challenge your body and soul

The Kingdom of Bhutan is set to launch one of the world’s toughest and high-altitude ultra-marathons at unseen proportions of the eastern Himalayas. Snowman Race will span 5 days during which twenty-five of the world’s top extreme runners will attempt one of the most remote and challenging foot races ever initiated.

Running through 175 kilometers (109 miles) of Himalayan wilderness, with an average elevation over 4,267 meters (14,000 feet) and multiple peaks summiting 5,470 meters (17,946 feet), the Snowman Race follows a historic high-altitude trekking route of Snowman Trek (which takes up to 20 days to complete) that has been conquered by fewer people than Mount Everest.

The Snowman Race draws inspiration from the prescient wisdom of His Majesty the King on conservation of natural and cultural heritage. It aspires to bring the world’s attention to climate change, one of the defining issues of our time, and its impacts, particularly on the lives of people living in fragile mountain ecosystems.

third international snowman race
Laya, Gasa to Chamkhar, Bumthang
24 October 2026

The Race will flag off from Laya, Gasa, on 24th October, the second day of the Royal Highland Festival, and will finish at Chamkhar Sports Arena, Bumthang, on 28th October 2026.

2026 Race Segments

START: Laya, Gasa
Lango Thang (Tendrel Thang) to Tarina
Tarina to Lhedi
Lhedi to Geche Gom
Geche Gom to Julay Tsho
Julay Tsho to Chamkhar
FINISH: Chamkhar, Bumthang

175 Kilometers (109 Miles) of Himalayan Wilderness

This race of a lifetime follows the trail of the famous Snowman Trek, which has been completed by fewer people than Everest. The audacious event appropriately turns up the heat, focused as it is on Climate Change.

The entire area through which the Snowman Race takes place, offers perfect snapshots of the effects of climate change- which are evident here in the receding glaciers. Bhutan is carbon negative- it is a net carbon sink, and yet the glaciers, which feed its rivers, irrigate agricultural lands of the over 60% of farmers of Bhutan, and power its hydropower plants, are melting, rapidly. Glacial lakes are at risk of breaching their ice-and-rock moraine walls, flooding the valleys below, and then disappearing. This beautiful and fragile land perfectly shows the far-reaching and irreversible impacts of climate change and is a stark reminder of all that needs to be done to combat it.

Recent studies have shown that glaciers of the Himalayas are melting twice faster than in the 20th century and have no snow replacement taking place. Two-third of the glaciers are predicted to be gone by the turn of the century if we cannot reverse or halt the rising global temperature. It is not just about having a future with the Himalayas without its snow-caps; the rivers that flow down from these ‘Water towers of Asia’ are a lifeline for billions of lives downstream. Exacerbating the situation is the fact that this region contains some of the biggest populations in the world.

The Snowman Race challenges at once, the greatest athletes of our time, as well as world leaders and the global community to take bold and transformative actions that will avert the greatest crisis humanity has ever faced.

The Royal Highland Festival

As the Royal Highland Festival (RHF) gears up with this year’s theme, “Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Highlands”, it’s all about unlocking diverse economic opportunities, showcasing innovation, and fostering pride in sustainable practices across Bhutan’s highlands.

Similarly, the Snowman Race, an extraordinary event, aims to raise awareness about the climate emergency, with a special focus on the challenges faced by highland communities. The Snowman Race stands as a testament to the resilience and spirit of the highlands, pushing athletes from around the world to conquer Bhutan’s challenging terrains.

first international snowman race
Gasa Dzong to Chamkhar, Bumthang
13 October 2022

second international snowman race
Laya, Gasa to Chamkhar, Bumthang
24 October 2024

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