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Guided Tour du Mont Blanc Chamonix Running Vacation

Summer 2026

 

Quick Facts
Destination Tour du Mont Blanc — running through France, Italy, and Switzerland
Trip Length 9 days / 8 nights (7 days running + 1 rest day in Courmayeur)
2026 Dates June 28 – July 6 and September 4 – 12
Price $3,150 early bird / $3,350 regular — no single supplement for solo travelers
Difficulty Level 3 of 4 in the Runcation system (Levels 1, 2, 3, and Full Send)
Total Distance ~105 miles around the Mont Blanc massif
Total Elevation ~33,000 ft of climbing across the week
Daily Distance 9–21 miles
Daily Elevation +1,800 to +6,100 ft per day
Group Size 8–14 participants
Guide Ratio 8 participants : 1 guide
Accommodation 4-star hotel in Chamonix night 1; private rooms in 3/4-star hotels and mountain huts throughout; only 2–3 nights in communal dormitories — most nights in private rooms (based on double accommodation)
Meals Included Breakfast daily; dinners included at all mountain refuge nights
Baggage Transfer Yes — included throughout (carry only a hydration pack)
Highlights Run through three countries; circumnavigate Mont Blanc on the iconic 170 km route; rest day in Courmayeur; cross the Col de la Seigne; views of Bionnassay Glacier; guides offer breathing and stretching recovery sessions
Guides Certified International Mountain Leaders based in Chamonix
Start / End Chamonix, France
Nearest Airport Geneva (GVA), approximately 1.5 hours by transfer
This trip Running since 2019

Our Tour du Mont Blanc Trail Running Vacation takes you on an adventure run around the highest mountain in the Alps, the Mont Blanc massif. Join us on our Chamonix TMB Runcation as we trail run the iconic long distance trail running route, staying at comfortable hotels, chalets, and refuges throughout.

Our 9-day Runcation will kick off in one of the top trail running destinations in the world, the Chamonix Valley, before setting off on our trail. The route wraps 170 km around the massive Mont Blanc massif, climbing and descending a total of 33,000 feet through 3 countries and more breathtaking views than you can count. As we traverse the mountain we'll spend over half the trip in charming and comfortable 3/4-star hotels in towns, and a few nights at scenic mountain huts, which will offer a comfortable place to spend the evening with breathtaking locations and a delicious sampling of Italian, Swiss, and French cuisine, wine, and coffee throughout the trip.

Trip Difficulty: Level 3 (click to learn more about trip difficulty levels).

 
 

 
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Overview

•Knowledgable guided trail run of the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc route

•Comfortable curated hotels in towns and huts in the mountains in between days on the trail

• Runnable trails in the mountains and through French, Swiss, and Italian towns

• Comfortable hotels for 5 nights throughout and 3 nights in scenic French and Swiss mountain refuges


• Enjoy French, Italian, and Swiss cuisine, wine, and  coffee as we run through 3 different countries

• Baggage transport from hut-to-hut and all logistics and bookings taken care of

• First evening in the bustling mountain town of Chamonix, France at a 4-star hotel, and a rest day to enjoy two nights at a 3-star hotel in Courmayeur, Italy!


 

 

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. With a strong group we’ll take the variant over the Col de Tricot for up close and personal views to the Bionnassay Glacier and crossing a suspension bridge. 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

~17-18 miles/+4,400-5,200 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. 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 for our last night in France for a few nights.

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

Enjoy Runcation panoramas of the Mont Blanc massif on your Tour du Mont Blanc Running Vacation

Enjoy Runcation panoramas of the Mont Blanc massif on your Tour du Mont Blanc Running Vacation

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

 
Enjoy a cappucino break with a view on your trail run

Enjoy a cappucino break with a view on your trail run

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-hotel-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.)

