Everest Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, usually called the Everest Marathon, is a trail race held every year on 29 May in the Khumbu region of Nepal, the anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. It has been held annually since 2003 and is considered the highest marathon in the world. The full marathon starts at Everest Base Camp, at about 5,364 m on the Khumbu Glacier close to the Khumbu Icefall, and finishes in Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital, at 3,440 m. The route follows rough mountain trails and yak paths down the Khumbu valley through Gorak Shep and Dingboche. A half marathon starts at Dingboche and also finishes in Namche Bazaar, and there is a 70 km ultra from Everest Base Camp. Around 250 runners from more than 20 countries take part each year, and the race week is built around a trek to base camp that runs from mid-May to early June. The course record is 3:28:27, set by the Nepali runner Dipak Raj Rai in 2006.