Express Tour du Mont-Blanc Self-Guided
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20 | 6 days - 5 nights |
Run the full Tour du Mont-Blanc in four challenging days, staying in 3* and 4* hotels, with your luggage waiting for you every night.
The Tour du Mont-Blanc is the most famous trail running route in the world, and for good reason. Wandering over mountain trails from France, to Italy, to Switzerland and back into France, the “TMB” covers 170km (106 miles) and 10,000m (32,800ft) of ascent and descent and includes some of the most iconic mountain terrain anywhere.
This is our most challenging self-guided trip – a true high-mountain trail run for experienced trail runners who can take care of themselves in big terrain over long days that include technical trails and lots of vert. On this level 4 tour, you’ll be covering 20 -30 miles (30 – 50 km) and two to three mountain passes each day. If you’re not sure whether this trip is right for you, please get in touch.
On this self-guided trail running vacation, we organize all of the key logistics for you, including baggage transfer. This means you can run with just a light trail running vest – and still have all your items available at the end of each day’s run. It’s a perfect trip for trail runners looking for big days out or to prepare for a race in the area.
Attempting the Express Tour du Mont-Blanc. In this video Run the Alps friends Brendan Leonard and Majell Backhausen run our Express Tour. Here’s how it turned out. (And read the trip report here).
Top photo: PatitucciPhoto
Book this tour
$2550 per person
$690 single supplement available in Chamonix and Courmayeur
Looking for a customized itinerary?
Please get in touch. We’d love to discuss your options with you.
Prefer to go with a guide?
Explore our group guided trips or inquire about our privately guided trips.
Itinerary
Welcome to Chamonix, France! (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 1 - Chamonix
Arrive in Geneva and transfer to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and trail running epicenter. An airport pickup is included, making this an easy and relaxing hour and a half journey. Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc.
Smiling through long TMB miles. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 2 - Les Contamines
You’ll set off on the tour on valley trails, then up through alpine pastures and pine forests, over a high pass and through the Miage valley. After a tiny pretty hamlet of stone houses, where cows and horses graze peacefully, you’ll run to the village ofLes Contamines and your cozy hotel.
Smooth running above Courmayeur. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 3 - Courmayeur
Today you’ll run to Italy! Following an old Roman trail, you continue the tour with a long, steady ascent across two lofty passes. A third pass, Col de la Seigne, leads you into Italy. Here you’ll be greeted by an amazing view into the Veny valley and the Mont Blanc range. After arriving at Col Chécrouit, there’s a final descent to the medieval village of Dolonne and then the larger town of Courmayeur.
Racing to lunch at Rifugio Bonatti. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 4 - Champex-Lac
You’ll head up to Rifugio Bertone, then run single-track before stopping at Rifugio Bonatti, with its stunning view, for coffee and treats. Next, you’ll tackle the big ascent of Grand Col Ferret, and cross into Switzerland. You’ll run down to the quiet village of La Fouly, along a river and through old hamlets, with a final climb to the pretty lakeside village of Champex-Lac.
Heading toward Chamonix. (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 5 - Chamonix
Today you’ll complete the loop around Mont Blanc, bringing you back to Chamonix. You’ll run past farms and through woods, with views of Switzerland’s Rhône valley far below. After the village of Trient, you’ll climb over the border into France’s Chamonix valley. The full TMB route makes a final ascent to Tête aux Vents before arriving in Chamonix. It’s also possible to finish with a run down the Chamonix valley or even hop on a bus or train for the ride back to Chamonix.
Young ibex above Chamonix. (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 6 - Depart from Chamonix
With tired quads and smiling faces, today you’ll say au revoir to the Tour du Mont-Blanc and Chamonix, and depart for your post-Mont Blanc destinations.
Regional map
- 5 nights accomodation in 3* hotels (twin or double room, single supplement available in Chamonix and Courmayeur only)
- All breakfasts and two multi-course dinners.
- Detailed daily run descriptions, GPX files and all other resources provided via our app (see a sample here). We’ll also send you a printed copy of the route and other key information, in case you’d like to take these with you as a back-up.
- Geneva Airport-Chamonix shared shuttle transfers at the start and end of the tour
- Luggage transfers (luggage available every night)
- 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
- 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 your tour
- In-tour support through our WhatsApp Helpline
- 20% discount in the Run the Alps store
- 20% discount code at The Hub Chamonix for pre- or post- tour accommodation
- Contribution to our Net Positive initiatives
- Travel to and from Geneva Airport
- Transport to and from trailheads if you shorten a run
- Lunches and any additional trail nutrition
- Two dinners in Chamonix and one in Courmayeur – recommendations provided
- Drinks with dinners
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Trip insurance
Plan to arrive in Chamonix the day your tour starts, at the latest. The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. This tour includes roundtrip shared shuttle transport between Geneva Airport and Chamonix. Please note that flights from the US usually arrive on the following day, so schedule accordingly. On a tour of this intensity, we strongly recommend arriving a day earlier if possible to help get over jet lag. If you’d like to arrive a day or more before the tour starts, the shuttle is still included.
You’ll return from Chamonix to Geneva Airport by shared shuttle. Since Geneva Airport is only 90 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.
- Group Discounts: When we create tours for a group of five or more self-guided guests, there is an opportunity for some savings. We’re pleased to pass them on to you – please get in touch to explore your options.
- Alumni Discount: We love welcoming our alumni back to the Alps and offer a 10% discount on all standard guided and self-guided trips. Simply check the alumni box on the registration form and we’ll apply the discount when we invoice you.
- Want to shorten or extend your trip or add an Alps Trail Race? Just let us know and we’d be happy to help.
- 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!
- Concerned about being ready? We’re here to help. You can check out our Training Resources or get in touch if you’d like to be put in touch with a coach.
- 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.
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Read more about the TMB
Around Mont Blanc with David Laney
Editor’s note: It’s UTMB season in Chamonix, and trail runners from around the world are converging on the town. One of them is Ashland, Oregon-based David Laney, a friend of several of us here at Run the Alps. In this post, David shares his thoughts about trail running in and around the Mont Blanc region.
Read more →
The Camaraderie of a Solo Tour of the TMB
Yitka Winn finds that even adventuring solo and 5,000 miles away from home, I was in good company on the TMB.
Read more →
The Trail Runner’s Underground Guide to Chamonix
Coming to Chamonix to trail run? Here’s the inside scoop, with input from more than a dozen local trail runners.