Event Overview
| Date | Oct 24-28, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Laya, Gasa, to Chamkhar, Bumthang, Bhutan |
| Format | Stage Race |
| Terrain | Mountain |
| Region | Asia |
| Distance / duration | 175 km over 5 stages |
| Course model | Point-to-point |
| Edition note | This is the third international edition. It starts in Laya on October 24, the second day of the Royal Highland Festival, and finishes at Chamkhar Sports Arena in Bumthang on October 28. There is no open registration: prospective runners contact the race director. On October 12, the organizer's athletes page listed 18 runners, 12 international and 6 from Bhutan. |
| Field size | 18 athletes listed on October 12 (12 international, 6 Bhutanese). The race page still describes a field of 25. |
| Highlights | Invited Field, Passes to 5,470 m |
Course & Terrain
Point-to-point stage race in five segments after the start in Laya: Lango Thang (Tendrel Thang) to Tarina, Tarina to Lhedi, Lhedi to Geche Gom, Geche Gom to Julay Tsho, and Julay Tsho to Chamkhar.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Start in Laya during the Royal Highland Festival
- Snowman Trek passes up to 5,470 m
- Finish at Chamkhar Sports Arena, Bumthang
Remote Himalayan wilderness with an average elevation above 4,267 m (14,000 ft) and several passes reaching 5,470 m (17,946 ft).
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Runners are selected and invited, according to the organizer. Bhutanese athletes go through national selection, which in 2026 included a 37 km selection race. International runners register their interest with race director Luis Escobar. |
Why This Race Matters
The race follows the high-altitude Snowman Trek, which the organizer says normally takes up to 20 days and has been completed by fewer people than have summited Everest. The organizer presents the race as an initiative of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, aimed at raising awareness of climate change and its effects on the glaciers and highland communities along the route.
Preparing for a Race Like Snowman Race
The stage race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Stage race packing list: Mandatory kit, daily carry, camp bags, food and foot care.
- Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
- Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
- Blister prevention: Socks, taping, lubrication, shoe fit and hot spots.
Planning Notes
- Study the mandatory gear list early and rehearse carrying the exact pack weight you expect to use on race day.
- 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.
- The organizer's pages give different distances: 175 km on the 2026 race page, 203 km in the homepage banner (the figure from the 2022 edition), and 186 km on the 2024 results graphic's elevation profile.
Event FAQs
Who won the last Snowman Race?
In 2024, Sangay Wangchuk of Bhutan won the men's race in 28:31:14, and Rosanna Buchauer of Germany won the women's race in 31:58:02, according to the organizer's results.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Browse the multiday stage-race calendar
- Open the Stage Race 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 12, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official 2026 race page: route, dates and segments — https://snowmanrace.org/the-race/
- Official 2026 athletes page — https://snowmanrace.org/the-athletes/
- Official homepage with 2024 results — https://snowmanrace.org/
- Official 2024 results graphic — https://snowmanrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-Snowman-Race-Results.jpg
- Organizer news on the 2022 first edition and athlete selection — https://snowmanrace.org/news/snowman-race-first-edition-2022/
- BBS report on the 2026 Bhutanese selection race (media cross-check) — https://www.bbs.bt/?p=242205
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 12, 2026.