Tour du Cervin / Matterhorn

© Valais Tourism: swiss-image/Valais/Thomas Andenmatten

We offer a five-day running tour over the full route of the Tour du Cervin following the high, wild trails around the iconic Matterhorn. See here for further information about this long established long distance footpath.

This is a journey of cultural and linguistic contrasts making an anticlockwise circumnavigation of the Matterhorn and a host of other majestic 4000’ers including the Bishorn, Weisshorn, Zinal Rothorn, Dent d’Hérens, Dent Blanche and Mont Collon . The route takes us through the German speaking Turtmantal into the French speaking Val d’Anniviers and Val d’Herens before the high glacial crossing into the Italian valleys of Valpelline and Valtournenche. A last crossing of the Col du Theodul brings us back into the spectacular Matter valley.

This is ideal training and preparation for the UTMR, both stage race and ultramarathon, as well as other multi-day or ultramarathon races.

This is where Lizzy fell in love with the mountains, come and join her!

Please do email Lizzy if you have any questions or want further information and advice.

Amazing trails on the Tour du Cervin

Training camp director: Lizzy Hawker (instruction in English)

Dates

7 -13 August 2018 (meet on Tuesday evening, depart Monday morning)

Cost

1270 euros (based on a minimum of four participants, maximum of ten).

Route details

Something over 160km with more than 12,000m ascent over four or five running days. You can see a map here! Click on this thumbnail to see full size version.

Level

Advanced – this is for experienced mountain trail runners looking for a challenge. Depending on the group participants we will either have luggage transported between stage start / finish or carry a small backpack with everything we need for the five days – so you need to be prepared for this!

Itinerary:

Day 1

• Arrivals
• We meet at your hotel in Grächen at 18:00 to discuss the plan for the days ahead and to check kit. I introduce you to the village and we eat together at a local restaurant in preparation for an early start the next day.

Day 2

• Stage I: Running tour from Grächen to Zinal ca. 42km, +3000m, -2000m
• Overnight in Zinal with a meal in a local restaurant

Day 3

• Stage II: Running tour from Zinal to Arolla ca. 33.8km, +2410m, -1919m
• Overnight in Arolla with a meal in a local restaurant

Day 4

• Stage III: Running tour from Arolla to Cervinia (IT) ca. 32.9km, +2762m, -2776m
• Overnight in Cervinia with a meal in a local restaurant

Day 5

• Stage IV: Running tour from Cervinia to Zermatt ca. 19km, +1295m, -1864m
• Overnight in Zermatt with evening meal in a local restaurant

Day 6

• Stage V: Running tour from Zermatt to Grächen ca. 33km, +2000m, –

Day 7

• Breakfast, individual advice and departures

Included:

• 5 day running tour led by Lizzy Hawker, with training tips and discussions
• UIAGM mountain guide to guide the glacier crossing into Italy
• 6 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in shared/twin rooms
• baggage transfer from start to finish of each running stage

Arrival:

Grächen is easily reached by public transport from Geneva, Zurich and Milan airports. Please see sbb.ch/en for information, timetables and price. There are easy train connections to St Niklaus and then a connecting post bus to Grächen.

Insurance:

Insurance in case of accident, emergency or illness etc. is the responsibility of the participant. You must have personal accident insurance sufficient to cover the cost of search and evacuation in Italy and Switzerland, valid for the duration of the running camp.  Please bring your insurance document with you. We also recommend that you take out a normal travel insurance to cover cancellation.

Equipment:

A recommended kit list will be sent to you on receipt of your booking. We will run with a small backpack with all we need for the five-day journey. You will need to bring sufficient clothing for alpine trails and mountain weather conditions, but keeping packs as light as possible will make the running more comfortable!

Extensions:

If you would like to extend your time in these beautiful mountains we are happy to offer suggestions. Please do email us to ask.