Royal Penguin Ultra Marathon

Course highlights

The route starts in the exit of the Namche Bazaar, a Sherpa village. It will start near the beautiful stone with tibetan letters on it. About 30-minute way to Sanasa, little bit up and down – depending on the moon and your mood you will decide whether to use the headlight or not. Our assistants will be leading on the junctions.

The way Sanasa to Mong needs some efforts to climb up, followed by about 30 minutes getting down to Phortse, and it’s already light. The route to Dole goes through the forest, small waterfalls, little bridges and you are reaching the first intermediate point – Dole.

you feel like it’s enough for you for the first time – you can stop in Dole, fix you time, enjoy and rest, and get back to Namche Bazaar on the same day or the following day (make sure you manage to reach Namche Bazaar by 18-00 on the following day for the closing ceremony.

But if you are still up to a fight, another few hours will bring you to Gokyo – among the glaciers, amazing lakes via rocky path. At Gokyo you will get your tough choice: whether to go to Renjo Pass, or save it for the next time and stay in Gokyo. Is it the second intermediate point.

Probably the toughest part of the Marathon is the trail from Gokyo to Renjo Pass. And the last acsent as well. If you are up to it – you can probably be sure you will reach Namche from the other side. Get all your will power and spend 2-3 hours climbing the pass, and you will reach the 3rd intermediate point. If you feel like you are so tired that you want to stop for the time being… then you will have to go down anyway to sleep over, but remember: descending back to Gokyo will take no more than 1 hour, and getting to Marlung (the next intermediate point) can take even 4 hours (going down as well).

If you are still on the route, you are passing few blue lakes and start your long yet victorious descent. After Marlung (the 4th intermediate point) you get to Thame, and that’s the place where you will want to reach Namche within only 2 hours to finish this tremendous route.

Going the last few kilometers, you will have the increasing feeling of a sheer triumph, and suddenly you understand that you are not a person you used to be. A different person – more motivated, more confident and more aware of your capabilities.