The Everest Marathon is officially listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest marathon in the world. Fully known as Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, it is an international high-altitude adventure sports event that is held from the base of Mt. Everest, crisscrossing through the high Sherpa trails of Khumbu Valley on May 29th every year. Held 17 times since 1987, the marathon sees runners from all walks of life – from highly seasoned professionals to newcomers. The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon isn’t your run-of-the-mill running event – it is a truly once-in-a-lifetime, life-changing experience.

The start line is at Gorakshep (5,184) kilometers, near the Everest Base Camp. Whereas, the finish line is at the famous Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar (3,446m). The course is measured at 42 kilometers over the rough mountain trails, although for the 2016 edition, categories have been divided into 21 kilometers Half Marathon, 42 kilometers Full Marathon, and 60 kilometers Extreme Ultra. Normally, to acclimatize naturally to the high elevations, all runners join together for a 24-day holiday in Nepal. the holiday includes sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley, a 15-day mild trek under medical supervision, and climbs to some best vantage points like Gokyo Ri and Kala Paththar for the best Himalayan views.