Italy
Country
7 days
Duration
July-September
When
Experienced
Difficulty
Breakfast
Board
Comfort
Accomodation
Self-guided
Tour type

Running Tour Mont Blanc: Conquer The Legendary UTMB in Seven Days!

Are you ready for an extraordinary trail-running adventure along one of Europe’s most iconic hiking routes? The Tour Mont Blanc, renowned for its breathtaking scenery and challenging trails, serves as the perfect backdrop for this running journey. Follow in the footsteps of legendary Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) participants as we traverse the entire 170 km circuit, conquering approximately 10,000 meters of elevation gain over six action-packed days. You’ll be encircling the towering Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain, and the experience promises to be unlike any other. Our tour departs from the picturesque Italian town of Courmayeur, offering a unique vantage point for the adventure that lies ahead.

Tour Highlights:

  • Courmayeur Departure: We kick off our adventure in Courmayeur, Italy, providing a distinct starting perspective of Mont Blanc. Your running journey begins and concludes on the Italian side of this awe-inspiring mountain, offering a different angle of its magnificence compared to the typical starting points.
  • Hostel Accommodations: Rest and rejuvenate in comfortable hostels along the route. You can count on a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast to prepare you for each day’s running. These accommodations offer a welcoming atmosphere and the chance to connect with fellow runners, sharing stories and experiences.
  • Spectacular Scenery: Throughout this tour, be prepared to be spellbound by the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Mont Blanc circuit. Traverse the trails in the company of a small, international group of fellow runners who share your passion for exploration and the thrill of running in one of Europe’s most remarkable environments.

Tour Availability:

Please note that this tour requires a minimum of four participants to proceed, ensuring that you’ll have a group to share your adventures with. Don’t miss the chance to embark on a remarkable journey around Mont Blanc and discover the incredible landscapes and challenges it has to offer.

Included Services

  • Overnight stays in the accommodations listed below
  • Dinners and breakfasts as indicated in the program
  • Private transfers on days 5 and 6
  • Luggage transfer
  • Phone assistance throughout the tour
  • Road book with map, itinerary description and GPS points
  • Flight
  • Lunch
  • Transfers from/to the starting point of the tour
  • Tickets for public transport and cable cars (from around 4 to 15 euros)
  • Not indicated meals and drinks, except tea and coffee for the included breakfasts
  • Personal clothing (read advice and recommendations)
  • Anything not listed in the “Included” section

FAQ

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

If you cancel your tour 60 days or more before the departure date, you will lose your deposit. If you cancel your tour between 60 and 45 days before the departure date, you will lose 50 per cent of the total tour price. If you cancel your tour within 45 days of the departure date, you will lose the full amount. If you fail to turn up on the first day of your tour, Outdoor Europe may not be able to make arrangements for you to join the rest of the tour, and you will lose the full payment. If, for any reason, Outdoor Europe has to cancel your tour, you will be offered an alternative tour or a full refund.

How do I book my tour?

You can book your tour directly on the Outdoor Europe website. Choose the tour from the dropdown menu, select the date you would like to start, and the number of participants in your group. You can either pay a deposit (60 days or more from the start of your tour) or pay the full amount. Click ‘book’ and follow the instructions. Once we have confirmed your payment, you’ll receive your confirmed tour itinerary within 10 days. There may be seasonal variations in the time it takes us to arrange everything. Please note that programmes on the tour pages are only examples — there may be several differences in the final programme you receive.

How do I pay for my tour?

When booking your tour, you can choose to pay by credit/debit card or direct bank transfer. Direct bank transfers will generally take longer to process, while credit and debit card payments are processed instantly. You are, by default, asked to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the tour. If you choose this option, you will be asked to pay the remaining 75% one month before your tour. Please be sure to follow the payment links you receive in your invoice or reminder email, which we will send you when the second payment is due.

Do I get my own room?

This depends on the individual tour and when you book it. When hiking in the Alps, most people stay in dorms or shared rooms as the availability of single, double and family rooms are limited. We can only guarantee your own room on certain tours such as in the Lys and Ayas Valleys — but only if you book in time. If this is your preference, we will do our best to ensure you get your own room, but please expect to spend some nights in shared accommodation if there is limited availability.

Is baggage transfer included with all your Alpine tours?

