Join Run the Alps on this adventurous circuit through Switzerland and Italy
Starting in Zermatt, Switzerland at the foot of the Matterhorn, the Tour de Monte Rosa is a challenging and varied trail around the Monte Rosa and Mischabel mountain ranges. We love this trail for its rugged beauty, and for the different landscapes and cultures through which we pass, from cozy Italian mountain huts, to famous Swiss mountain villages like Saas-Fee. The route crosses in several high passes, including 3,295m high Theodule Pass, which we’ll reach via a memorable glacier crossing that takes us from Switzerland to Italy!
What's Included
- Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader
- 7 nights accomodation – 6 nights in 3* and 4* hotels, 1 night at a mountain refuge
- Welcome briefing and drinks on first night
- All breakfasts, packed/light lunches and trail nutrition, plus multi-course dinners every evening
- High mountain guide for roped glacier travel experience
- All transfers to and from trailheads that are included on our planned itinerary
- Luggage transfers (luggage available every night, except at Rifugio Ferraro)
- Run the Alps’ Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains 80+ pages of information about where you’ll be running, what to pack, how to train, and plenty of other insider information from Run the Alps staff and guides
- A day of professional photography on the trails, with images provided to you license-free
- An in-country welcome pack – includes trail nutrition and a Run the Alps T-shirt (Note: You can choose to opt out of the T-shirt during registration; if you do, we’ll automatically donate the equivalent to one of our 1% for the Planet partners instead.)
- Personalized support before and during your tour
- 20% discount code for the Run the Alps store
- Contribution to our Net Positive initiatives
Cost
$5990 per person
$800 single supplement
Itinerary
Day 1 - Zermatt
Arrive in Geneva or Zurich airport and travel to Zermatt via train. We’ll meet with our guide in the evening to talk through the week ahead, then enjoy a delicious five-course meal together.
Day 2 - Resy
It’s the first day of our circuit around Monte Rosa! The Theodul Pass is the high-point of our whole tour at 3295m, right on the Swiss-Italian border. We’ll pass high alpine lakes, then drop into a valley with gentle and quiet trails, leading us to Rifugio Ferraro.
Day 3 - Alagna
Our route today takes in two mountain passes, the Colle Bettaforca, then the Col d’Olen, crossing the Gressoney valley in between. Our descent at the end of the day will lead us down the wild Valle d’Otro to our overnight stay in the picturesque village of Alagna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 4 - Macugnaga
Our route today takes us over Colle del Turlo into the next valley and the alpine village of Macugnaga on the eastern side of Monte Rosa.
Day 5 - Saas-Fee
Today we’ll run back into Switzerland– but not before the long climb up to the mighty Monte Moro pass, at 2853m. We’ll finish on a gentle downhill to the town of Saas-Fee where we spend the night.
Day 6 - Grächen
Today’s route to St Niklaus follows a dramatic high traverse above the Sass valley. The rolling single track, which is technical at times, brings us around the northern side of Monte Rosa and back into Zermatt valley.
Day 7 - Zermatt
Our last day of the Tour Monte Rosa follows the stunning Europaweg, a high traverse above treeline, all the way to Zermatt. This section includes the remarkable Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge.
Day 8 - Depart from Zermatt
Today we’ll enjoy a final breakfast together, then take our leave of Zermatt. There are regular trains to Geneva or Zurich airport, and we can assist with onwards travels if you’re headed elsewhere.
For more information, please visit our website.
Prefer to run on your own schedule, without a guide? Go self-guided and let us take care of all the logistics.
Photo Credits: Sam Hill, Mark Brightwell
Event's current local time: 11:53 AM WET
