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Starting and ending in Chamonix, this 10-day trail running trip will take you around the iconic Mont Blanc and into the heart of the Alps. You will run extraordinary trails immersed in sublime vistas and stay in cozy mountain lodgings. Enjoying the cultural and gastronomical aspects of three countries—Italy, Switzerland, and France—you will combine epic running with top-notch guidance and the insights about authentic mountain life.
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Arrive in Geneva, and get transferred to Chamonix (airport pickup included), the world-famous resort and mountaineering center in France. Relish the impressive views of Mont Blanc and relax at the pool or an outdoor patio of your Chamonix hotel before joining the group for the trip meeting, followed by dinner. Get a good night’s sleep, your running starts tomorrow morning.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Refuge des Aiglons or Refuge Oustalet
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Start your day with a hearty breakfast in your hotel in Chamonix. Before setting forth to run the Tour du Mont Blanc, you’ll enjoy a few of the many excellent trails in the Chamonix area, most notably one of Chamonix’s dramatic “balconies,” with million-dollar views of the glaciers of Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges. Once you’ve finished running, return to your hotel and spend some time in this stylish town before heading back for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks, and dinner
Accommodation: Refuge des Aiglons or Refuge Oustalet
Running: 16-19 km (10-12 miles), 915 m (3000 ft) ascent and descent
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Today your running starts with an undulating trail, leading your group through alpine pastures and pine forests, over the Tricot pass, and through the quiet and quaint Miage valley—arguably one of the prettiest corners along the Tour du Mont Blanc. Passing through a tiny hamlet of stone houses where cows and horses graze peacefully surrounded by hanging glaciers, you’ll run to the small village of Les Contamines, where you will stay for the night in a cozy hikers’ inn.
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Gai Soleil
Running: 22.5 km (14 miles), 1380 m (4530 ft) ascent, 1260 m (4130 ft) descent
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Day 4 starts with following an old Roman road. Your group will continue the tour with a long, steady ascent across two lofty passes—Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and Col du Bonhomme. After lunch near the pass, you’ll descend into the Valle de Glaciers and stay in a shared dormitory in a more rustic hikers’ inn along the valley floor.
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks, and dinner
Accommodation: Refuge des Mottets or Auberge de la Nova
Running: 26 km (16 miles), 1620 m (5315 ft) ascent, 910 m (2990 ft) descent
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Leaving France, a gradual ascent through quiet pastures leads you to Col de la Seigne, crossing the border with Italy. Here you’ll be greeted by a dramatic view of the Veny valley and the Mont Blanc range. The Aiguille Noire de Peuterey is particularly impressive from this vantage point, and Mont Blanc itself dominates the sprawling views ahead of you. Continue down the valley and into the medieval village of Courmayeur, characterized by narrow, cobblestoned alleyways and a lively, pedestrian-only core. Roam its streets and treat yourself to some gelato before heading to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Bouton d’Or
Running: 4 km (15 miles), 1135 m (3730 ft) ascent, 1640 m (5390 ft) descent -
Start your day with cappuccino and cornetto and take it easy—day 6 is a rest day. You can take a dip in the hot spring spa nearby the Pré Saint Didier or simply explore Courmayeur further by visiting a museum, tasting local dishes in a trattoria, or simply heading for walks in the city or the nearby areas brimming with natural beauty. For those who want to run, the area around Courmayeur is filled with beautiful, quiet singletracks and huts serving delicious treats! If you feel like taking in the view, the nearby Helbronner Skyway cable car ascends high above the valley and offers fantastic views of the highest peaks in the Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks
Accommodation: Hotel Bouton d’Or
Running: Up to you
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Today, you’ll say goodbye to Courmayeur, and head up to Rifugio Bertone, overlooking the beautiful Val Ferret. From there, your group will run some of the best singletrack on the tour, stopping at the Rifugio Bonatti for lunch. After lunch, it’s time to tackle the ascent to the Grand Col Ferret, one of our highest points on the trip, marking the Italian-Swiss border. From here, you’ll run a beautiful, rolling green singletrack with grazing cows on each side. Descend into the quiet village of La Fouly, settle in for the night at the end of the Swiss Val Ferret.
