INTRODUCTION

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TREK

Independently or with a group?
Trekking agencies 11

Getting to Corsica
From the UK and Ireland 13 – From Continental Europe 18 – From the USA and Canada 18 – From Australia and New Zealand 19

Visas 19

Budgeting 19

When to go 21

GR20: route options
Trekking styles and route options 22 – North or south 23

What to take
Footwear and footcare 24 – Rucksack 26 – Sleeping bag and mat 26 – Tent 27 – Clothing 27 – Cooking gear 30 – Photographic equipment 31 – Medical kit 32 – Odds and ends 32 – Recommended reading 34 – Maps 35

Mountain safety
Trekking alone 37 – Mountain rescue 38 – Weather forecasts 38

Health and insurance 39

PART 2: CORSICA

Facts about the island
Historical outline 40 – Geology 55 – Topography 56 – Climate 58 – Flora and fauna 59 – Economy 66 – People, society and conduct 67 – Language 70

Practical information for the visitor
Accommodation 70 – Local transport 73 – Eating and drinking 75 – Bills and tipping 78 – Electricity 78 – Holidays and festivals 78 – Opening hours 79 – Money 79 – Post, telephone and email 80 – Things to buy 80 – Security 81

PART 3: GATEWAY TOWNS

Ajaccio
What to see 83 – Orientation and services 84 – Where to stay 86 – Where to eat 87 – Getting to the trailhead 87

Bastia
What to see 88 – Orientation and services 89 – Where to stay 90 – Where to eat 90 – Getting to the trailhead 92

Calvi
What to see 92 – Orientation and services 94 – Where to stay 97 – Where to eat 98 – Getting to Calenzana 98

Corte
What to see 99 – Orientation and services 100 – Where to stay 102 – Where to eat 103

Porto-Vecchio
What to see 104 – Orientation and services 105 – Where to stay 106 – Where to eat 106

PART 4: GR20

The route
Calenzana 108
Stage One: Calenzana to Refuge d’Ortu di u Piobbu 110
Stage Two: Ortu di u Piobbu to Carrozzu 117
Stage Three: Carrozzu to Asco Stagnu (Haut’ Asco) 120 – Asco Stagnu 124
Stage Four: Asco Stagnu (Haut’ Asco) to Refuge de Tighjettu to Bergeries de Vallone 126
Stage Five: Bergeries de Vallone to Ciottulu a i Mori 130
Stage Six: Ciottulu a i Mori to Castel di Verghio 132 – Castel di Verghio 134
Stage Seven: Castel di Verghio to Refuge de Manganu 136
Stage Eight: Refuge de Manganu to Refuge de Petra Piana 146
Stage Nine: Petra Piana to Onda 151
Stage Ten: Onda to Vizzavona 156 – Vizzavona 159
Stage Eleven: Vizzavona to E’Capannelle 162 – E’Capannelle 164
Stage Twelve: E’Capannelle to Bocca di Verdi (Col de Verde) 166
Stage Thirteen: Bocca di Verdi (Col de Verde) to Usciolu 172
Stage Fourteen: Usciolu to Asinau 179
Stage Fifteen: Asinau to Bavella to Paliri 189 – Bavella 192
Stage Sixteen: Paliri to Conca 194 – Conca 196

APPENDIX
A: French/Corsican glossary 200
B: Useful words and phrases 201
C: Minimum impact trekking 204

INDEX 205

Book List | Corsica Trekking – GR20 | Buy This Book | Table of Contents
| Introduction | Independently or with a group? | Route options | Practical information for the visitor | Sample route guide |