DURATION

5 Days

DISTANCE

88 KM

DIFFICULTY

4400m ascent in alpine terrain

PACE

SPACES

FINISHER’S T-SHIRT

Included

14th-18th September 2022

Full Ticket price: €1,475

Please note that you are paying a deposit at checkout, a top up deposit is due 7 days later of £200. The full balance will be payable 6 weeks prior to the event. The deposit is taken in GBP and you will be sent a receipt with the corresponding GBP/EUR exchange rate.

Please ensure that you have read our Terms and Conditions and Rules of Participation, as by making payment you confirm that you agree and understand the conditions as well as risks involved with trail running.

TOUR DU MONT BLANC – 2ND HALF

Run the second half of the most iconic multi-day trail running route in the Alps, the Tour du Mont Blanc! Looking for an incredible running adventure? Look no further! On this trip we split the usual 6 day Tour du Mont Blanc in half, which is ideal for those who want to experience the thrill of this incredible trail but without having to complete it all in one go. Over 3 days you will run 54 miles, climb 4,400m, pass through 2 countries and achieve the running challenge of a lifetime. Famous for the UTMB race, the route circumnavigates the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc, passing by its 71 glaciers and 400 summits.

The TMB is truly, the ultimate running adventure and provides memories to last a lifetime. It’s a perfect way to escape every day life and find true freedom on the trails. You will run through chocolate box villages, alpine meadows and high mountain passes and experience breath taking views of Mont Blanc. Guided, with all your logistics taken care of, we ensure you make the most of your trip. From pre-trip training through to running the route, we are with you every step of the way.

It’s broken down into 3 stages with a day to relax in Courmayeur at the beginning and Chamonix at the end of the trip, in total 5 days. Our experienced guides will immerse you in the rich and varied history and cultures along the way, bringing the area to life. They will provide technical instruction such as how to use running poles and dealing with hills. We include logistics as well as food and accommodation with no hidden costs.

As with all Run the Wild holidays, all you have to do is book your flights, turn up and run – we will take care of the rest!

A deposit of £200 is taken at the time of sign-up. A further £200 is required one week later, once we’ve got back in touch, this will make up your 30% deposit. The balance is required 6 weeks before the trip is due to start. Let us know if you prefer to schedule payments following your deposit. You will also have a chance to chat with the guide and ask and questions once you have reserved your place. Alternatively please contact us.

ARRIVAL

Welcome at 6.30pm

LOCATION

Start: Courmayeur, Italy – Switzerland – France

TRAVEL ACCESS

Via Geneva Airport (1.25hrs)

ACCOMMODATION

4* Spa Hotel & Village Hotels

ITINERARY

It’s broken down into 3 stages with a day to relax in Courmayeur at the beginning and Chamonix at the end of the trip. The route takes you from Courmayeur, Italy, into Switzerland and finishes in France.

Arrival Day

Transferring through Geneva airport to Chamonix and then onto Courmayeur, you will meet us for the start of the adventure in Italy. You can arrive early in order to explore this beautiful Italian mountain town.

Day 1: Courmayeur to La Fouly (Switzerland)

Leaving Courmayeur early the next day following a steep ascent out of the valley you may see the sun rise over clouds carpeting the valleys far below. After a couple of hours running there will be time to stop for a refreshment at the Rifugio Bonatti hut, dedicated to the legendary Italian climber. Indeed, you will be passing some of his ground breaking first ascents as you run the route. From there we approach the fearsome Grand Col Ferret marking the Swiss border at 2537m. The trails down from the col are perfect. You will hear the cowbells from the lush green valley below, as you descend through the stunning scented mountain meadows into the little village of Le Fouly, our next stop, the first of two in Switzerland.

