Tour Stories
What’s a Run the Alps guided trip like?
Check out our Tour Stories!
After each trip, the guide from that trip shares stories and photos via our Run the Alps Tour Stories series. Enjoy reading about our trail running adventures through the Alps, and drop us a note if you have any questions!
Via Valais: The Runner’s Haute Route
September 4-13, 2022
The Via Valais tour was, simply put, fantastic. The route can't be compared. We saw ibex up close, and picked wild blueberries all week. The weather was perfect and had the smells of the season changing to autumn.
Matterhorn Ultraks: Dream Trails
August 15-21, 2022
Our group of six spent two days in Leukerbad, Switzerland ascending the cliffs of the Gemmi-pass. Then we headed across the Rhône valley to Zermatt to continue our tour. At the end of the week of trail running, we supported the Matterhorn Ultraks racers in our group.
Our TMB During the UTMB®
August 22-31, 2022
The TMB is unfailingly a memorable loop. One thing that made this TMB stand out was that the UTMB races were also happening, and so the trails were stacked with running stars.
Coffee, Cake and Crêpes Fuel the Tour du Mont Blanc
August 1-10, 2022
The Tour du Mont Blanc, “TMB,” is a classic, and it always catches people unaware of how much up and down there really is along the route. Cake, coffee, and crêpes were the center point of each day and they helped fuel us for the climbs.
Ice Cream, Cute dogs and Cows: Highlights of a Bernese Oberland Trail Running Tour
July 17-23, 2022
Our group of six runners and two guides explored some classic Swiss trails around Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Murren, and Grindelwald. New trails and views each day!
We Gotta have More Cowbell! Run the Alps Eiger Trail Tour
July 11-17, 2022
For the days leading up to the Eiger Ultra Trail race events, we ran around the high village of Murren, visited a Swiss “candlelight” hotel, and Lobhornhütte, a classic Swiss Alpine Club hut. Our runs also took us to Grosse Scheidegg, a high pass above Grindelwald.
Women’s Trail Running Camp with Meg Mackenzie
June 28 - July 2, 2022
Run the Alps was pleased to offer a special trail running camp this summer - just for women! Based in Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy, the week of running trails was hosted by The North Face athlete and Run the Alps ambassador, Meg Mackenzie.
A Group Run from Courmayeur to Chamonix Followed by a Weekend of Races
June 20-27, 2022
Our group cheered each other along our own CCC, Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix, warm-up run before our they each took the starting line of the Mont Blanc Marathon and 23km races.
Off on the Dolomite Foot: Run the Alps Season Opener 2022
June 12-19, 2022
This year’s June Dolomites trip was led by the talented Bruno Yates and Cam Bevan. The group consisted of these two guides and five motivated and interesting guests: Andrei, Anna, Christina, Linsey and Jay. The tour took in the sights, sounds and strudels of the spellbinding Val Gardena.
The Americans are Here! (It’s About Time.)
Jun 28 - July 5, 2021
A diehard father and son team were our first guests back to the Alps in over a year. Their persistence paid off, with a quiet trip trail running around the northern half of the Tour du Mont-Blanc-- and a chance to trail race in Chamonix, France!
A Special Tour du Mont-Blanc We Won’t Soon Forget
July 1-10, 2021
After 16 months of a global pandemic, the first Run the Alps group returns to trail run the iconic route around the Mont Blanc massif. It was a special moment for all involved!
Chamonix to Champéry – a taste of the Alps and the Dents du Midi trail race
September 9-15, 2019
We were blessed with perfect weather to experience the best of Chamonix, France and Champéry, Switzerland. Our trip ended with the historic Dents du Midi trail race-- including a few well-earned podium positions!
Run the Alps’ Inaugural Via Valais: Snow and Sun amid the High Alps
September 5-14, 2019
This year, Run the Alps offered a September guided trail run over the Via Valais, a route designed by our friends at ALPSinsight. Wandering through Switzerland's Valais Alps, the route is high, wild, and challenging.
Trail running around Mont Blanc with the UTMB babes
26th Aug - 4th Sept, 2019
Our last tour of the season featured the self-appointed “UTMB® Babes,” with Senior Guide Simon - or is it Simone? - leading the charge. The UTMB® race vibe filled the air in Chamonix and Courmayeur. We ran through Switzerland, then finished in Chamonix with cold beers and a memorable farewell dinner
Y-M-C-A at the Col Grand Ferret and other Tour du Mont-Blanc Highlights
August 4-13 2019
Our band of merry trail runners coalesced nicely in Chamonix, and from there on it was all trail running, cafes, and - yes - even some Sound of Music. Here’s our story!
In and Out of Big Views in Switzerland’s Berner Oberland
July 28 - August 3, 2019
Immaculate trails, towering peaks, quaint villages and glorious wildflowers. Plus cake. Lots and lots of cake.
Running and Pirouetting through Switzerland’s Jungfrau region
July 21-28, 2019
Running through Switzerland's Jungfrau region, we encountered stunning views of the Eiger, flower-filled meadows, gorgeous flowing trails, glacial lakes in which to cool off… and even a life-size cut-out of James Bond!
The Tour du Mont Blanc: in the footsteps of shepherds, soldiers, poets and Kilian Jornet
July 14 - July 23, 2019
"And is seeing and hearing not part of the reason we came?" Trip over, Guide Mark Brightwell ponders the experience of his "tribe" of trail runners, contemplating what has changed-- and what hasn't-- over the course of a trail run around Mont Blanc.