  • This is a Level 3 trip in Runcation Travel's four-level system (Levels 1, 2, 3, and Full Send). Over 9 days you'll cover 105 miles with 33,000 feet of elevation gain — daily distances of 9–21 miles and 1,800–6,100 feet of climbing on technical mountain terrain. You don't need to be an ultrarunner, but completing 15+ miles on trails with 3,000+ feet of elevation gain, or regularly incorporating speed and hill work, is solid preparation. We hike the long uphill climbs and run the runnable sections. Optional 12-week training packages are available as an add-on.

  • A few things we love about this trip. You'll complete the full 170 km circumnavigation of Mont Blanc — every step around the massif through France, Italy, and Switzerland. The accommodation mix is intentional: 2–3 nights in communal mountain refuges for the authentic alpine hut experience, plus the rest in private rooms (based on double accommodation) at 3- and 4-star hotels and in private hut rooms, so you sleep well for the daily miles. And our guides live in Chamonix, are certified International Mountain Leaders, and lead breathing and stretching recovery sessions on rest stops to help your body bounce back day after day.

  • No — only 2–3 nights of the 8-night trip are in communal mountain hut dormitories. The rest of the nights are in private rooms (based on double accommodation) in huts or in 3- and 4-star hotels in the alpine villages along the route, including a 4-star hotel in Chamonix on night 1 and 2 nights in Courmayeur during the rest day. The mix gives you the authentic rifugio experience for the high-mountain sections without sacrificing comfortable sleep for the 105 miles of running.

  • Yes. After Day 4 (crossing from France into Italy at the Col de la Seigne), Day 5 is a full rest day in Courmayeur, Italy. The day is yours — explore the lively mountain town, enjoy an aperol spritz, get a massage, swim, take a short hike, or do all of the above. The rest day is built in specifically so you have the energy for the longer back-half days into Switzerland.

  • No. Runcation Travel charges no single supplement on this trip. About half of every group are solo travelers, and the double accommodation and communal mountain hut nights are part of how the group bonds.

  • Included: all accommodations along the route (4-star hotel in Chamonix night 1; 3/4-star hotels in villages; mountain refuges in the high alpine), baggage transport between every stop so you only carry a hydration pack, breakfast daily, half-board (breakfast and dinner) at all mountain refuge nights, professional International Mountain Leader guides who live in Chamonix at an 8:1 ratio, all trip logistics and bookings, a detailed pre-trip packet with packing list and weather resources, and a private group WhatsApp. Not included: international airfare, alcoholic beverages and dinners in towns, travel insurance, a small tourist tax (1–3 euros per person per hotel night, paid in cash at checkout), and personal extras.

  • Both departures offer the same itinerary and Level 3 difficulty, but the experience is meaningfully different. June (June 28 – July 6) offers green hills and wildflowers — the snow has just melted off the high passes and the meadows are at their most vibrant. September (September 4 – 12) is a quieter time on the trail — fewer hikers, the larch trees beginning to turn golden, and an end of summer atmosphere.

  • A valid US passport with at least 3–6 months remaining beyond travel dates is required for entry into all three countries — France, Italy, and Switzerland. Travel insurance covering the trip activities is required and not included in the trip price.

    Visa and ETIAS: US citizens do not need a visa for Schengen tourism stays under 90 days. ETIAS (a quick online travel authorization, around €7) is scheduled to launch in late 2026 with a transition period running into spring 2027 — for summer 2026 trips, ETIAS is not yet required.

    EES (EU Entry/Exit System): Now operational at all Schengen borders, including Geneva, as of April 10, 2026. On your first entry, you'll complete a facial photo and fingerprint scan that replaces the old passport stamp. This adds time at immigration — we recommend allowing an extra 90 minutes to 2 hours at the airport on arrival. Border crossings on the TMB trail itself are not checked, but you must carry your passport for hotel check-ins.

    For the most current Switzerland entry information, see the Swiss government's travel page; for France/Italy, see the official EU ETIAS page (travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en). We'll share the most current information in the pre-trip packet.

