Chamonix Culinary and Trail Running Vacation with Gregory Gourdet

Take a shared shuttle transfer from Geneva Airport to your 4-star hotel in Chamonix. In the early evening, there’ll be a welcome gathering where you’ll meet Gregory, your guide and the rest of your group, and learn more about the week ahead. Our friend Marta will provide a delicious aperitif including local food, wines and juices. Afterwards, we’ll head for dinner in town at Le Petit Monchu, which serves classic French cuisine, including several local Savoyarde specialties.

Today we’ll take a taxi through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy, and start our run in Val Veny. We’ll start with some fast-hiking uphill, then run a stunning balcony trail – one of the best sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc! Lunch is at the famous mountain restaurant Maison Vieille, then we run down to Courmayeur (option of lift down). Showers are available, then it’s time to enjoy an “aperitivo” and/or walk around the cobbled streets of Courmayeur. Dinner is at the Hotel Courmayeur Mont Blanc Cable Car restaurant with brief introductory comments from Maitre D Giorgio – a lively, fun character. An evening taxi will take us back to our hotel in Chamonix.

In the morning, we’ll visit La Ferme de Vallorcine, an organic dairy farm run by trail runner Victorien and his partner Melissa. Then we jump on the Mont Blanc Express train and head for lunch at Restaurant La Crèmerie du Glacier, a quaint and rustic mountain restaurant in the forest near Argentière, serving local specialties like gratins, “croûtes” and salads with locally sourced eggs, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. 

In the afternoon we’ll fast-hike up to a stunning, high elevation mountain hut, Refuge Albert Premier. Luggage delivery isn’t possible up at the hut, so we’ll “fast-pack” with a few essential overnight items on our run. We take a steep route up the rocky moraine, alongside a glacier. There’ll be time to relax on the deck and take in the high mountain views, and Willie will lead a mindfulness activity. Dinner at the hut is a simple but satisfying three-course meal, which we serve from big bowls, family-style.

In the morning, after a simple breakfast at the hut, we’ll run down into the valley through the meadows of La Balme, then take a train or bus back into Chamonix – there’ll be an option to extend the run if you like. Back in Chamonix, the popular weekly farmers market, or le Marché, takes place this morning at Chamonix’s Place du Mont-Blanc. After looking around and buying some treats and gifts, we have the afternoon off – although there’s the option of a guided or self-guided run, such as to beautiful Chalet Floria, if you want an additional shorter outing.

In the evening we’ll gather at The Hub Chamonix . We’ll take part in a breathwork session, before enjoying a dinner designed by Gregory and prepared by a caterer and Gregory. This dinner will be open to Run the Alps staff, so you’ll get a chance to visit with many of the folks behind Run the Alps, as well!

Today we’ll get the Mont Blanc Express train to the hamlet of Montroc, then run the iconic Balcon Sud trail. This is a high traverse with big views of the Mont Blanc massif, taking in the picturesque Lac Blanc, and ending at the Flégère cable car, which we’ll hop on to descend. 

In the afternoon we’ll spend time at Chamonix’s QC Terme Spa, where we can admire the mountains from the outside pools and hot tubs. We’ll head out for dinner in town in the evening.

This morning we’ll take the cable car to the summit of the dramatic Aiguille du Midi, above Chamonix at 3842 meters (12,600 feet). On the descent, we’ll get off at the midstation for lunch at one of our favorite mountain huts, Refuge Plan de l’Aiguille. From there we’ll run the Grand Balcon Nord, a high traverse underneath the towering Chamonix “aiguiles” or mountain spires. A descent above the Mer de Glace glacier brings us to Montenvers mountain train station, then we run down to Chamonix – or take the cog train if preferred. This evening we’ll experience a tasting of local wines, then have a celebratory dinner in town at a special restaurant.

After breakfast at our hotel, we say au revoir to the Alps, our tour friends, Gregory and Willie, and our guides. A shared shuttle transfer is provided to Geneva airport.