This is an annual event in which the race starts from Gasa while ends in Punakha covering a distance of 26.2 miles or 42 km for full marathon and 13.1 miles or 21 km for half marathon, passing through landscape of incredible natural beauty and fascinating villages.

100% of the profit made through the event used for Bhutan’s Youth & Olympic sports program. In 2021, the event is scheduled on 6th Mar and more details can be viewed on website www.bhutaninternationalmarathon.com.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a magical country with rugged landscape and unique cultural and spiritual grandeur where progress is not measured in terms of GDP but GNH (Gross National Happiness). One of the most recent nations to accept TV and Internet (1999), it has fewer cars than cattle, no traffic lights and there are more monks than military personnel. Country is rated as top ten biodiversity hot spot of the world and the peacefulness of its predominant Buddhist tradition flourishes in harmony with nature. This adventurous run offers opportunity to experience the essence of fascinating Himalayan Wonderland.  

Full Marathon Route
The marathon route is predominantly rural and covers about 50% on hard pack dirt and 50% on pavement.

The race starts at 8:00 A.M at an elevation of 6700 feet. From the start line, runners descend into a few shallow rollers before the course mostly flattens out while proceeding toward Punakha. The route follows the Mo Chhu (river) through rural Punakha Valley. After leaving the rain forest region, the valley opens up and participants encounter stunning view of the Khamsum Yulley Chorten, monasteries, rice fields, rain forest, and villages. The terrain is flat to rolling with many gradual downhill sections and with an overall elevation loss of over 1000 feet.

Approx. 0.5 mile (0.8 km) before reaching the Punakha Dzong, runners turn left off the main road, cross a bridge onto a paved road and then and take a hard pack dirt track through a small village bypassing the cremation site.  From the cremation site, there will be approx. 7 miles (11.27 km) to go upto the finish line. Runners will climb over a cattle barrier then up a short hill, before crossing a stunning 300-foot-long suspension bridge across the Pho Chhu.

Then descend a short steep hill off the bridge area before continuing on hard pack dirt for about 3 miles (4.8 km) while following the Puna Tsang Chhu south from the suspension bridge. Runners will reach last aid station on the course just before turning into pavement for the remainder of the event. Then cross the Puna Tsang Chhu on a standard vehicle bridge and head north back toward Punakha Dzong via Khuruthang town and past the Khuruthang Monastery and Chorten. The race ends at magnificent Punakha Dzong.
As per standard set guidelines, runners must reach the Pho Chhu suspension bridge (18.6 miles/30 kms) by 1:30 PM and the finish line by 3:00 PM.

Full Marathon Schedule, Saturday, March 6, 2021, 8:00 AM

• Finish line and parking at Punakha Dzong
• Start line in the Gasa Dzongkhag
• International Participants Registration Fee: US$ 175
• Runners must report at the Kuruthang Taxi Parking (In front of the Punakha Multi Sports Complex): 5:45 AM
• Race starts at 8:00 AM

Half Marathon Route
The half marathon route is also mostly rural with approximately 40% on hard pack dirt and 60% on pavement.
The half marathon too starts at 8:00 AM, from the elevation of 4311 feet.  The route follows the Mo Chhu (river) through rural Punakha Valley with stunning views right off the bat of the Khamsum Yulley Chorten, monasteries, rice paddies, rain forest, villages and Chortens.

About 0.5 miles (0.8 km) before reaching the Punakha Dzong, runners turn left off the main road, cross a bridge onto a paved road and then and take a hard pack dirt track through a small village bypassing the cremation site. From the cremation site, there will be approx. 7 miles (11.27 km) upto finish line. Runners will climb over a cattle barrier then up a short hill, before crossing a stunning 300-foot-long suspension bridge across the Pho Chhu.

Then descend a short steep hill off the bridge area before continuing on hard pack dirt for about 3 miles (4.8 km) while following the Puna Tsang Chhu south from the suspension bridge. Runners will reach last aid station on the course just before turning into pavement for the remainder of the event. Then cross the Puna Tsang Chhu on a standard vehicle bridge and head north back toward Punakha Dzong via Khuruthang town and past the Khuruthang Monastery and Chorten. The race ends at magnificent Punakha Dzong.

As per standard set guidelines, runners must reach the Pho Chhu suspension bridge (8.7 Kms) by 1:30 PM and the finish line by 3:00 PM.

Half Marathon Schedule, Saturday, March 6, 2021, 8:00 AM

• Finish line and parking at Punakha Dzong
• The Half Marathon course is the second half of the marathon course
• International Participants Registration Fee: US$ 125
• Runners must report at the Khuruthang Taxi Parking (In front of the Punakha Multi Sports Complex): 6:45 am
• Race starts at 8:00 AM