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Edelweiss
Running: 34km (21 miles), 1370 m (4480 ft) ascent, 1540 m (5040 ft) descent -
Today’s run leads you along the Ferret river through quiet hamlets, followed by climbing to the pretty lakeside village of Champex, where your group will stop for a lunch break. What follows are runs through woods and meadows, climbing to a heightpoint with sprawling views of Switzerland’s Rhône valley and the historic city of Martigny. Stop for coffee at a mountain cafe before descending to either Col de la Forclaz or the nearby hamlet of Trient—where you will stay for the night. For those who prefer an easier day, an optional bus ride to Champex will shorten your running time.
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Col Forclaz or Hotel La Grande Ourse
Running: 29 km (18 miles), 1160 m (3810 ft) ascent, 1005 m (3300 ft) descent
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Spend your last day of running climbing to the Col de Balme. Relish the gorgeous views of Mont Blanc and the entire Chamonix area as you cross the pass and run through the Chamonix valley, ending your Tour du Mont Blanc trail running adventure. Once you’re back in Chamonix, celebrate your achievements with your guide and fellow trail runners!
Meals: Breakfast, trail snacks, and dinner
Accommodation: Refuge des Aiglons or Refuge Oustalet
Running: 29 km (18 mi), 1720 m (5640 ft) ascent, 2210 m (7250 ft) descent
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Like all good things, your Tour du Mont Blanc trail running holidays have come to an end. Say goodbye to your guide, fellow runners and to the Alps, get transferred back to the airport—or continue touring on your own!
Meals: Breakfast
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What you get on this adventure:
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- 2 IML-certified, experienced guides with extensive knowledge of the area
- Accommodation during the trip in village hotels and a remote inn
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Round-trip from Geneva to Chamonix by a shared shuttle
- All transfers to and from trailheads
- Luggage transfers
- Trail snacks
What’s not included:
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- Flights to and from Geneva
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Guide gratuities — optional
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To participate in this Tour du Mont Blanc guided tour, you have to be in excellent physical shape. This trip is for you if you’re an experienced trail runner with at least three years of trail running experience. You should be able to run or fast hike for most of the day with many breaks in between.
You should be able to tackle climbs and descents with altitude changes of up to 3,000 feet (915 m), with a total of 4,000 to 6,000 ft (1,220-1,830 m) elevation gain at any given day spread over 12 to 15 miles (19.3-24 km)—sometimes in exposed terrain.
Keep in mind that you will be taking a lot of breaks and that you will always have a guide by your side to monitor your technique and shorten the route if it gets too strenuous for you or your group (shorter routes are available most days). You will also be able to fast hike and take a rest day in Courmayeur.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Running vest large enough to carry all the items you might need during a day (around a 8-12L bag)
- Carbon fiber running poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Trail running shoes
- Wicking, quick-dry T-shirt (synthetic or wool)
- Wicking, quick-dry underwear (synthetic or wool)
- Running shorts
- Sun sleeves — optional
- Liner gloves
- Extra dry clothes
- Extra dry socks
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Even though you probably won’t need any running clothes for cold weather, bringing some (such as running pants and a fleece) is not a bad idea because weather in the Alps can be unpredictable.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For these group adventures, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 5:1.
- The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
Trail running along Tour du Mont Blanc can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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A $500 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the deposit is paid, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
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- If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to ninety (90) days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund minus the $200 fee per person.
- For cancellations sixty-one (61) to ninety (90) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a full refund minus the $500 fee per person.
- For cancellations thirty-one (31) to sixty (60) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the tour cost.
- After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund.
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To get to Chamonix, where your tour starts and finishes, most people fly into Geneva International Airport , which is 1.5 hours away. A round-trip shared shuttle airport transfer is included. This will be booked for you through Mountain Drop-offs.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best time to meet and you will get transferred to your accommodation in Chamonix.
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57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Mont Blanc areas in France, Switzerland, and Italy please refer to France Diplomacy’s advice for travelers and foreign nationals, Switzerland’s official COVID-19 travel guidelines, and Official Italian Tourism Website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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