Mountain Ultra Marathon

The Mountain Ultra gives you the opportunity to compete in one of the toughest endurance races in the world, in a beautiful undiscovered mountain region. Your entry fee covers the teams, logistics and park fees to bring this race to life:

• GPS tracking ensuring your safety.
• Manned check-points and camps with medical and support staff.
• Race accommodation, either tents or yurts.
• Provision of drinking water on the course and hot water for preparing food at all camps.
• Hotel before and after the race including breakfast.
• Transfer from Bishkek before and after 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.
• National Park fees.

What’s not included in your entry fee are:

• Your flights to Bishkek
• Additional hotel stays
• Equipment and clothing (please see kit list in race pack)
• Food and drink during the race (other than water provided at checkpoints and camps).

Yes. Due to the high altitude, we strongly recommend an acclimatisation period close to the race start dates. This can be done in Kyrgyzstan or at a location above 2500m near your home nation. We will offer an acclimatisation trek prior to the race for those who wish to maximise their preparation.

Acclimatisation Trek Itinerary:

• 16 July Arrive in Bishkek
• 17 July Transfer from Bishkek to Karakol and welcome meal
• 18 July Guided trek from Karakol to Altyn Arashan
• 19 July Acclimatisation trek and skills training
• 20 July Return to Karakol
• 21 July Transfer to start-line

Additional Trek Fee: £650

This will include 3 nights accommodation in a hotel, 2 nights yurt accommodation on the trek, breakfast and evening meals, guides and safety teams.

If you are interested in joining the pre race trek to acclimatise, please notify us on your sign up form when you enter.

To help you stay safe we require a level of relevant experience to qualify you for entry. The Mountain Ultra is our toughest challenge yet and a high level of physical fitness will be required. Runners will have to negotiate tough ascents, difficult terrain and be able to run at altitude. Whilst the course is marked, you will also need to have knowledge of and be able to us GPX files to aid navigation.

Automatic Qualification

If you have completed the long course of one of the Global Race Series such as the Ice Ultra, Desert Ultra or the Jungle Ultra then this will automatically qualify you for the Mountain Ultra. Alternatively, if you have completed the full distance Montane Spine Race then you will qualify.

Vetting Process

If you don’t meet these criteria, your experience can be drawn from other events. Staged races, mountain marathons, mountaineering or climbing are looked on favourably. The more a challenge features mountainous terrain and altitude the better.

If you feel you have skills or experience not mentioned here, include it in your entry form. We are also very happy to advise those who feel they don’t yet have the experience level required on what races or experiences they could do to gain entry.

Each runner is responsible for carrying all items listed on the mandatory kit list (which can be found in the race pack) throughout the event. That means all your clothes, medical supplies, food and sleeping kit will be on your back. 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.

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