Stay on the southern part of the GR20 from Bavella to Vizzavona. This small hamlet is the junction between the southern and northern sections.

The GR20 traverses the island diagonally following the high granite barrier of mountains that form the natural boundary between the two regions of Corsica. The Southern section is a great introduction to the GR20. We reserve your accommodation, which are a variety of camps, refuges, gites, or shepherd’s cabins, situated in places of exceptional beauty. We are able to get your main luggage bag to you during part of the trek, so you do not have to carry a heavy load. It is a real bonus to take advantage of this and certainly adds to the enjoyment of the walking.

Highlights

  • From Bavella to Vizzavona
  • Luggage access
  • Possibility of carrying a reduced rucksack
  • Point to point  - 6 days walking
  • Start in Ajaccio and end in Vizzavona
Duration
7 days/ 6 nights
Type of holidays
Hiking-Walking
Access
Ajaccio
Level
3 - Challenging
Carrying
Lightened pack

Itinerary

Day 1

Ajaccio to Bavella

This holiday starts on a Sunday in Ajaccio, a grouped transfer will take you up to Bavella. The region is known as the Alta Rocca and Bavella is one of the most famous peaks of the island, known for its high mountain pass and mystical summits. Time to settle into the gite before the evening meal.

Night
Night in Bavella
Day 2

Bavella to Asinau

From the high mountain pass, the Col de Bavella you take the GR20 trail - Alpine variant. It leads steeply uphill before passing at the base of several granite pinnacles. The trail is rough under foot and equipped over a few metres with a chain that helps stability across the rocks. The trail plunges down into the valley before passing through the woods. After a river crossing the GR20 pulls up to Asinau, and Bergerie Chez Aline. 

Distance
7 km
Duration
5h30
Ascent / descent
+710 m / -480 m
Night
Night in Asinao
Day 3

Asinau to Cuscionu plateau

Climb to the summit of Incudina (2134 m). The view from here is panoramic and gives a foretaste of the hikes to come. Crossing the Cuscionu plateau will remind some of green Ireland, a surprising image in the heart of an island in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Distance
7 km
Distance
3h30
Ascent / descent
+600 m / -550 m
Night
Night in Croci
Day 4

Cuscionu plateau to Usciolu

You'll come across some superb pozzines along a small river. You'll return to the ridge that leads to the Usciolu refuge. The views of the upper Taravo and the Tyrrhenian Sea are breathtaking. At the start of the season, if there is a lot of snow, the stopover may be at the village of Cozzano.

Distance
14 km
Duration
6h00
Ascent / descent
+660 m / -460 m
Night
Night in Usciolu
Day 5

Usciolu to Col de Verde

A superb ridge crossing over the watershed between the Taravu and Fiumorbu valleys. The view is sumptuous. You can see the sea and the villages of the lower valleys in a granite atmosphere. The GR20 drops rapidly down in and out of the forest to your destination at the Col de Verde. (1289m).

Distance
16 km
Duration
8h00
Ascent / descent
+830 m / -1220 m
Night
Night at Col de Verde
Day 6

Du Col de Verde to Capanelle

From the Col de Verde to Capanelle (1,590 m), a balcony route along the mountainside. In the shade of magnificent Laricio pines, the GR 20 climbs to the Col de Flasca, crosses the Marmanu stream, before reaching the Traghjette and Capanelle sheepfolds.

Distance
13 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+710 m / -400 m
Night
Night in Capanelle
Day 7

Capanelle to Vizzavona

This is the last stage of the southern part of the GR 20. A footpath leads you without difficulty to Bocca Palmente (1640 m). Here you will discover a number of sheepfolds still occupied during the summer grazing season. The trail drops down into the thick forest to Vizzavona (920m),  the midway point of the GR20. Holiday ends upon arrival at Vizzavona train station ( trains to Ajaccio or Bastia).

Distance
14 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+310 m / -1000 m

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.

Dates and prices

From May to mid September. 2 persons minimum.

With luggage assistance: departure every Sunday. Departure possible on another day at extra cost

Without luggage assistance: departure possible every day. 

Please select your departure date from the calendar below to find out the rate and begin your booking.

Pick a date
Price includes

Accommodation on full board (nights 1 to 6), picnic day 7, transfer from Ajaccio to Bavella, luggage assistance ( if you selected this option),  travel dossier with A4 copies of IGN maps, walking notes, GR20 pocket map and access to our guidance application. PLEASE NOTE some of these documents cannot be sent by file transfer.

Price does not include

Reservation fee of 5€ / person, travel insurance, drinks, picnic day 1, transfers to Vizzavona, travel to Corsica.

Supplements/Discounts

Supplement one night in a double /twin room in Bavella: 35€ / person.

Discount without luggage assistance: 80€ / person.

Insurance

We offer comprehensive multi-risk insurance specifically adapted to our adventure trips (contract no. 7482 Assurinco). The rates are as follows: 4.00% of the price of the trip for French residents, 6% of the price of the trip for residents from the European Union (EU) outside France. For non-EU residents, the rate is €90 per person. See insurance details.

