How much does it cost to walk the GR20 ? It is a question of budget, but also of organisation, because money does not work the same way on this path as it does elsewhere. Here is a concrete example, worked out for ten days of walking starting from Geneva, in summer 2026, without a guide, and then my advice for not running dry in the middle of the mountains.
A detailed 10-day budget
| Item | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Geneva to Bastia flight, airport shuttle, car share | 147 € |
| Kit | Boots, 50 L pack, poles, tent, sleeping bag, mat, water bladders | 700 € |
| Food | Around €50 per day | 600 € |
| Accommodation | Around €25 per day | 300 € |
Kit is by far the heaviest item, but it is an investment you pay for once and that will serve you on plenty of other hikes. The absolute priority goes to the rucksack and the boots. That is where you do not skimp. For the rest, sports shops and second-hand apps are your best allies for getting equipped without blowing the budget.
The golden rule: take cash
Take this in before anything else. There is no cash machine anywhere on the GR20, and most refuges do not take cards. For ten days I would advise setting off with around €950 in cash, withdrawn before you go up, in Bastia, Calvi or Calenzana. That is your working capital for the whole crossing, to be spread carefully across nights, meals and the unexpected.
Getting to Corsica
From the mainland, flying is still the quickest. Bastia to start in the north, or Figari to attack from the south. If you prefer the boat, Corsica Ferries links the south of France to the island for a single fare of between €50 and €140. And if you do not live near a port, a FlixBus will get you to the crossing for around forty euros. The right choice depends above all on where you are starting from and what time you want to set foot on the path.
Eating on the trail
Supplies are bought at the refuges, and prices there are high, because everything comes up by helicopter or on a donkey’s back, as at the Onda refuge. Reckon on €9 to €15 for breakfast and around €25 for a full evening menu, so €35 to €55 a day depending on your appetite. Breakfasts are served from 6.30am and are booked the evening before with the warden; for dinner, book as you arrive, before 5pm, to be sure of a hot meal.
The alternative is self-sufficiency. Freeze-dried meals and a small stove cut the bill noticeably, but add the same weight to the pack. Plenty of walkers go for something in between: a few hot dinners at refuges for morale and a taste of Corsican cooking, and lunches carried in the pack.
What about going with a guide?
A budget is not just a sum of money, it is peace of mind too. Walking with a guide has a cost, but it takes the logistics, the weather reading and the bookings off your hands, and it sharply reduces the risk of giving up that ruins so many crossings. That is the point of what I offer with WhyTrek.
To round it out, read when to go, where to sleep and the 16 stages in detail.