The north in five days starts with two very steep days: Calenzana – Carrozzu (19 km, over 2,000 m of ascent), then Carrozzu – Tighjettu via Haut-Asco and the Pointe des Éboulis (1,900 m). The rest is easier going, with a night at Castel di Vergio and a 25 km day to Petra Piana via Lac de Nino.
This is the pace of fastpacking trail runners; it leaves very little margin in bad weather.
Day-by-day plan
| Day | Leg | Distance | Ascent | Descent | Walking time | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calenzana → Carrozzu Via the Ortu di u Piobbu hut. | 18.7 km | 2,070 m | 1,100 m | 9h45 – 11h30 | Refuge de Carrozzu | |
| Carrozzu → Tighjettu Via Haut-Asco and the Pointe des Éboulis. | 13.3 km | 1,900 m | 1,490 m | 9h15 – 11h | Tighjettu and Bergeries de Ballone | |
| Tighjettu → Castel di Vergio Via the Ciottulu di i Mori hut. | 14.9 km | 720 m | 980 m | 5h15 – 6h15 | Castel di Vergio | |
| Castel di Vergio → Petra Piana Via Lac de Nino and the Manganu hut. | 24.9 km | 1,450 m | 1,000 m | 8h30 – 10h | Refuge de Petra Piana | |
| Petra Piana → Vizzavona | 19.5 km | 1,110 m | 2,000 m | 8h30 – 10h15 | Vizzavona | |
| Total | 91 km | 7,250 m | 6,570 m | |||
Distances and ascent calculated on the waymarked main route; “≈” marks a day on a variant (estimated values). Walking times according to the DIN 33466 standard, without breaks.
The itinerary on the map
one color per dayD1overnight stoprest of the GR20variants
Build your own day-by-day plan, then export it as a GPX file.
Customize this itineraryTips for this itinerary
- Starting from Calenzana after 11 am is prohibited: set off at dawn.
- Allow a spare day before your train home from Vizzavona.
The stages in detail
1
Calenzana Refuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu
0 m250 m500 m750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m0 km5 km10 km
2
Refuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu Refuge de Carrozzu
1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km2 km4 km6 km
3
Refuge de Carrozzu Haut-Asco
1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km1 km2 km3 km4 km5 km
4
Haut-Asco Refuge de Tighjettu
1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m2,500 m2,750 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km
5
Refuge de Tighjettu Refuge de Ciottulu di i Mori
1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km2 km4 km6 km
6
Refuge de Ciottulu di i Mori Refuge de Manganu
1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km10 km20 km
7
Refuge de Manganu Refuge de Petra Piana
1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km
8
Refuge de Petra Piana Refuge de l'Onda
750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km
9
Refuge de l'Onda Vizzavona
750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km