📅 Dates: 27 November – 6 December 2026
📍 Week 1 Hub: Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province
📍 Week 2 Hub: Chiang Mai PAO Park, Chiang Mai City
🏔️ Flagship race: Chiang Dao 160 — 173km / 9,800m+ / 48-hour limit
🎌 Series status: UTMB World Series — Asia-Pacific Major (double Running Stones in every race)
🏆 Finals access: Top 10 men/women + age-group winners in 100M, 100K and OCC-qualifying 50K earn direct UTMB Finals entry
🔑 Registration: Open now via RunningConnect + MyUTMB account (priority period for UTMB Index holders closed)
🗓️ Registration deadline: 31 October 2026, 10:00 AM GMT+7 — or until sold out
💰 Prize money: Up to €5,000 per gender per race (Chiang Dao 160, Elephant 100, Pagoda 50-Day)
🌐 Official website: chiangmai.utmb.world
The Race Spread Across Two Mountains, Two Weeks, Twelve Formats
There is no other trail running event quite structured like this one. HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB® is not a single race with a single start gun. It is a ten-day festival spread across two weeks, two iconic mountain hubs and twelve race formats — from a 3km warm-up jog at PAO Park all the way to the Chiang Dao 160, a 173-kilometre brute with 9,800 metres of climbing that will have you running through the night and deep into the following day. As the Asia-Pacific Major on the UTMB World Series, every race here pays out double Running Stones. That makes it the most stone-efficient event on the calendar outside of Chamonix itself.
The 2026 edition is the seventh time Thailand has hosted a UTMB World Series event, and the organisers have made real changes this year. The PAGODA 50-NIGHT is brand new — a night run at Doi Inthanon that reaches the twin pagodas just as dawn breaks. The Chiang Dao 160 has grown again, now officially 173km with 9,800 metres of gain, a significant jump from the 168km/8,100m edition runners tackled in 2025. The PAGODA 50-DAY has been moved to Week 1 and now carries OCC direct Finals entry for the top 10 and age-group winners — a change that will sharpen the elite field in the opening weekend considerably.
The setting alone justifies the flight. Week 1 puts you in Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand’s highest mountain and misty cloud forests that feel more like the Himalayas than Southeast Asia. Week 2 shifts to PAO Park in Chiang Mai city, where the finish line sits in the shadow of northern Thailand’s cultural capital. Between those two hubs, the courses thread through Hmong hill tribe villages, Buddhist cave temples, UNESCO biosphere reserve terrain, limestone ridgelines and jungle waterfalls. The sport rarely offers this kind of immersion.
Who should be here in 2026? Stone hunters targeting UTMB or CCC Finals entry, given the double-stone payout across both weeks. Runners who want to run a major UTMB World Series event without European prices or European queues. Trail runners based in Asia who have been watching the event grow from the outside and know it is time to stop watching. And anyone who has been looking for a reason to spend two weeks in Chiang Mai — because this is the best one on the running calendar.
Race at a Glance — All 12 Formats
| Race | Distance | Elevation Gain | Running Stones | Start Date & Time | Start Location | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAGODA 50-DAY ⭐ OCC Direct Entry | 57 km | 3,600 m+ | 4 | Sat 28 Nov, 07:00 | Doi Inthanon NP HQ | TBC |
| PAGODA 50-NIGHT 🆕 | 57 km | 3,600 m+ | 4 | Sat 28 Nov, night | Doi Inthanon NP HQ | TBC |
| INTHANON 20 | 20 km | 800 m+ | 2 | Sun 29 Nov | Doi Inthanon NP HQ | TBC |
| WARM UP RUN – INTHANON | 5 km | 240 m+ | — | Sun 29 Nov | Doi Inthanon NP HQ | Open |
| ELEPHANT 100 | 100 km | 5,500 m+ | 6 | Fri 4 Dec, 08:00 | Wat Nhong Bua Noi | 28 hours |
| CHIANG DAO 160 | 173 km | 9,800 m+ | 8 | Fri 4 Dec, 10:00 | Wat Tham Chiang Dao | 48 hours |
| WARM UP RUN – PAO PARK | 3 km | 100 m+ | — | Fri 4 Dec | Chiang Mai PAO Park | Open |
| HMONG 50-DAY | 63 km | 3,000 m+ | 4 | Sat 5 Dec, 06:00 | Chiang Mai PAO Park | TBC |
| SUTHEP 20-NIGHT | 26 km | 1,100 m+ | 2 | Sat 5 Dec, evening | Chiang Mai PAO Park | TBC |
| HMONG 50-NIGHT | 63 km | 3,000 m+ | 4 | Sat 5 Dec, 18:00 | Chiang Mai PAO Park | TBC |
| SUTHEP 20-DAY | 26 km | 1,100 m+ | 2 | Sun 6 Dec | Chiang Mai PAO Park | TBC |
| CHEDI 20 | 17 km | 700 m+ | 2 | Sun 6 Dec | Chiang Mai PAO Park | TBC |
Running Stones reminder: All races at this Asia-Pacific Major award double Running Stones. A runner who completes Chiang Dao 160 earns 16 stones — equivalent to finishing two regular UTMB World Series events. Stack both weeks and you can bank up to 34 stones across the full event.
