Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?
Our stunning Capital to Country Ultra will see you run through the mesmerising Nepalese foothills with the mountains as your backdrop.
This self-sufficient, 123-mile race has been described as a cross between two of the top ultra races on the planet: The Marathon des Sables and the Ultra-Trial du Mont-Blanc.
It offers entrants the chance to immerse themselves in the culture of Nepal, as well as presenting them with a genuine physical challenge in a unique environment.
For those of you who decided to take on this most unique of challenges, your adventure will start with a visit to the World Heritage Site of the Monkey Temple or Swayambhunath in the west of Kathmandu City.
Here you will warm-up with a steep step climb, before returning to the hotel for lunch and a final kit-check after some sightseeing and shopping time.
The historic town of Sanku in the north eastern corner of the Kathmandu valley will be your starting point for this epic journey through Nepal.
Following jeep tracks cut in the hillsides, you will pass through incredible tree covered hills and round breathtaking drops.
The journey will take you through a diverse mixture of towns and villages, and into areas tourists don’t normally see.
Expect a warm welcome and some jaw-dropping temples and holy sites, coupled with panoramas of lush vegetation and snow-capped peaks.
This is a race which is more than worth the steep ascents it traverses through, and comes with the extra advantage of being truly sustainable and providing a boost to what is a precious local economy.
Runners will stay in pre-prepared campsites for the first three nights, and then enjoy the relative luxury of a village bunk house or tents on nights four and five.
On the morning of the fifth day, you will be woken by the sound of a chanting monk who will be blessing the mountain and our runners.
After that, you will be itching to complete the challenge on the final day before enjoying a well-earned traditional meal cooked by the ladies of the village.
We’ll finish with a short downhill walk – you’ll welcome it by then! – to a bus back to Kathmandu, where you will have some time to explore the city and enjoy our farewell meal.
Throughout your adventure, you will be taken care of by our fantastic local race manager and his team, who know the area like the back of their hands.
We are taking only a small team with us from England, along with minimal equipment and trackers that we can’t source in Nepal.
Everything else is bought locally and we are paying our local team well in order to help give something back to Nepal in a positive way.
That said, our ever-hospitable Nepalese hosts will want to look after you so may provide tea, coffee etc at the campsites – that is not cheating! This is meant to be a tough race, but also on that is fun at heart and not an excuse for suffering.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL 07989850170.
Arrive in Kathmandu by 9am 24th November 2024. Event starts 25th November 2024 until 1st December 2024
£325 Initial deposit (non refundable) payable on booking.
Followed by:
3 Payments:
£425 due by 31st July 2024/£450 – due by 31st August 2024/£450 due by 30th September 2024 – Total payable £1650
Register your interest for 2025 email admin@gobeyondchallenge.co.uk
Book your place for 2025
For information about charity places or general enquiries please contact us.
Run Ultra: Capital to Country Nepal – a new multi-day event
Run ABC: ‘UTMB meets MDS’ in Nepal – is this the ultimate bucket list ultra?
Ultra Runner Magazine: Race report – Capital to Country Multi-Day Ultra in Nepal
Run, Tri, Bike: Capital to Country – The spiritual race that ‘combines UTMB and the Marathon des Sables’
Running Tales: From Capital to Country – The spiritual race that ‘combines UTMB and the Marathon des Sables’
Capital to Country is a multi day Ultra Marathon starting on the edge of the ancient Nepalese capital Kathmandu and winding its way through the foothills to Lama Village for the final stage. The terrain will be a mix of roads, jeep trails and challenging off road paths
We will email you to confirm that it is safe to book your flight. Naturally holding an event in a different country requires some pre-race checks! There are approximately 12 flights per day to Kathmandu, there are no direct flights from the UK so you can fly via Doha, Delhi, Kuwait or Istanbul, average flight times are approx.13 hours. Please book your flights to arrive in Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu (KTM) no later than the 24th November 2024 at 9am. We recommend searching for flights through Skyscanner. Once you have booked your flight please let us know the flight number an arrival time. It is a 20 minute journey from the airport to the hotel.
You will arrive at the Hotel Moonlight by the 24th November.
Day one (Sunday 24th November) – a 30 minute walk to the Monkey Temple to get some spiritual guidance for the next few days running and a little warm up with a serious amount of steps to climb. After walking back to the hotel we will have lunch, then you will have time for some shopping and sightseeing. In the evening we will carryout the kit check, then its off to bed for a final night of comfort for a few days!
