The Adi Kailash Parikrama Run 2.0 runs from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 October 2026, with Gunji in Pithoragarh district as base camp. The 70K ultra and the 42K are on 24 October, the 21K, 10K and 5K on 25 October, and the Adi Kailash MTB Challenge on 26 October. Entry fees run from Rs 800 for the 5K to Rs 2,000 for the 42K and the 70K, excluding GST and platform fees. Registrations close on 10 October 2026. An Inner Line Permit is mandatory and is arranged by the tourism department, every participant needs a medical certificate from an MBBS doctor dated within 15 days of the race, and the 70K, 42K and 21K each carry a qualifying finish requirement.
What this race actually is
This is not a city marathon that happens to be in the hills. The base camp at Gunji sits at 3,200 m in the Vyas Valley, the remote corner of Dharchula tehsil that carries the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat pilgrimage route, and the 70K ultra starts higher still, at Jyolingkong at 4,600 m, before running down to Gunji. Kuti, on the MTB course, is at 3,700 m and Chiyalekh at 3,600 m.
The organisers are the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Run2live, who frame the event as a model for high-altitude endurance and border tourism. Edition one ran in November 2025 with a 60K as the long distance. The 2026 edition stretches that to 70K and adds a mountain bike challenge on the third day.
Distances, fees and cut-offs
| Category | Race day | Start | Cut-off | Entry fee | Reach Gunji by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70K Ultra | Sat 24 Oct | 5:00 am (4:30 am for one category) | 14 hours | Rs 2,000 | 20 Oct |
| 42K | Sat 24 Oct | 5:00 am | 8 hours | Rs 2,000 | 21 Oct |
| 21K | Sun 25 Oct | 5:00 am, Open 7:30 am | 4 hours | Rs 1,600 | 22 Oct |
| 10K | Sun 25 Oct | 5:00 am, Open 7:30 am | 2 hours | Rs 1,200 | 22 Oct |
| 5K | Sun 25 Oct | 5:00 am, Open 7:30 am | 1 hour | Rs 800 | 22 Oct |
| 50K MTB | Mon 26 Oct | 6:00 am | Not published | Rs 2,000 | 24 Oct |
| 25K MTB | Mon 26 Oct | 6:00 am | Not published | Rs 1,500 | 24 Oct |
Entry fees are the organiser's listed amounts and exclude GST and the booking platform's own fee. Age-group subcategories run at 40+, 50+ and 60+ for men and women alongside the Open categories.
The courses
70K ultra. Starts at Jyolingkong and finishes at Gunji. This is the one that gives the event its reputation, a point-to-point run down the Kuti valley from the Adi Kailash side.
42K, 21K, 10K and 5K. All start and finish at Gunji.
50K MTB. Gunji to Kuti and on for 25 km of climbing, then back down to Gunji. 25K MTB. Gunji towards Nabi and on for 10 km of climbing, then back. Helmets are mandatory and only mountain bikes are allowed. Bib distribution for both is on 25 October from 11 am.
All categories are chip timed. Every finisher gets a T-shirt, a finishing medal, an e-certificate and a goodie bag.
You cannot just enter the long ones
The three longest running categories carry qualifying requirements, which is unusual for an Indian trail event and worth reading before you pay.
- 70K ultra: a certified 42K finish within the last 10 months, or two 21K finishes within the last 6 months, or a finish at Niti Xtreme Ultra 75K or a previous Adi Kailash Ultra, or any ultra finish within a year.
- 42K: any 21K high-altitude run completed within the last 6 months, or two half marathons within the last 10 months.
- 21K: any 10K high-altitude run completed within the last 6 months, or two 10K runs within the last 10 months.
Everyone, in every category including the MTB races, has to carry photo ID and a medical certificate from an MBBS doctor clearing them for high altitude. The certificate is only valid if it is dated within 15 days before the race.
The Inner Line Permit, and why the arrival dates are staggered
Vyas Valley sits on the border and an Inner Line Permit is mandatory for every participant. The organisers say the tourism department arranges it, so this is not a document you chase yourself, though it does mean your entry has to be in well before race week.
The staggered arrival deadlines are the altitude talking. Gunji is at 3,200 m and the organisers want runners acclimatised before they race, so the longer your distance the earlier you have to be there: 20 October for the 70K, 21 October for the 42K, 22 October for the 21K, 10K and 5K, and 24 October for the MTB riders. Treat those as hard dates rather than suggestions. Four nights at Gunji before a 70K that starts at 4,600 m is the thin end of sensible.
A help desk runs at Dharchula. Transport from Dharchula up to Gunji is arranged, at the participant's own cost, and accommodation and food are available across the Vyas Valley, also at your own cost.
Road and permit update, 3 October 2026. The Bailey bridge at Kulagad on the Dharchula to Gunji road was washed away by a landslide on the night of 11 September, closing the road to Gunji. The Border Roads Organisation rebuilt it, and Dharchula SDM Ashish Joshi restarted Inner Line Permits for pilgrims on 20 September (Northern Gazette, 20 Sep). On 28 September he said no permits will go to ordinary Adi Kailash pilgrims from 19 to 26 October, only to the run's participants and support staff (Northern Gazette, 28 Sep). Since then, rain and more than five feet of snow at Gunji and Kuti halted the yatra from 25 to 27 September, and a hillside collapse at Mangti nullah shut the road from the night of 1 October until late on 2 October. The organiser's entry page still showed the 24 to 26 October dates and the 10 October closing date on 3 October. Our landslide detector tracks the road.
Getting there from Haldwani
Kathgodam is the last railhead before the Kumaon hills, which makes Haldwani the practical staging point for anyone arriving by train. From there it is a long way, and not a one-day drive.
- Kathgodam to Pithoragarh, roughly 175 km, about 5 to 6 hours.
