Running in France

Why trail run in France

France is home to a diverse and beautiful landscape, with mountain ranges, forests, and coastal paths all offering stunning views for runners. Plus, the country is known for its rich culture and culinary delights, so there is plenty to explore and enjoy after a run.

When to trail run in France

The best time to trail run in France depends on the region. In the mountains, the summer months are typically the most pleasant for running, while the coastal areas can be enjoyable year-round.

Popular trail running cities in France

Some popular cities for trail running in France include Chamonix, known for its mountainous terrain, and Nice, located on the Mediterranean coast.

Run Experiences in France

Run Adventures in France

Run the Alps – Courmayeur to Chamonix Trail Run – This weeklong running adventure starts in the Italian village of Courmayeur, heads through Switzerland and ends up in Charmonix, home of the legendary UTMB series of trail runs.

Run the Alps – Great Cafés of the Alps – Indulge in coffee, pastries, and trail running in the Alps with this 8-day running tour from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland.

Run the Alps – Mirnavator in the Alps – This 10-day run adventure is lead by the smart, funny, and endearing Mirna Valerio as you run at “Slow as F*ck” pace from Chamonix, France to Courmayeur, Italy, and then Zermatt, Switzerland.

Run the Alps – Run the Alps Adventure w/ Courtney Dauwalter – Take on Courtney Dauwalter’s dream Chamonix trip inthis 5-day running tour of the Alps includes mountain paths, the region’s best brewery, a stay in a mountain hut, and more.

Run the Alps – September in the Alps – This 7-day run adventure kicks off from Chamonix, France, in what is one of the best months to enjoy the Alps. Head through the “Vallée du Trail,” then heads up high into the Swiss Alps for a a chance to take part in the Alps’ oldest trail race, DDM Trail.

Run the Alps – Tahoe Wilderness Medicine in the Alps – Designed for medical professionals engaging in wilderness activities, this 7-day run tour is meant to help you and learn or improve your medical knowledge and trail running skills in Chamonix, France.

Run the Alps – Trails and Tails – This 7-day running tour in the Alps takes you from Chamonix, France to Montreux, Switzerland as you experience amazing trails and moments with dogs, including stops at farms and villages to see how integral dogs are to daily Alps life.

Run the Alps – Tour Mont-Blanc Run – Start and finish in Chamonix, France by following the Tour du Mont-Blanc footpath on this inn-to-inn 10-day run adventure that takes you through Italy and Switzerland along one of trail running’s most famous races.

Run The World Adventures – Pyrenees France/Spain – Run from the North side of the Pyrenees in to the Mediterranean in Spain in this 7-day run adventure.

Runcation – Guided Tour du Mont Blanc Chamonix Running Vacation – Enjoy the Mont Blan adventure yourself with this 9-day run adventure. Start off from Chamonix and get ready for 170 km of trail runs around Mont Blanc, climbing and descending over 33,000 feet as you run through three countries – and indulge in all of their cuisines!

Run The Wild – Tour du Mont Blanc – Run through alpine meadows and high mountain passes as you take in the views of Mont Blanc over six days of running and an 8-day running adventure that tallies 100 miles, 9,000 meters of climbing, and three countries.

Tour de Trails – Tour de Chamonix – Enjoy 8 days, 7 nights, 8,000m of ascent and 135km of trails through French section of Grande Traversée des Alpes, including Chamonix.

Trail Run Adventures & Vagabond Trails – Tour du Mont Blanc – Get into the rocky, steep terrain of the alps with this weeklong run adventure with 156km, and a week of running through high alpine, past glaciers, by peaks, and more.

Run Camps in France

Run the Alps – Chamonix Trail Camp w/ Mimmi Kotka – Train on some of Chamonix, France’s most incredible trails with one of its most decorated runners, La Sportiva-sponsored runner Mimmi Kotka. This camp is open to all levels of runners as you’ll explore the alps during the day and get tips and advice from athletes throughout the trip.

Run the Alps – Women’s Trail Camp with Meg Mackenzie – Join North Face athlete Meg Mackenzie in this 6-day trail running camp just for women that explores of some of the hundreds of kilometers of trails in Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy.

Trail Running Movement – Mont Blanc – This trail run training camp is for runners of all levels and uses trails across France, Italy and Switzerland to get you ready for your next trail race.

Run Retreats in France

Aire Libre – French Pyrènèes – Over 6 days in the foothills of the Ariège, you’ll go alongside rivers, down valleys, and up mountainous single track as you immerse yourself in the Pyrènèes.

Amazing Running Tours – Pays de la Loire – This “Run To Wellness” long weekend is a way to refocus your mind and energize your body as enjoy running down paths, trails, and tracks in Pays de la Loire.

Run the Alps – Run Fast, Eat Slow Women’s Retreat w/ Elyse Kopecky – Enjoy a 7-day running tour of Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy alongside Elyse Kopecky, the author of of Run Fast, Eat Slow.

Trails and Vines – Bergerac – Get to know the Bergerac wine region (just outside of world-famous Bordeaux) with this weeklong running retreat that’ll have you enjoying fantastic wine and food, learning the region’s rich history, and soaking up the landscapes as you run through.

France run travel in 2023

See the list of available France run travel for 2023 here.

Bucket List Trail Races In France

France is home to some world-renowned trail races, such as the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and the Diagonale des Fous, making it a great destination for runners looking for a challenge. The country’s rich culture and beautiful landscape make it an unforgettable place to tackle a bucket list race. As a runner, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of pushing yourself to the limit in such a stunning and historic country.

More About Running In France

Here are our recent stories about running experiences in France.