Mountain Adventure Holidays
Trail Running is a wonderful way to enjoy the stunning vistas of the alpine mountain ranges. You can enjoy running along historic routes, and over high mountains. We find that many 'runners' come to us for custom-made trips so that they can run at their own pace, on their own chosen dates, and at a daily distance which suits their fitness.
By booking a custom trip you will have your own private running guide who can help improve your running technique to deal with the 'ups and downs' of the alpine trails. Our guides are all passionate about running, and are trained to ensure your safety in a mountain environment. They will be fully qualified professionals.
Any of our Scheduled Departure trips can be adapted to a private trip. Please also take a look at the Itinerary section above for just a few ideas which may help you start your planning. If you already know what you want then get in touch with our office.
Use the interactive map above to browse your preferred country and destination.
We can create private trail running holiday itineraries guided by fully qualified professional mountain guides, known as International Mountain Leaders. We have extensive experience in the European Alps, in particular in France, Switzerland, and Italy. We also offer trips in Austria, Germany and Slovenia.
We find that many of our custom-made running trips are based on the Scheduled Departures which we already offer on this website. Simply browse the Scheduled Departures and decide which one you would like as a private trip. The itineraries can be adjusted to suit your needs with 'rest' days inserted where appropriate, and the number of trip days either extended or shortened. In this respect we find that the Mont Blanc Ultra Trail Run, and the our Trail Run the Dolomites trip are popular as private trips.
What we would add is that the less famous, but equally as beautiful, routes are quieter in terms of people on the trail and accommodation is easier to book, especially if you are considering a last minute getaway. Please consider all the trips rather than just the ones you have heard off, we promise you will be pleasantly surprised at the possibilities! We are very happy to discuss our trips with you and advise you of the options.
The mountains of the world offer amazing running experiences and we are lucky enough to work and run in some of the best. Views that defy description, it's simply a case of having to see them for yourself, peaks that soar to the blue skies above, and 'apres run' comfort of cosy characterful hotels, and excellent local food.
Chamonix is a perfect base to explore trail runs in three different countries. A drive of no more than 30 minutes links this world famous alpine town with Italy and Switzerland. It is also home to the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc perhaps one of the most famous mountain ultra marathons in the world. Each August it plays host to a whole week of running events attracting up to 10,000 runners from around the world.
We would suggest that Chamonix is an ideal venue as a running base with a wide range of accommodation on offer from 4/5 star luxury to cosy 2 star family run hotels. Below are just some of our suggestions for running while based here.
France: Choose from the numerous valley trails or head for the high plateaux above alpine villages such as Les Houches and enjoy running with views of snow capped mountains, including the highest in Western Europe, Mont Blanc. Or visit Vallorcine, the Valley of the Bears, and run through the forests on a carpet of pine needles before enjoying a trail side drink at one of the cute and characterful 'buvettes' that serve refreshments to hikers and runners. Plaine Joux which is a feature of the Trail du Tour des Fiz race is another great option as a starting point. From here you have without doubt some of the best views of the glaciers and peaks that line the valley. We also have a new luxury thermal spa in town where you can relax after your run.
Switzerland: With another country just a short drive away it seems a shame not to pop over the border for the day. We can use the historic Mont Blanc Express train to hitch a ride towards the frontier, and then switch to human power to ascend some of the excellent trails above tiny alpine villages such as Finhaut or Les Marecottes. The local architecture is beautiful and you really will feel like you have arrived in 'Heidi Land'. If you want to experiment with 'altitude' then setting off from the Emosson Dam will definitely work your lungs.
Italy: Land of gelato, cappuccino, and loudly gesticulating locals! We love Italy and it also delivers some great trail running. We can drive through the famous Mont Blanc Tunnel to Courmayeur and enjoy a day on the 'sunny' side. There are some fabulous runs which take in a ridge line high above Courmayeur called the Mont de la Saxe ridge. This does in fact feature in the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc and will really make you appreciate the scale of some of the climbs the participants have to deal with. Don't worry we can find easier routes as well, where gelato and coffee feature in the day. You might want to end the day with a visit to the famous thermal spa at Pre St Didier which surely has to be the best cure ever for tired muscles. You will feel re-born after a few hours soaking up the thermals.