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer this service with all our packages. Often, the huts or hotels we work with are in locations that can only be reached by foot or helicopter. Indeed, when choosing a tour that includes baggage transport, there may be one or two exceptions depending on the route. This will appear clearly on the tour page and in the program you receive when your booking has been confirmed.

How many days do your tours last?

All our tours include the day of arrival and the day of departure. This means that a six-day tour will include five nights of accommodation, a seven-day tour will include six nights, and so on. On the first day, guests are usually expected to arrive in the afternoon. And the program does not include any activities except for a briefing by our representative on the first evening. On the day of departure, guests are free to decide if they want to leave directly after breakfast or go on a shorter tour before their journey home.

What meals are included in your Alpine adventure tours?

Most of our tours will include Half Board (HB) services, which means breakfast, a three-course dinner, and a light-packed lunch. Please check the individual tour page for details, however, as variations occur with certain tours.

What is a self-guided tour?

We specialize in self-guided tours. These tours are designed for travelers who love the independence of hiking, skiing, or running on their own but want to know that everything else is taken care of. In some cases, we are able to offer luggage transport to lighten your load as you enjoy the Great Outdoors.

Do you offer group tours?

Whether you’re already a group of friends, business colleagues or a sports club looking for an active mountain adventure, we can design and organize your Alpine tour for you. However, Outdoor Europe does not offer group tours for individual participants.

Can you create a tour just for me and my friends?

Yes, absolutely! Outdoor Europe can design the perfect mountain adventure for you and your friends or colleagues. Whether you want to hike, ski, run, cycle or climb, we have the expertise and experience needed to create a bespoke package for any level of experience or physicality. Please contact us if you would like us to create a customized package for your group.

Are your outdoor adventure tours family-friendly?

There are few better ways to spend time with your children than with an active holiday in the mountains. Sharing a mountain adventure with your child is a memory that will last a lifetime. We try to design child-friendly variations (marked ‘family’) of all our Alpine tours. Children can hike, ski or bike a lot longer than you might expect, as long as you make it entertaining for them. However, they will respond instantly to the way you behave, so please consider whether you are able to create a safe environment for your children when faced with the many different challenges of an alpine environment.

Do you offer discounts for children?

Yes, we are able to offer a discount for children on most of our tours, provided they are not yet 13 years of age on the first day of the tour. Please see the individual tour page for our child discounts.

Can I travel on my own?

Many single travellers chose Outdoor Europe due to our high level of service and our expertise in self-guided mountain tours. And the safety of one of our representatives will only ever be just a phone call away. However, please expect additional costs, as our prices are based on two persons — the industry standard for outdoor tours of this nature. Private rooms and other services are often more expensive for individual travellers. You can find information about any additional costs for individual travellers on the tour page.

Will I manage?

We are all different. Some of our clients are 70+ and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others may be twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental ability of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for level of physicality, which you can learn more about here. You are of course welcome to call us and we will do our best to advice you. Find your level of physicality here (link to Find your level page).

What if I get lost?

Our local partners know every square inch of this beautiful Alpine region. During the introductory briefing, you will receive an app, physical maps and a phone number to call if you need advice. In some cases, you’ll be able to forward your location to a local guide with the press of a button. This may prove helpful if you become lost.

Do I need travel insurance?

We recommend that you speak to your insurance provider to ensure your existing policy covers mountain-based activities such as hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. Please note that any costs relating to emergency situations and the potential need for evacuation are the sole responsibility of the client.

Will I be able to cope with the physical challenge?

We are all different. Some of our clients are more than 70 years old and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others are twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental capabilities of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for the level of physicality involved, which you can learn more about on our Find Your Level page. You are, of course, welcome to call us, and we will do our best to advise you.

Can I bring my dog?

Enjoying the mountains with your best friend can be a joyful experience, which is why we try to make our tours dog friendly wherever possible. Unfortunately, it is not always possible due to local rules. Selected tours are marked ‘Dog Friendly’ on the tour page. This means that your dog can stay with you in your private room or, in a few cases, the hut will have a separate or external room for dogs. Please refer to the individual tour page for more information.

1

Day 1

Stage: Arrival in Courmayeur and accommodation in hotel.
  • 31 km
  • 2700
  • 2300
2

Day 2

Stage: Courmayeur to Champex

Courmayeur 1220 m. – Start of the Mont Blanc trail running tour to Bertone mountain hut

1977 m. – Bonatti mountain hut 2026 m. – Arnouva 1770 m. – Elena mountain hut 2062 m. –
Col du Gran Ferret 2537 m. – La Fouly 1593 m. – Champex 1466 m.

