Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon
The Lowdown
The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is Guinness World Records' highest marathon on earth, starting at Everest Base Camp (approx. 5,356 m / 17,598 ft) and descending 42.195 km through the Khumbu region — past Gorak Shep, Lobuche, Thukla, Dingboche, Pangboche, and Tengboche — to finish in Namche Bazaar (approx. 3,440 m / 11,286 ft). Held every May 29 to commemorate the first summit of Mount Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on that date in 1953, this is a genuine expedition-marathon: runners must first trek to Everest Base Camp for altitude acclimatization before racing, and logistics are supported by local Sherpa guide teams. Extreme altitude, thin air, and rugged glacial-moraine and mountain trail terrain make it a true bucket-list ultra-endurance event rather than a conventional road race. The event also offers a 21 km Half Marathon (starting in Dingboche) and a 70 km Ultra Marathon on the same course network.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Moderate rolling hills
Participants
Field Size
Intimate field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Everest Base Camp (start, ~5,356 m)
Gorak Shep
Kala Patthar climb
Lobuche
Thukla
Dingboche (Half Marathon start)
Pangboche
Tengboche Monastery (cut-off checkpoint)
Namche Bazaar (finish, ~3,440 m)
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Everest Base Camp to Namche Bazaar
NP
Eligibility
- Minimum age 18
- Must complete pre-race acclimatization trek to Everest Base Camp
- Medical form confirming fitness for extreme high-altitude exertion
Required Documents
- Passport
- Medical fitness form / high-altitude medical clearance
- Signed registration and payment forms
Entry Methods
- Online/email registration via official forms (Registration, Medical, Payment)
- USD 500 non-refundable deposit by credit card, bank wire transfer, or bank draft
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Security deposit (USD 500) is non-refundable
50% refund of remaining fees if cancelled before April 1
No refund if cancelled after April 1
Guinness World Records-recognized as the highest marathon on Earth (start elevation ~5,356 m at Everest Base Camp).
Runners must trek to Everest Base Camp for acclimatization before the race — this is an expedition-marathon, not a fly-in road race.
Course descends nearly 2,000 m net over rugged glacial moraine, rocky trail, and traditional Sherpa village paths through the Khumbu region.
Organized with local Sherpa guide and logistics support given the remote, high-altitude Himalayan terrain.
Course record: 3:28:27 (Deepak Rai, Nepal, 2006); fastest non-Nepali time 4:50:10 (Antoine Bonfils, France).
Entry fee shown (USD 500) is a non-refundable security deposit only — total cost is a full trek/expedition package quoted separately by the organizer, not a standalone race-entry fee.
Participant count is a llm_estimate (low confidence): official site does not publish per-year field size; historical reporting suggests roughly 150-250 entrants across all distances given extreme logistics constraints.
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