Courmayeur, Italy Trail Running Self-Guided
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20 | 7 days - 6 nights |
Trail running in Courmayeur gives you the chance to traverse high meadows and climb alongside clear streams, up over high mountain passes with incredible views of Mont Blanc.
Situated at the head of the Aosta Valley in the mountainous northwest corner of Italy, Courmayeur is only a few miles from the French and Swiss borders, and distinctly Italian. Flowing single track interspersed with welcoming guardians at the “rifugios,” or huts, where you can take in the alpine views over a delicious cappuccino. While Val Ferret and nearby Val Veny are well-known on the alpine trail running map, the region is also home to a wide range of quiet and wild trails. Here’s a glimpse from a previous Run the Alps Trip:
Courmayeur has a lively trail racing scene. Each summer, the town hosts three races in the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc series, the popular Gran Trail du Courmayeur series in July, the legendary Tor des Géants, now four races, and a variety of other trail events. If you’d like to add a race to your vacation plans – let us know.
Courmayeur is also a wonderful place to relax after a run. You’ll find excellent cafés, restaurants and gelaterias as you wander along the quiet, cobbled streets of the village.
As this tour is based in Courmayeur for the whole duration, it’s easy to adjust the number of days and the order of your runs. Just let us know your requirements and our tour designers will help select the best runs for you. Many of our self-guided guests also combine exploring this region with a few days in the Chamonix valley, known as the “Vallée du Trail” on the other side of Mont Blanc. If this is of interest, get in touch!
Top photos: PatitucciPhoto, Milo Zanecchia, Nick Danielson, Gary Daines
Book this tour
7 days, 6 nights
$2290 per person
$650 single supplement
5 days, 4 nights
$1980 per person
4 days, 3 nights
$1780 per person
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.
Itinerary
An old cobbled street in Courmayeur. (Photo: Rhodes)
Day 1 - Arrive in Courmayeur
Arrive in Geneva and transfer to Courmayeur via a private taxi. An airport pickup is included, making this an easy 90 minute to 2 hour ride. You can settle into your hotel, walk around the pedestrian only Via Roma, and enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Courmayeur’s many restaurants.
Small chapel on the route between La Thuile and Valgrisenche. (Photo: English Knowles)
Day 2 - Courmayeur - Col d'Arp
This route takes you far into the Aosta valley — the least densely populated region of Italy — past old slate-roofed buildings and waterfalls into the beautiful Youla valley. A long climb out of the village of La Thuile brings you to beautiful high meadows and the wild pass of Col d’Arp. This run follows the first section of the formidable 330km-long Tor des Géants Ultra Trail course.
Running to Col du Sapin. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 3 - Courmayeur - Col du Sapin
This varied mountain loop traverses ridgelines and high meadows, giving the chance for some real “hero” running opposite Mont Blanc. As well as all the culinary delights of Courmayeur, where you start and finish the route, you’ll find plenty of options for refreshment at Rifugio Bertone, which you pass before the final big descent back into the town center.
Lunch time at Maison Vieille above Courmayeur, Italy. (Photo: Tim Tollefson.)
Day 4 - Courmayeur - Maison Vieille
You’ll start this loop with a bus ride, saving 400m of climbing up a long road. Therefore, you can enjoy plenty of downhill — a combination of cruising through meadows and some fun technical sections towards the end. You’ll get impressive views of the peaks and glaciers of the Mont Blanc range and, looking up and down the valley, can see as far as the borders of both France and Switzerland. Be sure to stop for refreshments at the famously welcoming Maison Vieille restaurant before the descent back to Courmayeur.
Stopping to top up water, La Suche. (Photo: Milo Zanecchia)
Day 5 - Courmayeur - Tirecorne and La Suche
This shorter run heads up through forest to two beautiful alpages, or summer farming residences, on natural terraces in the meadows. On a clear day, there are stunning views of the Mont Blanc range. Less frequented than most routes out of Courmayeur, you may appreciate why monks chose this area as a place to meditate years ago.
Val Ferret. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 6 - Courmayeur - Arnuva
This run takes in the best trail running stretch of the Tour du Mont Blanc! A climb through beautiful forest out of Courmayeur brings you to Rifugio Bertone, with panoramic views. From here, it’s a long stretch of smooth single track, traversing meadows to reach the Rifugio Bonatti, with incredible views of the Mont Blanc massif the whole way. After another chance to grab a cappuccino, the trail continues to the end of Val Ferret, where it is possible to catch a bus back to Courmayeur.
The impressive breakfast buffet at Hotel Bouton d’Or in Courmayeur. (courtesy photo)
Day 7 - Depart from Courmayeur
Today you’ll say good-bye to Courmayeur and depart for your post-tour destination.
Regional map
- 6 nights accomodation in a 3* hotel
- Buffet breakfasts each morning
- Detailed daily run descriptions, GPX files and other resources 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.
- Roundtrip shuttle from Geneva Airport to Courmayeur
- Run the Alps’ Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains 80+ pages information about where you’ll be running, what to pack, how to train, and plenty of other insider information from Run the Alps staff and guides
- An in-country welcome pack – includes trail nutrition and a Run the Alps T-shirt (Note: You can choose to opt out of the T-shirt during registration; if you do, we’ll automatically donate the equivalent to one of our 1% for the Planet partners instead.)
- Personalized support before your tour
- In-tour support through our WhatsApp Helpline
- 20% discount in the Run the Alps store
- Contribution to our Net Positive initiatives
- Flights
- Transport to and from trailheads if you shorten a run
- Additional trail nutrition, lunches, dinners and drinks
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Trip insurance
The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. Run the Alps will arrange for a shuttle from Geneva Airport to Courmayeur, Italy. If you arrive a day or more before the tour starts, the shuttle is still included.
*Please note that trips in September have an extra $650 charge to cover the shuttle to/from Geneva Airport and Courmayeur because of the Mont-Blanc tunnel closure.
Run the Alps will arrange for a shuttle from Courmayeur, Italy to the Geneva Airport. If you depart a day or more after the tour ends, the shuttle is still included.
*Please note that trips in September have an extra $650 charge to cover the shuttle to/from Geneva Airport and Courmayeur because of the Mont-Blanc tunnel closure.
- 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.
- Want to shorten or extend your trip or add an Alps Trail Race? Just let us know and we’d be happy to help.
- 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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Read more about Courmayeur
The Ultimate Trail Runner’s Guide to Courmayeur, Italy
Run the Alps polled our guides, staff, and trail running friends, about their top Courmayeur picks to create this useful guide specifically for trail runners.
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Courmayeur in a Nut Shell
Tim Tollefson’s pretty confident that when in Italy, if you retire without an evening gelato, it’s considered disrespectful.
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Alberto Motta: The History of Trail Running in Courmayeur, Italy
Alberto Motta talks about the rich trail running history of Courmayeur, Italy.