Overview
•Guided morning trail runs with childcare included while you tour the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland, often called Switzerland’s most beautiful mountains. This is a running retreat with childcare included!
• Scenic destination runs up stunning mountain ranges, peaks, lakes, and rivers of the Bernese Oberland, including Schiltorn summit, Trümmelbach Falls, and hidden gems in quieter valleys
• Sunrises and sunsets enjoying alpenglow from Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau from our comfortable family-friendly accommodations from a 4-star Swiss hilltop hotel
• Enjoy fresh and local Swiss alpine cuisine with many cafes and restaurants to choose from
• Family running vacation in the Swiss Alps: Be part of the first running travel tour company that provides a running tour with childcare and supports family-friendly tour activities on a Runcation
• Accommodates all running disciplines, from road racers to trail runners with flexible route options: it’s the perfect running trip for moms and parents
• All transportation during the trip itinerary, including lifts, gondolas, funiculars
• Connect with other running parents on the run and opt-in afternoon family-friendly tour adventures: hikes, lake swims, and local culture or enjoy recovery sessions and social time for parents
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Arriving to Our Car Free Village in Style!
This region has been called the most beautiful region of Switzerland, and as soon as you enter the Lauterbrunnen valley you’ll see why. Cliffs dripping with waterfalls and views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau will be a warm welcome to entering our car free village. We'll get situated in a comfortable 4-star hotel hotel before hearing an overview of the week and the many options ahead. We’ve tried to make this week as inclusive as possible for moms and families with many options for each day depending on the age of your child or children that will be attending. We’ll enjoy dinner and refreshments and alpenglow sunset before getting some good sleep for the week ahead!
Breakfast and accommodation in 4-star hotel included with access to wellness spa, pool, jacuzzi, strength training and fitness room
Complimentary luggage transfer service included
Photo permission Jungfrau Region Tourismus AG
DAY 2
Welcome to the Swiss Alps!
After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and dropping kids off with our private childcare service, we’ll head out for today’s morning run. We’ll start our trail running vacation in the Bernese Oberland with a runnable route of rolling hills where we’ll have a chance to enjoy views of wildflowers and the Jungfrau while also experiencing more of Swiss alpine culture up close. We’ll pass dairy farmers, mountain huts, and villages that have more cows that human inhabitants. This afternoon’s activities are family friendly and include a short hike/nature walk to visit a kid’s friendly interactive trail to learn about the local flora and fauna before enjoying snacks, a meal, or an aperitif while kids play in the adjacent open air play structure attached to the cafe’s outside deck. With views of the Eiger, you’ll find that this town is a true Swiss playground for adults and kids alike. For families that want to skip the hiking portion, this location is also conveniently accessed by a short lift ride from town.
Mileage: ~6.5 miles, +/- 1,100 feet elevation gain/loss*
Breakfast and accommodation in 4-star hotel included with access to wellness spa, pool, jacuzzi, strength training and fitness room
Childcare included for the morning run
Enjoying views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps on a run through our hilltop village
DAY 3
Alpine Lakes and Mountainside Breakfasts
For this morning we’ll have a short kid friendly hike to one of the most scenic lakes in the region. After our kids play lakeside, we’ll then take transport up to almost 10,000 feet above sea level for a breakfast with 360 degree views of more than 200 alpine peaks. We’ll have views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau of course, but on clear visibility days you can see as far as the Mont Blanc massif in France, the Bernese and Valais Alps, and the Black Forest in Germany. In the afternoon we’ll have a guided run in the Lauterbrunnen valley to run alongside rivers and underneath waterfalls flowing from glaciers with the option to visit the famous Trümmelbach Falls.
Mileage:
Kid friendly hike option: ~1.7 miles, +/- 450 feet feet elevation gain/loss
Run mileage: 4-7 miles, +/- 700 feet elevation gain/loss
Breakfast and accommodation in 4-star hotel included with access to wellness spa, pool, jacuzzi, strength training and fitness room
Gondola lift fees (return trip) and mountaintop lunch included for full family
Guided run and roundtrip cable car fees included for adult run
Childcare included for the afternoon run
DAY 4
Hidden Swiss Valleys
After a spread of a delicious breakfasts of muesli, granola, yogurt, coffee, homemade breads, and eggs, we’ll head out on an adventure trail run for the day. We’ll explore hidden valleys off the beaten path of the more touristed regions in the area. We’ll get to explore views of verdant fields of cows, more waterfalls, and more pristine snowcapped peaks on an epic mountain loop. We’ll get to stop for some much needed snacks and refreshments after the climb at a mountain hut before starting our descent back down the valley.
