HomeTrailsGR 20 Principale vs Via Francigena France 01, Calais - Arras

GR 20 Principale vs Via Francigena France 01, Calais - Arras

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

GR 20 Principale Via Francigena France 01, Calais - Arras
Distance 173 km 200 km
Elevation gain 9,520 m 1,564 m
Typical duration
Difficulty
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National International
Country France France
Best time to hike Best months: June, August Best months: March, April, May, June, August, September, October
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

GR 20 Principale vs Via Francigena France 01, Calais - Arras: which should you hike?

At 200 km, Via Francigena France 01, Calais - Arras is the longer route — roughly 27 km more than GR 20 Principale (173 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, GR 20 Principale 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.