The Tour du Mont Blanc is a 170-kilometer (106 miles) hiking route through France, Italy, and Switzerland whose reputation transcends the world of outdoor sports. As the name suggests, it provides an up-close and personal encounter with the majestic Mont Blanc massif, looping through out-of-sight alpine villages, sprawling wildflower meadows, and rugged mountain passes snaking their way to snow-capped peaks.
When trail running, the Tour typically takes six days, covering around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) per day, including big ascents and descents. Accommodations are in hotels in the valleys, and there are plenty of opportunities to stop at mountain huts for snacks or meals.
Running in the Alps is meditation in movement
During my first summer guiding, I ran the Tour countless times and I’ve kept coming back to it over the years. I have to say, its position as a classic in the trail running world is completely deserved. Probably my favorite part is coming back into the Chamonix Valley from Switzerland, with beautiful framed views of Mont Blanc welcoming you after an exhausting journey.
The runner-up (pun intended) would be the section of the Tour between Rifugio Bertone and Rifugio Bonatti in Italy. That section consists of a flowing dirt trail that goes along the side of Val de Ferret, with the awe-inspiring east face of Mont Blanc staring at you from the opposite side.
As a cool alternative to this classic route, I’d highly recommend The Grand Bernese Oberland Traverse, a multi-day cross-country running trip in the Alps.