Run alongside waterfall-filled valleys and atop dramatic ridgelines

Ticino, the Italian-speaking region in the east of Switzerland, offers dramatic yet accessible mountains, verdant valleys, and beautiful lakeside towns. Here, we get to enjoy Italian culture and cuisine, mixed with Swiss efficiency! On this tour we’ll spend time in the stylish towns of Lugano and Locarno, with one night in a high mountain hotel. We’ll take in the full range of the Ticino landscape, trail running through deep green valleys with tumbling streams, along ridgeline trails, and past high mountain lakes. On this level 2 tour, we’ll make the most of Switzerland’s excellent transport system, using gondolas and funiculars to easily access Ticino’s high alpine regions.

What's Included

• Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader
• Accommodation for six nights at 3 or 4 star hotels in Lugano and Locarno, one night in a mountain hut
• Buffet breakfasts, food and premium nutrition on the trail, and multi-course dinners every evening
• All transfers to and from trailheads and mountain trains or gondolas that are included on our planned itinerary
  
• Luggage transfers, except for the night at the mountain hut
• A copy of our Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains 80+ pages of information and tips from Run the Alps staff and guides

Cost:
$5,795 per person
$850 single supplement

Itinerary

Day 1 - Lugano
Arrive in Lugano and check in to our lakeside hotel. Guide orientation and dinner concludes your travel day.

Day 2 - Lugano
We’ll ride a Swiss funicular, then run and fast hike up Monte Boglia, with incredible views awaiting us. Next, we’ll descend a ridgeline trail, stopping at a mountain hut before a return ride on the funicular.

Day 3 - Lugano
Today we run along a high crest between two mountains – Monte Lema and Monte Tamaro. Cable cars take us uphill at the start, and down to the valley at the end, saving us 1000m of vert.

Day 4 - Lake Ritom
We start with a train ride into the Leventina valley to the north of Lugano. We’ll take a funicular up to stunning Lake Ritom, then run through the mountains, taking in several lakes, waterfalls, and beautiful single track. We’ll spend the night at the side of Lake Ritom in a comfortable mountain hut.

Day 5 - Locarno
We’ll have a rest day today, and move to Locarno, our second lakeside location. After heading down from the lake on the funicular, we’ll travel by train and then can spend the afternoon sunbathing and swimming at the Lido, or taking in a local run.

Day 6 - Locarno
Today’s trail running route takes in the waterfalls and ancient Roman bridges of the dramatic Val Verzasca. We’ll visit Corippo – Switzerland’s smallest village, and stop for a snack there.

Day 7 - Locarno
It’s back up to the mountains today, with another dramatic ridgeline route taking in the Cimetta, Trossa and Madone peaks. Then, the route traverses the side of the mountain, through beech forest – with a stop at a mountain capanna, or hut- before we get back on the gondola to descend to Locarno.

In the evening, we’ll reminiscence about the week’s adventure over our farewell dinner.

Day 8 - Depart from Locarno
Today we leave Ticino, taking a train from Locarno to reach the airport or our next destination.

For more information, please visit our website

Photo Credits: Milo Zanecchia

Prefer to run on your own schedule, without a guide? Go self-guided and let us take care of all the logistics.

Event's current local time: 6:29 AM EET