The GR20 South and North with a guide

🥾 The Aiguilles, or Towers of Bavella, rise majestically above the verdant Alta Rocca region. The views are breathtaking . It is in this setting that you will encounter the first challenges of the GR20 as you embark on the alpine variant, in the heart of this granite massif. The scree slopes, boulders, and slabs will help you find your balance, essential for the stages to come. Round trip from the Bavella Pass (1218m) to the Pargulu Pass (1662m).

🚌 By bus, you will reach the heights of the village of Zicavo and then the Cuscionu plateau which rises to 1500 m altitude. It was once an important place for transhumance.

🥾 Crossing the plateau, you reach the ridges to enjoy views over the Asinao and Bavella valleys . You will join the GR20 below the Incudina peak , which rises to 2134m, before descending towards the green pastures.

🥾 The GR20 becomes idyllic . You enter beautiful ancient beech forests . Small, fish-filled streams flow at the bottom of the valleys. You walk along wide tracks from refuge to refuge, from sheepfold to sheepfold, before leaving the GR20 to plunge into the maquis and chestnut groves , towards the village of Cozzano.

🥾 This stage, following the ridgeline , will surprise you with its granite sculpted by the elements above the magnificent Sant'Antone forest. Superb views of the villages of Palneca and Tasso and the eastern coastal plain. You might even spot wild boars at the edge of the woods.

🥾 Leaving the Col de Verde, the route heads inland towards gentler terrain . Forests and lush vegetation dominate the landscape. Fir, beech, and Laricio pine forests will be the companions for a peaceful and relaxing day of hiking. The contour route follows the undulations of the eastern slope of the Renoso massif. Towards the end of the stage, a challenging climb awaits, requiring careful management to reach the Traghjette sheepfolds and then Capannelle .

🥾 Last stage of the GR20 South . The route is mainly through forest . The GR20 leaves Capanelle (1590m) and, without gaining or losing much altitude, will take you to Bocca Palmente (1640m). Upon reaching the Bocca Palmente pass, the view is quite exceptional : to the west, the imposing massifs of Monte d'Oro and Rotondu; to the east, the Ghisoni forest, the eastern plain, and its ponds. You will soon reach the Vizzavona forest , which you will follow throughout this pleasant descent.

🛏️ Transfer to Corte and check-in at your hotel . You can enjoy the comfort and lively atmosphere of the city. Back to civilization.

🚌 From your hotel, we have a meeting with the transporter who takes us on a small mountain road that goes up the magnificent Restonica valley .

🥾 Our route follows this mountain stream, which originates in the heart of the Monte Ritondu massif nature reserve (2622m). It 's one of the largest massifs on the island and the second highest. It encompasses most of Corsica's high-altitude lakes, including Lake Melu, which sits at an altitude of 1717m. At the end of this extraordinary exploration of the upper Restonica Valley, the transport company takes us to the Vergio ski resort , where we'll stay for two nights.

We have an appointment with the transporter for a short transfer to the starting point of the hike.

🥾 We venture beneath the canopy of Corsican pines and ascend the Colga Valley along a pleasant path. After passing the sheepfolds of the same name, the trail becomes more rugged: we sometimes need to use our hands on the rock to cross "Bocca Stazzona," at nearly 1800m altitude. There, an incredible view unfolds before us! To the south rises the immense Ritondu massif, with Lake Ninu and its pozzines in the foreground, while to the north stretches the gigantic Cintu massif. Surrounded by these high peaks, we then continue along the ridge to reach our accommodation, also enjoying views of the nearby sea.

🥾 We begin the day by ascending a vast glacial valley, passing sheepfolds and majestic Laricio pines. Then the vegetation thins out as high mountains raise their peaks towards the sky. We will reach the Ciuttulu refuge, the highest in Corsica, before crossing the Foggiale pass at nearly 2000m. From there, the descent begins towards the village of Calasima, where the bus awaits to take us to the Haut-Asco ski resort, where we will stay for two nights.

🥾 The glacial valley of the Ascu is surrounded by high peaks exceeding 2000m. You are in a stark, high-mountain environment where majestic Laricio pines still stand. We ascend the ski slopes, following the old GR20 markings. We climb the slopes leading to Lake Altore to reach Bocca Tumaginesca, which offers a spectacular view and marks the entrance to a legendary GR20 destination.

⛰️ We suggest you end this GR20 North crossing in style with the ascent of a summit : A Muvrella, which rises to 2148m. It offers a fantastic view of the Gulf of Calvi, the highest peaks, and the final stages leading to Calenzana.

🚌 Return by the same path to Haut-Asco where the bus is waiting which takes us to Ponte Leccia station (connecting trains to Ajaccio, Bastia or Calvi).