The NomaTrails Guide to running Tours
I’m Pablo. This is everything I’ve learned.
What is a running tour, really?
It’s not about fitness. It’s about using our legs to travel.
Let me be clear about something. When we talk about running during vacations, we’re not talking about sticking to a training plan. We’re not here to get slimmer or smash a PB. We use running as a means of transportation, a way to explore just like our ancestors did. Imagine them, moving across land, not for speed, but to discover what lay beyond the next ridge. The only goal is to traverse a territory in a way that only runners can, to see things you’d miss in a car or even on a bike. We run point-to-point, waking up in a new place every day, letting our legs carry us through the unfolding story of the land. If you think that sounds like a good idea, a true adventure in running during vacations, then you’re one of us.
That video, it’s me, Pablo, talking about the very heart of NomaTrails. About why we started this, and why running during vacations with us is something different.
Trail Runner Magazine wrote about our way of life here on the Costa Brava, highlighting how our approach to running during vacations offers something truly unique.
Think about our trip in Sicily. Our guide Pasquale Mangione, he knows this place like his own skin. I remember him explaining how you see the land change, from the coast to the mountains. We start at the sea, then we run inland, through the real, rural Sicily – those quiet countrysides that most tourists never see. From these humble villages, we climb into old mountain towns, like Isnello. Pasquale loves Isnello; he says you can see the sea from there, even though you’re high in the hills. We don’t just go *up* the mountain; we find its weak points, its hidden valleys, following ancient tracks. From those high points, we descend back towards the coast, until we’re running high above Cefalù, with the whole shimmering sea laid out below us. The dust, the sweat, the incredible views – and then you finish the day with a swim in the Mediterranean. That’s not a workout; that’s a deep journey, a true experience of running during vacations.
Why Running During Vacations With Us is Different
I have to warn you, these trips… they change you. They will leave a mark. We’ve seen it happen. I remember one couple in Costa Rica. They were married, but not to each other, if you know what I mean. They came on our trip, and by the next group, they were married to each other! Seriously. Or the couple who came to us on the verge of divorce. After a week running during vacations through the wild trails of Costa Rica, something shifted. They went home and decided to stay together. A year later, we got a photo of their new baby. They told us, “This baby wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for you.” These are stories that will stay with you, memories you’ll tell your grandkids. So be careful. You will go back home changed, transformed by the experience of running during vacations.
Our 6-day running during vacations adventure in the Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert in Morocco is where memories are made.
It’s Not About the Miles, It’s About the People: The Soul of Running During Vacations
I remember one day in Morocco. It was one of the most extraordinary days of my life. You have to understand, we go to places that are a five-and-a-half-hour drive in the *opposite* direction of where the tourist buses go. It’s like time traveling, stepping back 500 years. We were running for days, deep in the Atlas mountains, when we came to this incredible canyon. We had our backpacks, not knowing exactly where we’d end up for the night.
And there, by an irrigation channel, we saw a family. A young girl, maybe 12 years old, with this beautiful, open face, was working. We were tired, covered in dust, but she didn’t hesitate. She just ran to look for some wood, made a fire for us. Her family immediately invited us for tea. We weren’t customers; we were guests. We sat with this Berber family, in their simple home, sharing stories and laughter, even without a common language. That connection, that raw human experience, that’s what running during vacations with NomaTrails is all about. After a trip like this, when my friends and I talk about it later, sometimes tears come to our eyes. It’s that deep.
The Real Meaning of Running During Vacations
Imagine this. It’s 3 in the morning in the Sahara. It’s pitch black, no moon. You wake up and start running into the desert, just following Abdu, our local guide. For two hours, it’s just the sound of your feet on the sand, the cool air, and the overwhelming expanse of stars above you. And I mean *all* the stars. You feel like you can see every single one in the universe, stretching forever. Then, after running and walking, you stop. You’re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by silence. And you watch the most beautiful sunrise you’ve ever seen paint the dunes with fire. That’s the kind of moment we create when you come running during vacations with us.
Finding our way on a running during vacations itinerary in Costa Rica.
How to Choose the Right Running Tour for Your Next Running During Vacations
Forget big, international companies. A real running during vacations trip has to have a person, a family, behind it. It has to be personal. We only run in places where we have a deep, genuine relationship. Here in Catalonia, it’s the result of 12 years of running these trails, of getting to know every person who lives along the paths. We can point and say, “this is the school where my kids go,” or “that’s my friend’s restaurant.” Your money stays right here, in the community you are visiting, supporting real people.
