Great Himalayan Running Festival 2026
June 21 - June 29
Epic Ultra Running Across the Himalayas
The Great Himalayan Running Festival (GHRF) 2026 is a flagship multi-stage ultra running event spanning the legendary Manali–Leh Highway in the Indian Himalayas. Hosted by The Hell Race, this festival is less about a single race and more about an endurance pilgrimage into extreme high-altitude terrain, combining multiple ultra distances, challenging weather, breathtaking passes and a community of like-minded endurance runners.
Event Details
- Event: Great Himalayan Running Festival 2026
- Dates: 21 June – 29 June 2026
- Location: Manali – Leh Highway, Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh, India
- Organiser: The Hell Race — known for producing iconic destination ultras in India.
**Disclaimer: While we aim to provide accurate, timely event information, all details, including date, venue, category, and race logistics, are subject to change by the official organizers. Please verify the latest information through the official event channels before registering or participating.
Race Distances & Categories
GHRF 2026 features a range of ultra challenges designed to test endurance, altitude resilience, and mental grit across some of the highest road running routes in the world:
Hell Ultra – 480 km
- The flagship ultra challenge of the festival
- Route: Entire stretch of the Manali–Leh Highway
- Terrain: High-altitude road and pass crossing
- Elevation Gain: 10,000 + m approx.
- Time Limit: 120 hours (5 days) — runners must manage altitude, terrain and endurance.
Hell 00 – 135 Miles (≈217 km)
- One of India’s longest continuous ultra events
- High-altitude performance test with significant elevation gain
- Cut-off: ~45 hrs for completion.
Rohtang Epic – 80 km
- Focused mountain ultra from Manali over Rohtang Pass
- Elevation Gain: ~2000 m+ from ~2000 m start
- A classic “uphill ultra” challenge.
High 5s – 5 Marathons in 5 Days
- A stage ultra experience
- Run 5 full marathons on consecutive days crossing five high Himalayan passes
- A transformational experience into high-altitude endurance running.
Route & Terrain
The festival plays out across some of the highest and most scenic road terrain in the world:
- Manali – Leh Highway: Known as one of the most challenging high-altitude routes globally
- Passes & Landmarks: Rohtang La (~3,978 m), Baralacha La, Nakee La, Lachung La, Tanglang La (~5,300 m) — dramatic elevation changes and thinning oxygen add to the challenge
- Landscape: Mountain deserts, high plains, snow-capped peaks and stark Himalayan ridges
- Technical Aspects: Long distances at altitude demand strategic pacing, acclimatisation, hydration and nutrition planning for success.
Race Format & Experience
The GHRF is not a traditional loop or track event — it is a multi-stage, long-distance, high-altitude challenge where runners experience:
- Extreme montagne terrain with rapidly changing conditions
- Temperature shifts from warm days to freezing nights
- Altitude stress requiring acclimatisation and careful pacing
- Scenic landscape that shifts from lush valleys to barren high deserts
- A festival atmosphere with camaraderie, shared goals and mutual support among runners
Who Should Participate
The Great Himalayan Running Festival is ideal for:
- Ultra runners with strong high-altitude experience
- Runners aiming for long stage ultras or extreme distance performance
- Athletes seeking Himalayan destination races
- Those building toward 100 miles+ or multi-day ultra goals
- Adventure runners ready for self-paced, unmanaged terrain challenges
