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.

Units
GR 20 Principale Via Francigena France 01, Calais - Arras
Distance 112 mi181 km 126 mi203 km
Elevation gain 29,646 ft9,036 m 4,022 ft1,226 m
Typical duration 10 days 8 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 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 126 mi203 km, Via Francigena France 01, Calais - Arras is the longer route — roughly 13.0 mi22 km more than GR 20 Principale (112 mi181 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.