Express Tour du Mont-Blanc
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20 | 6 days - 5 nights |
If you’re an experienced runner who’s completed trail ultras and is comfortable with the weather and terrain of remote mountain environments, this could be the trip for you.
This is our most challenging self-guided trip – a true high-mountain trail run for the trail runner who can take care of himself in big mountain terrain over long days that include technical trails and lots of vert.
The Tour du Mont-Blanc is famous world-wide for its challenge and beauty and has gained an iconic status thanks to the UTMB® series of races. The “TMB” covers 170km and 10,000m of ascent and descent as it wends its way from France, through Italy, then Switzerland, finally returning to its starting point in front of the St Michel church in Chamonix.
At the base of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is the starting and finishing point of our tour. In this video Run the Alps staff and friends show you around our home of Chamonix, France.
Run the Alps has privately offered this itinerary for a number of guests in past years. Now, we’re pleased to offer it to everyone. Although normally run in a week, experienced, exceptionally fit mountain runners can achieve the whole tour in four back-to-back days.
This trip is for trail runners who have their eyes on one of the UTMB® races in the years ahead, or who simply want to test their limits on a classic mountain running route. The itinerary includes the UTMB® and CCC® courses, and much of the TDS®, OCC® and MCC® routes, too. This tour will enable you to gain familiarity with the whole area of the race route and would, of course, be ideal training for the UTMB®.
We’ll also include the Run the Alps Guide to Trail Racing in the Alps, for those of you prepping for an Alps race. As an official, licensed UTMB® Training Partner with UTMB®, Run the Alps has close links with the organization and can provide detailed information about the races, along with supporting materials.
We organize all the key self-guided tour logistics. (Details below.) One 30-pound bag will be transported via pre-arranged taxi service each day, so you can run with just a light trail running vest – and you’ll still have all your items available at the end each day’s run.
The itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Arrive Chamonix, France
Day 2: Chamonix, France to Les Contamines, France – 23km and 1380m ascent
Day 3: Les Contamines, France, to Courmayeur, Italy – 48km and 2763m ascent
Day 4: Courmayeur, Italy to Champex-Lac, Switzerland – 48km and 2410m ascent
Day 5: Champex-Lac, Switzerland to Chamonix, France – 46km and 2460m ascent
Day 6: Depart Chamonix, France
*There are options to shorten the route each day.
Please email us first before booking this trip. We’d like to hear a bit about your trail running experience before booking this trip for you. For the right person, trail running the “TMB” in four days is a classic experience!
You can run the Tour du Mont-Blanc any time from mid-June through mid-September. For your convenience, we pre-booked tour dates. If you’d prefer custom dates, please contact us.
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.
Each self-guided tour includes the following components:
- Shared 90-minute shuttle between Geneva airport and Chamonix, France at start and end of tour
- Accommodation in 3- star hotels and/or mountain huts
- Buffet breakfasts each morning and multi-course dinners except in Chamonix and Courmayeur; restaurant recommendations will be provided.
- Detailed daily run descriptions, GPX files and all the resources you need along the way are 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
- Luggage transfers
- A copy of our Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains thorough travel instructions, regional information and tips from the staff and guide team at Run the Alps
- In-tour support through our WhatsApp Helpline
- Flights
- Transport to and from trailheads if you choose to shorten a run
- Drinks with dinners
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Why Run the Alps? Learn how Run the Alps compares to other trail running companies and about what sets us apart.
- 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.
- Add an Alps Trail Race: As we work with you to develop your self-guided itinerary, it may be possible to add one of the many great Alp trail races to your plans. Please contact us to discuss trail race options and timing if this is of interest.
- 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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