September in the Alps
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
| Sep 9, 2024 - Sep 15, 2024 | 7 days - 6 nights (sold out) |
Here’s a secret: September is our favorite month in the Alps. Temperatures are cooler, trails are quieter, and there’s a relaxed vibe that settles throughout the region. Just a month earlier, with schools on vacation, these areas were bustling. But September is a rejuvenating, calming time in the Alps.
Our annual fall trail running trip features Chamonix, the Alps hotspot for trail running and proclaimed “Vallée du Trail,” then a visit to a quaint village high in the Swiss Alps and a special opportunity to take part in, or cheer on, the Alps’ oldest trail race, DDM Trail, with its beautiful course around the wild Dents-du-Midi range.
Our trip starts in Chamonix, France, the world’s epicenter of trail running. We’ll run the high-elevation Balcon Sud, in full view of the impressive Mont Blanc massif and the towering Aiguilles, or needles, that dot the range. After, we’ll wander through town, taking in the sights in this village where modern-day alpinism began. Climbers still fill the streets, testing themselves against demanding rock and ice climbs in the region.
Our second day will feature a ridge run to the Aiguilles des Houches, and we’ll descend past mountain huts, through pastures and forests back to Chamonix.
Next, we’ll take a journey over the high border and into the Swiss wine-growing Rhône valley. From there, it’s up a side valley to tranquil Champéry, a small village nestled under the seven craggy peaks of the Dents-du-Midi range. The next morning, we’ll head off for a trail run in this relaxed corner of the Alps.
For those who wish to take part in an Alps trail race, we’ll have entries available to DDM Trail, a challenging 57-km race with 12,000 feet of climbing. Other race distances include more accessible two-person relay of 25 km and 32 km, and a 32 km race over the second half of the full course. DDM Trail is an authentic Alps trail race, with a history dating back to 1963!
For those who prefer not to race, we’ll provide trail run options for the day, and there’s always the chance to cheer on runners and watch the race unfold from a number of beautiful mountain huts and cafes.
September is our favorite time of year in the Alps. The trails are quieter, and cooler temperatures prevail. It’s a great time to be in this dramatic setting!
Book this tour
$850 single supplement
Itinerary
Chamonix train station. (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 1
Arrive in Geneva, and transfer to Chamonix, France, the world’s home for Alpinism and trail running. Enjoy time to relax at the pool and outdoor patio of our charming Chamonix hotel before joining the group for our trip meeting, followed by dinner.
Midday warmth on the Grand Balcon Nord. (Photo: Kim Strom)
Day 2
Today we’ll enjoy a few of the hundreds of kilometers of trails in the Chamonix valley, as we get oriented to the Alps. We’ll run one of Chamonix’s dramatic “balconies,” with views of Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges natural preserve.
Fall colors come to the Alps. (Courtesy photo)
Day 3
We’ll run up into the Aiguilles Rouges preserve high above Chamonix, then run the dramatic Aiguillette des Houches ridge, followed by pastures and wooded trails back to town.
Rue du Village in Champéry, Switzerland, on the border with France. (Courtesy photo)
Day 4
Today is a rest day, as we travel by taxi high through the Alps, descending to the Swiss wine-making Rhône valley, then up to the mountain village of Champéry.
Cabane Susanfe, above Champéry, Switzerland. (Courtesy photo)
Day 5
Today we’ll pick a run around the Champéry region, at the end of the bucolic farming valley of Val d’Illiez, and under the snow-covered peaks of the Dents-du-Midi.
Race day! (Courtesy photo)
Day 6
Today is race day! You’ll have the choice of running the full DDM Trail, taking part in the relay, or enjoy cheering on the runners.
(Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 7
Today we’ll say “Au Revoir” to the other Run the Alps guests.
Regional map
What's included
Six nights at village hotels in Chamonix, France, and Champéry, Switzerland, all breakfasts, light lunches, trail nutrition, five dinners, guided runs daily, Geneva airport-Chamonix transfer, all transfers to and from trailheads. DDM Trail race is an additional fee.Plan to arrive the day your tour starts, at the latest. Note that flights from the US usually arrive on the following day, so schedule accordingly. The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. This tour includes a shared shuttle pickup at the Geneva Airport. If you’d like to arrive a day or more before the tour starts, the shuttle is still included. Zurich will work as well, but requires an additional half-day of train travel, at your cost.
Plan your departure for the day after your tour ends, at the earliest, from either Geneva or Zurich, Geneva being preferable. Consider one night at a hotel in your departure city if you prefer not to rush.
An option exists to arrive earlier or stay on longer, to extend your trail running time. We can help with these arrangements.
More options for this tour:
Self-guided: Everything but the guide… custom tour design, daily trail run route descriptions, village guides, and all the supporting details.
Private: Make it private! Your companions, your dates, your tour– we do the rest.
Contact us for details.
All Run the Alps guests receive a copy of our Guide to Trail Running in the Alps to assist in preparing for their trip.
For those wishing to trail race, please see the additional details in our race partner page.
Terms and Conditions: Read up on Run the Alps’ Terms and Conditions and travel insurance.
Concerned about being ready? We can help! We’ve teamed up with the wonderfully supportive team at Vert.run to offer customized training plans tailored to each Run the Alps trip. Once you’ve signed up for a trip, we’ll email you all the details and your unique code for your FREE first month of training! In the meantime, you can start exploring the plans here.
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 stories
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Book this tour
$850 single supplement