First day of the trek begins in the lush Val Ferret, below the Gran Jorasses peaks, with the trail leading up to the Gran Ferret Pass, facing the Triolet Glacier. The descent in Switzerland is on a beautiful trail surrounded by meadows getting then to the small La Fouly village.

Relais d’Arpette / Hotel du Glacier / Gite Bon Abri / Hotel Mont Lac
Accommodation in double room
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • 48 km
  •  2500
  •  2100
3

Day 3

Stage: Champex Lac to Chamonix

Trail running from Champex 1466m. at the Fenetre d’Arpette 2665 m. – Bisse du Trient 1583
m. – Les Grands mountain hut 2113 m. – Col du Balme 2191 m. – Le Tour 1400 m. – Bus to
Chamonix 1030m.

From Champex Lac you’ll reach Trient crossing the easier Bovine pass or by the demanding Fenetre d’Arpette, facing the Trient glacier and between incredible rocky towers. With a long but regular walk up to the Col du Balme pass and refuge, from where the Mont Blanc view get unfolded! The descent in the Chamonix valley with the views over Aiguille du Tour and iguille Verte is amazing!

Hotel Vallee Blanche / Hotel Croix Blanche / L’Oustalet / Hotel le Prieure
Double room
Meals: Breakfast

  • 20 km
  •  1700
  • 1800
4

Day 4

Stage: Chamonix

From Chamonix bus to Argentiere 1320 m., trail running to Tete Aux Vents 2132 m. – Lac Blanc mountain hut 2352 m., – La Flegere 1877 m. – Chamonix 1030m.

Today you’ll explore the west side of the Chamonix valley, getting up to Refuge du Lac Blanc, one of the most beautiful spot on the circuit, facing all the summits of the mountaineering history! A nice moment to visit as well the Chamonix village, a vibrant alpine centre.

Hotel Vallee Blanche / Hotel Croix Blanche / L’Oustalet / Hotel le Prieure
Double room
Meals: Breakfast

  • 16 km
  • 1100
  •  1300
5

Day 5

Stage: Chamonix to Les Contamines

Trail running from Chamonix 1030m. in Les Houches 1000 m. – Bellevue 1800 m., Col
Tricot 2120 m. – De Miage mountain hut 1559 m. – Du Truc mountain hut (1720 m. – Les Contamines Montjoie 1162 m.
The today long trail cross meadows, rivers and forests below the Dome du Goutier and the Aiguille de Bionassay, leading up to the panoramic Col Tricot and then the pristine valley below the Glacier du Miage, arriving finally in Les Contamines Montjoie village.

Camping le Pontet / Gite les Melezes / Hotel la Chemenaz
Double room
Meals: Breakfast

  •  25 km
  • 1600
  •  1500
6

Day 6

Stage: La Contamines to Les Chapieux

Trek Refuge de Nant Borrant (1525 m.) – De la Balme mountain hut 1706 m. – Col de la Croix du Bonhomme 2483 m. – Les Chapieux 1560 m. – Private transfer to Bourg Saint Maurice 830m.

A long day rewarded by amazing views and beautiful environment. From Les Contamines the trail leads up in the valley up to Col de la Crux de Bonhomme, from where the descent through meadows and pastures leads to Les Chapieux. A private transfer will drive you to Bourg S. Maurice.

Base Camp Lodge
Double room
Meals: Breakfast

  • 19 km
  • 1400
  • 1000
7

Day 7

Stage: La Contamines to Courmayeur

Private transfer to Ville des Glaciers 1789 m. – Trail running to Des Mottets mountain hut 1870 m. – Col de la Seigne 2510 m. – Elisabetta mountain hut 2197 m. – La Visaille 1659 m. – Courmayeur 1220 m. – Departure Last day of the circuit will bring you back to Italy, crossing one of the most beautiful pass of the tour and leading to the Val Veny, where the sharp Aiguille Noire appears in all its majesty. The descent back to Courmayeur will pass through Rifugio Elisabetta below the Aiguilles de Trelatete and nearby the huge Miage glacies.

  •  16 km
  •  800
  • 900

trail mt blanc
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