GR20
Across Corsica

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Estelle Torterotot

Travel expert in France and Switzerland

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Cassandre Dufour

Travel expert in France, Switzerland and Italy.

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Cécile Henard

Travel expert in France and Switzerland

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The full GR20 crossing of Corsica belongs on every experienced hiker’s travel list. From Calenzana in the north-west to Conca in the south-east, the trail crosses the Island of Beauty over almost 200km, in 16 stages. A legendary hiking route, the GR20 is considered one of Europe’s toughest (perhaps the toughest?) but also its most beautiful: it follows the mountain chain through the heart of the Regional Natural Park, offering exceptional scenery and panoramic views, with unspoilt nature all around.

Grand Angle puts its expertise at your service to help you discover this high-level route and trek safely: guided or self-guided, with or without luggage transfers, in two week-long sections: GR20 North and GR20 South, which can be completed back to back. The GR20 nevertheless remains a demanding trek.

Across Corsica in 2 sections: GR20 North, GR20 South

Where should you start? Although it may seem counterintuitive, it is better to begin this trek with the southern section. The mountains are less steep and the trails easier to navigate, offering a gradual introduction to the GR20. If you continue straight on, you will already be well practised by the halfway point, when it is time to tackle the steep, technical sections of the northern part of the trek. The southern section takes you to the Aiguilles de Bavella (stunning, but you have to earn them), the summit of Monte Alcudina, the forest of Vizzavona, pozzines and the high summer pastures used by shepherds… The northern section, starting from Vizzavona, brings an even stronger high-mountain atmosphere, with alpine and technical passages such as the Brèche de Capitello and the Pointe des Eboulis (the highest point of the GR20, 2604m, below Monte Cinto, Corsica’s highest peak; the Cirque de la Solitude has no longer been part of the route since 2015).

Throughout this trek, there are exceptional views in the 4 cardinal directions, across the sea and valleys, as well as mountain lakes and natural pools where you can enjoy a refreshing dip.

Corsica’s ridges and the GR20: rich and varied wildlife and plant life

In this crystalline (granitic) part of Corsica, the GR20 route crosses several vegetation zones, promising a remarkable variety of trees, plants and animals.

Many of the plant species are endemic, such as Bernard’s columbine. Cyclamens, alpine avens, alpine everlasting, purple foxgloves, asphodels and many others grow in abundance. You will also discover the pozzines, oases in the Corsican mountains. The ground cover is equally varied: bare rock, short alpine grassland and beautiful forests of chestnut, beech, fir and Corsican pine… These habitats support abundant and varied wildlife, some more elusive than others, including wild boar and Bedriaga’s rock lizard (an endemic species). The Corsican mouflon, an emblem of the island, is protected. Another rare and protected species is the bearded vulture, soaring high above, so high… unless that is a golden eagle?