GR20 North & South
Duration: 14 nights
Walking: 13 days' walking: 6-9 hours a day
Difficulty level: Tough - read more on our walking gradings
Accommodation: Camping, simple refuges and shepherds' cabins - all shared dorms with limited showers and wcs
Type: Self-guided
Start and finish point: Bavella to Haut Asco. Fly into Figari / out of Calvi
Departure dates: Sundays from 2nd June to 8th September
Our 14 night package tackles 13 of the full 16 GR20 sections and traverses the island diagonally, travelling from south to north. This challenge will test your fitness and resilience to the max.
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 must be fit and have good trekking experience.
The GR20 is becoming more and more popular, but it remains the most difficult trek in Europe. To overlook this could put inexperienced walkers in danger. There is a need to prepare for this trip properly and to not overestimate your ability. The GR20 is for hikers in very good physical shape who already have the experience of high mountain trekking over several days, and are able to manage to self guide their walking with all that that involves: determination, effort, map skills and orientation, be aware and can handle adjustments in the weather.
This walk is very challenging, You need to be sure footed and have appropriate scrambling experience - you need to know how to place your feet on rocky ground.
Getting Prepared
We recommend at least three sessions a week of aerobic exercise and regular hill walking. It is good to get in some hill walks on rough, uneven terrain, to build up ankle strength. Train to walk downhill, get used to knowing where to put your feet. Aim to progress walking downhill at a reasonable pace, two walking poles will reduce the shock on your legs.
Relevant walks you should have undertaken before the GR20:
1. Ascending Snowdon by Crib Goch
2. Descending from Blencathra in the Lake Dristrict by Sharp Edge
3. Scrambling along the Aonach Eagach ridge end of Glen Coe in the Scottish Highlands
