Course & Elevation
The Muang Thai Chiang Mai Marathon is a night-start road marathon in northern Thailand, held on a Sunday in December before the last Sunday of the year. The marathon starts at 3:00 am at the historic Tha Phae Gate and finishes at the King Naresuan the Great Monument in Mae Rim District. The half marathon starts at 4:00 am from the same gate and finishes at the same monument, with a free songthaew service back from Mae Rim to Tha Phae Gate. A 10 km run starts at 5:00 am and a 3 km Smile Run starts at 5:20 am, both starting and finishing at Tha Phae Gate. The marathon cut-off is 10:00 am, seven hours after the start, and the half marathon cut-off is 7:30 am. The race is conducted by the event company JOG&JOY. It began on 24 December 2006 as a small event organised by Chiang Mai running enthusiasts, former pupils of Metta Suksa School at Wat Chedi Luang, who paid for it themselves. The 2026 race is the 21st edition and is dedicated to the 730th anniversary of Chiang Mai city. More than 5,000 runners from 64 countries took part in the 2025 edition.
Course Facts
Weather
Typical climate for the race month — an estimate, not a forecast or a race-day record
22°C
Temperature
73%
Humidity
4%
Rain Chance
December is the cool, dry season in Chiang Mai: average highs are around 29°C and lows around 17°C, with very little rain, and the race starts in the dark at 3:00 am.
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