GR20 , Calenzana - Conca, the travers of Corsica, 200 km, two weeks

You've hit on a very popular walk: the GR20. This trail follows the high ridges of mountainous Corsica, an astounding wild and beautiful landscape, dramatically changing from day to day. The GR20 is rewarding and enjoys universal admiration.

The trail is said to be the hardest of the Grand Randonnées. Looking on the map you will be surprised why you need two weeks to cover this small distance. The hardships are many: steep, often smooth plates, tricky in wet weather. Other sections need the help of your hands. Whenever necessary, you will find cables. Another problem is that you won't find many shops. Actually, if you don't like to descent to villages for provisions, you have only one shop halfway, in Vizzavona. This is also the first road you cross in one week time! Therefore, you have to carry food for a week.

Water in late summer can be difficult to find. You must take enough bottles or whatever to carry your water supply for a day.

The weather is probably best in spring, but you will have some patches of snow. From july to september thunderstorms develop in late afternoon. And it is hot! October is more calm, less hikers, but also dry. 

One point on the downside must be noted here: the shamefully ill-conditioned facilities. Maybe you don't mind; fine for you. Camping or bivouac is forbidden anywhere but near the "huts" (sometimes "shack" is a better word) and there you will hardly find a place to pitch your tent but you will still have to pay. There is almost no food in the huts, often no meals, frequently no light, maybe one gas-burner for the entire overcrowded hut. We do not know if the situation has improved the last years. From 2009 onwards a reservation system has been introduced, also for camping. This is barely a solution for the bad welcome you get anyhow.