Group discount

Groups of 3 people or more can benefit from a discount. Please contact us for details.

Technical informations

Starts

Ajaccio port & bus station opposite the CCI building at 14h.

Ends

Friday at Vizzavona station after your last hike, around 15h.

Access

Ajaccio, Airport or Port. If you arrive into Figari please ask for details of transport connections. 

Number of participants

Reservations for minimum of 2 participants. 

Accommodation

Dormitories in refuges and gîtes or in tents equipped with mattresses (showers and WC facilities are limited - sleeping bag is required).

Meal

  • Simple Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, longlife bread, butter, jam).
  • Picnics (please bring a tupperware ).
  • Evening meal, often based on local specialities, including starter, main course and dessert.

Guiding

Self-Guided Walking. We provide you with a Travel Dossier complete with IGN map and Topoguide created by our team. During your hike our 24-hour assistance service will also be able to answer all your questions and, if necessary, bring you useful tips for the smooth running of your stay.

Level

Challenging, with many steep climbs and off-path sections on slabs and rocks. The main difficulty is the length of some stages and the nature of the terrain. Passage equipped with handrails at Bavella.

Warning The GR20 is a very sporty route, and the self-guided version is reserved for experienced walkers with mountaineering experience. Even if we have improved walking comfort, the ascent/descent and the technical difficulties of the terrain are still present!

Luggage transfers

  • With bag (you carry your own personal belongings): departure every day.
  • With lightened pack (an assistance vehicle carries your luggage, which you will find again on D3, D5, D6 and D7: departure every Sunday. For departure on a day other than Sunday, please contact us for a quote.

The digital roadbook

Once you have confirmed your holiday, you can download our application. It's easy to use and it offers a number of functionalities:

  • Precise route guidance with alerts in the event of deviations.
  • View your starting point, accommodation, current position, mileage.
  • Discover points of interest via interactive content with descriptions, photos and audio. 
  • In an emergency, send an SOS alert with your GPS coordinates. 
  • Contact function to share messages, photos and videos with our team during your stay.

Extensions

Take advantage of a stay extension during your tour with Corsica Aventure.

If you'd like to discover Corsica before or after your holiday, our team can offer you ideas for accommodation and activities. If you prefer to arrive a few days earlier or extend your stay for a few days, we can book your extra nights on the island, depending on your arrival city.

Here are a few hotels we recommend for those of you who would rather organise their extra days themselves:  

Ajaccio

  • Hôtel Le Dauphin 2* Tél : 04 95 21 12 94.
  • Hôtel Kalliste 3* / Tél : 04 95 51 34 45.
  • Hôtel Albion 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 66 70.
  • Hôtel San Carlu 3* / Tél : 04 95 21 13 84.

Propriano

  • Hôtel Bellevue / Tél : 04 95 76 01 86.
  • Gîte-hôtel U Fracintu / Tél : 04 95 76 15 05.

Porto

  • Hôtel Kallisté / Tél : 04 95 26 10 30.
  • Hôtel Le Belvédère / Tél : 04 95 26 12 01.
  • Hôtel Le Méditerranée / Tél : 04 95 26 10 27.

Piana

  • Hôtel Les Calanques / Tél : 04 95 27 82 08.
  • Hôtel Les Roches Rouges / Tél : 04 95 27 81 81.

Calvi 

  • Hôtel Belvédère 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 01 25.
  • Hôtel Les Arbousiers 2* / Tél : 04 95 65 04 47.
  • Hôtel Christophe Colomb 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 06 04.
  • Hôtel Balanea 3* / Tél : 04 95 65 94 94.

Bastia

  • Best Western Montecristo Bastia / Tél : 04 95 55 05 10.

Map

Your itinerary:

Pictures
of the holidays

Reviews for GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

(4.1)

Overall we were happy with our stay. On the other hand we were very disappointed by the fact that in two places we couldn't eat properly....

Translated from French by Deepl

Wytske 15/09/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

Some refuges need to be improved in terms of cleanliness and hygiene.

Translated from French by Deepl

Jildaz 11/08/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

We are very happy with this formula....

Translated from French by Deepl

Ludovic 02/07/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

Perfect stay. A warm welcome when you come under the Corsica Aventure banner....

Translated from French by Deepl

Paul 17/06/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

Very happy with the application. Lodging sometimes average in refuges.

Translated from French by Deepl

Pierre 14/06/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

Everything went smoothly. No transfer problems. Very good application, well documented.

Translated from French by Deepl

Jacques 14/06/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

I am completely satisfied with the service provided by Corsica aventure who chose the best possible accommodation.

Translated from French by Deepl

Jean-Luc 14/06/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

A very good contact with all the agency staff. Responsive and available! Thank you.

Translated from French by Deepl

Nicolas 01/06/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

A good mix of refuges, gites and bergerie. It would be good to be able to choose accommodation in tents or dormitories in advance.

Translated from French by Deepl

Olivier 31/05/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona

Very good welcome but the meals were a little short on quantity and we slept in tents even though we were marked refuge.

Translated from French by Deepl

Chantal 25/05/2024GR20 South - Bavella to Vizzavona