High Alpine Trail Running Camp in Davos with Dr Elena Lopez

The camp is based at Mountain Plaza Davos, a four-star mountain resort in Davos — the highest city in Europe. You arrive at noon on day one, meet the group, and head out for a trail run at 1pm. From 4pm onwards, if the weather is good, there's beach volleyball and swimming at the lake; if it's bad, the sauna, spa, and board games are indoors.

Days two and three follow the same shape: 8am buffet breakfast, 9am lecture on improving performance and avoiding injury, then trail runs from 10am until around 4pm. After that, free time — lake for ice cream, sunbathing, beach volleyball, or the hotel spa and sauna. Dinner is at 7:30pm, followed by board games at 8pm. On departure day, breakfast is at 7am, check-out, then running from 8am to noon, with a shower at the hotel afterwards.

What sets this apart is the guiding. Dr Elena Lopez is a Davos-based medical doctor and Attending in Sports Medicine at a Swiss Olympic medical centre, where she works with athletes and provides medical cover at trail running races, cross-country races, and ice hockey matches. She's also an ultra runner with five Fastest Known Time records, including the Via Alpina in Switzerland (404 km, +22,000m) and Brissago-Dufourspitze (170 km, +8,000m), from the lowest to the highest point in Switzerland. She's currently working on the Great Himalayan Trail (1,600 km, +100,000m).

Groups are split by level. Beginners run 6–8 km with 300–500 m of elevation gain; intermediates and skilled runners cover 13–20 km with 700–1,000 m; advanced runners do 16–22 km with 1,000–1,200 m. The routes are on technical alpine trails, and the pace adapts to the group. The camp runs in any weather — the guide adjusts routes and timing to conditions.

The location matters: Davos sits in the Swiss Alps, and the running is at high altitude, reaching 2,700 metres. The camp dates are spread from July to October, and the October camp falls in golden larch season. Each camp is one level, guided by Elena, for up to 25 runners (up to 40 when additional helpers join). Every camp takes place whatever the group size, though if fewer than 12 people have confirmed by 31 January 2027, participants are offered a free move to another camp at their level.

What's included

- 3 nights in a superior double room at Mountain Plaza Davos (4-star) - Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel - Three three-course dinners - Hotel guest card covering local transport within its area of validity - Guided trail runs with Dr Elena Lopez - Lectures on performance and injury prevention - Group sorting by running level - Sauna and spa access at the hotel

What's not included

- Travel costs to Davos - Tourist tax - Lunch - Transport to trails outside the area covered by the guest card - Private room supplement (400 CHF) - Personal health and accident insurance - Travel cancellation insurance