Chamonix Youth Camp with Max King
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
| Aug 2 - 8, 2026 | 7 days - 6 nights |
Join our parent and youth camp in Chamonix, France, taking in the valley’s best trail running, mountain adventures, and famous attractions.
Trail runner Max King has been designing and producing trail running camps for kids for some years now. And for the last few years, he’s also been a special guest on tours for us, too! Now, Max and Run the Alps have combined those two ideas into an offering for parents and their kids to learn about the environment, different cultures, and improve as trail runners, too– and it’s all happening in the world’s capital of trail running, the famous mountain town of Chamonix. Hands down, it’s the perfect place to base this fun trip.
This level two tour is open to children aged 13 years and above, attending with one or both parents. Our selection of the best trails around Mont Blanc – in France, Italy and Switzerland – includes some technical terrain and long climbs and descents of over 4000ft. Although we’ll be fast-hiking the uphills, and on some days there is the option to take a gondola to reduce the vert, everyone on this tour needs to have prior experience with days out running on rocky trails.
The five stunning trail runs take us over the most beautiful and exciting regions around Mont Blanc. You’ll run over the border from France into Switzerland, and drive through the 12km-long Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy where we’ll run a high mountain traverse to the famous town of Courmayeur. We take in stretches of the many famous trail races around Mont Blanc and Mont Blanc Marathon courses, and spend a night up in a mountain hut on the side of a glacier.
Our highly qualified and experienced Run the Alps guides will be with you every step of the way, offering support and trail running tips. Of course, Max will also be there to support your family in your trail running journey. He has years of experience coaching youth groups and adults, around the world.
Read more about Max here.
There’s also plenty of other fun experience to be had, too, such as visiting a farm and collecting local produce to make dinner with, taking the cable car up to the 3842m (12,605ft) high Aiguille du Midi mountain and plenty of games both on and off the trail. At the end of the week you have time to take in other mountain experiences, such as canyoning, paragliding, or simply chilling at a Chamonix spa.
Top photos: Sam Hill, Kim Strom
Book this tour
$4,190/person, assuming double occupancy
For a family of 3, who share a triple room at the hotel, the 3rd persons tour cost will be at the discounted rate of $3,740.
$150 Single Supplement for a parent of two kids who wants a single room
Itinerary
Welcome to Chamonix, France! (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 1 - Arrive in Chamonix
Arrive in Geneva, and transfer to Chamonix, France. Join the group for our trip meeting, followed by dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Chamonix.
(Running near Le Signal. Photo: Dan Fitzgerald)
Day 2 - Chamonix
Today we’ll run up to the Mer de Glace glacier then to the incredible viewpoint of Le Signal, where we’ll stop for a picnic lunch.
In the evening we’ll enjoy a catered dinner in the comfort of our chalet, and be joined by a guest trail running athlete.
Smooth running above Courmayeur. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 3 - Chamonix & Courmayeur
We’ll head through the Mont Blanc tunnel – right beneath the mountain itself – to Val Feret in Italy. Smooth trails take us to Rifugio Bertone where we’ll stop for lunch before a descent through forest to the quaint town of Courmayeur.
Watching the sun go down from the Refuge Albert Premier. (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 4 - Albert Premier
We set off on our fast-packing adventure today, up glacial moraines to the Albert Premier mountain hut, perched just above the Tour Glacier at 2700m. There’ll be time to head to the edge of the glacier where we’ll do some group activities, learn about glaciers, and simply take in the atmosphere of this icy high-mountain environment.
Heading towards Col de Balme. (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 5 - Chamonix
After a simple but plentiful breakfast at the refuge, we’ll gently descend towards the Col de Balme, which marks the border between France and Switzerland. A winding descent through forest brings us to the village of Vallorcine, where we’ll visit the working farm of La Ferme de Vallorcine.
Chamonix VK. (Photo: Toni Spasenoski)
Day 6 - Chamonix
This morning we’ll jump on the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, to the top of the Aiguille du Midi mountain, at 3842m (12,605ft).
The afternoon is free for you to choose from a range of activities, such as rafting, running Chamonix’s Vertical Kilometer, or relaxing at the spa among others. Later, we have a celebratory dinner at a small mountain hut called “Le Chapeau.”
How it feels running the Balcon Nord. (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 7 - Depart from Chamonix
Today we say our goodbyes and head back home, or off to our next destination. A shared shuttle takes you from Chamonix back to Geneva airport.
Regional map
- Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader
- Accommodations at The Hub Chamonix or nearby hotel, and one night at a high mountain hut. (Additional hotel space available at this hotel, 200 yards from The Hub.)
- All breakfasts at The Hub Chamonix, provided by Run the Alps: cereals, fresh bread and croissants, yogurt, jams, butter, fruit, juice, and coffee.
- 6 multi-course dinners
- Food and premium nutrition on the trail
- All transfers to and from trailheads that are included on our planned itinerary
- Aiguille du Midi lift ticket
- Special guest athlete visit
- Daily runs and activities with Max King
- A day of professional photography on the trails, with images provided to you, license-free
- A copy of our Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains 80+ pages of information and tips from Run the Alps staff and guides
- 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 Plant partners instead.)
- Personalized support before and during your tour
- 20% discount in the Run the Alps store
- 20% discount code at The Hub Chamonix for pre- or post- tour accommodation
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- Flights
- Trip Insurance
- Transport to and from trailheads if a guest shortens a run
- Drinks with dinners
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry (for those in a hotel)
- Optional activities (Examples: Via Ferrata, rafting, QC Terme spa)
- Tips for guides
Plan to arrive the day your tour starts, at the latest. Note that flights from the US usually arrive on the following day, so schedule accordingly.
The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. This tour includes a shared shuttle pickup at the Geneva Airport. If you’d like to arrive a day or more before the tour starts, the shuttle is still included.
Plan your departure for the day the tour ends at the earliest. Since the 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Guides for this Tour
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Want to know more?
A Trail Runner’s Tour of Chamonix
On this short tour, we take you around the heart of Chamonix, visiting some of the town’s many trail running landmarks.
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5 Tips for Trail Running in the Alps
Embark on your Alpine running adventure fully prepared with these essential tips from Vert.run.
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Chamonix’s Vertical Kilometer: A Brief History
One of the more popular trail runs in Chamonix is also one of its more unusual ones – the “Kilométre Vertical” or “KV” – “VK” in English.