What Makes HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB Worth Running?
It Is the Only Asian Major — and That Changes Everything
The UTMB World Series has events across six continents but only one Asia-Pacific Major. That designation matters because Majors pay double Running Stones. If you are anywhere in Asia and building toward a UTMB Finals start, this event is your most efficient path. The top 10 finishers and age-group winners in the 100M, 100K and qualifying 50K categories earn direct entry to the Finals — no lottery, no stone counting, just show up and race hard. For Asia-based runners who have watched European athletes punch their tickets at UTMB Mont-Blanc for years, Chiang Mai is finally the answer on home turf.
Four Mountains, One City, Zero Wasted Days
The race uses four distinct mountains as its canvas. Doi Inthanon — Thailand’s highest at 2,565 metres — anchors Week 1. The twin pagodas near its summit are one of the most striking landmarks you will pass on any trail race in Asia. Week 2 shifts to the Doi Suthep-Pui massif and the ridgelines around Chiang Dao, threading through Hmong and Karen villages that have barely changed in decades. The finish at PAO Park drops you back into the cultural heart of Chiang Mai, where the food, temples and night markets are as good as the running. Unlike a standalone ultra where you fly in, race and fly home, this event rewards staying for both weeks.
Twelve Distances — One of Them Is Made for You
Not every runner needs to run 173 kilometres to be part of this event. The 17km CHEDI 20 is a genuine trail race with 700 metres of climbing, not a fun run. The SUTHEP 20 in both day and night formats gives first-timers a real mountain experience from PAO Park. The HMONG 50 and PAGODA 50 sit comfortably in the middle distance bracket that most recreational trail runners are chasing for stone accumulation. The multi-race structure also means you can spread your effort across both weeks — run the INTHANON 20 on Sunday and the HMONG 50-DAY the following Saturday, banking 6 stones on two weekends without ever toeing a line longer than 63km.
The Course Terrain Is Technically Unlike Anything in Europe
Trail racing in Thailand is humid, rooty and jungle-dark after sunset. The Chiang Dao 160 starts at a limestone cave temple complex and climbs immediately into dense forest where the trail is narrow, the surface changes constantly and the route markers become your lifeline. The high ridges around San Pa Kia and Doi Pha Sam Liam at 2,000-plus metres deliver panoramic views that runners describe as the single best moment of the race. Then the descent into the Mae Taeng valley sends your quads into survival mode, and you are still only halfway through. This is not an Alpine race with groomed paths. It is Asian mountain running — more demanding technically and more punishing climatically than the elevation profile suggests.
The Atmosphere at PAO Park Is a Proper Festival
Chiang Mai PAO Park functions as the race village for all Week 2 events. Crews, supporters and runners from 89 countries shared this space in 2025. December 5 falls during Thailand’s National Day observances, which adds a layer of local celebration to the race weekend. The finish line atmosphere, especially for Chiang Dao 160 runners arriving at odd hours of the night, is exactly what you want at the end of a 48-hour effort: noise, food and people who understand what you just did.
What’s New in 2026 Changes the Strategic Calculus
Three changes matter most to runners planning which races to enter. First, the PAGODA 50-NIGHT is a completely new race — a night run at Doi Inthanon reaching the twin pagodas at dawn. If you want a 50K-distance experience that is genuinely different from any other race on the calendar, this is it. Second, the PAGODA 50-DAY now carries OCC direct Finals entry for top 10 and age-group finishers, making the Week 1 elite field considerably sharper. Third, the Chiang Dao 160 is longer and harder in 2026 — 173km with 9,800 metres of gain versus 168km/8,100m last year. Anyone using 2025 finishing times as a benchmark for their 2026 planning needs to recalibrate.
