Marathon Details - Bhutan International Marathon

Busses will leave Punakha Dzong for the start line at 6:00 AM. The marathon will start at 7:30 AM.

All participants will be bused from the finish line area at the Punakha Dzong to the start line in rural Gasa Dzongkhag. The elevation at the start line is 5591 feet. You are welcome to wear warm clothing over your running clothing and bring any other personal items you might need. These will be transported for you back to the finish line.

From the start line runners will head north for 1K, turn around, and then run back by the start line before proceeding toward Punakha. The route follows the Mo Chhu (river) through rural Punakha Valley. You will have stunning views of the Khamsum Yulley Temple, monasteries, rice paddies, rain forest, villages and Chortens. Approximately a third of the road to Punakha is on hard pack dirt, the rest is on pavement. The terrain is flat to rolling and with the ending elevation being 3983 feet.

Approximately .5K before reaching the Punakha Dzong, runners will turn off the main road and take a hard pack dirt track through a small village bypassing the cremation site. You will climb a short hill, then cross a 200 foot long suspension bridge across the Pho Chhu. This is a very stable suspension bridge and quite runnable. The route will continue on hard pack dirt for a short section before turning into pavement for the remainder of the event. Youll follow the Puna Tsang Chhu south from the bridge for approximately 5K. Runners will 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 finish is at the picturesque Punakha Dzong.

Runners must reach the Pho Chhu suspension bridge (30K) by 1:00 PM and the finish line by 2:30 PM.