Guided Tour du Mont Blanc Chamonix Running Vacation

Summer 2025

Overview

Sample Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Chamonix Meet and Greet

Day 1: Our trip will start 6pm the evening of Day 1 with a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! We recommend that you arrive in Chamonix early to adjust to the time change and explore the fabulous markets, trails, and atmosphere of Chamonix.

Double accommodation in 4-star hotel with breakfast included

DAY 2

         Chamonix to Les Contamines

Day 2: After breakfast, we'll get an early start on the road to our Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) adventure. We'll hit the trail early for one of our longest days on the trail to Les Contamines. On the way we'll pass farms selling goat cheese, old chapels, and amazing views contrasting green hills contrasted against the Bionnassay Glacier. Our comfortable 3-star hotel for the evening has a charming shady terraces, lounge chairs, and amazing wine and charcuterie.

Double accommodation in 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included

~17 miles/+4,400 ft/ -4,160 ft*

*Please note, exact mileage and ascent/descent info each day subject to change, but this is a good guideline

DAY 3

To La Valle Des Glaciers

Day 3: After an early breakfast we'll head out the door of our hotel and back up into the mountains. Today we'll cover around 14 miles with 5,700 feet of elevation gain and cross over the highest point of the Tour du Mont Blanc. On the way we'll run through the Reserve Naturelle des Contamines-Montjoie, crossing streams and meadows before starting our climb up to the Col du Bonhomme and the higher Col de la Coix du Bonhomme. On clear days views are visible to Val Montjoie to the north and Vallon de la Gittaz to the southwest. Tonight is our night of the Runcation spent in a traditional TMB mountain refuge in a peaceful green valley with marmots, donkeys, and quirky mountain decor.

Shared dormitory in mountain hut with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

~ 11 miles/+4,200 ft / -3,618 ft

DAY 4

From France to Italy

Day 4: Today we'll cross the border from France to Italy at the spectacular crossing of the Col de la Seigne. We'll enjoy more views of the snowcapped peaks of the Col de la Seigne before stopping for coffee and lunch at a rifugio which sits on a spur overlooking the Vallon de la Lée Blanche. We stop for a break at one of the most colorful rifugios on the tour before descending into the chic mountain town of Courmayeur to our comfortable hotel for the evening.

Double accommodation in 3-star hotel with breakfast included (no dinner)

~ 18.6 miles/+5,000 ft / -6,000 ft

DAY 5

          Rest Day Brags

Day 5: Today you're free to rest and relax in the lively mountain town of Courmayeur, Italy. Enjoy an aperol spritz, gelato, go for a swim, take a hike, get a massage, spend the day running, or all of the above! the famous Italian mountain town of Courmayeur!

Double accommodation in 3-star hotel with breakfast included

DAY 6

Spectacular Singletrack

Day 6: After a delicious breakfast, we'll head out for our longest day on the trails, but the views of today are a highlight of the TMB. We'll leave Courmayeur behind before making our entrance into Switzerland, first by passing through the famous Val Ferret before crossing the Italian-Swiss border up the climb of the Grand Col Ferret. We'll cover 18 miles before we arrive to our next stop on the tour, the sleepy Swiss town of La Fouly.

Shared dormitory in mountain hut with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

~ 20-21 miles/+6,100 ft / -6,000 ft

DAY 7

To the Lake!

Day 7: Today is our shortest day on the trail, and our destination is a relaxing lakeside town! As we descend from high mountains into forested valleys, we'll start to enter the flower-laden chalets and barns of Les Arches before descending into Champex, Switzerland.

Double accommodation (private rooms) in mountain lodge with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

~ 9 miles/+1,800 ft / -3,500 ft

DAY 8

Into the Mountains Again

Day 8: After breakfast, we'll hit the trails towards the Col de la Forclaz by way of the Val d'Arpette, a remote valley with alpine meadows and wildflowers. The writer Frison-Roche wrote of the valley, "This is scenery straight from a geograhy atlas, showing in one picture the habitat, the fauna, the flora and the mountain-formation...The Val d'Arpettaz is so satisfying; there you can still breathe the gentle air of solitude." After a long day's journey we'll pass the town of Tré-le-Champ before reaching our hotel serving traditional Savoyard cuisine and sitting at 4,600 feet at the gateway to the upper Chamonix Valley.

Shared dormitory in mountain hut with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

~ 17 miles/+5,900 ft / - 6,800 ft

DAY 9

Completing the TMB

Day 9: For our final full day on the trails, we'll enjoy an early breakfast and coffee at our refuge before setting off for the final 10-12 miles of the route. On this day we'll use the impressive path of the Grand Balcon Sud, which provides one of the most spectacular views of the Mont Blanc range along the way. We'll continue with some of the most impressive views of the tour finishing our epic circumnavigation of the TMB with a steep and winding descent to our original starting point. We'll reach Chamonix by evening where we say our goodbyes with new friends and tons of memories.

~ 10.5 miles/+3,100 ft / - 4,100 ft

this trip includes staying in mountain huts. to learn more about the mountain hut experience, visit this page.

What’s included

All accommodations and bookings 

Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations

A 8:1 ratio of expert, professional mountain guides to participants

Baggage transport from hut-to-hut throughout the route (all you carry is a hydration pack!)

Knowledgable mountain running guide and running coach along the entire route

Breakfasts included throughout!

Half board (breakfast and dinners) included at mountain huts

Trip packet with detailed info including packing and weather resources

Access to a personal trip WhatsApp group and community

Not included

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages and dinners 

Travel Insurance

A small tourist tax (to be paid in cash per person upon checkout at hotels ~1-3 euros per person)

Extra expenses due to a change in itinerary or in case of you having to shorten the day or trip as a whole (including personal return trips to the airport/next destination/etc.)

Who should attend?

You do not need to be an expert trail runner! However, please note, this is a LEVEL 3 trip. Runners must be able to complete the full distance each day on the trip itinerary (10-20 miles) with significant amounts of elevation gain and loss (3,000-6,000 feet per day) in mountainous environments, on technical trails, and at times in unfavorable weather conditions in the mountains. Over 8 days (7 days of running with one rest day) you will complete 105 miles and 33,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. It is expected that all participants will hike the long and strenuous uphill climbs at altitude, and run whenever the guide determines is feasible (including downhill and flat sections). We cannot accommodate walkers or hikers on this running trip. If you’re psyched about visiting the Alps and can meet this trip requirements, you should attend!

Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime!