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.
GR20 South Self Guided (Lightened Pack)
Self guided walking
7 days / 6 nights
Level 1 2 3 4
Point to Point - 6 days walking
Camping, Simple Refuges & Shepherds Cabins
Starting from 710 €
- High Alpine walking
- Luggage transfers available
- Long challenging ridge walks
- GR20 - Bavella, Vizzavona
Groups, families or businesses
Tailor this holiday to your needs READ MORE
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.
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.
7km, 5h30, +815m, -485m.
Day 3 - Asinau to Coscione plateau
The GR20 trail heads up to the magnificent ridge line of Alcudina, the highest summit in the South at 2134m altitude. There are fantastic views and on a clear day you can pick out your route and see where you are heading. You leave the high ground and head down towards the famous Cuscione plateau, a wild open area that is grazing land in the summer months. Your night stop is at Croci shepherd’s cabin situated on the edge of the plateau.
8km, 4h30, +650m, -660m.
Day 4 - Coscione plateau to Usciolu
The GR20 crosses the grassy plateau. The trail then heads uphill through aforest of dwarf oak trees to the Col de l’Agnone. From here, starts one of the best ridge walks on the GR20, it is very exposed. The rock has been wonderfully sculpted by the elements and the granite decor is sublime. The GR20 trail topples back and forth over the ridge, to one side then the other. Camp at Usciolu Refuge.
14km, 6h00, +680m, -460m.
Day 5 - Usciolu to Col de Verde
This walk has some really special scenery with great views. From the refuge the GR20 continues along the ridge. The trail plunges down towards the Col de Laparo and passes the refuge at Prati (1820m) it is worth stopping to enjoy the airy rooftop views of the island and enjoy the lush, spongy fresh ground. The GR20 drops rapidly down in and out of the forest to your destination at the Col de Verde. (1289m). Night in Gite.
15.5km, 7h30, +770m, -1200m.
Day 6 - Col de Verde to Capanelle
The GR20 trail undulates gently today and mainly contours through a forest of Larricio pine trees. The walk is essentially traversing the slopes of Monte Renosu. A steeper section leads us to the small shepherds’ hamlet of Traghjette before arriving at a ridge where you can see your night stop and the cabins of Capanelle, a ski station in the winter. Night in Gite.
13km, 5h00, +710m, -400m.
Day 7 - Capanelle to Vizzavona
This is the last stage of the GR20 southern section, the walk makes for a leisurely day. The GR20 leaves Capanelle (1568m) taking a path on more or less easy terrain. The GR20 trail then climbs to Bocca Palmente 1640m, from where on a clear day the views are exceptional, the massifs of the Monte d’Oro and the Rotondu tower above. The trail drops down into the thick Vizzavona forest to Vizzavona (920m) the midway point of the GR20. Trains leave from Vizzavona to Ajaccio and Bastia.
14km, 5h30, +320m, -1000m.
This itinerary is an example of the itinerary we aim to adhere to, correct at time of publication. Should situations arise that are beyond our control, such as severe weather conditions, or other factors that could put your safety at risk, it may be possible for the itinerary to be modified.
Departure every Sunday from May to mid September. 2 persons minimum.
Please select your departure date in the calender below to see the price and click on the button to the right to make a reservation.
Prices : €710pp
Price includes
Accommodation on full board (nights 1 to 6), picnic day 7, travel dossier with A4 copies of IGN maps and walking notes and GR20 pocket map. PLEASE NOTE some of these documents cannot be sent by file transfer.
Price does not include
Reservation fee of €5pp, travel insurance, drinks, picnic day 1, transfers to Vizzavona, travel to Corsica.
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. Air tickets and boat reservations available, please ask for a quotation.
Accommodation
- Simple Gites & Park Refuges, in dormitories or camping at refuges (showers and WC facilities are limited).
- Simple Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, longlife bread, butter, jam).
- Evening meals (based on local specialties - a starter, soup or smoked meats, main course or pasta or rice with a sauce, cheese, a fruit or a sweet pudding.).
- Picnics (please bring a tupperware for rice, pasta, lentils, couscous salad)
Should you have any food allergies, special requests or dietary requirements, please advise at time of booking. Food is limited for vegetarians, and special diets cannot be accommodated due to the remoteness of the trek.
Number of participants
Reservations for minimum of 2 participants. NB. For safety reasons we do not accept solo hiker reservations on Self-Guided treks.
Level
Tough The walks are long between 6-9 hours a day, maybe more. You can expect steep uphill and downhill sections with maybe up to 1000m altitude gain some days. The temperatures will range and weather conditions can be severe. You are fit and have good trekking experience. See our level ratings.
PLEASE NOTE THIS WALK IS VERY TESTING, YOU NEED TO BE SURE FOOTED AND HAVE APPROPRIATE SCRAMBLING EXPERIENCE. YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PLACE YOUR FEET ON ROCKY GROUND.
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.
Luggage transfers
During this trek you will carry a 35-45 litre rucksack with a water bottle, sun and wet weather gear, camera, tupperware with picnic, trailfood, all your overnight gear including knife, fork, etc, washbag, clean items of clothing, and sleeping bag. On the luggage transfer option, your follow on bag is transported by vehicle to Bavella, Coscione, Col de Verde, Capanelle & Vizzavona in the South. There are fresh water springs en route so you do not have to be weighed down with litres of water.
Our customers' reviews
Jennie-New-Zealand
We were extremely pleased with our trip it was fantastic! Great organisation and everything went well without any problems. We would recommend you to anyone wanting to walk the GR20 with some support but self guided.
Steve-UK
The trip was again a great success and went very much according to plan. Overall the trip has been a great experience and we’d recommend you to anyone. No walk was impossible or way too easy.
Chris-Luxemburg
Thank you for your excellent help and support during the trek. We have had a most excellent time, Corsica Adventure have been very responsive to our questions and problems during the trip. Thank you once again, and keep up the good work !
Natasa-Netherlands
We arrived at Vizzavona and really enjoyed the GR20. We loved your choice of gites/ refuges and had great weather. No alternative routes were necessary! What a beautiful hike! Even the kids did it perfectly!
Dan-UK
Just a quick note to say we thoroughly enjoyed our GR20 Sud walk. Many thanks for your help with the organisation. The accomodation was what we were expecting. We particularly liked Chez Aline (les Bergeries d'Asinau). Evening meals were really good. The best were Chez Aline (for the welcome and memorable atmosphere) and Col de Verde for best food. The picnics were generally good. There was always enough food. It was good to have a couple of shorter stages at the start. Usciola to Col de Verde was long, but we finished before 5pm, just!
Graham-UK
We are back in Scotland after a fabulous week on GR20 South. The Corsica Adventure team there did a great job of organizing everything and there was a wonderful spirit among those of us self guiding . A big thank you again !
Alistair-UK
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The refuges etc selected for us were basic but absolutely the best available on the GR20. Verdi was the best of them but other highlights were Croci (although still needs finishing off) and Chez Aline for the real authentic rural Corse! Spectacular hike, great scenery, refuge reservations worked like clockwork. Nicola did a fantastic job of organising and advising on our tailored hike from Conca to Vizzavona.