Day 2: After breakfast, we'll get an early start on the road to our Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) adventure. We'll hit the trail early for one of our longest days on the trail to Les Contamines. On the way we'll pass farms selling goat cheese, old chapels, and amazing views contrasting green hills contrasted against the Bionnassay Glacier. With a strong group we’ll take the variant over the Col de Tricot for up close and personal views to the Bionnassay Glacier and crossing a suspension bridge. Our comfortable 3-star hotel for the evening has a charming shady terraces, lounge chairs, and amazing wine and charcuterie.

4-star hotel with breakfast included

~17-18 miles/+4,400-5,200 ft/ -4,160 ft*

*Please note, exact mileage and ascent/descent info each day subject to change, but this is a good guideline 

Day 3: After an early breakfast we'll head out the door of our hotel and back up into the mountains. On the way we'll run through the Reserve Naturelle des Contamines-Montjoie, crossing streams and meadows before starting our climb up to the Col du Bonhomme and the higher Col de la Coix du Bonhomme. On clear days views are visible to Val Montjoie to the north and Vallon de la Gittaz to the southwest. Tonight is our night of the Runcation spent in a traditional TMB mountain refuge in a peaceful green valley with marmots, donkeys, and quirky mountain decor.

Shared rooms in small mountain hut with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

~ 11 miles/+4,200 ft / -3,618 ft

Day 4: Today we'll cross the border from France to Italy at the spectacular crossing of the Col de la Seigne. We'll enjoy more views of the snowcapped peaks of the Col de la Seigne before stopping for coffee and lunch at a rifugio which sits on a spur overlooking the Vallon de la Lée Blanche. We stop for a break at one of the most colorful rifugios on the tour before descending into the chic mountain town of Courmayeur to our comfortable hotel for the evening. 

Double accommodation in 3-star hotel with breakfast included (no dinner)

~ 18.4 miles/+5,000 ft / -6,000 ft

Day 5: Today you're free to rest and relax in the lively mountain town of Courmayeur, Italy. Enjoy an aperol spritz, go for a sum, take a hike, get a massage, spend the day running, or all of the above!

Double accommodation in 3-star hotel with breakfast included 

Day 6: After a delicious breakfast, we'll head out for our longest day on the trails, but the views of today are a highlight of the TMB. We'll leave Courmayeur behind before making our entrance into Switzerland, first by passing through the famous Val Ferret before crossing the Italian-Swiss border up the climb of the Grand Col Ferret. We'll cover 18 miles before we arrive to our next stop on the tour, the sleepy Swiss town of La Fouly.

Shared dormitory in mountain hut with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

~ 20-21 miles/+6,100 ft / -6,100 ft

Day 7: Today is our shortest day on the trail, and our destination is a relaxing lakeside town! As we descend from high mountains into forested valleys, we'll start to enter the flower-laden chalets and barns of Les Arches before descending into Champex, Switzerland.

Double accommodation in 3-star hotel with breakfast included

~ 9 miles/+1,800 ft / -3,500 ft

Day 8: After breakfast, we'll hit the trails towards the Col de la Forclaz by way of the Val d'Arpette, a remote valley with alpine meadows and wildflowers. The writer Frison-Roche wrote of the valley, "This is scenery straight from a geograhy atlas, showing in one picture the habitat, the fauna, the flora and the mountain-formation...The Val d'Arpettaz is so satisfying; there you can still breathe the gentle air of solitude." After a long day's journey we'll pass the town of Tré-le-Champ before reaching our hotel serving traditional Savoyard cuisine and sitting at 4,600 feet at the gateway to the upper Chamonix Valley.

Shared dormitory in mountain hut with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

~ 17 miles/+5,800 ft / - 6,800 ft

Day 9: For our final full day on the trails, we'll enjoy an early breakfast and coffee at our refuge before setting off for the final 10-12 miles of the route. On this day we'll use the impressive path of the Grand Balcon Sud, which provides one of the most spectacular views of the Mont Blanc range along the way. We'll continue with some of the most impressive views of the tour finishing our epic circumnavigation of the TMB with a steep and winding descent to our original starting point. We'll reach Chamonix by the afternoon where we say our goodbyes with new friends and tons of memories.

~ 10.5 miles/+3,100 ft / - 4,100 ft