Discover the Tour du Mont-Blanc Guided
This level 1-2 tour offers flexibility, too. There are options to shorten the running routes, or take a rest day, and we’ll use taxis at key points so we can focus on the most scenic, rewarding parts of the trail.
Run the Alps guides know the TMB incredibly well. We know the best variants to take, which café has the tastiest tarts, and we’re friends with local farmers who can show us their farms. Your guides will support you every step of the way—helping you deepen your trail running skills and your understanding of this remarkable region.
You’ll stay in comfortable hotels in charming mountain towns, with time each afternoon to explore. We’ll dine together in local restaurants most evenings, with one free night to choose your own spot. There’s also the chance to relax at the Pré-Saint-Didier spa near Courmayeur and visit an organic dairy farm in France—a perfect way to round out your TMB experience.
Top photos: Tom Benitez, Sam Lhermillier
Book this tour
$4920 per person
$600 single supplement
€4280 per person
€520 single supplement
£3690 per person
£450 single supplement
Make it privately guided
Prefer to go guided with your own group? Inquire here.
Go self-guided
Run on your own schedule, without a guide, and let us take care of the logistics! See details here.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Chamonix
Take a shared shuttle transfer from Geneva Airport to a 4-star spa hotel in Chamonix. Meet the rest of your group and your guides in the evening, then head into town for dinner.
Take a shared shuttle transfer, arranged by Run the Alps, from Geneva Airport to a 4-star spa hotel in Chamonix. There’s time to relax before meeting the rest of your group and your guides, then heading into town for dinner.
Day 2 - Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Today we head to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, a Roman town and important hub of mountain travel. We’ll stop at the historic Petit St Bernard pass for a run around this wild pass, before continuing our ride down to our hotel.
Today we head to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, a Roman town and important hub of mountain travel. A taxi takes us through the Mont Blanc tunnel into Italy, then over the historic Petit St Bernard pass, back into France! We’ll stop for a run around the wild Petit St Bernard pass, where the route of the UTMB® TDS goes, before continuing our ride down to our hotel. There’ll be time to enjoy a walk around the pedestrian-only downtown, before having dinner with our group at the hotel.
Day 3 - Courmayeur
We’ll take a taxi up to the Village des Glaciers, a small farming hamlet at the end of the road, then run into Italy via the Col de la Seigne pass. A taxi will meet us at La Visaille to take us to the quaint town of Courmayeur.
After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll take a taxi up to la Ville des Glaciers, a small farming hamlet at the end of the road. From there, we’ll run on the Tour du Mont Blanc trail into Italy via the Col de la Seigne pass. We’ll have views back into the Beaufortain mountains of France, and across Italy and into Switzerland. We can stop for a drink at Rifugio Elisabetta on our descent to Lac Combal. A taxi will meet us at La Visaille to take us to the quaint town of Courmayeur.
Tonight we’ll go out for dinner together in one of our favorite restaurants in Courmayeur.
Day 4 - Courmayeur
From Val Ferret, a short climb brings us onto a beautiful smooth single track traverse, passing Rifugios Bonatti and Bertone. A final descent through beautiful forest leads back to the center of Courmayeur. This evening there’s no group dinner, but we’ll share recommendations of our favorite places to eat.
We’ll start with a taxi up to Val Ferret, then run back to Courmayeur via the best trail running section of the whole TMB! A short climb brings us onto the smooth single track traverse, with incredible views of the Mont Blanc massif all the way. We’ll pass two Rifugios – Bonatti and Bertone – where we can stop to refuel. A final descent through beautiful forest brings us back to the center of Courmayeur.
This evening there’s no group dinner, but we’ll share recommendations of our favorite places to eat. If you’d like to unwind even more, you can also opt for a post-run visit to the spa in Pré-Saint-Didier.
Day 5 - La Fouly
Today we cross over the highest pass on the TMB, the Grand Col Ferret, going from Italy into Switzerland. A descent on smooth dirt single track brings us to the working farm of La Peule, on our way to La Fouly.
Today we cross over the highest pass on the TMB, the Grand Col Ferret, going from Italy into Switzerland. From Arnuva at the top of the Val Ferret, it’s a long climb to the col, thankfully with the option of a last Italian cappuccino in Rifugio Elena on the way! From the top, there are incredible views back across Italy to the Col de la Seigne, and to the extensive Swiss Alps in the other direction. A descent on smooth dirt single track brings us to the working farm of La Peule, where we can stop for a drink. Then it’s exciting single track the rest of the way down to the village of La Fouly in Swiss Val Ferret. Here, we will spend the night at a simple mountain inn in shared, small dormitories.
Day 6 - Chamonix
It’s back to France today! From Argentière, we’ll run the gentle single track of the Petit Balcon Sud back to Chamonix. There are plenty of options to extend or shorten the running route. This evening we’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner in one of our favorite Chamonix restaurants.
It’s back to France today! A taxi ride of about an hour brings us round to Argentière, France, at the top of the Chamonix valley. On the way, there’s the option to stop to visit the organic dairy farm of La Ferme de Vallorcine, run by trail runner friend of Run the Alps, Victorien. From Argentière, we’ll run the gentle single track of the Petit Balcon Sud back to Chamonix. There are plenty of options to extend or shorten the running route – or take the day off if you prefer! This evening we’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner in one of our favorite Chamonix restaurants, where we say goodbye to our guide.
Day 7 - Depart from Chamonix
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Chamonix and head off to your next destination.
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Chamonix and head off to your next destination.
What's Included
- Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader
- 6 nights accommodation at 3* and 4* hotels, and one mountain inn
- Welcome briefing and drinks on first night
- All breakfasts, packed/light lunches and trail nutrition, plus five multi-course dinners
- Geneva Airport-Chamonix transfers at the start and end of the tour
- Transfers to and from trailheads as per the itinerary
- Luggage transfers (available all nights)
- 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 for your personal use
- 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
- 1 dinner in Courmayeur; recommendations provided
- Any additional nutrition and drinks while on the trail
- Spa entry (optional)
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Tips for guide
- Trip insurance
Arrival
Plan to arrive the day your tour starts, at the latest. The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. 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 9:25am, 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!
- Alumni Discount: We love welcoming our alumni back to the Alps and offer a 10% discount on all standard Run the Alps trips. Simply check the alumni box on the registration form and we’ll apply the discount when we invoice you.
- 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.
- Tour Grants Program: Run the Alps is committed to making our trips more inclusive. If you’d like to join this trip, but don’t think you can afford it, please check out our Tour Grants Program.
- 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 7 point(s): Chamonix: Tour start and end point; ; ; ; ; ; .
Guides for this Tour
Want to know more?
5 Tips for Trail Running in the Alps
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The Trail Runner’s Underground Guide to Chamonix
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A Trail Runner’s Tour of Chamonix
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10 Tips for Running the UTMB Mont-Blanc®
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UTMB Training Guide: A Seasonal Approach
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