Ice Ultra Marathon
A 230km self-sufficient ultra marathon across the Arctic Circle
This is Swedish Lapland, Sweden. It’s Europe’s last remaining wilderness and heartland of the indigenous Sámi people.
Experiencing day time temperatures as low as -40 degrees, you will battle across snowfields, Arctic tundra and frozen lakes. This Arctic ultra marathon is both challenging and exposed, putting physical and mental endurance to a painful test.
Be ready to take on the conditions that the Arctic Circle can throw at you. As darkness descends, you will feel like the only person on the planet.
This is the Ice Ultra, follow us to adventure.
An epic foot-race through Swedish Lapland in the Arctic Circle
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Take on 230kms across 5 stages in extreme conditions
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Race through snowfields, Arctic tundra and frozen lakes
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Experience daytime temperatures as low as -40 degrees
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Carrying specialist equipment to take on the Arctic conditions
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Marked routes guiding you through the UNESCO world heritage area
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Expect long periods running in darkness as the days are short
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Keep warm by campfires at night as the temperature falls
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Sleep under the stars in teepee tents and remote huts
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Supported by highly qualified teams of medics and guides
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Experience Europe’s last remaining wilderness
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Feel like you’re the only person on the planet
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Race Details
- Location: Swedish Lapland
- Distance: 230kms
- Stages: 5 stages in 5 days
- Terrain: Snowfields & Arctic tundra
- Red Jersey Stage: 15km frozen lake
- Base Camp: Gallivare
- Finish: Jokkmokk
- Daytime Temperature: -5°C / -40°C
- Evening Temperature: -10°C / -40°C
- Daylight Hours: 8
- Airport: Lulea
- Event Duration: 7 days
- Accommodation: Teepee tents & huts
- Places Available: 40
Get your Race Information Pack
Find out everything you need to know about the Ice Ultra by downloading our free race information pack. It includes the travel itinerary, kit list, race rules and a daily breakdown of each race stage.
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The Ice Ultra Documentary
Follow a group of runners and discover what it's like to take on the Ice Ultra through the Arctic Circle.
What's next?
Interested to take part in the Beyond The Ultimate – Ice Ultra? Schedule a call with one of our Race Directors, explore race footage and runner testimonials on our YouTube channel or check out the competition on the race roster.
Watch our YouTube Channel
View the Race Roster
Testimonials
Damian Hall
The scenery was just so beautiful. You couldn’t stop and admire it for long or you’d freeze to death. But it was very beautiful. A belting adventure.
Team GB Trail Runner, UTMB top-20 finisher, Ice Ultra Winner 2018
Testimonials
Lenka Vacvalova
It's beautiful in Swedish Lapland but tougher than I imagined. The cold punishes any mistakes. I wanted to know what I was capable of after all my training and this race showed me.
Ice Ultra Female Winner 2022
Testimonials
Jon Shield
Best adventurer racing company there is. There’s a reason I keep coming back and it's testament to how well run they are. I absolutely loved the Ice Ultra. I'm excited to get on to the next one.
Ice Ultra Winner 2022 and Highland Ultra Winner 2021
Testimonials
Vicki Anstey
The Ice Ultra was incredible. Extreme yet achievable if you train well and follow kit advice. The BTU and Sàmi teams provided exceptional support. You could not access such a remote part of the world any other way. Surviving the hostile yet beautiful environment and completing one of the toughest foot races on the circuit will take a lot to beat!
Ice Ultra Finisher 2022
Testimonials
Simon Dicks
From the first second my heart was racing with excitement, anticipation and fear. The Arctic delivered everything I had hoped for and more.
Ice Ultra Winner 2020
Testimonials
Steve Hill
An epic race in the most brutal yet stunning environment on the planet. Running under the Northern Lights at -40 degress takes some beating! I loved every minute of this amazing adventure.
Ice Ultra Finisher 2018
Ice Ultra FAQs
The Ice Ultra gives you the opportunity to compete in one of the world’s last remaining wildernesses. Your entry fee covers the teams and logistics to bring this race to life:
- GPS tracking ensuring your safety.
- Manned check-points and camps with medical and support staff.
- Race accommodation in teepee tents and huts.
- Provision of drinking water on the course and hot water for preparing food at all camps.
- Transfers to and from the race.
- Storage and carriage of luggage during the race.
- Digital watermarked copies of all photos captured by our professional adventure photographer.
- Race coverage for friends and family back home.
- Race T-Shirt and Finishers Medal.
- Donation to our woodland project to offset carbon from flights.
- Celebratory meal and finish line celebrations.
What’s not included in your entry fee are your flights, additional hotel stays, equipment and clothing (please see kit list) and food and drink during the race (other than water provided at checkpoints and camps).
Each runner is responsible for carrying all items listed on the mandatory kit list (which can be found in the race information pack) throughout the event. That means all your clothes, medical supplies and food will be on your back. For the Ice Ultra, your sleeping bag is carried by the race team. This doesn’t mean you’re on your own, though. There’ll be a constant supply of clean drinking water, and boiling water for the preparation of freeze-dried meals, at every camp, as well as drinking water at each checkpoint. Checkpoints are placed approximately every 10km, and there you will find a small shelter, a qualified medic and another supply of clean drinking water.
At BTU, we’re determined to be as open as possible in our entrance criteria. We believe everyone should have a chance to take on one of these life-changing challenges. That said, a significant level of physical fitness is needed to take on races like ours in relative safety. Therefore, we ask that anyone entering one of our races has, at least, finished a marathon-length event within 12 months of their chosen race.
We would always recommend every competitor purchases appropriate insurance to cover the costs of your entry fee and your participation in any BTU event should you not be able to take part. Once a staged payment has been made it is non-refundable. Please read our terms and conditions before making your payment.
You can secure your place by paying £3,300 in full when you enter or spread the cost over four equal instalments. Payments can be made online via your debit or credit card.
£825 – deposit due on entry
£825 – 1st payment due 270 days before race start
£825 – 2nd payment due 180 days before race start
£825 – Final payment due 90 days before race start
Payment schedule
To secure your place in the race, you will need to make a deposit payment of £825 on entry. The remaining fee can be split over three further payments. Alternatively, you can pay in full when you enter.
You can use your debit or credit card to make your payment online. Stripe Payments handles the steps between you providing your card information and learning that the payment has been accepted. Some of the world’s largest companies, including Amazon and Shopify use Stripe.
Deposit
Pay a £825 deposit on entry to secure your place.
270 days before race
Payment of £825 is now due.
180 days before race
Payment of £825 is now due.
90 days before race
Final payment of £825 is now due.