Eiger Trail Tour: A week of sublime trail running in the Swiss Alps… and then a race!
July 15 – 21, 2019
The trails are world class in Switzerland's Berner Oberland, but it’s the people that make a tour really enjoyable.
The Hills are alive with the Sound of Music
July 4-13, 2019
Running the classic Tour du Mont Blanc circuit out of Chamonix was a wonderful experience - for all the senses. Varied trails, incredible views, fresh tarts and coffee - and even singing - made for an incredibly fun tour and a group of very contented runners.
Courmayeur to Chamonix – overcoming heat and snow, then nailing a race too!
June 24 - July 1, 2019
Running through Italy, Switzerland and France around the northern side of Mont Blanc we encountered a heatwave, snow and river crossings, as well as bright flowers and incredible views. After our journey, we enjoyed taking part in the Mont Blanc Marathon series of races.
Chamonix, Champéry and the Historic Dent-du-Midi trail race
September 10 - 16, 2018
Sunshine and a cool breeze gave us ideal conditions to explore the French and Swiss Alps. Our team of seven took in the best of Chamonix before hopping a train over to Champéry, Switzerland, where several of us ran the historic Trail des Dent-du-Midi trail race, the oldest race in the Alps.
Run the Alps in the Dolomites: Single-track, Snowfields, Big Views… and did we mention Dumplings?
June 16-23, 2019
Run the Alps' first trip of the season ventured into Italy’s Dolomites - and found sweet single-track, stupendous views, and great food. In other words, we found the Dolomites in the Dolomites. (And we became experts in dumplings, too!)
Tackling the Triple Crown of the Tour du Mont-Blanc and other Memories
August 26 - September 4, 2018
WARNING: The following account contains an obscene number of superlatives, ridiculous strings of adjectives and a recurring theme of trails, mountains and great food!
The Trail Runner’s Haute Route (Or: How we Climbed Mount Everest and Then Some)
September 3 - 13, 2018
We ran up to 33,500 feet (Well, sort of.) We ate cheese (All of us.) We crossed high passes (Lots of them.) And then we ate yet more cheese (Some of us.)
Zermatt Matterhorn Tour and the Great Dessert Challenge
August 20 - 26, 2018
We ran trails up to 7600 feet, through talus and over the moraines of the Wildstrubel glacier on a crisp clear morning. We ran under the iconic Matterhorn past centuries old chalets above Zermatt - and then several of us raced in one of the Alps’ best known trail races, Matterhorn Ultraks.
Bernese Oberland Tour – The full Swiss experience
July 29 - August 4, 2018
We ran across Alpine meadows, high mountain passes and cool gorges next to the Eiger, plus embraced the traditional festivities of Swiss National day - with plenty of local food and wine.
Tour de Mont Blanc Trail Run Odyssey (Or, how we traced a 100-mile line of sunshine through three countries)
July 15 - 24, 2018
Blue skies, swift ascents and gorgeous trails - with plenty of pie, coffee and outstanding panoramas to fuel our journey and keep spirits high. Ours was a fabulous trip with memories to last a lifetime.
Courmayeur – Chamonix Run: Snowfields, Singing the Can Can, and Chamonix Trail Races
June 25 - July 2, 2018
As the snow melted from the high passes on the Tour du Mont-Blanc, our crew tackled the run from Courmayeur, Italy to Chamonix, France - then took part in some of the world's most famous trail races.
On the Tour du Mont Blanc, with Trail Racers Cruising Past
August 28 - September 6, 2017
The Run the Alps Tour du Mont-Blanc trip takes in the trails joining together the alps of France, Italy and Switzerland. Over 7 days of running we cover over 90 miles and climb 7,000 meters. Our trip was in Courmayeur, Italy, as the famous UTMB trail race passed through town.
Glaciers, Skyraces, and The Matterhorn
August 21-27, 2017
This year’s Matterhorn Ultraks trip had a larger-than-life quality to it-- both the trail running and the guests! We ran across glaciers, travelled to Zermatt to run under the Matterhorn— and then ticked off a famous Alps trail race series. Here's how it went.
Tour du Mont-Blanc: Thunder, Lightning, Snow, Ice, Sunshine– and Mobile Cow Milking!
August 6 - 15, 2017
The trip that had it all and more with thunder, lightning, snow, ice, sunshine, mobile cow milking... and the surliest waiter in all of Italy!
2017 Bernese Oberland Trip: Under the Eiger
July 30 - August 5, 2017
It was a spectacular week of trail running through Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. The highlight came during Day 3, when we ran under the immense Eiger North Wall. Here's my story of how that day unfolded, with a little trip summary below. It was a pleasure to join this great crew!
2017 Tour du Mont-Blanc #1: Big views, Beers in a Trough, Hurdy-Gurdy at Les Mottets, and More!
July 16-25, 2017
The Run the Alps Tour du Mont-Blanc trip is the classic way to experience the trail running scene in the Chamonix valley and the Alps, generally — three countries worth, in fact! We had a winning crew this time around the massif, too. So, how did it go? Well...
2017 Eiger Trail Tour
July 10-17, 2017
The Eiger Trail 2017 trip was an awesome week of trail running in the Berner Oberland and reconnaissance for a bunch of trail runners from around the globe. Not all of us raced, but those who didn’t ran around enough, cheering everyone else!