Event
Registration closed UTMB® Index · 100KThe Altai Odyssey 160
Announcement
UTMB®
Index Race
UTMB® Index
·
100K
The Altai Odyssey 160 is now officially a UTMB® Index Race in the 100K category. Run Mongolia has joined the global circuit.
What this means for you
By finishing the Altai Odyssey 160, you will officially earn your UTMB® Index. This index is your passport to the world's most prestigious trail races and is used to determine your start wave and entry eligibility for UTMB® World Series events.
Uncompromising Challenge.
Globally Recognized.
The Expedition
160km Into
The Holy Peaks
Welcome to the Altai Tavan Bogd — the “Five Holy Peaks” — where the borders of Mongolia, Russia, and China converge in a landscape of glacial ice, turquoise lakes, and eternal blue skies.
This isn’t just a race. It is a four-stage voyage across a land where time has stood still for ten thousand years. No manicured trails. No crowded trailheads. Just wilderness, silence, and the pull of the mountains.
Why Run The Odyssey
Triple Border
Stand on lookouts where the borders of Mongolia, Russia, and China meet — three nations visible from a single ridge.
Glacial Pulse
Trace the milky-white waters of the Tsagaan Gol as it flows directly from the heart of the Potanin Glacier — Mongolia’s longest.
Ancient Heritage
Run past UNESCO-protected petroglyphs and nomadic Kazakh eagle hunters who still roam the steppe as their ancestors did.
Camel Caravan
Your expedition is supported by a traditional Bactrian camel caravan — ancient nomadic logistics meet modern endurance racing.
The Challenge
164.5 kilometers. 4 race stages. High-altitude mountain passes. Siberian larch forests. Glacier-fed rivers.
The Altai Odyssey 160 is a test of grit, spirit, and soul. Whether you are racing for the podium or journeying to find yourself, the Five Holy Peaks will change you forever.
Race Technical Summary
164.5km
Total Distance
+2,200m
Elevation Gain
3,117m
Max Elevation
Difficult
Technical · High-Altitude
Route Overview
Interactive route map is temporarily unavailable.
The Journey
6 Days. 5 Camps.
One Odyssey.
A staged ultramarathon across the Altai Tavan Bogd. Four race days. Two days of arrival and ceremony. Every kilometer earned on foot, every night under stars.
Day 1 · Arrival & Acclimatization
President's Ascent
Morning
Transfer from Ulgii City to Erunhiilugciin Owoo — a sacred high-altitude site that marks the gateway to the expedition.
Midday
Navigate the rugged eastern ridges of the Altai Tavan Bogd, gaining significant elevation as you approach the glacier zones.
Evening
Arrival at Base Camp 1 (Glacier View). Overnight in mobile expedition tents overlooking the ice fields.
Day 2 · Race Start
The Potanin Crossing
Morning
Race start. A technical descent and parallel run along the massive Potanin Glacier, the longest glacier in Mongolia.
Midday
The route follows the Tsagaan Gol (White River), known for its milky glacial waters and ancient petroglyph fields.
Evening
Arrival at Base Camp 2 (Riverside). Cultural dinner with local Tuvan nomadic families.
Day 3 · Ridge & Pass
Last Rocks
Morning
Leave the Tsagaan Gol riverside and pick up the rugged perimeter of the lake system — the most technical footing of the race begins here.
Midday
Sandy washes and rocky outcrops demand constant focus on foot placement along the water's edge.
Evening
Arrival at Base Camp 3 — the Har Nuur mobile tent camp. A night under the stars on the shores of Khar Nuur.
Day 4 · Alpine Lakeshores
Lakes of the Nomads
Morning
Climb from Khar Nuur onto rocky highlands, the entire lake system opening up behind you.
Midday
Technical trail running toward Khoton Nuur and Khurgan Nuur — two of the most stunning alpine lakes in the region — past the Kazakh eagle hunters' summer camps.
Evening
Arrival at Base Camp 4 — the Khoton Nuur ger camp. A night beside the water before the final push.
Day 5 · Summit & Finish
The Final Frontier
Morning
A final ascent over a high mountain pass — panoramic views of the entire Altai range. Trail running along Khoton Nuur and Khurgan Nuur, known locally as Siirgali.
Midday
The final technical descent into the finish-line valley of Baga Turgen Waterfall.
Evening
Finish line celebration. A celebratory feast and fire festival to mark the completion of the pilgrimage.
Day 6 · Awards & Return
Closing Ceremony
Morning
Breakfast on the shores of Khoton Lake at the final campsite.
Midday
Award and closing ceremony. Return transfer to Ulgii City.
Evening
Rest, recovery, and the long journey home — changed.