GR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Blue D53
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| GR 20 Principale | Via Alpina Blue D53 | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 112 mi181 km | 12.0 mi20 km |
| Elevation gain | 29,646 ft9,036 m | 3,127 ft953 m |
| Typical duration | 10 days | 2 days |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | National | International |
| Country | France | France |
| Best time to hike | Best months: June, August | Best from July to August |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
GR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Blue D53: which should you hike?
At 112 mi181 km, GR 20 Principale is the longer route — roughly 100 mi161 km more than Via Alpina Blue D53 (12.0 mi20 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Via Alpina Blue D53 is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.