Trail Run Lugano: Swiss Lakes and Mountains
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
| Oct 4 - 11, 2025 | 8 days - 7 nights |
In the foothills of the Alps in Italian-speaking Switzerland, run alongside waterfall-filled valleys and atop dramatic ridgelines, with lakeside accommodation each night.
Ticino, the Italian-speaking region in the east of Switzerland, offers dramatic yet accessible mountains, verdant valleys, and beautiful lakeside towns. Here, we get to enjoy Italian culture and cuisine, mixed with Swiss efficiency! On this tour we’ll spend time in the stylish towns of Lugano and Locarno, with one night in a high mountain hotel. We’ll take in the full range of the Ticino landscape, trail running through deep green valleys with tumbling streams, along ridgeline trails, and past high mountain lakes. On this level 2 tour, we’ll make the most of Switzerland’s excellent transport system, using gondolas and funiculars to easily access Ticino’s high alpine regions.
Book this tour
$5795 per person
$850 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
Lugano seen from Monte Boglia. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 1 - Lugano
Arrive in Lugano and check in to our lakeside hotel. Guide orientation and dinner concludes your travel day.
Lugano’s Monte Bré Funicular. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 2 - Lugano
We’ll ride a Swiss funicular, then run and fast hike up Monte Boglia, with incredible views awaiting us. Next, we’ll descend a ridgeline trail, stopping at a mountain hut before a return ride on the funicular.
Running down to Lago Maggiore. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 3 - Lugano
Today we run along a high crest between two mountains – Monte Lema and Monte Tamaro. Cable cars take us uphill at the start, and down to the valley at the end, saving us 1000m of vert.
Trail running in the Ritom Lakes region (Photo: Patitucci).
Day 4 - Lake Ritom
We start with a train ride into the Leventina valley to the north of Lugano. We’ll take a funicular up to stunning Lake Ritom, then run through the mountains, taking in several lakes, waterfalls, and beautiful single track. We’ll spend the night at the side of Lake Ritom in a comfortable mountain hut.
Locarno Lido – a great spot to chill for an afternoon. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 5 - Locarno
We’ll have a rest day today, and move to Locarno, our second lakeside location. After heading down from the lake on the funicular, we’ll travel by train and then can spend the afternoon sunbathing and swimming at the Lido, or taking in a local run.
The beautiful Val Verzasca. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 6 - Locarno
Today’s trail running route takes in the waterfalls and ancient Roman bridges of the dramatic Val Verzasca. We’ll visit Corippo – Switzerland’s smallest village, and stop for a snack there.
The region hosts the Scenic Tour trail race in summer. (Photo: Ticino Tourism)
Day 7 - Locarno
It’s back up to the mountains today, with another dramatic ridgeline route taking in the Cimetta, Trossa and Madone peaks. Then, the route traverses the side of the mountain, through beech forest – with a stop at a mountain capanna, or hut- before we get back on the gondola to descend to Locarno.
In the evening, we’ll reminiscence about the week’s adventure over our farewell dinner.
Locarno’s Piazza Grande. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 8 - Depart from Locarno
Today we leave Ticino, taking a train from Locarno to reach the airport or our next destination.
Regional map
- Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader
- Accommodation for six nights at 3 or 4 star hotels in Lugano and Locarno, one night in a mountain hut
- Buffet breakfasts, food and premium nutrition on the trail, and multi-course dinners every evening
- All transfers to and from trailheads and mountain trains or gondolas that are included on our planned itinerary
- Luggage transfers, except for the night at the mountain hut
- 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
- Flights / transportation to and from the tour
- 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
- Tips for guides
Plan to arrive in Lugano by mid-afternoon 4 October 2025. Flights from the US usually depart the day before. The closest airports are Zurich and Milan, which are about two to three hours away by train. Run the Alps will provide complete travel information from Zurich or Milan, including booking an optional shuttle for you from Milan airport.
Plan your departure for the day the tour ends at the earliest. Since the airports are two-three hours away by train, it is possible to leave the day the tour ends for an afternoon or evening flight. Otherwise, we can provide overnight recommendations and help organize an extra night in Locarno, Milan or Zurich, or your preferred departure destination.
- Why Run the Alps? Learn how Run the Alps compares to other trail running companies and what sets us apart.
- 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.
Guides for this Tour
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