Mileage: ~10-11 miles, 4,000 feet elevation gain/loss
Breakfast and accommodation in 4-star hotel included with access to wellness spa, pool, jacuzzi, strength training and fitness room
Gondola ticket and transport to the start o the run included
Childcare included
We’ll get off the beaten path in quieter valleys with spectacular Swiss running
DAY 5
Under the Eiger
After breakfast, today we’ll take a short train to a nearby town to explore a loop with views of the Lauterbrunnen valley, the Grindelwald-Fiescherfirn, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. We’ll get up close views underneath the Eiger and explore views between the Lauberhorn and the Eiger from an epic mountain pass at almost 7,000 feet. We’ll have the chance to stop for a Swiss lunch and snacks before heading back by train to our base camp. This afternoon you’re free to choose between activities before enjoying a final dinner in this Swiss paradise!
Mileage: ~10 miles, 3,000 feet elevation gain/loss
Breakfast and accommodation in 4-star hotel included with access to wellness spa, pool, jacuzzi, strength training and fitness room
Train tickets, cable car, and gondola included
Childcare included
DAY 6
Breakfast and Departure
After breakfast, we’ll say our goodbyes!
Breakfast included
*Please note, exact mileage and ascent/descent info each day subject to change based on weather and trail conditions, but this is a good guideline*
What’s included
All transport mentioned on the daily trip itinerary, including cable cars, train, funiculars, lifts, and gondolas.
Childcare during the running portion at a top notch facility with trained and experienced professionals
Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations
Double accommodation in 4-star hotels throughout and flexible room options to fit your family needs
Breakfasts included daily including a special buffet breakfast on the top of a mountain!
Knowledgable expert mountain guide and running coach along the entire route
A 8:1 ratio of guide to participants
Flexible family-friendly afternoon activities to join, or receive suggestions for alternate activities in the region!
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 meals
Travel Insurance
Dinners and lunches
Extra optional side activities such as massages or activities outside of itinerary
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.)
Small local tourist tax to be paid in person in cash upon checkout at the hotel
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Each morning, after breakfast at our hotel, you drop your children with our private childcare team and head out for the guided run. Childcare is provided at a top-notch facility by trained, experienced professionals. The program is tailored to the children attending and includes painting and drawing, reading, children's yoga, outdoor play, crafts, group games, and a cinema and game room. Afternoons are designed for opt-in family adventures so you can explore together.
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Childcare is included for children ages 3 and up, from an experienced provider fluent in English and German, among other languages. Older children (2+ years) who aren't yet 3 by trip time can sometimes be accommodated on a case-by-case basis — please reach out and we'll work with the childcare team.
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Absolutely. There are plenty of accessible, well-marked hikes from town for a non-running partner (we provide maps and suggestions; these self-guided hikes are unguided). Solo parents are very welcome too — childcare during the morning runs means you can run while your kids are happily looked after. The trip is designed to be inclusive for moms, parents, and families of different shapes.
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Pricing is tiered by accommodation style so you can match it to your family: one or two adults with a child in a crib in a double room; one or two adults in a junior suite with the child in a separate room; or one or two adults in a senior suite with a separate room and bunk beds (great for two parents and two kids). Don't see a configuration that fits? Email info@runcation.org and we'll build one for you.
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This is a Level 1/2 trip on runnable terrain, and no day's run is longer than about 10 miles, so it's never an all-day effort. Uphills are hiked; flats and downhills are jogged or run at no set pace, with time for photos and snacks. It still takes place in a mountain environment with some technical or weather-exposed sections, so it's a running trip — we can't accommodate participants who only want to hike the run portions. Outside of the run are genuinely family-friendly options: a 360° mountaintop buffet breakfast with no hiking required, interactive nature trails, playgrounds attached to cafés, waterfalls, and glacial lakes reachable with as little as a half-mile of walking thanks to the lifts.
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No rental car needed — Switzerland's public transport is exceptional and all in-trip transport is included. The closest airport for international flights is Zurich (~2 hours away, with direct trains to Interlaken Ost every two hours); Basel is closest for domestic flights, and Geneva (~3 hours) also works with a change in Bern. If you fly into Zurich or Geneva, Swiss Federal Railways can even transport your luggage from the airport directly to the hotel. We recommend looking into a Swiss Travel Pass, especially if you're adding travel before or after the trip.
