HomeTrailsGR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Red R129

GR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Red R129

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 Red R129
Distance 112 mi181 km 13.0 mi21 km
Elevation gain 29,646 ft9,036 m 3,950 ft1,204 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
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

GR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Red R129: which should you hike?

At 112 mi181 km, GR 20 Principale is the longer route — roughly 99 mi160 km more than Via Alpina Red R129 (13.0 mi21 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 Red R129 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.