Imagine a night spent in a remote mountain location where you are surrounded by nature, and removed from 'civilisation'. You might want to consider including this option for one of the nights of your holiday? Exercise during the day and reach your accommodation in the afternoon, allowing time for a cool beer as the sun goes down.
The possibilities for this type of accommodation are endless from an overnight in an ancient monastery to the vast range of remote and high mountain huts which are scattered throughout the Alps.
Mountain huts, or 'refuges', as they are called in the French Alps, 'rifugios' in Italy, and 'cabanes' in Switzerland offer a special experience allowing you to really get away from it all.
Below we have given just two examples of what's on offer:
The Bonatti Rifugio, near Courmayeur in Italy enjoys stunning views of the Mont Blanc Massif from the Italian side giving another perspective to this famous alpine range. This is a mountain hut which pays homage to the world renowned Italian mountaineer and photographer Walter Bonatti. It makes a fantastic overnight trip, with Italian coffee and pasta to match.
The Grand St Bernard Hospice, is very different again, neither refuge, rifugio or cabane, but a working Monastery which has offered shelter to travellers for over 1,000 years. The Hospice, which sits on the frontier between Switzerland and Italy, is also home to the world famous St Bernard mountain rescue dogs. A visit to the Grand St Bernard Museum and Kennels is possible en route to the Hospice. There are some excellent running trails in this area which would allow us to incorporate a night with the monks.
We always aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, clean, characterful, family run accommodation. All of our trips are based on two people sharing a bedroom, what we call a 'twin' means two single beds in one bedroom. Single rooms are usually available for a supplement. With a family group we can sometimes book a family 'suite' which usually means two inter-connecting bedrooms. Note that it is very rare to have air conditioning in European mountain areas, and most bedrooms do not have this facility. If you have any questions about the accommodation please contact us.
Centre Based
With a private tailor-made trip you can choose your preferred standard of accommodation. Once you have decided where you would like to be based, we can advise you of the options available. Some towns and villages will have more options than others. If based in a large town there is usually a broader range of accommodation available from budget to luxury.
Point to Point
If you are embarking on a point-to-point journey you may find that there is no option or choice of accommodation. However, this does not always mean basic accommodation, some mountain locations offer wonderful, characterful and traditional mountain hospitality. The choice is yours and we will prepare a quote for your trip based on the standard of accommodation chosen.
Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. For all of our trips your insurance must also cover mountain rescue. The exception to this is if the trip is being held in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Insurance should be booked as soon as we have confirmed that your trip is going ahead. Note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
On many of our trips there will be an element of 'group kit' which will be shared amongst our guests. As mountain people you will be used to team work and working together to the mutual benefit and safety of the group.
The 'group kit' will be minimal and usually just a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example on a week-long trip you may carry a small shelter for just one day before passing it on to the next person.
If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items. These will be distributed in such a way that no one is over burdened.
Other group items necessary for safety and comfort will be carried by your guide/instructor.
We go to great lengths to work with first class guides who are passionate about their work. They are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
Please note your guide has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment.
Your trail running guide will be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. International Mountain Leaders are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, and traditions of the area which you are visiting. For our trail running trips we employ International Mountain Leaders who have a particular passion for trail running. Many of our trail running guides have competed in mountain marathons, and ultra marathons in the European Alps and further afield.
You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page.
This is a general statement with regard to luggage and is not specific to your trip. Firstly, luggage on wheels is a good idea as you may have to walk a short way to your accommodation or bedroom.
Point to Point
The majority of our point-to-point trips have luggage support which means your bags are transferred each day to the next accommodation and you only need to wear a small/medium sized 'rucksack' for items you might need during the course of the day.
On some trips which feature a night in a refuge/rifugio/hut your main luggage may not be available that evening due to lack of vehicle access. Your rucksack should be of sufficient capacity to carry a few extra items required for this overnight. Your trip itinerary will indicate on which nights you do not have access to your main luggage. If in any doubt please contact us.
