoramic view of all the highest peaks is inspiring. The day breaks into two clear sections, the second half crosses an easier basin area that is dotted with woodland before arriving at the beautifully situated refuge at Ortu di U Piobbu. No access to bags.
Ortu di U Piobbu to Calenzana
From Ortu di U Pobbiu the day is varied all the way to the end of the trek at the village of Calenzana. You are nearly there. This is the last day in the Bonifatu massif, the scenery is breath-taking from granite mountains, to thick dense forests, and low-level maquis scrub, and the views over the coastline and the Balagne are superb before arriving at the bustling village of Calenzana which is a hive of activity with walkers. After a short transfer night in a hotel in Calvi. Access to bags.
Calvi
Holiday ends after breakfast in Calvi. Private transfers or train and taxi available to Bastia or private transfer to Calvi airport.
Programs have been drawn up according to the latest information available at the time of writing: imponderables are always possible and situations beyond our control may alter the course of the program.