Robert Pollhammer

We also offer a special program for friends and family. They will join us during the acclimatization days and enjoy additional sightseeing while the race is underway. On certain race days, we’ll organize visits along the trail – wherever feasible – so they can cheer on the athletes.

Please note that friends and family members should be reasonably fit, as we’ll be active at relatively high altitudes. They don’t need to be “ultra-running fit,” but they should be comfortable with very active days in a mountain environment. Naturally, the itinerary can be adjusted if someone needs a lighter day.

If you have any questions about bringing friends or family, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

That depends on reaching the minimum number of participants. Launching a new race is always a bit tricky – many athleres prefer to sign up once they see others on the roster.

To make things easier and fair for everyone, here’s how we’ll handle this for 2026:

• The down payment (€450) is fully refundable until the race is officially confirmed.
• We expect to know by spring 2026 whether we have enough participants. Once confirmed, the down payment becomes non-refundable.
• Those who sign up early not only help make the race happen but also secure the lowest possible entry fee.
• Booking flights in spring or shortly after should still offer good availability and prices for November travel.
• If, by spring, we’re still short on numbers, we’ll communicate transparently and cancel the event if necessary.

Copyright: Tourism Bhutan

If you’d love to experience Bhutan but don’t want to race, check out our “Laya Run & Royal Highland Festival” adventure trip.

It’s separate from the Bhutan Ultra and offers active travelers a chance to discover Bhutan while participating in a unique mountain run and cultural celebration.

You can find all the details here:

👉   bhutan-ultra.com/laya-run-royal-highland-festival/

From November 14th to 29th, I was in Bhutan to scout the 200 km stretch of the Trans Bhutan Trail in the eastern part of the country. The early days of my trip were a whirlwind of meetings, coupled with the adjustment to the high altitude.

I flew from Munich to Delhi with Lufthansa, then continued to Bhutan with DrukAir. The DrukAir flight was a pleasant experience, featuring modern aircraft, friendly staff, and a delicious meal. Arrival at Paro International Airport was nothing short of spectacular. The landing maneuver is challenging, and if you’re not afraid of watching a large plane navigate through a narrow valley, I highly recommend booking a window seat.

The airport itself is equally remarkable – I’ve yet to come across a smaller airport as charming as this one. The attention to detail by the Bhutanese authorities is impressive, making it a fitting introduction to the country. After all, your journey in Bhutan begins with the airport, and it sets the tone for what lies ahead.

Really nice artwork greeting you at Paro International Airport, Bhutan

As is customary in Bhutan, I was warmly greeted by my guide, Kencho, who welcomed me with a big smile and a traditional white scarf. For those wondering, most Bhutanese – especially in the more populated areas of the West – speak excellent English. After arriving in Paro, we drove straight to Thimphu, a journey that takes about an hour.

In the following days, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Trans Bhutan Trail team, the De-Suung (a unique organization in Bhutan), as well as representatives from various government sectors, including Tourism, Land Management, and local businesses.

Back home, I live in the mountains at an altitude of around 900 meters, so I could definitely feel the difference. I also underestimated the impact of the time difference, which made it initially challenging to sleep when I needed to.

The plan was to give myself nearly the exact amount of time to acclimatize that our athletes will have in 2025. On day two, it was time to test myself with a hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest temple. It was as breathtaking as the photos suggest and the hike involves an altitude gain of about 700 meters, going as high as 3,120 m. I was pleased to find that I had no issues and was able to fully enjoy the temple. One key takeaway from the experience was that it’s a good idea to wear warm socks – at least inside the temple. There are rooms where you must remove your shoes, and if your feet get cold quickly, warmer socks can make a big difference.

A visit to Tiger’s Nest will also be included in our athlete program.

If you’re not already familiar with Buddhism, I recommend reading a book about it before you visit Bhutan – if it’s something you’re interested in. Buddhism is deeply woven into the fabric of life here, and you’ll hear countless fascinating stories about its many aspects. Arriving with some foundational knowledge will not only help you understand more, but it may also spark questions you’d like to ask your guide.

After Day 2, I spent less time hiking than I had originally planned, which worried me a bit. I feared that I might struggle when it came time to tackle the six stages of the Trans Bhutan Trail that we’ll use for the race. However, I became absorbed in meeting people and working from my “office” at the hotel.

Each day was full of excitement, and the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. Then, on November 19th, it was time to head east. En route, we stopped at Dochula Pass, where, on a clear day, you can see numerous Himalayan peaks.

Some of the 108 Chorten on Dochula Pass at 3,116m

Afterward, we descended to Punakha-Dzong, marking my first real experience of a temperature shift. While Thimphu had been relatively cool—even on sunny days, in Punakha it felt like spring. As we waited outside, we found ourselves searching for shade to stay cool.

The famous Punakha-Dzong, a castle that dates back to 1637

By the way, our athletes will visit several more cultural sites on their journey east. While I was occupied with meetings, our participants will have the opportunity to explore these sites and also enjoy a variety of hikes and runs.

Our final destination that day was a nice hotel in Trongsa, where we stayed for one night before embarking on Day 1 of our Trans Bhutan Trail recce. The goal was to experience each stage the same way the athletes will.

Night view of the Trongsa-Dzong, our start line

I will now update our gallery with images from all 6 stages. Also, I will continue updating several other sections of our website – with more information about the trail, our checkpoints and learnings from my trip.

Last but not least, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Trans Bhutan Trail team for their exceptional preparation of this trip and for their outstanding collaboration on the project!