What's a Self-Guided Running Tour?
Why should you take a self-guided running vacation?
Last month in August we launched our new section of the website where you can find all the info on our self-guided trips in one space. Self-guided Runcations are for runners that want to go at their own pace. It’s a great way for solo travelers, or a group of friends, to explore one of our Runcation destinations as their own personal running adventure.
What’s a Self-Guided Running Vacation?
With a self-guided running trip with Runcation Travel, you receive a week of running in the mountains booked and curated for you. We take out the guesswork of where to go, what the best running trails are, and how to get yourself or your luggage from point to point or hut to hut by booking it for you. We’ve been offering self-guided Runcations since 2019 and we’ve had years to scout out our favorite sections of the Dolomites, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Sierra, Balkans, Patagonia, and more. From the running routes (provided to you in easy gpx files) to the curated rifugios, huts, hotels, and guesthouses we choose along the route, you’re guaranteed to see the trail running highlights of whatever region you choose to visit.
We arrange all your accommodations and baggage transfers, meals when included (see each trip itinerary for details), border permits, and transfers to trailheads during the route. We also provide a detailed itinerary, packing list, and important trip resources including safety information and important things to know about the area you’ll be visiting. Some of our self-guided trips, like our self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc, are customizable to your trip preferences, so choose between huts or hotels and your preferred mileage per day.
“The Self-Guided Trip to the Peaks of the Balkans was amazing. We had a fantastic time. Everything was seamless... the organization, the paperwork, the guesthouses, the trail guides, and the trail itself was incredible. We had the best time and can’t wait to go back. Runcation Travel did an amazing job getting us all the things for our trip. Thank you so much!”
How to Choose Between a Self-Guided or Guided Runcation?
There are pros and cons to choosing between a guided or self-guided running vacation. If this is your first time doing a trail running vacation, we recommend starting with a guided Runcation first. Having a local guide can be such a wonderful way to experience a new culture, from giving you tips on the best dish to order at your mountain hut, or re-routing the trail run or day based on bad mountain weather. They can provide running tips, invaluable cultural insight, and is the safest way to experience a new mountain range.
Our self-guided travelers are self-sufficient runners that are comfortable navigating new trails using gpx tracks and changeable mountain weather on their own. They prefer logistics like permits, running routes, baggage transfer, and accommodations booked for them so they can focus on enjoying their running vacation. If you’re someone that has difficulty navigating trails in a new place on your own, would like 24-hour assistance or the extra expert local knowledge and tips from a guide, or are not confident on your ability to make decisions based on mountain weather forecasts, we recommend checking out our guided tours first before joining a self-guided trip!
Where Should You Take a Self-Guided Runcation?
From Europe to South America to the Eastern Sierra of California, there are plenty of destinations we recommend as the best trail running locations for self-guided running. Many of these destinations can be customized to your desired trip level as well as style of accommodation. If you’re interested in point to point running, you can check out hut to hut trail running in the Dolomites, hut to hotel running along the Tour du Mont Blanc, guesthouse to guesthouse trail running in the Balkans in Montenegro and Albania, and hotel to hotel running in the Pyrenees. Our self-guided Patagonia trail running trip and our self-guided Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes trip allow you to stay in comfortable hotels, or a mixture of hotels and more rustic accommodations.
Interested in learning more about our upcoming self-guided Runcations? Check that out here. You can also learn more about creating a custom self-guided running tour or private trail running vacation here. Read some of our recent reviews from happy self-guided travelers here.
“An Unforgettable Week in the Spanish Pyrenees! We had a fantastic week of mountain running in the Spanish Pyrenees, all thanks to Runcation! The itinerary was thoughtfully designed with stunning trails, comfortable accommodations, and seamless logistics. From easy food planning to smooth luggage transfers, every detail was handled with care. Runcation made it easy to focus on the adventure and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes. Highly recommend them for anyone looking to plan an active, unforgettable vacation!”