Can non-running friends and partners join a Run the Alps Trip?

_{Top photo: Martina Valmassoi}

Two of the most common questions we get at Run the Alps:

“My partner (or good friend) wants to come along, but they don’t really trail run. Can they still come along?”

or

“My partner (or good friend) wants to come along, but time on the trail isn’t really their thing. They’d rather wander around villages, explore the culture, and hang at local cafes and restaurants with a great book. Can they come too?”

The short answer to these two questions is “Yes!” and “Yes!”

Just because your family member or friend isn’t a trail runner shouldn’t be a reason not to share the experience of being in the Alps. 

After all, there are all kinds of reasons why someone might want to hike rather than run– or skip the trail time entirely. Maybe they’re not so psyched about dancing down single track, hands in the air. Perhaps after years of running hard, they’re ready to retire the GPS watch and spend a bit more time looking up at the view. Or maybe their idea of a great vacation is having a cappuccino and croissant in the foreground, and a snowy ridgeline in the background.

Whatever the reason, we want to support family members and friends looking to share the Alps. 

However, the addition of partners who are not taking part in the daily trail runs does present some minor challenges. For these reasons, we like to set clear expectations for our non-running guests. They fall into two categories: those for guests who are hiking the route each day, and those for guests who are simply sightseeing each day.

Option 1: Join as a Hiker

Hikers can join you on either a guided or self-guided trip. Here are a few things for them to keep in mind:

• Run the Alps will provide detailed, turn-by-turn self-guided materials for each day’s route.
• The guest must be comfortable navigating trails on their own. (Hint: It’s not that hard in the Alps – especially with those materials!)
• On guided trips, the Run the Alps guide will be focused on the runners and will not be available for daily hiking support. Hikers should review their plan the night before and logistics should be planned at that time. 
• In some cases, they may need to use a bus or taxi to meet the group at your next destination. These costs are not included in the trip price, and can be discussed prior to booking.
• As with any Run the Alps trip, we will take care of all the other logistics: booking the hotels, meals and luggage transfers so they can move along the tour with you.

Pricing:

• Adults pay the regular self-guided trip rate and a $500 deposit is required, in keeping with our Terms & Conditions.
• Kids aged 17 and under receive a discount. The discount we’re able to offer depends on the tour, so please get in touch to discuss further. 

To find out what it’s like to go on a self-guided trip, check out our blog post: Is a Self-Guided Trail Running Trip for Me?

Option 2: Join as a Sightseer

If your companion prefers sightseeing instead of running or hiking, they can join you on either a guided or self-guided trip. They should keep the following points in mind:

• Run the Alps will provide sightseeing suggestions. However, the guest must arrange their own daily activities, as our team is focused on supporting the runners. Often, staff at hotels can assist with these arrangements. The cost of any sightseeing activity is not included in the trip price. 
• In some cases, they may need to use a bus or taxi to meet the group at the next destination. These costs are not included in the trip price, and can be discussed prior to booking.
• As with all Run the Alps trips, we’ll take care of all the other logistics:, booking the hotels, meals and luggage transfers so they can move along the tour with you.

Pricing:

• Sightseers pay $500 below the self-guided trip rate. A $500 deposit is required, in keeping with our Terms & Conditions.
• Kids age 17 and under receive a discount. The discount we’re able to offer depends on the tour, so please get in touch to discuss further.

Make it Happen!

Trail runners, hikers, or sightseers, we want every guest to have a wonderful and memorable experience in the Alps. While our primary focus is always on creating an outstanding trail running adventure, we can accommodate others who might be interested in a different approach to the trip. 

Visiting the Alps can be the trip of a lifetime, and there’s not much better than sharing it with someone special in your world. As a team, Run the Alps staff and guides have carefully thought through how to make it happen. If you have any questions, always feel free to reach out – we’re happy to share ideas and options.