Look at the people who run the trip. Are they just hired guides, or is it their life? For me and my wife, Cristina Moret, this is our life. We are on every trip. We are not just showing you a place; we are sharing our home and our friends with you. That’s a connection you can’t buy, and it’s what makes running during vacations with NomaTrails truly special.
Our running group arriving at the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery during a running during vacations trip in Costa Brava.
What You Need to Know Before You Join a NomaTrails Running During Vacations Trip
This isn’t a race or a boot camp. It’s an adventure.
Yes, you need to be fit. You should be able to run for a few hours, and handle back-to-back days. But we’re not timing you. We can’t stress this enough: this is not a competition. The goal is to finish the day together, tired and happy, ready for a good meal and a glass of local wine. We run to get hungry, to earn those moments of shared laughter around a table, not to hit a specific pace. That’s the NomaTrails way of running during vacations.
We stay in small, locally-owned inns, not big hotels. The food is real, made by people who care. You’ll be carrying a small pack with water and essentials, and our van moves your main bag each day. Just bring one bag, please—space is tight, and there are often no elevators! This is real travel, and it’s part of the charm of active running during vacations.
Training Advice for a Running Tour
What’s the goal of my training for running during vacations?
To be strong enough to enjoy the journey, not just survive it.
You need a solid endurance base. The point is to be able to run for several days in a row without getting injured or completely exhausted. Your training will depend on your current fitness, but a good goal is to be able to do a long, continuous run of 3 to 4 hours. It’s also a great idea to practice running on two consecutive days to get your body used to the load. For more structured advice, organizations like the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) have great resources on preparing for multi-day adventures or even just a challenging day of running during vacations. For general tips on how to prepare for an active trip, check out REI’s guide to active travel preparation.
But remember, the real objective is to build enough endurance so the running part feels good, leaving you with enough energy to enjoy the people, the food, and the places we see along the way. That’s the true spirit of running during vacations with NomaTrails.
Our 4 Core Adventures for Running During Vacations
These are the places we know and love. They are the heart of NomaTrails, perfected over years of shared footsteps and stories.
Atlas to Sahara: Your Morocco Running During Vacations Escape
Morocco
This is the trip for you if you want to truly disconnect. We run to meet the people of this land, to experience life as it has been for centuries. You won’t have WiFi or maybe even electricity for days. There won’t always be hot water. If the idea of stripping away the modern world and finding yourself immersed in authentic culture while running during vacations sounds exciting, you might be one of us.
Running Costa Brava: Our Signature Running During Vacations Experience
Spain
This is our home. We started this journey in 2011, right here, and we have been perfecting it ever since. It’s the result of more than a decade of exploring Catalonia, running every single path, getting to know every village. It’s been featured in magazines around the world, and it’s truly our signature trip for running during vacations.
Pyrenees to Med: High Peaks and Running During Vacations
France & Spain
We run to the mythical Canigó, a holy mountain for the Catalans, a symbol of our land. From there, we traverse the high peaks of the Pyrenees, dropping into old villages where we eat amazing food and drink local wines. It’s tough, yes, but incredibly rewarding – a profound way to experience running during vacations from mountain to sea.
South Pacific Jungle: Costa Rica Running During Vacations
Costa Rica
We start high up on the infamous Cerro de la Muerte—the Mountain of Death—and run our way down to the Pacific Ocean. We go through the thickest, most remote parts of the Costa Rican rainforest, where the air is thick with life and the trails are truly wild. It’s a beautiful, challenging, and utterly unforgettable adventure for running during vacations.
Why Choose NomaTrails for Your Running During Vacations?
It’s our life, and we want to share it with you.
People ask why they should join a running during vacations trip with NomaTrails. The answer is simple. This is what we love. This is not just a job for me and Cristina; we are there on every expedition, sharing the dust, the sweat, the laughter, and the meals with you. Our running tours are our life, and when you come with us, you become part of it for a week. You’re not a tourist; you’re a friend we’re showing around our backyard, our secret trails, our favorite local spots.
Find Your Next Trail Running Adventure
- Explore the lush landscapes of the rainforest: Discover Costa Rica
- Experience the thrill of the Sahara: Run through Morocco
- Immerse yourself in Mediterranean history: Adventure in Sicily
- Conquer incredible mountain elevations: Trail run the Pyrenees
Ready to join our next trail running adventure? Download trip brochures