Day 2: La Fouly to Trient

The trail passes through forests running alongside the river and through tiny Swiss villages and fields of hay and wild flowers before heading up to Champex-Lac. Champex is a paradise in the mountains and sits at the juncture to another famous hiking route and potential running adventure – the Walker’s Haute Route. Three more high points stand between us and Chamonix, and around another 25 miles. The view from the next climb is hard to take in, since you can see all the way down to Martigny, 1500m below. Its broad flat valley leads to Zermatt and beyond. The path descends from here through some rocky and tree root covered trails to the Col de la Forclaz and then steeply down to Trient and its beautiful pink church and backdrop of dramatic glaciers, where we spend our last night on the trail.

Day 3: Trient to Chamonix (France)

Our last day, today we will complete our journey and return to Chamonix. A steep climb up from Trient provides one of the most impressive views on the whole route of the Mt Blanc Massif which dominates the horizon, its glacier pouring over into the Chamonix valley below and the end of our adventure. We trot down through the mountain trails into Chamonix to celebrate. It’s an amazing achievement, 54 miles / 88km and 4,400m ascent crossing through 3 countries.

Departure Day

Time to relax and explore Chamonix, maybe take a trip up the Aiguille du Midi, or just chill by the pool. If you wish to stay longer ask us for the hotel rate.

MAP

GETTING THERE

Transport to/from Chamonix via Geneva can be booked with one of the many minibus operators, such as Chamexpress, Mountain Drop-Offs, Alpybus or Swiss Tours. The journey takes around 1.25hrs and needs to be booked before travelling. We include your transfer from Chamonix to Courmayeur for the start of your trip.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation on the first night is in Courmayeur, Italy. It’s beautiful pedestrian streets are just a 2 minute stroll from the hotel and a great place to start this amazing adventure at the foot of Monte Bianco.

The last night is in the central 4* spa hotel Le Refuge des Aiglons (or similar alternative) including breakfast, based on sharing a twin room. You can request a single room (supplement applicable). Amenities include the spa with heated outdoor pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna. The hotel also has an outdoor space to relax in, with views of Mont Blanc.

For the 3 stages there will be a mixture of village hotels and auberges with twin and triple/small dormitory rooms. We pick the best available on the route and include breakfast and evening meals (except for Courmayeur and Chamonix) as well as packed lunch each day you are running.

ABILITY

We average around 18 miles / 29km, plus 1,500m height change for each of the 3 days we are running. You’ll need to be prepared to be out on the trails for most of the day. We walk the uphills so there is time to soak up the scenery and pace ourselves for the duration of the trip. If it’s your first time to the Alps, you might be surprised by how much hiking can be involved, almost 50% of the route, but it is inevitable in such steep environments. It’s important to train before you arrive, particularly with multi-day hikes and runs. We recommend you have run a half marathon distance in around 2 hours or less and have some experience on trails. Runners are grouped by ability to maximise your enjoyment. A free training plan is provided for you to follow in the lead up to the trip.

This adventure can also be easily booked for a private group, see our bespoke options.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Half board accommodation, except for the evening meal in Courmayeur and Chamonix (based on sharing a twin room or small dormitory)
Overnight accommodation on the last night in Chamonix in a 4* spa hotel, including breakfast (based on sharing a twin room)
Packed lunch everyday running and refreshment stop on the last day
Bag transport to each day’s destination
Transfer from Chamonix to Courmayeur
Qualified trail running guide, with you every step of the way
Technical instruction
Pre-trip training plan
Run the Wild tech t-shirt
Champagne at the finish
54 miles / 88km of some of the best scenery in Europe

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

Travel
Drinks
Snacks to sustain you on route
Evening meals in Courmayeur and Chamonix
Personal insurance (required)

KIT

You can see a list of the mandatory kit for this trip here. If you have any questions regarding kit requirements please contact us.

BOOKING

We aim to respond to every booking within 1 business day. Our email will include your joining instructions and any other relevant details. Please check your spam folder for our email and if you haven’t heard anything from us within 48hrs please get in touch! For all our events there is a minimum group size in order for it to go ahead, so travel arrangements should only be made once we have confirmed this with you in writing.