Who Should Attend? What Pace Do We Run?

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, at times on technical trails (think rocky, rooted, or steep with loose rock), 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 can accommodate different paces, photo and video stops, and taking time to soak up and enjoy the route and your vacation. We cannot, however, 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! This option is available as an add-on when booking.

Our Guides

Our guides include local, professional trail running mountain guides with certified regional guiding credentials. These include International Mountain Leaders, Middle Mountain Guides, Wilderness First Aid certified, Search and Rescue Members, and more. They are runners that know the ins and outs of this route and are prepared with a safety or alternate plan for any sort of unexpected weather or injury. Plus, they’re a ton of fun and we think they’re the best. Join one of our guided tours to find out!

Solo Travelers

We have no single supplement fee for solo travelers on our guided tours. We love solo travelers, and about half of all our guided trips (often even more) are solo travelers.

Our Content

All content on this website, including but not limited to trip itineraries, day-by-day descriptions, written narratives, and images, is the intellectual property of Runcation Travel and is protected under United States Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and international treaties including the Berne Convention.

Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any part of this content — including copying text for use on other websites, marketing materials, or commercial operations — is strictly prohibited. Any such use may result in legal action, including claims for statutory damages, actual damages, and attorneys’ fees.

We regularly monitor for infringement. If you are interested in licensing or collaborating, please contact us at runcationtravel@gmail.com.

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Tour du Mont Blanc Self-Guided
Participant Testimonials
“This was my second trip with Runcation and it was just as enjoyable! The trip met all expectations with great views, challenging segments, and wonderful people. The guides did an excellent job of staying with the group and providing details on what the upcoming day would look like and even led some recovery sessions post run. The rest of the people on the trip were an absolute delight and really enhanced the experience as I got to know and learn from them as well. I would recommend this to trip anyone who is interested in a trip with running as its focus. It was just the right amount of challenging where we worked up a sweat but still had energy to enjoy the rest of the day after the run. I would sign up again in a heart beat.”
— Matthew P., Guided TMB
“We, my wife and I, just finished the Tour du Mont Blanc Trail Running Vacation: Chamonix Runcation 2025. We were very excited for this trip for months and it did not disappoint. Our guides were Susie and David. Their knowledge of the trail, confidence in our group of 11, and overall demeanor made the experience welcoming and ideal for all. The helpful communication leading up to the trip, intentionality with the itinerary, and the course itself met all expectations. If you’re looking for a doable/challenging mountain experience with spectacular views then this is for you.”
— A.J., Guided TMB
“This was one of the best trips i’ve ever taken! Our two guides were fantastic, the views were stunning, and the logistical aspects of the trip were well planned and seamless. To have tackled something as extraordinary as TdMB, I felt super accomplished at the end and the best part was doing it with a group of 13 awesome people. I think runcation really attracts a solid group of people who are kind, easy to travel with and also incredibly fit! I’d highly recommend this trip!”
— Jacklyn, Guided TMB
“We had an amazing trip on the guided TMB. The guides were fantastic, logistics were clear, and everything was well taken care of. We had great meals and the biggest bonus was how great the group was. We couldn’t recommend this enough! We will definitely do another Runcation trip!”
— Anna, Guided TMB
“We had an awesome time on the TMB. A great group of people and Suze and David were the perfect guides. They really helped us through and were exceptionally caring. We probably underestimated the daily elevation gain, there are some challenging climbs but the team ensured everyone’s success! We are really proud of our achievement and are very grateful to Runcation for making one of our bucket list adventures come true. Now on to planning the next one!”
— Matthew B., Guided TMB
“I was on the Runcation trip around the Trail du Mont Blanc in 2025, and it was an excellent experience. The planning, communication, and execution of the trip was a 5/5 star performance by the organizers and guides on the trip. I will definitely be signing up for another.”
— Justin, Guided TMB 2025