Doing the GR 20 in 5 days means going three times faster than planned, because the “normal” walking time is 16 days (compared with 15 stages just a few years ago)! Theoretically, you should therefore allow 4 days with 3 stages and one day with 4 stages. We say “theoretically” because with the variants, it is possible to follow the old GR20 route and skip the stage to Matalza, going directly from Usciolu to Asinau.
Each day, you’ll come across at least 3 refuges: one in the morning, one at lunchtime and one in the evening to sleep in. Of course, doing the GR20 in 5 days requires you to be in excellent physical condition, and to have prepared your itinerary and equipment well (see suggested list at the bottom of the page). If you’re planning to do the GR20 in 2024, here are some tips on how to do it in 5 days. We’re talking here about running the GR20, although that in itself is trekking (sustained walking).
The stages of the GR 20 in 5 days
Here you will find a list of all the stages of the GR20. The table below gives you an example of a simple breakdown of the GR20, which is in no way obligatory.
The estimated walking times given below are calculated for a standard hiker: depending on your physical condition, you will inevitably walk faster. If you want to walk three times as far a day, you won’t necessarily walk three times as far, you’ll simply walk faster!
| KM | D+ | D- | Tps | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calenzana à Asco Stagnu | 24 | 2970 | 1840 | 13h30 | Partie 1 Partie 2 Partie 3 |
| 2 | Asco Stagnu à Manganu | 40 | 2820 | 2640 | 14h00 | Partie 1 Partie 2 Partie 3 |
| 3 | Manganu à Vizzavona | 29 | 2030 | 2700 | 12h00 | Partie 1 Partie 2 Partie 3 |
| 4 | Vizzavone à Usciolu | 44 | 2600 | 2000 | 11h30 | Partie 1 Partie 2 Partie 3 |
| 5 | Usciolu à Conca | 49,5 | Entre 1500 et 1900 (selon variante) | Entre 2900 et 3300 (selon variante) | 11h15 | Partie 1 (VARIANTE) ou 1 + 2 Partie 2 Partie 3 |
| TOTAL | 186 | 12000 | 12000 | 95h00 |
Map of the GR20 in 5 days
Based on the above breakdown, here is the map of the stages
5 days ok, but with variations?
Even if it is possible to avoid Vizzavone by taking a variant route, the passage through this village can be really refreshing for sports enthusiasts doing the GR20 in 5 days. There are other alternatives, but they add distance and complexity. There’s the Alpine variant of Bavella, which is an option on the 5th day (very technical), but before that there’s also the Monte d’Oro variant before descending to Vizzavona and the Monte Renoso variant after Capanelle
Refuges for eating, refuges for sleeping
Your days could be organised around the refuges. Refuges mean “water points” or refreshment points, so you can plan your meals and refreshment points at the same time. You can find a list of all the refuges on the GR20 here. If you want to do it in 5 days, you’ll come across 4 refuges a day:
- the one you leave in the morning
- the one you will pass in the morning (for breakfast)
- for lunch in a refuge
- and finally the refuge where you will sleep in the evening.
If you leave the hut at 6am, you could arrive at the first hut at around 9.00 – 9.30am, to fill your water bottles and have a coffee or a second breakfast. You would then arrive at around 12:00 – 13:00 at the second refuge, to have lunch (the refuges all serve hot meals). Finally, you’ll arrive at the last refuge at the end of the afternoon, to drink a pietra and recharge your batteries for the next day. On the last day, if you take the variant (which is the old GR20 route), you can follow the same route, but if you follow the classic itinerary, you’ll have an extra stage, so a very long afternoon’s walk, arriving early at night in Conca.
| Arrêt | Altitude | Places | Plus d'infos | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calenzana | Départ Jour 1 | 280 m | Plusieurs lieux | Plus d'infos |
| Ortu di u Piobbu | Petit déjeuner "Jour 1" | 1520 m | 32 | Plus d'infos |
| Carrozzu | Manger "Jour 1" | 1270 m | 36 | Plus d'infos |
| Station d’Asco Stagnu | Dormir "Jour 1" | 1422 m | Plusieurs lieux | Plus d'infos |
| Tighjettu | Petit déjeuner "Jour 2" | 1683 m | 48 | Plus d'infos |
| Ciottulu di i Mori | Manger "Jour 2" | 1997 m | 26 | Plus d'infos |
| Manganu | Dormir "Jour 2" | 1600 m | 32 | Plus d'infos |
| Petra piana | Petit déjeuner "Jour 3" | 1842 m | 28 | Plus d'infos |
| l’Onda | Manger "Jour 3" | 1431 m | 28 | Plus d'infos |
| Vizzavona | Dormir "Jour 3" | 954 m | Plusieurs lieux | Plus d'infos |
| E Capannelle | Petit déjeuner "Jour 4" | 1586 m | 15 | Plus d'infos |
| Prati | Manger "Jour 4" | 1820 m | 22 | Plus d'infos |
| Usciolu | Dormir "Jour 4" | 1750 m | 31 | Plus d'infos |
| Matalza | Petit déjeuner "Jour 5" | 1410 m | 20 | Plus d'infos |
| Asinau | Manger "Jour 5" | 1536 m | 28 | Plus d'infos |
| I Paliri | Pause "Jour 5" | 1055 m | 22 | Plus d'infos |
| Conca | Arrivée fin du jour 5 | 280 m | Plusieurs lieux | Plus d'infos |
Stories of the GR20 in 5 days
Do you have a question? Don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments section or on the GR20 forum. Discover here the stories of hikers who have completed the GR20 in this timeframe
With Evgénia and Rémi, Jérémy did the GR20 in 5 days. They give us the details of their adventure in this article, with a breakdown of the stages as shown above. See also their equipment list (6kg)
An example of a 6kg bag for the GR20 in 5 days
Not only will you have to be a little more sporty than the average, but you’ll also have to travel lighter to go three times faster, with a lighter list of equipment! Doing the GR20 in 5 days is by no means a record, nor is it a sporting feat: it remains a real challenge, which will be very complicated to achieve if you have 25 kg on your back! Besides, there’s no point in taking too much equipment, as you’ll be staying three times less time in the Corsican mountains than the others .
Of course, you won’t be wearing big hiking boots, but rather trail-type shoes.
Here are the contents of the 20 L front pack:
| Matériel | Descriptif | Poids |
|---|---|---|
| Sac à dos | Raid-light 20L | 796 g |
| Pack avant | Pack avant Raid light (2012) 4L | 174 g |
| Sac de couchage | Vertical Combi Duvet - Ultralight -5°C | 800 g |
| Pantalon étanche | 150 g | |
| Pantacourt | qui se transforme en short | |
| Tee shirt | tee-shirt respirant | |
| Tee-shirt manches longues | Double peau | |
| Polaire | Fusalp | |
| Buff | x2 | |
| Chaussette trail | 2 paires | |
| K-way | goretex | 330 g |
| Chaussures | type trail | |
| Tongues | ||
| 1 Brosses à dents + dentifrice + 1 savon | ||
| 1 paquet de mouchoir | ||
| Mini Pharmacie | (crème solaire, Nok, Compeed) | |
| Serviette microfribre | ||
| 2 gourdes | type sac + gourde Olmo | 2110 g |
| Sacs étanches | 2 poubelles 2 plastiques ZIP | 15 g |
| 1 frontale Stoots | pour les départs de nuit | |
| 1 Couteau | (type couteau suisse) | |
| 2 Bâtons | Raid light trail pole | 120 g |
| Téléphone | pour les photos | |
| De l'argent | pour manger matin, midi et soir | |
| Topo Guide | 188 g |
What level of ability do you need to do the GR20 in 5 days?
In 5 days, it’s still not a non-stop race, but it’s a sustained pace all the way! So you need a good level of fitness to plan to cross the GR20 in 5 days, and above all you need to be on time during the day to make sure you get to the last hut before nightfall.
All the other ways of doing the GR20 :
- Doing the GR20: the stages
- Do the GR20 in 12 days
- Do the GR20 in 10 days
- Do the GR20 in 8 days
- Do the GR20 in 7 days
- The GR20 in autonomy
- The GR20 Comfort
- The running GR20
- The GR20 Grand Luxe
- The GR20 on your own