The most beautiful walks of the GR20 South, from Bavella to Vizzavona, with the comfort of a hotel each evening. Set off for 5 days of moderate-level walking with our self-guided option.

Departing from Zonza, a picturesque mountain village at the foot of the Aiguilles de Bavella, the hike will take you to the Paliri refuge. You'll take a loop around the Aiguilles de Bavella, following an alpine route that reveals spectacular rock formations and sweeping panoramas. The route then passes over the Cuscionu plateau before reaching the village of Cozzano. From the Col de Verde, the ascent of the Prati ridges will take you to the summit of the Punta della Cappella, offering breathtaking views of the sea and the east coast. Finally, from Capannelle, a final stage on the GR20 South crosses several wooded ravines to reach the magnificent beech forest of Vizzavona.

Highlights

  • The most beautiful sections of the GR20  south
  • Access to the follow-on bag
  • Point to point - 5 days walking with our app
  • Hotel accommodation 
  • Starts in Ajaccio, ends in Vizzavona
Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Comfort
Hotel ** / Ch. d'Hôtes
Type of holidays
Hiking-Walking
Access
Ajaccio
Level
3 - Challenging
Carrying
Without bags

Itinerary

Day 1

Start of your trip in Ajaccio

Meet at 2pm at Ajaccio ferry terminal for a briefing on the tour. Afterwards, a scheduled bus transfer will take you to the village of Zonza, located at the foot of the Aiguilles de Bavella. Perched 750 metres up in the Barocagio-Marghese mountains, Zonza offers impressive panoramic views of the Aiguilles de Bavella and the Incudine. You'll have the chance to explore this charming village, characterised by its old granite houses built on boulders, overlooking the Asinao valley amidst chestnut, pine and holm oak trees. You will stay in the hotel for 3 nights. 

Night
Night in Zonza
Day 2

The Paliri massif

Transfer (15 mins) to the Col de Bavella, considered to be one of the most beautiful passes in Corsica due to the extent and richness of its panorama. This pass is famous for the Aiguilles de Bavella, an impressive massif of pinnacles carved out of red granite. Your GR20 hike begins here: you'll follow an ancient transhumance path through the beautiful Bavella forest, before reaching the Paliri refuge. On the way back, you'll have the chance to discover the Tafunatu, a famous mountain notable for its perforated summit. Transfer to Zonza.

Distance
10 km
Duration
5h00
Ascent / descent
+560 m / -560 m
Night
Night in Zonza
Day 3

The Bavella Needles

Transfer to Bavella for the start of your hike. From the pass, a loop will take you around the famous Aiguilles, emblems of the south of the island. The alpine route you follow will give you a foretaste of the sporting challenges to come. Under the shade of wind-bent pines, the spectacle of rock formations shaped by the elements is breathtaking. At Bocca Pargulu, the route joins the classic GR20. On the way back, a contour route reveals magnificent panoramas stretching all the way to the sea. At the end of the day, you'll be transferred back to Zonza.

Distance
11 km
Duration
7h00
Ascent / descent
+710 m / -710 m
Night
Night in Zonza
Day 4

The Cuscionu plateau

Transfer (40 mins) to the Cuscionu plateau. Situated at an average altitude of 1,600 m, this summer pasture is home to a multitude of animals every year. Its grassy meadows are criss-crossed by numerous streams. At Croci, you join the GR20 before leaving it to reach the village of Cozzano.

Distance
19 km
Duration
7h00
Ascent / descent
+370 m / -1180 m
Night
Night in Cozzano
Day 5

The Ridges of Prati

Transfer to the Col de Verde, nestling in the heart of a century-old forest of laricio pine, fir and beech. From here, take the GR20 to the famous Prati refuge, set in an exceptional setting where, on a clear day, you can see the sea and the east coast. The adventure continues with an ascent to the summit of Punta della Cappella, at an altitude of 2041 metres. The descent then follows the same path, taking you back to the Col de Verde through a forest of fir and beech trees. Transfer to Cozzano.

Distance
13 km
Duration
6h30
Ascent / descent
+820 m / -820 m
Night
Night in Cozzano
Day 6

From Capanelle to Vizzavona

A one-hour transfer through the villages of Cozzano and the Col de Verde to reach the starting point of the stage at Capanelle. In the first part, the GR20 crosses several small wooded ravines such as Giargalazeio, Lattineta, Regolo and Alzitone. Near the sheepfolds, you can fill your water bottles at the Alzeta spring. The path gradually climbs up to Bocca Palmente. Here you leave the Renoso massif and immerse yourself in the magnificent beech forest of Vizzavona. This stage marks the end of your journey on the GR20 Sud. At Vizzavona station, you'll find train connections to Ajaccio, Bastia or Calvi.

Distance
15 km
Duration
5h30
Ascent / descent
+350 m / -1010 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

Departure on request every day from early-May to mid- September. 2 persons minimum.

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 half-board, picnic lunches, local internal transfers, luggage transfers, travel dossier with IGN maps, topo guide and access to our guidance application.

Price does not include

Reservation fee of 5€ / person, travel insurance, drinks, site visits and transfers not mentionned in the program above.

Supplements/Discounts

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.

Group discount

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

Technical informations

Starts

At 2pm in front of the Ajaccio ferry terminal.

Ends

After the hike at  Vizzavona Train station. Trains to Ajaccio, Bastia or Calvi.

Access

Ajaccio ferry terminal or airport. For access via Bastia or Calvi, please contact us.

Accommodation

  • Hotel** and bed and breakfast in a double room.  
  • Single room supplement to be requested when booking.

Meals

  • Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam).
  • Evening meal including starter, main course and dessert.
  • Picnic lunch (please bring a tupperware).

Number of participants

Reservations for minimum of 2 participants. 

Luggage transfers

During this walk you will carry only a small day sack with a water bottle, camera, picnic, trailfood, sun and wet weather gear. Luggage is transported by vehicle, point to point

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.

Guiding

Self-Guided Walking. We provide you with a Travel Dossier complete with A4 copies of the IGN maps and a walking guide created by our team. During your hike our 24-hour assistance service will also be able to answer all your questions and, if necessary, assist you with the smooth running of your stay.

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

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