Campground
1,536 m
Aire de bivouac d'Asinau
Asinau (east side of Monte Incudine) · GR20 km 155.1
The Asinau pitches are cut into terraces on a steep slope, below the warden's cabin, with a fountain, showers, toilets…
Elevation profile
750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km10 km12 km14 kmRefuge d'Asinau 1,530 m
| Waypoint | Altitude | Km |
|---|---|---|
| Refuge d'Asinau | 1,530 m | 0 km |
| Col de Bavella | 1,218 m | 10.5 km |
| Refuge d'I Paliri | 1,055 m | 15.2 km |
The route
The main route descends into the Asinau valley, then skirts the massif along its flank, through forest, to the Col de Bavella (1,218 m), facing the famous red granite needles. At the col, bars, restaurants and gîtes offer a welcome break.
The alpine variant, waymarked in yellow, passes between the needles instead: slabs with handrails, exposed sections and a steep descent through scree. Spectacular but technical, it leads to rescues every year. See the Bavella alpine variant.
After the col, the trail reaches the I Paliri hut, the last on the GR20, nestled among pines with views of the needles and the sea.
Practical tips
- Alpine variant: only in dry weather, with a head for heights and sure feet.
- Bavella is a possible exit point (road, summer bus to Porto-Vecchio).
- In July 2026, the Bavella massif was temporarily closed due to fire risk: keep an eye on official closure orders.
Water points and tricky sections
3 water points listed on this stage. Springs can run dry in late summer: ask the hut wardens and treat the water if in doubt.
| Km | Point | Type | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9 km | Funtana di u Cannone | Water point | 1,188 m |
| 11.3 km | Fontaine du ravin de Cannone | Water point | 1,180 m |
| 15 km | Source d'I Paliri | Water point | 1,048 m |
Source: refuges.info (CC BY-SA), points less than 250 m from the trail.
Variants on this stage
Stage map
Where to stay on stage 15?
Accommodation along the stage, at the finish or on its variants, in walking order.
Refuge d'Asinau 3 places to stay
Refuge
1,536 m
Refuge d'Asinau
Asinau (east side of Monte Incudine) · GR20 km 155.1
On the east side of Monte Incudine, the Asinau site welcomes hikers before the descent to Bavella. As the dormitory…
Gîteto be confirmed
1,462 m
Bergerie d'Asinau (« Chez Aline »)
Bergeries d'Asinau · GR20 km 155.3
Known to hikers as "Chez Aline", this bergerie about 200 m from the Asinau site offers a rustic dormitory of some…
Bavella 2 places to stay
Gîte
1,218 m
Gîte Les Aiguilles de Bavella
Col de Bavella · GR20 km 165.8
Set on the pass itself, among twisted pines and facing the famous needles, this gîte-restaurant is the first…
Inn
1,190 m
Auberge du Col de Bavella
Bavella (about 300 m below the pass) · GR20 km 166.1
Founded in 1936 by the Grimaldi family, the inn stands about 300 m below the Col de Bavella and combines a Corsican…
Refuge d'I Paliri 2 places to stay
Campground
1,055 m
©Aire de bivouac d'I Paliri
I Paliri · GR20 km 170.4
The I Paliri bivouac area occupies a fairly flat ledge behind the two buildings, with toilets and a summer kitchen…
Refuge
1,055 m
©Refuge d'I Paliri
I Paliri (foot of Punta Tafunata) · GR20 km 170.4
The last hut on the southern GR20, I Paliri is nestled at 1,055 m at the foot of Punta Tafunata, a stage of about 5…