Snowman Race 2026: Laya to Bumthang Ultra Starts 24 October

By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · October 16, 2026 · 8 min read

The Snowman Race 2026 starts on 24 October, according to the official Snowman Race website. It is the third edition of Bhutan's high-altitude ultramarathon, and it follows the line of the Snowman Trek, one of the hardest treks in the Himalaya. Runners start in Laya, in Gasa district, and finish in Bumthang. Most trekkers walk this kind of distance in more than three weeks. The runners have five days.

BBS reported on 16 October that the field has 17 athletes: 11 from abroad and six from Bhutan, made up of nine men and eight women. The race was first held in 2022 to draw attention to climate change in the Himalaya. It is run as a climate awareness event, not a commercial race, and there is no prize money (ATRA event listing).

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail2026 Snowman Race
Start date24 October 2026
DurationFive days
StartLaya, Gasa district
FinishNational Day ground beside Wangduechhoeling Palace, Bumthang (earlier editions finished at Chamkhar)
DistanceAbout 185 km according to BBS and the organiser's race description (a banner on the same site says 203 km)
Highest pass5,470 m (17,946 ft)
Field17 athletes per BBS (11 international, 6 Bhutanese; the organiser's site lists 16 qualified athletes)
EditionThird (2022, 2024, 2026)
PurposeClimate change awareness
SecretariatTarayana Centre, Thimphu
Prize moneyNone

The numbers above come straight from the sources linked in this article. Where sources disagree, both figures are shown. The organiser's site gives two distances for the course, and BBS and the site differ by one runner. We will update this page once official results are published.

What Is the Snowman Race?

The Snowman Race is a five-day stage race along part of the old Snowman Trek route through Jigme Dorji National Park and the Lunana region. The course crosses some of the highest passes in Bhutan, and 90% of it is on unpaved trail, according to the ATRA listing. Runners carry cold-weather and sleeping gear, and they usually spend nights in village homes along the route, as US runner Rachel Entrekin describes in a pre-race post published on 7 October.

The organisers call it "The Ultimate Race for Climate Action" (snowmanrace.org). National partners listed on the site include the Royal Government of Bhutan, UNDP, UN Bhutan, UNICEF and WWF Bhutan. Luis Escobar is listed as race director.

What has changed since 2024

Past winners

According to ATRA's report on the 2024 race, Bhutan's Karma Yangden won the first edition in 2022. In 2024, Sangay Wangchuk of Bhutan won overall and Rosanna Buchauer was the top woman. Bhutanese marathoner Kinzang Lhamo, who later ran the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finished second in the 2022 race (Wikipedia).

Who Is Running in 2026

BBS profiled three of the international runners:

US runner Rachel Entrekin has written that she is running, along with Luke Nelson, Cody Lind and Nancy Jiang (Entrekin's post). Six Bhutanese runners make up the rest of the field. BBS did not name them.

Why the Race Matters

The Snowman Race is small, with fewer than 20 runners, but its route goes through the part of Bhutan where climate change is easiest to see. Lunana sits below glaciers that feed glacial lakes such as Thorthormi. On 13 October, BBS reported that the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology's pilot siphon at Thorthormi Lake is now running at a stable flow. The siphon is part of a long-term effort to lower the flood risk to the Punakha and Wangdue valleys downstream. Our Thorthormi Lake explainer covers that project in detail.

The race also gives the Snowman route international attention. Very few visitors ever trek it, because it is long, expensive and sometimes closed by snow. When ultrarunners from the US, Europe and South Africa write and post about it, more trekkers start asking about the route.

What It Means for Travellers

You cannot enter, but you can plan around it. The field is limited to qualified, invited athletes, and the organiser's site lists only 16 qualified runners. There is no open category for visitors.

Trekking in late October? Expect company on the trail. If you are booked on the Laya Trek or a Lunana route between about 24 and 28 October, you may cross paths with runners, support crews and race officials. Ask your tour operator whether your campsites or passes overlap with the race and whether that affects horse or yak arrangements. Late October is normally one of the best months for high treks, with clear post-monsoon skies, so the trails are already at their busiest.

Bumthang will be busy. The finish at Wangduechhoeling Palace is in the Chamkhar valley of Bumthang. If you are in central Bhutan at the end of October, the finish may be worth seeing. The organiser has not published a spectator schedule, so check the race's social media channels (hashtag #SnowManRace) closer to the date.

Want to walk the route yourself? The full Snowman Trek is a 25-day-plus expedition crossing 11 passes above 4,500 m. Our Bhutan trekking guide covers permits, seasons and acclimatisation, and our Snowman Trek itinerary shows a full day-by-day plan. Most trekkers do the shorter Laya-Gasa route first to see how they handle the altitude.

Costs still apply. Trekkers pay the same Sustainable Development Fee as other visitors: USD 100 per person per night for most international visitors. See our SDF guide for current rates and exemptions.

Planning Links

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Snowman Race 2026?

It starts on 24 October 2026 and lasts five days, according to the official race website. If it follows the 2024 schedule, runners should reach Bumthang around 28 October.

How long is the Snowman Race in Bhutan?

BBS and the organiser's race description give about 185 km, from Laya in Gasa to Bumthang. The organiser's website banner shows 203 km, so the exact course length is not yet confirmed. The highest pass is 5,470 m.

Can tourists take part in the Snowman Race?

No. The race is for a small field of qualified, invited athletes, 17 in 2026 according to BBS. Visitors can trek parts of the route, such as the Laya Trek, with a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.

Who won the last Snowman Race?

In 2024, Sangay Wangchuk of Bhutan won overall and Rosanna Buchauer was the first woman, according to ATRA. Karma Yangden of Bhutan won the first race in 2022.

Is the Snowman Trek open to trekkers?

Yes, it is open with a licensed operator. The usual season is late summer to October, and snow can close the high passes. It takes more than 25 days and is one of the hardest treks in the Himalaya.

Sources

Planning a high trek in Bhutan this season or next? Talk to us. We plan routes around acclimatisation, weather windows and realistic daily distances.