- Pithoragarh to Dharchula, roughly 91 km, about 3 hours.
- Dharchula to Gunji, roughly 80 km on a road that wants a 4x4, about 3 to 4 hours.
Those three road stages are widely published figures for the Adi Kailash route rather than organiser numbers, so treat them as planning estimates. The organiser's own arrival deadlines are the dates that matter.
Put together, that is two driving days from Haldwani with a night at Pithoragarh or Dharchula, before the arrival deadline. Work backwards: a 70K runner who has to be at Gunji on 20 October wants to leave Haldwani on 18 October at the latest.
Where to stay the night before you set off
If you are coming off a train at Kathgodam, or flying into Pantnagar and driving up, a night in Haldwani before the long haul north is the sane way to start. Early departures matter here more than usual, since the Pithoragarh road is slow and you do not want to be finishing the Dharchula stretch after dark.
- Hotels near Kathgodam railway station: step off the train and sleep, then start north at first light.
- Cheapest picks near Haldwani station: verified budget options if this is one night in transit.
- Budget stays under Rs 1,500: worth it when the real spending is further up the road.
- Cab operators in Haldwani: for arranging the run up to Pithoragarh or Dharchula.
Or open our Haldwani hotel search and filter by area and price.
Money, refunds and the things still unpublished
Entry fees are Rs 800 for the 5K, Rs 1,200 for the 10K, Rs 1,600 for the 21K and Rs 2,000 for the 42K, the 70K and the 50K MTB, with the 25K MTB at Rs 1,500. All of those exclude GST and the booking platform's own fee, so the amount you actually pay is higher than the headline.
The refund schedule is tiered: 75 per cent more than 45 days out, 50 per cent between 30 and 45 days, 25 per cent between 15 and 30 days, and nothing inside 15 days. The platform's own charge is not refundable at any stage. Counted from the 24 October race day, anyone entering on 3 October is in the 25 per cent tier, and from 9 October nothing is refundable.
Not published at the time of writing: a cut-off time for either MTB distance, and the detailed hour-by-hour schedule for race mornings beyond the start times above.
We list this event editorially. We do not sell entries, take bookings or earn anything from the organiser's links. Confirm fees and terms on the official entry page before you pay.
Good to know
- Registrations close on 10 October 2026, two weeks before the first race day.
- Not running? Ordinary Adi Kailash pilgrims get no Inner Line Permit from 19 to 26 October, so a pilgrimage has to fall before or after the race week.
- The medical certificate has to be dated within 15 days before the race, so getting it too early is as much of a problem as getting it too late.
- Gunji is at 3,200 m and Jyolingkong at 4,600 m. Altitude sickness is the real risk here, not the clock.
- Helmets are compulsory for the MTB races and only mountain bikes are allowed.
- Accommodation, food and the Dharchula to Gunji transport are all at the participant's own cost.
- Queries go to the organisers on 97587 27564, 78300 04030 or 96750 67521, or by email to run2live.in@gmail.com.
Common questions
When is the Adi Kailash Parikrama Run 2.0 2026?
Saturday 24 to Monday 26 October 2026, based at Gunji in Pithoragarh district. The 70K ultra and the 42K run on 24 October, the 21K, 10K and 5K on 25 October, and the Adi Kailash MTB Challenge on 26 October.
What are the distances and entry fees?
Running: 5K at Rs 800, 10K at Rs 1,200, 21K at Rs 1,600, and both the 42K and the 70K ultra at Rs 2,000. MTB: 25K at Rs 1,500 and 50K at Rs 2,000. All fees exclude GST and the booking platform's fee.
What is the last date to register?
10 October 2026. The organiser's entry page closes registrations on that date.
Do I need a qualifying run to enter?
For the three longest running categories, yes. The 70K needs a certified 42K finish within 10 months, or two 21K finishes within 6 months, or a Niti Xtreme Ultra 75K or previous Adi Kailash Ultra finish, or any ultra finish within a year. The 42K needs a 21K high-altitude run within 6 months or two half marathons within 10 months. The 21K needs a 10K high-altitude run within 6 months or two 10K runs within 10 months.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. An Inner Line Permit is mandatory for every participant because Vyas Valley is a border area. The organisers say the tourism department arranges it. Every participant also needs photo ID and a medical certificate from an MBBS doctor dated within 15 days before the race.
How high is the course?
Gunji, the base camp, is at 3,200 m. The 70K ultra starts at Jyolingkong at 4,600 m. Kuti, on the 50K MTB route, is at 3,700 m and Chiyalekh at 3,600 m.
How do I get to Gunji from Haldwani?
Kathgodam is the nearest railhead. By road it is roughly 175 km to Pithoragarh, another 91 km to Dharchula and about 80 km more to Gunji on a road that needs a 4x4. Plan two driving days with a night at Pithoragarh or Dharchula, and arrive before your category's deadline. Transport from Dharchula to Gunji is arranged by the organisers at your own cost.
When do I have to reach Gunji?
20 October for the 70K, 21 October for the 42K, 22 October for the 21K, 10K and 5K, and 24 October for the MTB riders. The staggered deadlines exist so runners acclimatise before racing.
How we listed this
We list local and regional events editorially and are not the organiser. The dates, race days, distances, start times, cut-offs, entry fees, refund tiers, qualifying rules, arrival deadlines, altitudes and contact details on this page are read off the official entry page on Evantik on 27 September 2026 and rechecked on 3 October 2026, published by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Run2live. The three road stages from Kathgodam are widely published figures for the Adi Kailash route rather than organiser numbers, and are flagged as estimates where they appear. The staging advice and the Haldwani stay notes are ours. If anything changes, the organiser announces it, not us. Tell us at hih.editorial@gmail.com if anything here has gone out of date.