If you are used to hiking, especially in Europe, it is almost impossible you never heard of the GR20, often designed as the most difficult hiking trail in Europe. Every year, thousands of seasoned hikers decide to throw themselves into the adventure, and sometimes, they don’t know what they are up to. Indeed, the GR20 is a real “star” in the to-do list of many hikers… or not! It is something you dream about, even though you are not used to long-distance hikes.
But why is this trail particularly famous? What makes it so legendary, and often considered as the toughest long-distance hike in Europe? Is it truly the most incredible trekking experience you read about everywhere? Here are a few answers.
The GR20: what is it?
The GR20 crosses the island of Corsica diagonally, starting from Calenzana in the North and ending in Conca in the South (and vice versa, depending on the way you decide to do it). It follows the mountains that divide the island in two for almost 200km, which is why the path often leads you above 2000 meters above the sea level. The GR20 in numbers, it's:
About 180km long 16 stages 16 days 7 hours of hiking per day on average 11 000 kilometers of ascent in total
A memorable experience in many ways
“The toughest long-distance hike in Europe”: by now I think you understood it is not exaggerated. The length of the stages, the daily ascent, the steep and extremely rocky ground… all these factors have to be taken into account if you wish to join the adventure!
But the difficulty of the stages is not the only reason explaining the tough reputation of the GR20: the lack of comfort in the accommodations on the trail is a main part of it. Indeed, don’t expect to sleep in comfortable beds, alone in your room. You will be in mountain huts or under a tent, depending on what you prefer and on the weather conditions of the day. You may not have hot showers every night, but hey, it is part of the experience, right? Moreover, don't forget that your “hut keeper” for the night will prepare a nice and generous meal so you can relax and recover from your long day of hiking.
Friendliness and sharing are the real key values on the GR20 !