Ultra Trail Annapurna is a 160km ultra marathon in Pokhara, Nepal. Distance: 160km. Elevation: 8,500m D+. Difficulty: brutal (Challenge Rating 60/100). DNF rate: 30%. Time limit: 52h. Surface: trail. Established 2019.

160km brutal mountainous alpine high-altitude trail

Ultra Trail Annapurna

Pokhara, Gandaki, Nepal

"160km in the shadow of Annapurna. Himalayan villages and 8,000m peaks."

Challenging

Distance 160km

Elevation Gain ↑8,500m

Surface trail

DNF Rate 30%

Cutoff 52h

What Makes It Unique

A Himalayan 100-miler in the Annapurna region.

The Course

A 100-mile ultra through the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal — the world's most dramatic trekking landscape. The course follows trails connecting remote Gurung and Magar villages, crossing suspension bridges over raging glacial rivers, climbing through terraced rice paddies and rhododendron forest, and ascending into the alpine zone above 4,000m where the Annapurna massif dominates the horizon. The terrain is classic Himalayan: stone-stepped paths, monsoon-damaged trail sections, prayer flag-draped passes, and the constant presence of 8,000m peaks that dwarf everything human.

Profile

mountainous

Topology

loop

Aid Stations

Highest Point

4,200m

No Crew Access

No Pacers

Yes Mandatory Gear

Runner Experience

Scenery 5/5

Organization 3/5

Community 3/5

Aid Stations

Remote course with widely spaced aid points. Runners should be prepared for long unsupported stretches.

Post-Race Culture

Intimate finish in a remote setting. The camaraderie of shared hardship creates deep bonds between finishers.

Race Day Weather

Temperature

15°C

Humidity

40%

Rain Chance

10%

Conditions

Nepali spring — dry season with clear views.

Stats & Records

Established

2019

Finishers

Avg Finish

40:00:00

Entry

Entry Cost

USD 350

Opens

August

Sells Out

months

Max Starters: 120

Official Website →

Lore & Trivia

Ultra Trail Annapurna runs through the Himalayan foothills of Nepal — the Annapurna Conservation Area, home to the world's deadliest mountain (Annapurna I has a summit fatality rate above 30%). The 100-mile course follows trails that connect remote Gurung and Magar villages, crossing suspension bridges over raging rivers, climbing through terraced rice paddies, and ascending into rhododendron forest that blooms spectacular red in spring. The altitude is serious — the course crosses passes above 4,500m — and the logistics are genuinely Himalayan: trails washed out by monsoons, teahouse accommodation, and medical support that is hours away by helicopter.

▸ 100 miles through the Annapurna Conservation Area.
▸ Annapurna I has the highest summit fatality rate of any 8,000m peak.
▸ Crosses passes above 4,500m.
▸ Gurung and Magar villages provide cultural immersion.
▸ Rhododendron forests bloom red in spring.
▸ Suspension bridges over Himalayan rivers are part of the course.
▸ One of the most logistically challenging ultras in the world.

Running in the Himalaya is humbling in a way that no other mountains achieve. The scale is inhuman.

— An Annapurna Ultra runner On the Himalayan scale

Notable Editions

2019

Monsoon Aftermath

The 2019 edition ran on trails damaged by the previous monsoon season, with sections washed out and rerouted through river beds. The adaptive course showcased both the fragility of Himalayan infrastructure and the resilience of runners willing to tackle genuinely uncertain terrain.