Itinerary
Here you can see the programme for the week.
You arrive at Bastia airport, from where we have arranged a transfer to Vizzavona (included in the price). The drive takes approximately 1½ hours, after which you arrive at your first overnight stop on the tour.
Vizzavona is the midpoint of the GR20, a forest with a small railway station that is a busy place for walkers heading out or finishing their GR20 tours. In the early 20th century, the village was a popular holiday resort for the English.
Luggage transport: it is not every day that you have access to your transported luggage and therefore on some stretches it will be necessary to carry luggage for several days in your rucksack. This rucksack should therefore be 35-45litres and sleeping bags should be carried everywhere. In the following programme we write "Contact to Luggage" on the days when you have access to your transported luggage.
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
On this day the accommodation can be upgraded to a private room. To be selected on the booking form.
The start of this hike is a trail that leads into the forest village of Canaglia. From here the trail follows a mountain stream with smooth stones and enticing waterholes all the way to a shepherd's hut in a grassy clearing, the perfect resting place at Tolla. The GR20 leaves the forest and continues on, entering a beautiful open valley that is in complete contrast to the first part of the walk. You spend the night in the simple Petra Piana Refuge.
Accommodation: tent at the refuge
From Petra Piana, take a short walk up to the ridge above the refuge. The path is rocky and looks almost like a moonscape. You pass a mountain pass and continue along the high route. The views are stunning, with Corte - the island's historic capital - looming on the horizon and a series of beautiful glacial islands to stop and explore. Over Lake Capitello, the journey descends to the Manganu Refuge, which sits on the edge of the Camputile Plateau. You will spend the night in a tent close to the refuge.
Accommodation: tent near the refuge
The GR20 trail is well marked and takes you on a relaxing hike up through beech forest and over lakes to Lac de Nino. We recommend a short morning stop at the lake to enjoy a snack. The lake lies at 1,743m and is set in a beautiful landscape surrounded by lakes with small streams running down the mountain. In summer the area is perfect for grazing ponies and other animals. From the lake you can take a classic hike along a ridge with beautiful views and glimpses of the blue Mediterranean Sea. Descend at Col St. Pierre and follow the path to Castel di Vergio, the smallest ski hut on the island.
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
On this day the accommodation can be upgraded to a private room. To be selected on the booking form.
Contact to Luggage
You follow the GR20 in Corsica to Radule, where stone huts stand camouflaged along the mountainside. The GR20 trail follows the Golu River up the valley to its source. Halfway up the valley you cross the rushing river and it's an excellent place to take a lunch break on the smooth sunlit rocks. It's also possible to jump into the water here - if you're brave. The trail leaves the valley floor and heads up to the ridge. From here you have a great view of the villages along the west coast of Corsica. Ciuttolu di I Mori (2000m) is the highest refuge in Corsica and lies between the two great mountains of Tafanatu and Paglia Orba. Enjoy the high alpine area, which is also home to wild sheep. From the refuge, continue to the Col de Foggiale. After the mountain pass, the GR20 descends steeply through a beautiful landscape that is a chaos of rough granite and ancient conifers. You finally descend to 1400m, where you cross the Viru River and reach the Vallone huts.
Accommodation: tent at the refuge
This day offers a tough high alpine hike. You start walking uphill until you reach the area of Monte Cinto, the highest peak on the island. The ascent is steep and slow. After a few hours you arrive at Bocca Crucetta and continue along the ridge to the impressive "Pointe des Eboulis", which is 2,607m and is the highest point on the GR20 - the views are stunning! From here, the path goes straight down to a mountain lake and continues downwards, the mountain landscape turning into forest and rivers as you approach the old ski hut at Haut-Asco.
Accommodation: dormitory in refuge
On this day the accommodation can be upgraded to a private room. To be selected on the booking form.
Contact to Luggage
From Haut-Asco you hike up to Bocca Di Stagnu (2,010m) at the foot of Muvrella (2,150m). From Lake Muvrella you have an excellent view of Calvi Bay. After the Carozza refuge, continue the descent to Bonifatu.
You are picked up and driven to Calvi, where you have your last overnight stay of the tour.
Accommodation: hotel in Calvi
Contact to Luggage
This is the last day of the journey. You check out of the hotel in the morning and head back home or travel further afield.
Pictures from the trip
Prices and dates
Price includes
- 3 nights in dormitory with shared bath/toilet
- 3 nights in tent with access to shared shower/toilet
- 1 night in hotel in Calvi
- Breakfast every day
- Packed lunch every day on the trek (not in Calvi)
- Dinner every day on the trek (not in Calvi)
- Carefully elaborated route descriptions maps and other materials
- Luggage transfer between accommodations (read more below)
- Transfer from Bastia airport to Vizzavona on arrival
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Transportation to Bastia Airport
- Drinks
- Handling fee (€20)
- Local tourist taxes (if necessary)
Practical information
The price is based upon two people sharing. For safety reasons, this tour cannot be booked for solo travellers. There must be min. be two participants.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Corsica (Bastia airport) are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 5-8 business days)
- You arrange your transportation
Getting there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio
On this trip you will stay in hotels, refuges and tents.
During the trek itself you will stay in refuges (dormitories) and in tents. In Calvi you will stay in a hotel.
The tents are pop-up igloo tents and they are set up or handed out at the refuges when you arrive. You do not need to bring your own tent (unless you wish to do so).
Upgrading to hotel rooms is possible in Vizzavona, Vergio and Haut Asco (3 nights). This upgrade can be selected on the booking form.
Breakfast is included throughout the tour and consists of things like tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter and jams.
Lunch is provided at breakfast and you will need to bring your own lunch box for this. The packed lunch may include rice, pasta, lentils and couscous salad.
Dinner is served in the refuges and usually consists of a starter and a main course.
If you have special requirements for the food (e.g. allergies or other), please write this in the message box when booking. There are limited options for vegetarians, vegans and special diets cannot be accommodated due to the remoteness of the trek.
Luggage transport is included, but it is not possible for the cars to reach all accommodation. For this reason, there will be days when you will not come into contact with the transported luggage. Check the daily programme to see which days you will have access to your luggage.
Note: Your tour pack should be 35-45 litres and remember that it is necessary to bring a sleeping bag on this tour.
On this tour, you will receive the following documents:
Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.
One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.
Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.
This journey has difficulty level 2
Grade 2
Easy hiking on reasonably good trails. The day walks will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in good physical condition can participate. Your luggage will be transported and you only carry a light daypack. Requires comfortable footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.
Read more about our grading system here.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
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"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"