The Courses — What You Are Actually Running
Event geography: Two distinct hubs 90 minutes apart by road. Week 1 is set in Doi Inthanon National Park at altitude (park HQ at ~1,000m; summit at 2,565m). Week 2 centres on Chiang Mai PAO Park at city level (~310m elevation) with courses climbing into Doi Suthep-Pui NP and the ridgelines of the Chiang Dao massif. All major races are point-to-point. The finish for all Week 2 races is Chiang Mai PAO Park. Shuttle buses run between the city and start lines.
Trail character: Rooty jungle singletrack, limestone ridge paths, Hmong village dirt roads, forest fire-break tracks and occasional short tarmac sections linking segments. Surface is varied and becomes significantly more technical above 1,500m. Night sections demand good headlamp coverage — course tape is frequent but the jungle floor is uneven.
Altitude note: Chiang Dao 160 and Elephant 100 runners spend meaningful time above 1,800m. The heat at valley-level starts (25–30°C at 10am in December) and the cold at high ridges (8–12°C at night) create a 15–20°C temperature swing within the same race. Mandatory gear lists reflect this.
Week 1: Doi Inthanon — PAGODA 50 (Day and Night) and INTHANON 20
Both PAGODA 50 races start and finish at Doi Inthanon National Park HQ. The day race sets off at 07:00 on Saturday November 28 — early enough to hit the high sections before full heat builds. The route climbs toward the summit zone, passes the twin royal pagodas (Naphamethanidon and Naphaphonphumisiri) and works along the ridge terrain that makes Doi Inthanon a legitimate mountain race rather than a glorified hill run. The PAGODA 50-NIGHT is a new race in 2026, deliberately timed so runners reach the twin pagodas at dawn — one of the better ideas the organisers have had in recent years. The INTHANON 20 on Sunday is a two-stone standalone race covering 20km with 800 metres of gain, a solid entry point for runners new to this event.
Chiang Dao 160 — The Flagship
Starts Friday December 4 at 10:00 from Wat Tham Chiang Dao — a limestone cave temple that sets the tone immediately. From the cave complex the route begins to climb, working northeast toward the high ridgelines of the Chiang Dao massif. The first major technical section hits around Aid A3 at Pagia Highland Research Station (~80km in) where runners gain the upper ridges at 2,000+ metres. The view from Doi Pha Sam Liam is the photograph on your phone for the next three years. Aid A7 at Mae Taeng Watershed Research Station (~100–110km) marks the descent into the valley — this is where legs start to accumulate damage. The route then threads through several more aid stations including Maesa Elephant Camp (A13), Wat Doi Pui (A15) and Monthathan Waterfall (A16) before descending to finish at PAO Park. Sixteen aid stations total. The 48-hour limit sounds generous until you account for the cumulative climbing and the technical night sections between A8 and A12. In 2025, 24% of starters did not finish.
Elephant 100 — The 100K Option
Starts one hour before Chiang Dao 160 at 08:00 from Wat Nhong Bua Noi on December 4. This is a 100km point-to-point with 5,500 metres of gain and a 28-hour limit. The route passes Wat Phra Phutthabat Si Roi, the Hmong village at Ban Doi Pui, panoramic viewpoint at Doi Mon Jam and Mae Sa Elephant Camp before finishing at PAO Park. Nine aid stations. In 2025 Miguel Arsenio won in 9:14:20 and 90% of starters finished — a notably better completion rate than the 160 and a testament to the course’s challenging but achievable nature at the 100K distance.
HMONG 50-DAY and HMONG 50-NIGHT — The High-Volume 50K
Both races start from PAO Park on Saturday December 5 (day at 06:00, night at 18:00) and cover 63km with 3,000 metres of gain. These are the mass-participation races of the event — in 2025 the HMONG 50-DAY alone had 2,151 starters and a 98% completion rate. That completion rate is partly because the course is well-designed and partly because experienced trail runners know to respect a 63km race with 3,000m of climbing even when the start feels festive. Both races earn 4 Running Stones.