Day Two (Monday 25th November) An early start with a packed breakfast to collect from reception. Then we say good bye to our suitcases and get on the bus to the start, a 40 minute drive to Sankhu. The race starts with stage one approx. 26.5 miles to Kasibanjayang – camp overnight
Day Three (Tuesday 26th November) approx. 23 miles via the Dhuikhel view point to Bhukundebesi – camp overnight
Day Four (Wednesday 27th November) Bhukundebesi to Mukpatar approx. 30 miles – camp overnight
Day Five (Thursday 28th November) Mukpatar to Manegaun Village (the Lama home) approx. 16 miles – rooms in the bunk house or tent and a flushing toilet!
Day Five (Friday 29th November) the Lama Trail Marathon approx. 27 miles in a loop around the village – rooms in the bunk house or tent. End of event traditional Nepalese party .
Day Six (Saturday 30th November) – Breakfast cooked by our Nepalese hosts followed by a downhill walk to the bus pickup point and the drive back to Kathmandu to be reunited at the Hotel Moonlight with your real clothes! The day is then your own to explore the city , visit The Garden of Dreams and then our farewell meal and prize giving.
Day Seven (Sunday 1st December) – fly home or extend your trip to further explore this amazing country
Wake up, wash, have breakfast, prepared kit, run, finish stage, get water for washing, relax, get daily briefing outlining the next day’s distance, elevation, weather, sunrise, wake up time and stage start time. Go to bed when its gets dark (about 6pm – well what else are you gong to do int he middle of knowhere?) Repeat!
The course will be marked by our experienced local team. You will have an electronic tracker so we can monitor your progress
We will provide water at a number of places during each stage and hot water at each overnight stop for your food.
It is likely to be around 20 degrees during the day and bright sunshine. At night the temperature drops quite quickly after sunset. The humidity is relatively high so you are likely to be quite sweaty during the day. Overnight it gets very damp so it is difficult to dry kit after sunset.
Don’t forget that you have to carry all of this kit whilst negotiating the steep terrain so only carry essential items (leave your book at home!). Poles are optional but given the amount of elevation are worth considering if you are used to running with them.
For the event we will have a local medical team who will assist with any basic needs. You must have medical insurance to cover any serious issues and helicopter evacuation back to Kathmandu. Once this is booked you must provide a copy of your insurance and the emergency contact number they have provided.
Due to the strenuous physical demands of a multi day ultra marathon event Capital to Country is restricted to competitors over 18 years of age only.
Your stay at the Hotel Moonlight on the nights of the 24th November and 3oth November based on two sharing are included in the cost of the event .
The Geo Tracks GPS Tracker is lightweight and easily fits in a small pocket in your rucksack. Your family and friends can track your progress in real-time and you can use the Geo Tracks app combined with the tracker as an accurate tool for navigation during the event. The Event can be followed using the web link or via the app which can be purchased prior to the event for Apple or for Android. When opening the web link please click on start times and this will display a list of bib numbers (they are sorted alphabetically by surname). The GPS Tracking units upload your position every 10 seconds to the live view tracking map and are accurate to 5 metres. To find out more please visit the Geo Tracks website.
STAGE ONE – Sankhu- Chhauki Banjayang-Nagarkot-Kasibanjayang. Approx 27 miles
After collecting your packed breakfast it’s a 45 minute bus drive from our hotel to East Kathmandu, to a place called Sankhu the start our event. Sankhu is a historical ancient town located in the north-eastern corner of the Kathmandu Valley, which is about 17 km from the city centre of Kathmandu. The people who live here are traditionally called Newars. From Sankhu (4500 ft) to Jhule (6531ft) we have to run up hill. From Jhule to Kattike Banjayang is easier but from Kattike (5769ft) to Tourist site Nagarkot (6353ft) is another climb and then from there is mostly down hills and flat to Kasibanjayang. – Overnight camping
STAGE TWO – Kasibanjayang- Dobas-Dhulikhel- Dhulikhel View Point- Kavre Banjayang- Namobuddha- Dapchha- Kakre- Bhakundebesi. Approx 23 miles
Today our running trail is mostly up and down with some incredible views. We have to run around 1 mile on black top road and you will have to carefully cross the main road as well, there will be a marshal there to help.
