Ladakh Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Ladakh Marathon is a high-altitude road race in Leh, in the Indian Union Territory of Ladakh, held in the second week of September. It is promoted and organised by the High Altitude Sports Foundation Ladakh, has been held annually since 2012, and describes itself as the highest AIMS-certified marathon. The weekend also includes a half marathon, an 11.2 km run, a 5 km fun run and two ultras over the Khardung La pass. The full marathon starts at 6:00am from the NDS Memorial Stadium and follows the Leh-Manali highway past the ITBP camp to Choglamsar, six kilometres of steady downhill, then crosses the Choglamsar bridge hung with prayer flags and runs along the Indus on Chuchot Road with the Stok range on one side. It turns towards Stakna village and its monastery, returns to the highway at the halfway point, then passes Thiksey monastery and the Shey Palace. A link road through lower Shey leads back to the highway and Sindhughat, and the final 6 km is a long steady incline to the finish at the Leh Golf Course. The organiser's profile runs between about 10,550 and 11,150 feet. The cut-off is 6 hours 45 minutes, there are 14 hydration and aid stations, and entrants must show proof of earlier marathon finishes.