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Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace race photo

Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace race photoThimphu
BT
Christopher J. Fynn · CC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons · David Broad, CC BY 3.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Thimphu · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee
Fee TBDVaries by event and entry period
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 19, 2026 · Entry fee ₹800 · Start 05:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 6, 2026
Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace race photo
Christopher J. Fynn · CC BY-SA 3.0
Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace race photo
Wikimedia Commons · David Broad, CC BY 3.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

This is Bhutan's first AIMS-certified marathon.

From its very first edition, it drew the largest turnout of any running event held in Bhutan, attracting runners and travelers from around the world.

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.

Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

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

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

Thimphu Marathon - Run for Global Peace

Norter

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 Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace — 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 2026 edition

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

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

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 05:00
City center · not the start line

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

START

Thimphu

Show more

Bhutan’s first AIMS-certified marathon, it attracted the largest number of runners in Bhutan’s history at its inaugural edition.

In the most recent 2025 edition, full marathon and half marathon, along with the 10 km Peace Run, started at Buddha Dordenma (Buddha Dordenma·Kuensel Phodrang),

on a hill overlooking the city, while the 5 km Green Run and 2.5 km Memorial Run started at Changlimithang Stadium.

Finish for all distances was Changlimithang Stadium in central Thimphu.

The start locations for the 2026 second edition have not yet been explicitly reconfirmed.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace 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 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

The bib expo is open for one day only, on the day before the race.
The exact date and opening hours for the 2026 edition will be announced individually to registered participants 10 days before the race.
To collect another participant’s bib, you must submit that participant’s letter of authorisation.
As of the 2025 edition — 9/26(Fri) 10:30~19:00

Changlimathang Football Stadium, Thimphu

Google Maps
Stations & transport near the venue

Just pay cash (Bhutanese ngultrum, BTN) — there's no realistic way for a tourist to get a fare card, and most visitors use taxis rather than the city bus anyway.

Getting to the start

no train/metro system in Thimphu or Bhutan — per prior edition (2025): Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K Peace Run flagged off at Buddha Dordenma (Kuensel Phodrang/Buddha Point), a hilltop site above the city reachable only by road

Per prior edition (2025), not yet explicitly reconfirmed for the 2026 2nd edition.

5K Green Run and 2.5K Memorial Run started from Changlimithang Stadium instead.

Getting to the finish

Changlimithang Stadium, central Thimphu — common finish line for all distances in 2025

Expo also held at Changlimithang Football Stadium the day before race day.

More details

No official shuttle documented.

Thimphu has no formal public transit network (no trains, very limited buses);

taxis are the standard way to get around, including to/from Buddha Dordenma.

Confirm final 2026 venue details with organizers (info@bhutanmarathon.com / +975 77118130).

IC card

Thimphu City Bus Smart Card (exists, but not realistically obtainable by tourists)

City Bus Office, TTI Campus near Lungtenzampa Bridge —

registration requires a copy of a Bhutanese Citizen Identity Card (CID), which foreign tourists do not have

Not accepted at the gates — get the local card above

More details

Thimphu's public bus network is limited,

and because Bhutan's regulated tourism model has most international visitors traveling with a pre-arranged guide/private vehicle,

the city bus is rarely used by tourists.

Fares are cheap (BTN 10-20/ride), cash to the driver/conductor.

A licensed taxi is the more realistic default — also cash-only, fares agreed with the driver up front since most aren't metered.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026Source · checked Aug 17, 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.

The event is divided into five races,

from the full marathon 'Gross National Happiness Marathon' (42.195km) to the half marathon 'Mindfulness half marathon' (21.097km),

which passes through valleys and along rivers, plus the 10km Peace Run,

the 5km Green Run for beginners and families, and the memorial-themed 2.5km Memorial Run.

Full marathon and half marathon include sections at high altitude in the Himalayas, so runners need to manage their effort carefully.

The event is certified by AIMS, under World Athletics.

Bhutan applies its 'high-value, low-impact tourism' policy across the tourism sector.

Participants are therefore expected to follow environmental rules, including waste-management requirements,

and travel arrangements and visa processing are often handled through official travel partners.

Times are local to Thimphu. 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.

Zombala 2 Restaurant
Zombala 2 Restaurant
Buddha Dordenma
Buddha Dordenma

Hotels near the Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace start line in

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

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

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

4 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Thimphu Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

All-Inclusive Bhutan Tour (3-7 Days, Various Options)

₩555,479

View on Klook

Where runners eat in Thimphu

Eating well is part of the trip

7 places

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

Zombala 2 Restaurant

Restaurant · Thimphu 14m

★4.2(330)
Map

Druk Pizza

Pizza Restaurant · Thimphu 533m

★4.2(174)
Map

Zombala Restaurant

Restaurant · Thimphu 173m

★4.3(189)
Map

San Maru Restaurant

Korean Restaurant · Thimphu 847m

★4.4(120)
Map

Hayate Ramen

Restaurant · Thimphu 334m

★4.5(126)
Map

Babesa Village Restaurant

Asian Restaurant · Thimphu 4.4km

★3.9(205)
Map

Burger Point

Restaurant · Thimphu 105m

★4.1(152)
Map

What to see in Thimphu after the race

Seeing Thimphu with the medal on

7 places

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Simply Bhutan

Museum · Thimphu 729m

★4.4(1370)
Map

Royal Textile Academy

Non-Profit Organization · Thimphu 881m

★4.3(459)
Map

Sangaygang View Point

Tourist Attraction · Thimphu 1.9km

★4.5(163)
Map

Simtokha Dzong

Thimphu 4.8km

★4.5(480)
Map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Thimphu.

Total cost and budget for Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

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

Runner stories and questions about Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Thimphu runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace

FAQ
When does Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, September 19, 2026.

How much is the Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about ₹800.

What distances does Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace 2027 start?

The race starts at 05:00. (From the 2026 edition)

What transit card do I need for Thimphu Marathon – Run for Global Peace 2027?

Just pay cash (Bhutanese ngultrum, BTN) —

there's no realistic way for a tourist to get a fare card, and most visitors use taxis rather than the city bus anyway.

(From the 2026 edition)

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