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The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo

The Last Desert (Antarctica)

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
Ushuaia
AR
Gary Bembridge from London, UK · CC BY 2.0David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0Wolfgang Fricke · CC BY 3.0
Race date in 5 days
Nov 13, 2026 Fri
City · Distance
Ushuaia · 250km
Entry fee
$14,900From the 2025 edition
Status
OpenSee how to enter ↗
2026Date Nov 13, 2026 · Open
2024
2024Date Nov 29, 2024
Official website ↗
InstagramYouTube
D-day as of Nov 8, 2026
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
Gary Bembridge from London, UK · CC BY 2.0
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Last Desert (Antarctica) race photo
Wolfgang Fricke · CC BY 3.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About The Last Desert (Antarctica) — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

A 250 km stage race run on the Antarctic Peninsula, reached by ship across the Drake Passage.

Each day the course is held on a new stretch of coast, and the race is known as the final desert of the 4 Deserts series.

The field is limited to just 40 runners.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

The Last Desert (Antarctica) runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 3

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

The Last Desert 2024 Highlights Video

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter The Last Desert (Antarctica) — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition

Qualifying time

Entry cost $14,900

Only runners who have completed at least two RacingThePlanet or 4 Deserts ultras may apply.

A deposit of US$5,000 confirms your place.

Completion of at least 2 ultras from the 4 Deserts family

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The Last Desert (Antarctica) course map and elevation

Your 250km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

EventEntry feeField size
Ultra250km—40
ultra250250km$14,90040
City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Ushuaia

expedition ship boarding city

FINISH

Antarctic Peninsula coast

changes with each edition

Show more

The race begins after a two-day crossing of the Drake Passage by expedition ship from Ushuaia.

The ship is both your accommodation and base camp, and each day you land by inflatable boat and run that day's course.

The course changes with each edition;

in 2024 it was held at Half Moon Island, Deception Island, Dorian Bay and Danco Island.

Each stage is run as a timed event on a looping course of roughly 2–14 km,

where you complete as many laps as you can in the allotted time, and across the 6 stages you can run up to 250 km in total.

The course is marked with ski poles and pink snow bags, so no navigation is needed.

Many sections have deep snow or an icy surface, and if penguins or seals appear on the course, you must give way.

Daytime temperatures range from -2°C to 5°C, nights fall as low as -10°C, and the sun stays up for nearly 20 hours a day.

In 2024, 78 runners from 37 countries stood on the start line, and it was the 10th edition.

The 2026 edition is the 11th.

In bad weather, the locations and number of stages may change.

Field size
Up to 40 people

Participant benefits

Medical support

Water stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Hotels801m from the start · ★9.8

Where and when to collect your The Last Desert (Antarctica) race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Stations & transport near the venue

Source · checked Nov 5, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Ushuaia port

Meeting place is Ushuaia; ship departs from Ushuaia. Fly to Ushuaia via Buenos Aires, arrive 1-2 days before the ship departs; hotels in Ushuaia are not included.

Crossing the Drake Passage takes about two days.

Map

Getting to the finish

Ushuaia port

Not published in detail.

Map
Source · checked Nov 5, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Before you apply, first check that you have completed at least 2 ultras from the 4 Deserts family.

The Entry fee of US$14,900 covers 10 nights (11 days) aboard the ship, meals, medical support and the finisher medal.

Flights to Ushuaia and local hotels are not included.

The usual route to Ushuaia is via Buenos Aires, and it is safest to arrive one or two days before departure.

In 2024 runners boarded on 26 November, and the first stage was held three days later.

The surface was soft, churned-up snow, and runners who brought microspikes reported finding them useful on four of the five days.

One race report describes packing the backpack light, at around 2–3 kg.

Be sure to bring windproof and insulating layers, sunglasses and goggles, and sunscreen.

The glare is intense, so watch out for snow blindness and sunburn.

If you are worried about seasickness on the Drake Passage, bring medication in advance.

In Antarctica you must keep your distance from wildlife and follow biosecurity procedures, which include removing soil and seeds from your clothing and shoes.

There are also programs that allow family and friends to join you aboard the ship, so check the official website.

Times are local to Ushuaia. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the The Last Desert (Antarctica) start line in Ushuaia

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Ushuaia with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Ushuaia.

Flights, hotels, airport transfers and budget for The Last Desert (Antarctica)

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about The Last Desert (Antarctica)

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Post: 1
The Last Desert (Antarctica) is one week away — race day is Friday, November 13. Bib pickup, start time and getting to the start line are in the race guide.

Ask the runners preparing for this raceWrite a post
CourseBib & expoGetting aroundStay
Ushuaia runners' room
MORE RACES.

Frequently asked questions about The Last Desert (Antarctica)

FAQ
How much is the The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2024 race entry fee was about $14,900.

When does The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 take place?

It takes place on Fri, November 13, 2026 in Ushuaia, Argentina.

How do I register for The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026?

Entry routes: Qualifying time.

Registration is handled on the official website. (From the 2025 edition)

What distances does The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 offer?

ultra250.

Where does The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 start?

Ushuaia, Argentina.

What is the The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 course like?

The race begins after a two-day crossing of the Drake Passage by expedition ship from Ushuaia.

The ship is both your accommodation and base camp, and each day you land by inflatable boat and run that day's course.

Where does The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 finish?

Antarctic Peninsula coast (changes with each edition).

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