SUTHEP 20 (Day and Night), CHEDI 20 — The Shorter Distances
All three start from PAO Park on December 5-6. The SUTHEP 20 covers 26km with 1,100m of gain in either a night or day format — both earn 2 stones. The CHEDI 20 is the shortest stone-earning race at 17km with 700m of gain. These are not novelty events: a 26km trail race with 1,100 metres of climbing into Doi Suthep-Pui National Park is a proper morning in the mountains. For international runners combining tourism and trail running, the 20K distances are the sweet spot.
Race Strategy — Specific to These Courses
Chiang Dao 160: The race is won between Aid A7 and A12, not in the first 50km. The start at 10am from Wat Tham Chiang Dao is the most dangerous moment of the race for recreational runners. The atmosphere is electric, the weather is cool relative to Bangkok, and the route is runnable. Runners consistently go out 15–20% too fast in the opening 30km before the altitude starts extracting its toll. Past runners have reported temperatures exceeding 30°C at valley-level sections despite December being the cool season. Control your pace at A1 (Khiri Kiang Dao Garden Home) — if you feel strong here, slow down. You are not yet at altitude.
The ridge section between A3 (Pagia Highland Research Station) and A6 (Doi Mon Ngo) is the course’s hidden killer. The elevation profile shows the gradient easing compared to the initial climbs. On the ground it does not feel that way. The trail is rooty and narrow, the footing is unpredictable, and runners who have been moving confidently suddenly notice their pace collapsing. Budget 20–25% more time per kilometre here than your first-half average suggested. This is not a failure of fitness; it is the course doing what it was designed to do.
Pacing prescription for Chiang Dao 160: Run the first 40km (Chiang Dao to approximately A4 Meena Homestay) as if you have 140km left — because you do. At A7 Mae Taeng Watershed (~100km), your target should be to have banked no more than 45% of your total time budget. The descent from A7 into the lower terrain is when runners begin losing positions they opened up earlier. If you arrive at Mae Sa Elephant Camp (A13) with fresh legs, you have raced well. If your quads are shot before A10, you over-ran the early ridges.
Elephant 100: The 8am start in December means you hit the Doi Mon Jam ridgeline in warm daylight conditions. Manage sodium intake aggressively from Aid 1 onward — the combination of climbing and daytime heat even in December pulls sweat rates higher than runners expect. The section approaching Mae Sa Elephant Camp (final major aid station before the finish) is where recreational runners slow significantly. Do not get caught running behind schedule into the camp hoping to make up time on the downhill to PAO Park. The descent is technical and longer than the map suggests.
HMONG 50 runners: A 6am start means the first hour is dark. Bring a headlamp regardless of distance. The first descent from the ridge above PAO Park is rooted and slippery; it catches runners who did not see it coming because the briefing made it sound runnable. Protect yourself here before the sun comes up.
For all races: Mandatory gear lists include warm layers even for shorter distances. The temperature difference between PAO Park at race start and the Doi Suthep-Pui ridgelines is dramatic, especially in night races. Runners who skip the insulating layer because they feel hot at the start line are the ones huddled at Aid 2 waiting for body temperature to recover. Follow the mandatory gear list precisely.
Registration — 2026 Entry Details
Registration for HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB 2026 opened on July 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM GMT+7 via RunningConnect. The platform requires both a RunningConnect account and a linked MyUTMB account. There is no lottery and no deferral to a future year. The first 48 hours were reserved exclusively for runners with a valid UTMB Index — that priority window has now closed. Registration is open to all runners until October 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM GMT+7 or until individual race slots sell out.
| Race | Entry Fee (THB) | Approx. USD | Approx. EUR | Min. Age | Qualification Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Dao 160 | ฿9,800 | ~$275 | ~€250 | 20+ | UTMB Index 100M category (or equivalent qualifying races) |
| Elephant 100 | ฿7,500 | ~$210 | ~€190 | 20+ | UTMB Index 100K category (or equivalent) |
| HMONG 50-Day | ฿6,400 | ~$180 | ~€165 | 20+ | UTMB Index 20K or 50K category (or equivalent) |
| PAGODA 50-Day / Night | Check official site | — | — | 20+ | UTMB Index 50K category |
| HMONG 50-Night | Check official site | — | — | 20+ | UTMB Index 50K category |
| SUTHEP 20-Night / Day | Check official site | — | — | 20+ | UTMB Index 20K category |
| INTHANON 20 | Check official site | — | — | 20+ | UTMB Index 20K category |
| CHEDI 20 | Check official site | — | — | 20+ | UTMB Index 20K category |
| Warm Up Runs (both) | Check official site | — | — | Open | None |
Check current qualification requirements at runningconnect.com/event/cmtutmb2026/qualification. Qualification is based on recent race history in the relevant UTMB Index distance category.
