Photo: Stephan Sprinz ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
The week the trail world gathers.
One week in Chamonix, when the valley becomes the capital of trail running: the UTMB World Series finals, thousands of runners, night starts under the bell. We stay a few minutes from the start arch, run short shakeouts in the Mont Blanc foothills and support every participant on their chosen distance — OCC from Orsières, CCC from Courmayeur or the full UTMB loop. For those who already hold a bib, and for those who want to live the week up close before their own start.
- The UTMB start in Chamonix square to ‘Conquest of Paradise’
- Shakeout runs at Brévent and Argentière beneath Mont Blanc
- Crew support at Courmayeur, Champex-Lac and Trient
- A recovery day at the thermal baths and the lake
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Transfer, 4 km walk
Arrival in Geneva, transfer to Chamonix
The airport transfer takes about ninety minutes. We settle in, stroll to the start arch on Place du Triangle de l’Amitié and go through the week’s plan over dinner.
Overnight: Apartment in Chamonix - DAY 2 · 10 km, 400 m of climbing
Shakeout on Planpraz and Brévent
We ride the lift to Planpraz (2,000 m) and run 10 km along the balcony trail above the valley, facing Mont Blanc. Easy pace — a chance to test shoes and poles on real Alpine ground.
Overnight: Apartment in Chamonix - DAY 3 · 8 km, 200 m of climbing
Argentière and an easy run toward Col de Balme
A short run along the final section of the UTMB course from Argentière toward Chamonix, 8 km with little climbing. In the afternoon, bib collection at the expo and the kit check.
Overnight: Apartment in Chamonix - DAY 4 · Rest, drop-bag preparation
A quiet day before the race
No running today: we lay out fuel per drop bag, pack aid-station bags and go through the cut-offs. OCC runners move closer to their start in the evening; everyone else has pasta at the apartment.
Overnight: Apartment in Chamonix - DAY 5 · OCC race, 60 km
OCC: Orsières to Chamonix
Early transfer to Orsières for the 08:15 OCC start. Ahead lie 60 km and 3,500 m of climbing via Champex-Lac, Trient and La Flégère, with a 14 h 30 cut-off. The crew meets runners at aid stations and at the finish in Chamonix.
Overnight: Apartment in Chamonix - DAY 6 · CCC and UTMB starts
CCC and UTMB race day
CCC runners leave for Courmayeur in the morning: 108 km and 6,200 m of climbing, 28-hour cut-off. At 19:45 the Chamonix square fills up for the UTMB start — 174 km and 9,700 m of climbing within 45 h 30. Overnight the crew is on duty at Courmayeur.
Overnight: Apartment in Chamonix (runners on course) - DAY 7 · Crewing on course
Finishes in Chamonix
CCC runners finish through the day; the first club members on UTMB arrive by evening and overnight. The crew works Champex-Lac and Trient before waiting at the finish arch. Then food and sleep.
Overnight: Apartment in Chamonix - DAY 8 · Recovery, transfer
Last finishers and departure
In the morning we welcome those who ran UTMB through both nights — the finish closes at 17:15. A short walk to Lac des Gaillands, a slow breakfast, then the transfer to Geneva.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
7 nights in a Chamonix apartment, 10 minutes from the start
Breakfasts and shared dinners through the week, pre-race pasta evening
Geneva — Chamonix — Geneva transfers
Ivan’s support and crewing at permitted aid stations
Transfers to the OCC start in Orsières and CCC start in Courmayeur
Two guided shakeout runs with lift passes
Mandatory-kit check before bib collection
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Race entry fee and registration (UTMB lottery)
Lunches on free days
Single supplement
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
You need a confirmed bib and mountain-ultra experience to match the distance; for OCC a solid 50 km finish with climbing is enough. Ivan helps shape the final 12 weeks of training, the taper and a race-day fuelling plan.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- Trail shoes already tested in training
- A running vest, soft flasks and rain protection
- Layers for changing weather and familiar trail food
- Poles, if suitable for the route and you know how to use them
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.