GANDAKI: The sixth edition of the Annapurna Marathon is set to take place on June 3, featuring a challenging high-altitude route that transforms a normally three-day trek into a race completed in just over four hours.
The marathon, organized by the Annapurna Century Tourism Committee, will begin at the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 metres and conclude at Ghandruk, covering a full marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres through the heart of the Annapurna region.
According to committee chair and marathon coordinator Lalit Gurung, the event was initiated to promote the heritage and global significance of the Annapurna region, home to Annapurna I, the first 8,000-metre peak ever successfully climbed in 1950 by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog.
He noted that the idea behind the marathon is to showcase how the route that normally takes trekkers around three days—passing through settlements such as Bamboo, Chhomrong and Ghandruk—can be completed in a matter of hours by elite runners.
The race route will pass through key trekking points including Machhapuchhre Base Camp, Deurali, Himalaya, Dobhan, Sinuwa, Chhomrong, and several other Himalayan villages before finishing at Ghandruk.
Organisers said 40 runners, including 13 international athletes, have already registered for this year’s edition. Argentine runner Pablo Ureta is also expected to participate.
Cash prizes of Rs 150,000, Rs 100,000, and Rs 75,000 will be awarded to the top three finishers in both men’s and women’s categories, along with certificates.
Officials say the event continues to grow in popularity due to its unique blend of extreme endurance sport, Himalayan landscape, and cultural trekking routes, and is expected to further promote tourism in the Gandaki Province and the broader Annapurna region.
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