Cancellation and transfer policy: Standard cancellation is not available. Only runners who purchased the “Cancellation Guarantee” at registration can apply for a refund, and the reason must meet specified qualifying criteria. Distance changes (upgrade or downgrade) and registration transfers to another participant are permitted until October 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM GMT+7, with a fee applied. There is no deferral to the 2027 edition. If races sell out before the October 31 deadline, registration closes early with no waitlist.
Race Weekend Schedule — 2026
| Date | Event | Time (GMT+7) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 28 Nov | PAGODA 50-DAY | 07:00 | Doi Inthanon NP HQ |
| Sat 28 Nov | PAGODA 50-NIGHT 🆕 | Night (TBC) | Doi Inthanon NP HQ |
| Sun 29 Nov | WARM UP RUN – INTHANON (5km) | TBC | Doi Inthanon NP HQ |
| Sun 29 Nov | INTHANON 20 | TBC | Doi Inthanon NP HQ |
| Fri 4 Dec | WARM UP RUN – PAO PARK (3km) | TBC | Chiang Mai PAO Park |
| Fri 4 Dec | ELEPHANT 100 | 08:00 | Wat Nhong Bua Noi, Mae Taeng |
| Fri 4 Dec | CHIANG DAO 160 | 10:00 | Wat Tham Chiang Dao, Chiang Dao |
| Sat 5 Dec | HMONG 50-DAY | 06:00 | Chiang Mai PAO Park |
| Sat 5 Dec | SUTHEP 20-NIGHT | Evening (TBC) | Chiang Mai PAO Park |
| Sat 5 Dec | HMONG 50-NIGHT | 18:00 | Chiang Mai PAO Park |
| Sun 6 Dec | SUTHEP 20-DAY | TBC | Chiang Mai PAO Park |
| Sun 6 Dec | CHEDI 20 | TBC | Chiang Mai PAO Park |
Exact start times for several races (INTHANON 20, SUTHEP 20, CHEDI 20 and both Warm Up Runs) are yet to be confirmed in the official runner guide. Check chiangmai.utmb.world for updates. The official runner guide for 2026 will be published closer to the event via this link.
Expo and Packet Pickup — 2026
Expo location — Week 1: Doi Inthanon National Park HQ, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai
Expo location — Week 2: Chiang Mai PAO Park, Chiang Mai City (GPS: 18.83193, 98.96733)
Packet pickup: Full details will be published in the 2026 Runner Guide at chiangmai.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/Runner-guide. Based on past editions, packet pickup for PAGODA 50 races takes place the day before race start at Doi Inthanon NP HQ, and for all Week 2 races at PAO Park in the 48 hours before each race start.
Mandatory gear check: Conducted at packet pickup. Each race has its own mandatory gear list — check the specific requirements for your race at chiangmai.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/mandatory-gears. Gear lists differ significantly between distances — the Chiang Dao 160 list is substantially more demanding than the CHEDI 20 list.
MyUTMB check-in: Required before all races. Link your account at utmb.world.
Note: This section will be updated when the 2026 Runner Guide is published. Check official channels for confirmed expo hours and locations.
Weather — What to Expect on Race Day
| Location / Period | Day High | Night Low | Humidity | Rain Risk | Notes for Runners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai city (PAO Park, race finish) | 26–29°C | 14–16°C | 70–73% | Very low (~7% days) | Warm at start, cooler overnight — key transition point for Chiang Dao 160 finishers |
| Doi Inthanon NP (Week 1 race hub, ~1,000m) | 20–24°C | 10–14°C | 65–75% | Low | Cool and comfortable for racing, mist common on high ridges in early morning |
| Doi Inthanon summit (2,565m) — PAGODA 50 route | 10–15°C | 3–8°C | High | Low but possible | Mandatory warm layers essential; dawn arrivals at twin pagodas will be cold |
| Chiang Dao ridges (2,000m+) — Chiang Dao 160 route | 12–16°C | 5–10°C | Moderate | Low | Significant wind chill possible; runners arrive at night — mandatory gear critical |
| Chiang Dao valley / race start (Wat Tham, ~500m) | 25–30°C | 17–19°C | 70–75% | