Event Overview
| Date | Dec 4-6, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Chiang Dao to Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand |
| Format | Fixed-Distance |
| Terrain | Mountain |
| Region | Asia |
| Distance / duration | 173 km |
| Course model | Point-to-point |
| Edition note | Registration is open until 10:00 AM (GMT+7) on October 31, 2026, or until races fill, with no waiting list; transfers and distance changes also close on October 31. The festival runs over two weekends: Doi Inthanon National Park (November 27–29) and Chiang Mai PAO Park (December 3–6). The event was called Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB in 2022–2023, and inthanon.utmb.world now redirects to chiangmai.utmb.world. UTMB’s Majors page still describes a start and finish at Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters, which applies to the first-weekend races, not the Chiang Dao 160. UTMB Live had no 2026 page on October 20. |
| Elevation gain | 9,800 m (9,844 m in the aid-station table) |
| Elevation loss | 9,955 m (aid-station table) |
| Cutoff | 48 hours (finish by 10:00 AM Sunday). Time barriers: A3 Pagia Highland Research Station (km 32.8) 7:00 PM Friday, A5 Sop Kai Village (km 51.1) 11:00 PM Friday, A7 Mae Taeng Watershed Research Station (km 71.5) 4:00 AM Saturday, A10 Mae Ka Piang Village (km 100.2) 12:30 PM Saturday, A11 Wat Pang Hai (km 110.0) 5:00 PM Saturday, A13 Maesa Elephant Camp (km 129.9) 11:59 PM Saturday and A16 Montha Than Waterfall (km 162.4) 8:00 AM Sunday. |
| Start | 10:00 AM Friday at Wat Tham Chiang Dao |
| Highlights | UTMB Asia-Pacific Major, 8 Running Stones |
Longest-race winners at Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon by UTMB
Winners of the event’s 160 km-class race since 2022, with the distance and climb UTMB recorded each year. The route changed every year.
| Year | Race | Distance and climb | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Chiang Dao 160 | 168 km, 8,100 m | Aleksei Beresnev (neutral athlete), 21:14:01 | Antonina Iushina (neutral athlete), 22:34:21 |
| 2024 | Trans-Int 160 | 172 km, 8,980 m | Canhua Luo (China), 20:25:33 | Antonina Iushina (neutral athlete), 24:23:52 |
| 2023 | Trans-Int 160 | 175 km, 10,030 m | Ji Duo (China), 23:58:49 | Lin Chen (China), 30:05:15 |
| 2022 | Summit 160 | 170 km, 10,010 m | Jiaju Zhao (China), 21:53:49 | Jenny Quilty (Canada), 27:24:14 |
2022 and 2023 were run as Doi Inthanon by UTMB. UTMB lists Beresnev and Iushina as neutral athletes (AIN).
Sources: Official results archive; UTMB Index: 2025 Chiang Dao 160 results; UTMB Index: 2024 Trans-Int 160 results; UTMB Index: 2023 Trans-Int 160 results; UTMB Index: 2022 Summit 160 results.
Course & Terrain
Point to point from Wat Tham Chiang Dao at the foot of Doi Luang Chiang Dao, climbing to San Pa Kia and Doi Pha Sam Liam, then south past Wat Phra Phutthabat Si Roi, Doi Mon Jam, Mae Sa Elephant Camp, the Hmong village of Ban Doi Pui and Montha Than Waterfall to Chiang Mai PAO Park. The second weekend also has the Elephant 100, Hmong 50 (day and night), Suthep 20 (day and night) and Chedi 20; the first weekend at Doi Inthanon has the Pagoda 50 (day and night) and Inthanon 20.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Wat Tham Chiang Dao start below Doi Luang Chiang Dao
- San Pa Kia and Doi Pha Sam Liam viewpoints
- Hmong village of Ban Doi Pui
- Montha Than Waterfall
The course climbs from 431 m at the start to about 1,730 m and finishes at 320 m in Chiang Mai, with several climbs of about 600 to 1,200 m between aid stations in the organizer’s table.
