Are there any preferential rates?

Special rates are available: KV de la Mayt : €13 until 31 May, then €15, then €18 per day. 42 km – Tour des Crêtes : €35 until 31 May, then €40, then €45 per day , 23 km – Les 5 Cols : €20 until 31 May, then €24, then €27 per day, 13 km – The Castle Run : €15 until 31 May, then €18, then €20 per day ; 3.6 km – Village Tour : €4 for children and over – €6 for the time trial

What is the maximum number of race numbers per race?

KV de la Mayt: 150 Giro dei villaggi: 200 La Foulée du château: 300 Le tour des crêtes: 300 Les 5 cols: 300

Where and when will the race numbers for each race be handed out?

KV de la Mayt : Friday evening from 5 pm to 8 pm and Saturday from 7 pm to 8.30 pm Tour des Villages : Saturday from 2 pm to 3.30 pm La Foulée du château : Friday evening from 5 pm to 8 pm, Saturday from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm Tour des Crêtes : Friday evening from 5 pm to 8 pm, Saturday from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm and Sunday from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm Les 5 Marches : Friday evening from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm, Saturday from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm and Sunday from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm

What are the mandatory entry requirements?

Hold a licence for competitive athletics or running issued by the French Athletics Federation, or a valid sports licence (see regulations) or a medical certificate confirming that there are no medical contraindications to participating in competitive athletics, issued within the last year for unlicensed athletes.

What accommodation options are available in Vars for the race weekend?

Find all our accommodation options here

What equipment is compulsory?

KV de la Mayt : individual cup La Foulée du château : 50cl water supply, individual cup, windbreaker Le tour des crêtes : 1-litre water bottle, individual cup, windbreaker, whistle, emergency blanket Les 5 étapes : 1-litre water bottle, individual cup, windbreaker, whistle, emergency blanket

Will meals be provided during the event?

Runners and their accompanying guests can book the pasta party and/or the meal at the same time as registering for the race: here

Vars Mountain Trail | Vars: Hautes-Alpes ski resort

Further information to follow

Details of the 2027 Vars Mountain Trail, including dates, routes and the programme, will be announced shortly. We will share all the details as soon as they are available. In the meantime, relive the highlights of the 2026 event.

Back to

the 2026 edition

With 1,250 runners taking part across the five race formats, Vars once again buzzed with the excitement of trail running throughout the weekend.

From the most accessible routes to the most challenging courses, the Hautes-Alpes resort offered a true showcase of its region, inviting participants to discover its high-altitude landscapes, panoramic ridges, lakes and mountain trails.

This 2026 edition also featured two new additions. Those keen to enjoy the experience together were able to try the ‘Boucle Gourmande’, a friendly route of around 4 km, punctuated by three gourmet stops, whilst the ‘Tour des Crêtes’ could, for the first time, be tackled as a two-person relay, offering a new way to take on this iconic challenge.

Buoyed by a warm atmosphere, the support of numerous volunteers and the enthusiasm of the public, the runners tackled the various challenges with determination. From introductory events to the most demanding races, everyone was able to fully enjoy the experience of the Vars Mountain Trail.

When the mountain becomes

a work of art

To mark the 12th edition of the ‘ Vars Mountain Trail ’, sport and artistic creation come together amidst the high-altitude landscapes.French artist FosR takes to the mountains with two monumental works created directly within the landscape: a majestic butterfly spread across the ridges of Chabrières and a chamois watching over the Lac de l’Étoile.

Created using natural earth pigments, chalk and vegetable charcoal, these ephemeral creations blend seamlessly into their surroundings. By following the contours of the mountains, they offer a unique perspective on the trails used by trail runners and invite viewers to look at the landscapes in a new light.

Visible in all its glory from the sky, this project transforms the landscape into a veritable open-air work of art. A unique experience where the mountain is no longer merely a route to be traversed: it becomes a space for expression, emotion and contemplation.

A former elite paraglider, FosR has for several years been developing an artistic approach guided by a strong conviction: ‘To create where art does not exist.’ In Vars, this vision takes on a spectacular dimension, at the crossroads of nature, sport and contemporary art.

1 day, 1 race

Challenge 3 Formats

The 3 Formats Challenge set an ambitious challenge for runners seeking an extraordinary experience.

The concept was simple but demanding: to complete three iconic events from the ‘ Vars Mountain Trail ’ over three days of competition.

Participants therefore had to tackle the KV de la Mayt, the Tour des Crêtes (45km) and the Foulée du Château (10km).

From Friday evening’s Kilomètre Vertical, with its 930 metres of elevation gain, right through to the final strides on Sunday, the competitors demonstrated remarkable versatility. Explosive power, endurance, resistance to fatigue and pace management: all the qualities of a mountain trail runner were required to rise to this formidable challenge.

This challenge also provided great satisfaction for the Varsinc public. Whilst Robin Dugast and Nicolas Legrand took the top two places in the men’s rankings, local favourite Pierre Klein rounded off the podium. A regular at the Vars Mountain Trail which he has competed in for several editions, he confirmed his perfect knowledge of the terrain and his attachment to the event by excelling in the finest possible way on the trails of his valley. In the women’s race, Claire Brun finished ahead of Déborah Furtado in the overall standings of the 2026 3-Format Challenge.

1250

This is the number of runners registered for the 12th edition, across all race formats.

A look back at the

2026 programme

The Mayt KV

3.7km / 930m elevation gain

Start: 6.00 pm at Vars Sainte-Marie

Discover the Mayt KV

The Tour des Crêtes

45 km / 3,100 m elevation gain

Start: 07:00 – Vars Sainte-Marie

The 5 Passes

25 km / 1,400 m elevation gain

Start: 9.00 am at the Col de Vars

Château Run

10km / 430m elevation gain

Start: 09:00 – Vars Sainte-Marie

Summer trail biathlon

2 options:
Open to under-12s: 1 lap = 2km and 50m elevation gain
Open to Minimes: 2 laps = 4km and 100m elevation gain

Start: 11.30 am (rifle shooting from 9.30 am) – Vars Sainte-Marie

Take on the 3-Format Challenge!

A new challenge awaits you: the 3-Race Challenge. The concept is simple: 3 days, 3 races for the most versatile runners – the KV, the Tour des Crêtes and the Foulée du Château!