Ladakh Marathon is a unique opportunity for runners from around India and the world to run with local Ladakhis through an ancient Buddhist kingdom grappling with the rapid changes of today. The historic capital of Leh, the stunning vistas as you cross the Indus River and the dramatic climb up to the Khardung La from Nubra will leave you with lifelong memories and a chance to say you ran Ladakh, the world’s highest marathon. It is an annual event that takes place in LEH during the month of September. Being certified by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races), it has put the event on the global marathon calendar. Out of six races of the event, Khardungla Challenge and Silk Route Ultra are world’s highest and among the toughest ultra marathons.
Khardung La Challenge
The Khardung La Challenge (72km) is the highest Ultra Marathon in the World. This race is amongst the Toughest and Ultimate Challenging Endurance Race for the serious runner who wants to push his or her limits to the extreme. This race is Only for the fittest and very experienced runners. The harsh conditions makes this extremely tough as you will be running approximately 60km of the race at above 4000m (14,000ft)!!!
Hence the number of participants to this race is restricted to a maximum of 300 runners. This race is scheduled for Friday 12 September 2025 to ensure singular logistical focus and attention to the participants and to make this ultra-marathon a prestigious event.
Marathon
Running a Marathon is itself a challenge but running the LADAKH MARATHON (42.195km) is even a greater challenge. A tough race at a high altitude, the Ladakh Marathon is not for those with no experience in running marathons but for those who have had dedicated themselves to several months of training. Individuals new to running should begin with a shorter distance and then move up. If you are a serious long distance runner this will be one race that will be a “must do” and one that you will always remember and be talking about for a long time to come.
Half Marathon
The 21.0975km Half Marathon takes you through the outskirts of Leh and includes a loop that starts and ends at the NDS Memorial Stadium grounds. If you are not ready for the full marathon yet then running the half marathon first helps you prepare for the marathon. The beautiful race course is known for being particularly tough, despite being comparably shorter than the full marathon.