Overnight camping
STAGE THREE – Bhakundebesi- Kanpur-Kot Timal- Narayanthan- Tholoparsil- Dulgu- Chovatar- Mukpatar. Approx 30 miles
The view of the mountains from the running trail is just spectacular. Of course you will also see the dramatic landscapes of terraced farmland. The culture and traditions of the Tamang community are the main attraction of this stage. Although, in Temal area there are other castes or communities (Braman, Chhetri, Dalit(lower cast) as well, but the majority of people living here are Tamang from the historic Tamang Empire .
Overnight camping on the beach by the side of glacial Sunkoshi river
STAGE FOUR – Mukpatar-Titretar-Tilchaur-Yougar-Mechhe-Longsal-Kaldunga- Lama Home. Approx 16 miles
Admire the stunning natural beauty around you, mixed with an unspoiled ethnic life style. The most significant attraction of the region is its exciting rural community, friendly and affectionate people. Enjoy the majestic view of Gauri Shankar (7134m/23405ft) and the Himalayan range of Langtang and a multitude of small peaks
STAGE FIVE – Lama Trail marathon. Approx 26 miles
You will be woken by the sound of the chanting monk who will be blessing the mountains and the runners. This route will take you in the sacred footsteps of the Grand Master Buddha through the heart of traditional Nepalese villages
1st Male – Tarne Westcott – 30 Hours 3 Minutes
1st Female – Helen Ramwell – 30 hours 59 minutes
How can I find out more about the event itself? There is a book written about taking part in the event – 862 to Kathmandu – get your copy on Amazon
How will I find a cheap flight and when should I book it? We found that Skyscanner.net is a good place to find good value flights. We suggest you book approx. 3 months before.
Do I need a visa for Nepal? Yes, you have two options here. You can either buy it in advance from the Nepalese Embassy (you will need to send off your passport ) or you can buy your visa at the airport on arrival but be prepared to queue. The cost at time of writing the was £25 GBP or $30 USD
Can I get currency before I travel? No, Nepal has a closed currency so you will need to exchange your money on arrival. There are currency exchange shops on every street with the same rate of exchange. It is worth getting some currency exchanged at the airport in case you need to arrange a taxi to the hotel. There is also an ATM by the Hotel Moonlight. The local currency is the rupee.
Will I need vaccinations? You will need to take advice from a healthcare professional, they should be aware that there are lots of roaming dogs and monkeys on the course – https://www.passporthealthglobal.com/en-gb/destination-advice/nepal/#vaccines.
Where is the hotel? – Your hotel is the Hotel Moonlight and your event price is based to two sharing. The hotel is on Paknajol Marg, KTM44600
What sort of travel plug will I need? https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/advice-for-you/when-travelling/travel-adaptor-for-nepal/ The most common sockets are type C and type D
Can I get a local SIM card – these are available at the airport, you will often be asked to provide a photo which they will charge extra for if you don’t have one. The cost is approx. $5 for 12GB/7 days
Could I walk the event? Yes we had a power walker on the first event who completed each stage in daylight. You should be able to average a minimum of 3 miles per hour in steep terrain
What is the time zone in Nepal – Nepal uses Nepal Time (NPT). Standard time is used all year, and the country has never used Daylight Saving Time (DST). Unlike most countries, Nepal, with its UTC offset of +5:45, has a 45-minute offset instead of the usual full-hour offset: Clocks in Nepal are 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of UTC.
What will the weather be like in November/December? Expect warm sunny days between 19 and 23 degrees C. The evenings will be cool between 7 and 3 degrees C
Will I feel the effects of altitude? It is most common above 2500m altitude, so you’re unlikely to be significantly affected in Kathmandu (1400m) or much of the rest of the country.
Will I need insurance? Yes you will need travel insurance and helicopter medical evacuation cover. You will be running in a remote environment. We will require a copy of your insurance and an emergency contact number.
Is the course marked? Yes our local team will mark the course and make sure that it is easy to follow. We will also be monitoring the race with electronic trackers to ensure your safety.
Is there a mandatory kit list? Yes, please see the race information tab.
What happens if I get injured or want to drop out? Please let a member of the team know either at a checkpoint or a member of the mobile team. We can then make you part of the event team until our return to Kathmandu
Will I need a lot of money in Kathmandu? No, a pizza costs about £7 and a beer about £3.50. You will have to pay to enter some tourist attractions
What if I have a question not covered above? Please email us admin@gobeyondchallenge.co.uk