The Grand Tour of the Chamonix Valley by trail running
3 days
Intensity
3/4
4 to 8
people
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78 km
5500D+
Shelters
The stay
Here, I wanted to create a summary of the most beautiful trails in my adopted valley. All of Chamonix 's favorites are gathered in this 3-day trail running trip.
A route to discover the still preserved corners of the Aiguilles Rouges but also mythical spots such as the balcony path overlooking the Mer de Glace, the Vallon de Bérard or the Aiguillette des Posette and the Col de Balme from where you can admire the best sunsets on Mont Blanc .
On this trail running route, there's no stress: there are many options for ski lifts if you want to take it easier, while still keeping a preserved route.
I am delighted to share this extraordinary journey around the world capital of Trail running!
From July to September
€500/person
(minimum 4 people, otherwise
(Quote available upon request)
The program
Day 1
Meet in front of the Chamonix Tourist Office. Briefing and warm-up before heading up to the Bellachat refuge and exploring the wild side of the Aiguilles Rouges. Overnight stay at the Moëde Anterne refuge in the Sixt-Passy nature reserve.
At the end of the day, a workshop will focus on training, equipment, and foot placement. 19km / 1900m elevation gain / 800m elevation loss
Day 2
Departure from the Moëde Anterne refuge and traverse to the Salenton pass. If the group is feeling energetic, why not climb Mont Buet at 3100m altitude? (optional). Descent via the Bérard valley before climbing back up to the Col de Balme refuge where we spend the night. A memorable sunset! 26km / 2000m ascent / 2000m descent.
Day 3
We begin with a descent to the village of Le Tour before heading towards the final climb of the trip, to Signal Forbes. Enjoy the view of the Mer de Glace glacier and several peaks exceeding 4000m! We traverse the northern balcony trail to Plan de l'Aiguille before finishing in Chamonix. 33km / 1600m ascent / 2700m descent
Equipment needed
In the bag
• A change of underwear • A change of T-shirt • Lightweight pants or running tights • UTMB-approved waterproof jacket • Waterproof pants if bad weather is forecast • Fleece or light down jacket • Lightweight gloves • Headband or lightweight hat • Small personal first-aid kit • Sunscreen • Toothbrush/toothpaste • Microfiber towel/soap • Minimum 1.5 L of water • Snacks • Sleeping bag liner for the refuge (available for loan) • Picnic lunch for the first day • Trekking poles (optional) • Identification documents
On oneself
•Trail running shoes
•Underwear
• Breathable T-shirt
•Cap
•Sunglasses
•Trail bag approx. 15L
(Bag available for loan)
Useful information
Location and times
Meet in front of the Chamonix Tourist Office at 8:00 am on the first day of your stay. The stay ends in Chamonix town centre around 4:00 pm on the last day.
Access
• By SNCF train
• By bus from many cities on Flixbus .
• By carpooling. Chamonix being a tourist destination, there are many carpooling options available on the BlaBlaCar website.
What the price includes
• Guiding by a Mountain Guide specializing in trail running
• Half-board accommodation for the 1st and 2nd nights
• The picnic on the 2nd and 3rd day
What the price does not include
• The picnic on the first day
• Drinks and personal expenses
• The ski lifts, if you decide to use them
• Your cancellation and repatriation insurance
"For me, traveling is the most beautiful way to spend time in nature and immerse yourself in it. You have to experience it to understand the happiness it brings. And if you add trail running, it's freedom!"
It's a real break, we come back with our heads full of memories.
And it also allows for a great training stay, effective for preparing for upcoming trail races, while sharing advice and meeting other enthusiasts."
My motivation to
offer this stay
THE LEVEL GRID FOR TRAIL RUNNING COURSES
Level 1
Physical: Practice of running 2 times 1 hour per week and/or ability to hike in the mountains with 1000m of elevation gain.
Technical: Accessible mountain trails.
Experience: No trail running experience required , but prior hiking experience is recommended.
Level 2
Physical activity: Running and endurance sports practice approximately 5 hours per week
Technical skill: Mountain trails not always easy, capable of running downhill, even slowly.
Experience: Regularly does trail runs of 2.5 hours or more / Has already run 30km in the mountains.
Level 3
Physical fitness: 8 hours of endurance sport per week, including trail running 4 times per week. Accustomed to elevation changes.
Technical aspects: Mountain trails that can sometimes be exposed. Rocky terrain or off-trail sections are possible.
Experience: Accustomed to mountain environments and capable of completing trail races of 50km or more
Level 4
Physical: Regularly completes weeks with more than 10 hours of training, the majority of which is trail running.
Technical aspects: Trails and off-trail sections may be exposed. Rocky terrain and slippery ground are possible.
Experience: Has already run long trails (approx. 80km) or performs well over short distances. Self-sufficient in the mountains.
Trail running
From refuge to refuge
Each night we reach a different refuge.
Sharing knowledge, hearty meals and good times in the mountains!
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Take only the essentials
A trail running bag containing a simple and pragmatic equipment list to deal with all conditions.
Equipment can be loaned.
Training volume
Do you want to improve your trail running? This is the perfect opportunity to have an amazing weekend while experiencing an adventure.
To experience something other than racing
A trail running trip guarantees a powerful experience in close contact with nature. Leave with a head full of memories.
Freedom
sharing
exploration
Isn't that the very essence of trail running?
There is no stronger feeling of freedom than crossing a mountain range fluidly, with light steps.