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You'll need a valid U.S. passport (or your country's passport) and travel insurance covering the activities of the trip. For summer 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is in effect, so allow extra time at the border for biometric registration; ETIAS travel authorization is expected to launch later in 2026 and is not required for an August 2026 trip. Check the latest U.S. government guidance for Europe before you travel, and email info@runcation.org with any questions.
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To our knowledge, yes — though that wasn't the original goal. In July 2025 Liz set out to create the trip she wished existed: somewhere running parents could connect with other families and still get epic miles in. When she went looking and couldn't find a trail running vacation that included childcare anywhere, she decided to build it herself. So while we're proud to be, as far as we can tell, the first running vacation company to include childcare on a guided trail running trip, what we care about most is what it makes possible — childcare during the morning guided runs, and opt-in family adventures together in the afternoons. Our inaugural trip in August 2026 sold out and so much fun — we're already planning 2027!
Who should attend? What pace do you run?
This is a LEVEL 1/2 trip. While there are guides to accommodate a variety of paces, the guided trail running portion of this trip requires running participants to cover the mileage and elevation gain as described in the itinerary. While uphills are hiked, the flats and downhills must be jogged or run (no pace requirement). This trip still takes place in a mountainous environment where you may be exposed to sections of technical trails (think rocky, rooted, or steep with loose rock) or unfavorable weather conditions on certain days. We can accommodate different paces, photo and snack stops, and taking time to soak up and enjoy the route and your vacation. We cannot, however, accommodate people purely hiking on this running trip.
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.
My partner wants to attend and is not a runner. Can they join?
Yes! There are plenty of great and accessible hiking options from town if a partner is joining that it not a runner! We are happy to provide maps and suggestions for parents that want to take advantage of the childcare portion of the day, but aren’t interested joining for all the trail runs. These alternate hikes will be unguided.
Is there an age requirement for childcare?
Yes, childcare is included for children 3 and up from an experienced childcare provider fluent in English and German, amongst other languages. The program is tailored to your children that will be in attendance and includes activities like painting and drawing, reading lessons, children’s yoga, play/fun outdoors, making crafts, various group games, and even a cinema and game room. Older children (2+ years) who aren't yet 3 by trip time can sometimes be accommodated on a case-by-case basis — please reach out and we'll work with the childcare team.
How do I choose a room that’s the right fit for my family?
Whether you’re attending as a solo parent or with a partner with one or multiple children, we have different booking packages and room arrangements to suit your needs. Don’t see one on the booking page that matches your needs? Write to info@runcation.org and we’re happy to put one together for you.
Our Guides
Our guides include local, professional trail running mountain guides with certified regional guiding credentials. These include Guías de Alta Montaña, Argentina (AAGM), International Mountain Leaders (IML), Certified Trekking Guides, Search and Rescue Members, and more. They combine their professional training with their love with the mountains and a passion for the ecology and geology of the region. 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!
How to Arrive
There are many ways to arrive to the Jungfrau region by plane, bus, train, car, or private transfer. We highly recommend looking into a Swiss Travel Pass, especially if you’ll be adding on travel in the region after the trip.
The closest airport for domestic flights is the Basel Airport. For those arriving by international flights, the Zurich Airport is the closest airport (~2 hours of travel time). There are direct trains from Zurich Airport to Interlaken Ost every two hours. There are also various other connections with changes in Bern to choose from. From the Geneva Airport (~3 hours of travel time), there are various connections with changes in Bern to choose from. If you’d like to travel without luggage and are flying to/from Zurich or Geneva, Swiss Federal Railways can transport your bag for you from the airport directly to your hotel or holiday apartment – and back again, of course. Read more about that option here!
For more info about arriving by train, car, or private transfer options, please email info@runcation.org
Before You Go
You must have a valid passport and travel insurance to cover the activities of the Switzerland running tour. You can learn more about new requirements for U.S. citizens to visit Europe here.
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“We had an incredible time and loved each day of the trip. We were so grateful to be able to do a trip that included our kids and was designed for both them as kids and us a trail running parents. The family activities were super fun and well planned out. The trail running was superb and we cherished each kilometer we got to do with this fantastic group of parents and awesome guides Liz & Tony. The trails were gorgeous, varied, fun, challenging, and quite runnable. The scenery and location was magnificent, and the fun stops along the way for food and drinks made it extra enjoyable. 12/10 - incredible trip.”
🕓 Originally published: August 30, 2025
🔄 Last updated: October 17, 2025