Day one is a travel day. You fly into Geneva or Zurich and take the train to Zermatt, which has no cars, then meet the guides for a tour orientation and dinner at the hotel. The first full running day covers 19-23km with 1,215-1,700m of ascent and descent, straight from the hotel door. A likely route goes up to Berggasthaus Trift for their homemade ice tea, with an optional out-and-back to the Wisshorn summit, then across the Höhbalmen meadows and down to Zmutt, a village of centuries-old wooden chalets.

2 July is a rest day before the race, with an optional 6-10km run and 300-600m of climbing. You collect your race bib, and the guides suggest local alternatives if you would rather not run: the Alpine Museum, Gornergrat or the Gorner Gorge. Lunch and dinner that day are your own, and the itinerary points you towards a traditional Swiss Rösti.

Race day is 3 July. The Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon has three distances — half, full and a 45.8km ultra — all starting on road, moving to gravel track and then smooth trail, finishing high above town at the Riffelberg Hotel with the Matterhorn in view. Finishers get a medal and a finisher shirt. That evening the group has a celebratory dinner at one of the team's favourite Zermatt restaurants.

On 4 July there is a last morning run in Zermatt (8-16km, 400-800m of climb), then a three-hour journey by train and taxi down the Rhône valley and over the Col de la Forclaz and Col des Montets into Chamonix. Dinner is Savoyard — fondue, raclette or tartiflette, made with local cheeses.

The Chamonix running starts on 5 July with the Balcon Sud: valley train to Montroc, run to the Col des Montets and its visitor centre, then into the Aiguilles Rouges Natural Reserve and onto a section of the Tour du Mont Blanc. It is 17km with 1,050m up and 1,340m down, past Lac Blanc, with ibex and chamois on the slopes and a drink stop at Café Floria before dropping into town.

6 July is the big one: a fast hike to the Refuge du Plan de l'Aiguille for Claude's daily fruit tarts, then the Grand Balcon Nord traverse to Le Signal above the Mer de Glace glacier, and down to the Refuge du Montenvers, where the group has dinner and sleeps at 2,000m. A small overnight bag is carried up for you. The next day you run down through the woods, past the moraines of the Mer de Glace, to lunch at the Buvette du Chapeau (16km, 460m up, 1,320m down), then follow a riverside trail back to Chamonix for a final celebratory dinner. The tour ends after breakfast on 8 July, with a shared shuttle to Geneva airport.

What's included

- 8 nights of accommodation: 4-star hotel for 7 nights and one night at a mountain refuge - All breakfasts - Packed/light lunches and trail nutrition (lunches excluded on the free day and Zermatt Marathon race day) - 7 multi-course dinners - Luggage transfers to all stops, including a small overnight bag to Refuge du Montenvers - Shared shuttle transfer from Chamonix to Geneva Airport - Two days of professional photography on the trails, with images provided for personal use - Run the Alps Guide to Trail Running in the Alps - Transportation to and from trailheads as per the itinerary - Guided runs daily with licensed International Mountain Leaders

What's not included

- Flights - Swiss train travel from the airport to Zermatt (detailed travel instructions provided) - Zermatt Marathon race bib (a guaranteed bib is provided; guests register and pay directly) - Transport to and from trailheads if you shorten a run - 1 dinner in Zermatt (recommendations provided) - Drinks with dinners - Extra charges made at accommodations, such as room service or laundry - Gratuity for the guide(s) - Trip insurance