The organizer decides one to two days before the race whether its hot-weather or cold-weather kit applies. Chiang Dao 160 runners must also carry long trousers for changeable weather.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | No lottery. Runners with a valid UTMB Index had a 48-hour priority window from July 1, 2026; general entry followed. For safety the organizer recommends a valid UTMB Index in the 100K or 100M category before entering the 100M race. Runners must be born in 2005 or earlier. The early-bird fee was THB 8,500 and rises automatically as places sell; refunds are possible only with the 10% cancellation insurance bought at registration. |
| Support model | 16 aid stations. A3, A5, A7, A9, A11, A13 and A15 serve hot food, and A5, A7, A9, A11 and A13 have rest areas. Prize money of €5,000, €3,000, €2,000, €1,250 and €1,000 goes to the top five men and women. |
| Crew / pacers | Crews may help only at A2, A5, A7, A9, A11 and A13, one assistant per runner, and must show a Support Pass to enter the support area. Runners may not be accompanied outside the zones near aid stations. |
| Drop bags | Two mid-race bags: a Gold bag at A5 Sop Kai Village (km 51) and a Red bag at A11 Wat Pang Hai (km 110). Only the official bags handed out at bib collection are accepted, and poles may not go in them. |
| Logistics note | The second-weekend races are based at Chiang Mai PAO Park, and Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes by air from Bangkok. A free shuttle bus to the start is booked during registration and confirmed later in the runner space. Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters, the first-weekend base, is about 100 km and two hours from PAO Park. |
Why This Race Matters
HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB is the 2026 UTMB World Series Major for Asia-Pacific, alongside Kodiak, Val d’Aran and Ultra-Trail Australia. Majors award double Running Stones, so the Chiang Dao 160 is worth 8, and the top 10 men and women in the 100M, 100K and 50K categories qualify automatically for the UTMB World Series Finals. The event ran as Thailand by UTMB in 2020–2021 and as Doi Inthanon by UTMB in 2022–2023 before taking the Chiang Mai name in 2024.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- 2025 Chiang Dao 160 (168 km, 8,100 m): Aleksei Beresnev (neutral athlete), 21:14:01
- 2025 Chiang Dao 160, first woman: Antonina Iushina (neutral athlete), 22:34:21
Preparing for a Race Like Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB
The fixed-distance race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
- Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.
Best Fit
- Runners chasing double Running Stones at a Major
- Runners who want a two-weekend Thailand trip
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- Two working headlamps and two sets of spare batteries are mandatory.
- Missing safety gear means disqualification; other missing items cost a one-hour penalty.
- The course changes from year to year, so past winning times are not course records.
Event FAQs
Is Chiang Mai by UTMB the same event as Doi Inthanon by UTMB?
Yes. The organizer’s results archive shows the same races under Thailand by UTMB in 2020–2021, Doi Inthanon by UTMB in 2022–2023 and Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB since 2024, and inthanon.utmb.world now redirects to chiangmai.utmb.world. The first-weekend races still start at Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters.
Is Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB a UTMB World Series Major?
Yes. UTMB names HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB as the 2026 Asia-Pacific Major. Finishers earn double Running Stones (8 for the Chiang Dao 160), and the top 10 men and women in the 100M, 100K and 50K categories qualify for the UTMB World Series Finals.
When does the Chiang Dao 160 start in 2026?
At 10:00 AM on Friday, December 4, 2026, from Wat Tham Chiang Dao, two hours after the Elephant 100. Runners have 48 hours, until 10:00 AM Sunday, December 6, to reach Chiang Mai PAO Park.
Who won the Chiang Dao 160 in 2025?
Aleksei Beresnev won in 21:14:01, ahead of Jiaju Zhao of China (21:40:09) and Masatoshi Obara of Japan (21:58:16). Antonina Iushina was the first woman in 22:34:21, sixth overall. Both winners are listed by UTMB as neutral athletes. The 2025 course was 168 km, shorter than the 2026 route.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Chiang Dao 160 race page and aid-station table — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/races/CHIANGDAO160
- Official 2026 Chiang Dao 160 time chart — https://img.utmb.world/image/upload/v1791343933/thailand/Time%20chart/TIME%20CHART%202026/Chiang_Dao_100_M_64f3903485.jpg
- Official event homepage with race list and registration status — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/
- Official registration rules — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/registration
- Official regulations — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/regulation
- Official FAQ, including crew points and drop bags — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/faqs
- Official 2026 race specification (two weekends) — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/news/race-specification
- Official 2026 changes and start times — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/news/WHAT-iS-NEW-FOR-2026-EDITION
- Official 2026 fees and Running Stones — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/news/race-information
- Official prize money — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/prize-money
- Official 2023 edition page (Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB) — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/past-events/2023
- UTMB World Series Majors — https://utmb.world/UTMB-World-Series-Majors
- Official results — https://chiangmai.utmb.world/results
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.