Centre Based
For our centre based trips, in other words where you are staying in the same accommodation all week, you are welcome to bring whatever luggage you require. However, do refer to the note below with regard to 'size' and the lack of elevators in some hotels.
Size of Luggage
Please note that many hotels do not have elevators. This means you may need to carry your luggage to your bedroom.
On our point-to-point trips where your luggage is moved along the route by taxi we ask that you keep the weight to a maximum of 15kgs (33lbs), and ONE bag per person. Many of the taxi companies who move your bags impose a 15kg (33lbs) limit and restrict the number because they have to unload and reload the vehicle each day. If you take more than one bag you may be asked to pay a supplement.
We normally do not include the lunches in your trip cost because of food waste. We find that people are particular about what they eat while exercising. But if you would like us to include them for your trip then we can discuss this with you.
Lunches on our trips are 'picnic' style lunches, in other words you take a packed lunch with sufficient snacks, food and fluid to sustain you throughout the day. Buying snacks and trying local specialities is a great way to inter-act with local people and to practise your language skills.
If there is the possibility of lunch being taken at a restaurant/farm/cafe beside the trail, your guide/instructor will advise you of this. Each evening you can order a picnic or a sandwich from the hotel, or your guide/instructor will advise you of other options such as a local shop or market.
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
When creating tailor-made trips for our private guests we do not include the cost of any additional expenses such as transport, accommodation or cable cars which may required to complete your route due to itinerary changes. We always aim to complete the proposed itinerary that you have agreed with us. However, in terms of both safety and enjoyment the day by day route can only be followed when conditions and weather make it appropriate. Your guide will make a decision on your route based on those conditions. Any decision by your guide will be final and indisputable. We therefore ask that you are prepared to cover these expenses, if needed, for your group and the guide. It is rare that we need to apply this, but by operating on a case by case basis we avoid building these costs into your agreed trip price.
It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card.
On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
On all of our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes.
If you are vegetarian catering for your diet is not generally a problem. If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy/intolerance we would ask that you make your needs clear on your booking form so we can discuss your requirements with the accommodation as soon as possible. A diet that is not related to an allergy/intolerance or beliefs cannot be catered for. It is simply not possible for mountain accommodation to deal with many variations in diet while providing meals for groups.
In addition, if you have an allergy/intolerance we would suggest you bring/purchase suitable snacks as a supplement to the picnic lunches. At times finding gluten free bread, for example, can be an issue. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet, gluten or lactose intolerance please contact us.
We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.
New European Travel Regulations from mid 2025
If you are a guest travelling to one of our European holidays you may be impacted by a significant change to travel regulations expected to be in place from the middle of 2025. The new EITAS scheme will start operating this year and, whilst a start date is not yet confirmed, it is likely to affect our summer holidays in 2025 and any winter holiday thereafter. As your holiday approaches we recommend that you check for updates on the website HERE.
We ask that you carry a paper copy of your passport with you on your trip. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in any luggage you might have. If your trip is without luggage transfers then keep a paper copy somewhere in your rucksack, separate from your original document.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
If you wish to add on additional activities to your trip these can be arranged for you. In summer in the Alps there are a range of exciting challenges on offer. You may wish to try rock climbing, mountain biking, via ferrata, white water rafting, or canyoning.
Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. However, if you feel your guide/instructor has provided an excellent service that went 'above and beyond' then it is at the discretion of each guest whether to tip or not. Guests will often give a tip of between 2 - 5 per cent of the total value of their trip. It is entirely up to you and any gesture will no doubt be appreciated no matter the size.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Maximum Numbers To ensure that you make the most of your running experience we take a maximum of 10 people per guide. We can accommodate larger groups, but for reasons of safety and enjoyment this would require an additional guide or guides depending on the group size.
The Complete Package We can quote you an all inclusive price which can include accommodation, luggage transfers if a point to point multi-day journey, the guides fees and expenses and all logistics. We can also add on other summer activities such as rock climbing, white water rafting, or whatever else you fancy!
| From Price | What's your budget? |
| Holiday Type | Tailormade |
| Duration | How long do you have? |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Countries Visited | Italy, France, Switzerland |
