Courmayeur, Italy
Here, at the head of the Aosta Valley in the mountainous northwest corner of Italy, flowing single track is interspersed with welcoming guardians at the “rifugios,” or huts, where you can take in alpine views over a cappuccino. Trails traverse high meadows opposite Mont Blanc – or Monte Bianco – and climb alongside clear streams, up over high mountain passes with incredible views into neighboring Switzerland and France. Here’s a glimpse from a previous Run the Alps trip.
Courmayeur also has a lively trail racing scene, if you’d like to add a race to your vacation plans. Each summer, the town hosts three races in the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc series, the popular Gran Trail du Courmayeur series in July, the legendary Tor des Géants, now four races, and a variety of other trail events. While Val Ferret and nearby Val Veny are well-known on the alpine trail running map, the region is also home to a wide range of quiet and wild trails. Courmayeur is wonderful place to relax after a run. You’ll find excellent cafés, restaurants and gelaterias as you wander along the quiet, cobbled streets of the village. Many of our self-guided guests combine exploring this region with a few days in the Chamonix valley, known as the “Vallée du Trail” on the other side of Mont Blanc.
*You will be based in the town of Courmayeur for the whole tour, and therefore able to choose the number of days and the order of your runs. When you sign up to run a self-guided tour in Courmayeur, your trip will be planned in detail by our tour designers to help select the best runs for you.
Top Photo: PatitucciPhoto
