Monte Rosa Circuit
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2025 - Aug 9, 2025 | 9 days - 8 nights |
Starting in Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, the Tour Monte Rosa is a challenging and varied trail around the Monte Rosa and Mischabel mountain ranges. We love this trail for its wild rugged beauty, and for the different landscapes and cultures you pass through, from cozy Italian mountain huts, to famous Swiss ski towns like Saas-Fee. The route takes in several high passes, including the Theodule Pass at 3295m elevation, which is accessed via a glacier on the crossing from Switzerland to Italy.
We’re excited to have Salomon trail runner Max King, from Bend, Oregon, join us as a special guest on this tour. Max has consistently ranked as one of the top trail runners in the world. He has won the World Mountain Running Championships, stood on the podium at Chamonix’s Mont Blanc Marathon and set records at some of North America’s top ultras. Max is a driving force for Salomon’s global trail running efforts and a lead product tester directly involved in the development of new trail running shoes.
Best of all, Max is a great guy, admired for his honed trail running skills and deep knowledge of the sport, and his willingness to share it all with others. You can read more about Max on our Guest Runner page.
This level 4 tour includes back-to-back long days, often on technical trails with over 25 km of running, and over 1,500m of climbing. There are three consecutive days of fast-packing when we won’t have baggage delivery, although we will have comfortable accommodations with showers every night. Before heading off on our big adventure, we’ll have a full day to find our trail running feet in world-famous Zermatt.
Most days will start with a hearty continental buffet breakfast– delicious fresh baked bread, local cheeses, cereal, fruit, coffee and juice. Hut breakfasts are simpler, and usually consist of bread, jams, butter, cereal, coffee, and juice. We’ll provide snacks for you to take on the trail. Every day we will pass a café or mountain hut where we can also buy drinks or snacks. In the evenings we’ll enjoy dinner together at our accommodation – a hearty multi-course dinner featuring delicious local Italian and Swiss specialities.
Header photos: Mark Brightwell, Sam Hill, PatitucciPhoto
Book this tour
$800 Single Supplement
Itinerary
Zermatt. (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 1
Arrive in Geneva or Zurich airport and travel to Zermatt via train. We’ll meet with our guide in the evening to talk through the week ahead, then enjoy a delicious five-course meal together.
Racing the rain on the moraine above Zermatt. (Photo: Lindsay Wozney)
Day 2
We’ll take advantage of the wonderful trails around Zermatt with a shakeout run straight from the hotel. In the afternoon you can wander through scenic, pedestrian-only Zermatt or luxuriate in the hotel spa.
Above Zermatt, Switzerland. (Photo: Mark Brightwell)
Day 3
It’s the first day of our circuit around Monte Rosa! The Theodul Pass is the high-point of our whole tour at 3295m, right on the Swiss-Italian border. We’ll pass high alpine lakes, then drop into a valley with gentle and quiet trails, leading us to Rifugio Ferraro.
Ready to eat in Italy! (Courtesy photo)
Day 4
Our route today takes in two mountain passes, the Colle Bettaforca, then the Col d’Olen, crossing the Gressoney valley in between. Our descent at the end of the day will lead us down the wild Valle d’Otro to our overnight stay in the picturesque village of Alagna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Forest trail in the Alps. (Photo: Toni Spasenoski)
Day 5
Our route today takes us over Colle del Turlo into the next valley and the alpine village of Macugnaga on the eastern side of Monte Rosa.
Running above Saas-Fee. (Photo: Siebrig Scheeres)
Day 6
Today we’ll run back into Switzerland– but not before the long climb up to the mighty Monte Moro pass, at 2853m. We’ll finish on a gentle downhill to the town of Saas-Fee where we spend the night.
Headed to Grächen. (Photo: Emily Geldard)
Day 7
Today’s route to St Niklaus follows a dramatic high traverse above the Sass valley. The rolling single track, which is technical at times, brings us around the northern side of Monte Rosa and back into Zermatt valley.
Stopping to take in the view across the valley from the Europaweg. (Photo: Mark Tamminga)
Day 8
Our last day of the Tour Monte Rosa follows the stunning Europaweg, a high traverse above treeline, all the way to Zermatt. This section includes the remarkable Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge.
It’s been fun, Max! (Photo: Sam Hill)
Day 9
Today we’ll enjoy a final breakfast together, then take our leave of Zermatt. There are regular trains to Geneva or Zurich airport, and we can assist with onwards travels if you’re headed elsewhere.
Regional map
What's included
Seven nights in hotels and one night in a mountain hut with dorm accommodation. All runs guided by certified International Mountain Leader. All breakfasts, food at trail stops, trail nutrition, and dinners included. All transfers to and from trailheads. High mountain guide for roped glacier travel experience, luggage delivery nightly, except on evenings 3, 4 and 5.Please arrive at the Geneva (GVA) or Zurich (ZRH) Airport no later than 12:00pm the day your tour starts, August 1, 2025. You will continue via train to Zermatt. Travel takes between 3.5 and 4 hours. Detailed travel instructions will be provided.
Please note that flights from the US usually depart the day before.
We’d suggest departing from Geneva (GVA) or Zurich (ZRH) Airport after breakfast on August 9, 2025. Please allow three to four hours for travel from Zermatt, Switzerland to Geneva or Zurich Airport and an additional two hours so you’re not rushed at the airport. If you’d prefer a morning flight, plan on adding an additional night at a hotel in Zurich or Geneva. We can assist you with hotel and city information, if you like.
Not Included: Flights, transport by train and bus to and from the tour, transport to and from trailheads if you choose to shorten a run, drinks with dinners, extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry, tips for guides.
All Run the Alps guests receive a copy of our Guide to Trail Running in the Alps to assist in preparing for their trip.
Is this trip right for me?
This is a level 4 trip. Learn more about our tour ratings here.
Terms and Conditions: Please read Run the Alps’ Terms and Conditions and our travel insurance requirements.
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.
Guides for this Tour
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Book this tour
$800 Single Supplement