It’s no wonder the Tour du Mont-Blanc, or “TMB”, is Run the Alps’ most popular trip. It really does have it all. A long-distance route that passes through the corner of three countries, the TMB snakes over high mountain passes, has big views, awesome alpine running, and it shares the route of what is arguably the best-known trail race in the world, UTMB Mont-Blanc®. Plus it starts and finishes in Chamonix, France, the town perhaps most synonymous with trail running anywhere in the world.
If you haven’t trail run in the Alps, the TMB should reasonably be on your list.
But, and this is a big but, many tour operators here in the Alps are worried about the TMB, including all of us at Run the Alps. In the past few years, the route has exploded in popularity. The phrase, in French, is “le sur-tourisme,” or overtourism. Businesses operating along the TMB– hoteliers, logistics partners, transport services– are all feeling the strain. The trail itself needs repair in some locations. The TMB is being loved to death.
Great alternatives to the TMB exist. After all, there are hundreds of thousands of kilometers of trails in the Alps– 65,000km in Switzerland alone. There are some pretty awe-inspiring options. And here among our staff, guides and friends, we have a deep base of Alps trail running knowledge. So, two years ago, Run the Alps started exploring, and then creating, alternatives to the TMB.
We offer five suggestions now, and will have two more coming for 2025.
Depending on what you’re looking for in a multi-day trail running adventure, you just might find these routes preferable to the TMB.
That’s a big claim, so let’s explore the options.
*For reference, we grade the TMB on the Run the Alps Trip Rating System. You can read more about how we establish these grades to help select the right challenge for you, here.
Via Valais
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There’s a hiker’s Haute Route, a skier’s Haute Route, so why not a trail runner’s Haute Route? That was the thinking of the folks behind ALPSinsight when they started exploring the region between Verbier and Zermatt, Switzerland back in 2018.
The result? The Via Valais, a route that has been growing in popularity in recent years. Winding its way through the Alps of Switzerland’s Valais Canton near the country’s border with Italy, the Via Valais passes through small villages (Arolla, Zinal) and finishes in the classic Alps mountain resort town of Zermatt. In between, there are miles of high quality alpine trail running
Who it’s for: Trail runners looking for a taste of big mountains and remote huts.
High points:
- The trails are varied, adventurous, and more technical than those on the TMB.
- Covers similar terrain to the hiker’s Haute Route, but on trails selected for trail running.
- You’ll pass through the traditional Alpine villages, thick pine forests, and colorful meadows, and beneath the highest peaks of the Swiss Canton of Valais.
Learn more
Grand Berner Oberland Traverse
Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland is one of our favorite places to trail run. The single track tends to be a bit less technical, the trails are flowy, and the mountain transport options are extremely Swiss. The trains, buses, and lifts reach into improbable locations and are always on time.
Our Grand Traverse is the big trip we always wanted to do in this region. It takes a great shorter run, the Classic Bernese Oberland tour, and extends it through high pastures, from village to village, for an additional three days.
The route is point-to-point, and traverses a pretty impressive number of miles. The highlights are seriously legit, too: runners pass under the North Wall of the Eiger; through Lauterbrunnen Valley (Tolkien’s inspiration for Rivendell); visit Blumlisalphuttë, a dramatic Swiss Alpine Club hut; and finish in Gstaad, one of the Alps’ iconic ski towns.
Who it’s for: Trail runners looking for a big adventure who want smooth single track and the option to shorten the route each day by taking advantage of the lifts and transport system.
High points:
- One of the most spectacular regions of the Swiss Alps. As part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage area, it includes the iconic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks.
- The region includes a number of picturesque villages, including Wengen, Mürren, Kandersteg, and the famed mountain resort of Grindelwald.
- Think snow-capped mountains, glaciers, stunning alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, friendly farmers (and cows), and bountiful wildflowers.
Learn more
Classic Haute Route
For trail runners looking for an epic, big mountain adventure with deep roots, stop right here. The Haute Route is your best pick. Running from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland over seven days, this is one route where the word “epic” is actually warranted. Runners experience day after day in the mountains, mixing a night at a remote mountain hut with village inns, finally coasting down into the famous mountain town of Zermatt. (Between Verbier and Zermatt, our route uses part of the Via Valais described above.)
Who it’s for: Trail runners who are game to tick off a big objective and are comfortable on technical terrain in big mountains over many days.
High points:
- The Classic Haute Route covers over 180 km from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland, so you’ll overlap with the TMB a bit.
- Much of the route is indeed “Haute,” or high, with several mountain passes close to 3000m elevation.
- Along the way, you’ll get fantastic views of the Mont Blanc massif and the Matterhorn, as well as experiencing traditional Alpine culture and typical mountain dishes.
Learn More
Dolomites Cortina Region
The Dolomites are coming onto trail running’s radar, especially for Americans. That’s a good thing in our opinion. We’ve loved running there for more than a decade, particularly when trails are quieter during the second half of June and towards the end of the summer.
Our Classic Tour features gentler terrain and plenty of lush pastures. But if you want to go bigger, wilder, and more rugged– well, that’s where our Cortina tour comes in, and it’s graded at level 3, the same as our TMB tour. Cortina’s become more popular for trail running in recent years, thanks to the UTMB® Lavaredo Ultra Trail races that take place there in June.
Cortina is a small yet lively place with a selection of shops, cafes and restaurants. Nestled amongst impressive Dolomitic peaks, it’s a memorable village from which to start and finish this loop tour. In between, there are wild passes, mountain villages, and trails with some of the classic Dolomite views.
Who it’s for: Trail runners looking to get a bit off the beaten path, into a wild UNESCO World Heritage area, and mix culture with trail running.
High points:
- Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Italy, the Dolomites have unique limestone formations.
- The flowing trails are easily accessible and scattered with friendly mountain huts where you can take a break or stay overnight.
- With a border on Austria, the combination of Italian, Austrian, and the local Ladin culture come together to create a unique experience – where else can you get Apfelstrudel with your cappuccino?
Learn more
Tor Des Géants and Northern Aosta
There’s a reason why the 330 km Tor des Géants trail race is so popular– the route through Northern Italy is flat-out jaw dropping. The trails are quiet, the paths are often wild and very remote. In between, you’ll visit tiny valley villages with names like Valgrisenche, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, and Eaux Rousses. We think of this first half of the Tor route as the TMB, thirty years ago: quiet, dramatic, adventurous.
Who it’s for: Trail runners looking for a wild route, quiet trails, and big passes on one of the most iconic ultra routes in the world.
High points:
- Wild and quiet.
- Dramatic feeling with challenging, jaw-dropping terrain.
- Great Italian food!
Learn More: This tour is in development during the summer of 2024. We’re offering it privately, so contact us for details.
So, Where Do You Want to Trail Run Next?
Ready to move on from the run around Mont Blanc? We’re happy to help explore more options. Drop us a note any time. We’re always happy to talk Alps trail running!
Psst: there’s more coming. This past year, the Run the Alps team brainstormed a list of tours we could offer that share many of the same great qualities of the Tour du Mont-Blanc, but are less frequented. From that list, we all agreed on two regions we think will be amazing. This summer, we’ll be exploring trails, visiting huts and inns, and scouting routes. Stay tuned (you can subscribe to our newsletter) for announcements this fall!
Guided Tours
Self-Guided Tours
