Chamonix Trail Running Weekend with Sabrina Pace-Humphreys
Chamonix, France, often known as the world’s capital of trail running, is home to hundreds of miles of stunning trails, incredible scenery, and the host location for several iconic trail races. The town has a special place in the heart of Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, a qualified run coach, personal trainer, and rising star in the trail running world. “Sab” has an infectious enthusiasm, and on this tour, she’ll share her love for this beautiful region, along with tales from her races here.
Sabrina is also a mother, grandmother, social justice activist, and the co-founder of Black Trail runners. She’s committed to changing perceptions and making trail running more inclusive. On this short tour, Sab will be joined by a Run the Alps guide who will take care of you and make sure you get all the information you need to learn about the area and to develop your trail running skills and knowledge.
This long-weekend tour is graded level 1-2. It’s ideal for anyone who is already into trail running and wants to explore some challenging alpine runs, with options to shorten the route if needed. We’ll make the most of Chamonix’s system of trains and mountain lifts to maximize our time. You’ll get a chance to experience both smoother valley trails and striking high traverses – stopping at mountain cafés for blueberry tart and café au lait! You’ll learn how to handle yourself on mountain trails, as Sabrina and your guide give tips on topics such as how to use poles effectively, moving over rocky terrain, and descending trails.
There’ll also be plenty of time to relax in the spa at your hotel, wander around pedestrian-friendly Chamonix, and to enjoy great dining at some of the town’s excellent restaurants.
When you register, a $500 trip deposit will be required. Your tour balance will then be due 90 days before your tour starts. We will send you an invoice about a month before that due date. However, if you’d like the simplicity of paying in full sooner, or would like to pay in installments, we can arrange this, just get in touch.
Top photos: Sam Hill, Tanya Raab, Kim Strom
Itinerary
Day 1 - Chamonix
A shared group shuttle brings you from Geneva airport to your hotel in Chamonix. You’ll meet with your group before dinner to chat through the tour, and then head into town for dinner at a restaurant.
A shared group shuttle brings you from Geneva airport to your hotel in Chamonix. There’ll be time for an afternoon walk or run if you like, then the group will meet before dinner to chat through the tour. After that, we’ll head into town for dinner at a restaurant.
Day 2 - Chamonix
We’ll take the Mont Blanc Express train up to the hamlet of Le Buet and run over the Col des Montets at the top of the Chamonix valley. Then it’s back to Chamonix on the gentle single track of the Petit Balcon Sud, and beautiful wide trails alongside the Arve river.
We’ll take the valley train up to the hamlet of Le Buet and run back down to Chamonix on cruisy trails. We’ll first head gently uphill, on a stretch of the famous Tour du Mont Blanc, to the Col des Montets, at the top of the Chamonix valley with incredible views of the Mont Blanc mountain range. After passing through the village of Argentière, the Petit Balcon Sud, traversing a couple of hundred meters above the valley floor, gives us great stretches of gentle single track. We’ll finish on beautiful wide trails alongside the Arve river, back into Chamonix.
Day 3 - Chamonix
We’ll run on the Grand Balcon Nord, a stunning balcony traverse above the treeline, below the Chamonix Aiguilles, or mountain spires, between Montenvers and the Plan de l’Aiguille. We’ll stop at a scenic lunch spot, before taking the dramatic Aiguille du Midi tram back down to the valley at the end of the run.
Today we’ll run on the Grand Balcon Nord, a stunning balcony traverse above the treeline below the Chamonix Aiguilles, or mountain spires. We’ll hop on the historic Montenvers cog railway to skip some uphill and take us straight up to the historic Refuge du Montenvers hotel, where we can view the Mer de Glace glacier. We start with a hike up to the panoramic viewpoint of Le Signal and then practice skills for moving confidently over rocky and technical terrain on the Grand Balcon traverse, while enjoying incredible views of the Mont Blanc mountain range. We’ll reach the wonderful Refuge Plan de l’Aiguille, a scenic lunch spot, before taking the lift back down to the valley at the end of the run.
Day 4 - Depart from Chamonix
Today we say au revoir to Chamonix, Sabrina and our new friends. Your tour ends after breakfast at your hotel with a shared, 90-minute shuttle back to the Geneva Airport.
Today we say au revoir to Chamonix, Sabrina and our new friends. Your tour ends after breakfast at your hotel with a shared, 90-minute shuttle back to the Geneva Airport.
What's Included
- Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader and special guest Sabrina Pace-Humphreys
- 3 nights accommodation at a 4-star hotel
- Welcome briefing and drinks on first night
- All breakfasts, packed/light lunches, trail nutrition, and multi-course dinners
- Geneva Airport-Chamonix transfers at the start and end of the tour
- Transfers to and from trailheads as per the itinerary
- Run the Alps’ Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains 80+ pages of information about where you’ll be running, what to pack, how to train, and plenty of other insider information from Run the Alps staff and guides
- A day of professional photography on the trails, with images provided to you license-free
- An in-country welcome pack – includes trail nutrition and a Run the Alps T-shirt (Note: You can choose to opt out of the T-shirt during registration; if you do, we’ll automatically donate the equivalent to one of our 1% for the Planet partners instead.)
- Personalized support before and during your tour
- 20% discount code for the Run the Alps store
- 20% discount code at The Hub Chamonix for pre- or post-tour accommodation
- Contribution to our Net Positive initiatives
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Transport to and from trailheads if you shorten a run
- Drinks with dinners
- Any additional nutrition and drinks while on the trail
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Tips for guides
- Trip insurance
Arrival
Plan to arrive the day your tour starts, at the latest. If you would like to join for an optional shake-out run, you’ll need to be ready to meet the group at 3:30 pm. This means arriving at the Geneva Airport no later than 1 pm. This tour includes a shared shuttle pickup from Geneva Airport. If you’d like to arrive a day or more before the tour starts, the shuttle is still included.
Departure
Since Geneva Airport is only ninety minutes away by shuttle, it is possible to leave the day the tour ends. If your flight departure time is before 9:30am, a private shuttle is required at an added cost of $240.
Good To Know
- Want to extend your trip with more running? We can help provide self-guided run descriptions for nearby regions of the Alps, and/or trail race options.
- Concerned about being ready? We’re here to help. Check out our Alps Training Resources or get in touch if you’d like to be put in touch with a coach.
- Can a non-running partner join me on this tour? Yes–read how hiking and sightseeing companions can come too.
- Celebrating a special occasion? Each year we get a number of guests who are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or retirement with a Run the Alps trip. If this is you, let us know!
- Tour Balance: Your tour balance is due 90 days before your tour starts. We will send you an invoice about a month before that due date. However, you can pay your balance at any time. If you’d like the simplicity of paying in full sooner, or would like to pay in installments, please contact us.
- Trip Insurance: Life can sometimes throw us a curveball and wreak havoc upon the best laid plans, which is why Run the Alps requires trip insurance. Learn more here.
- Terms and Conditions: You can read up on them here.
Regional map
Interactive map with 4 point(s): Tour base: Chamonix; ; ; .
Guides for this Tour
Want to know more?
The Trail Runner’s Underground Guide to Chamonix
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A Trail Runner’s Tour of Chamonix
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New from Run the Alps – Trail Running Chamonix Mont Blanc: 30 Must-Do Runs in France, Italy and Switzerland
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Chamonix’s Vertical Kilometer: A Brief History
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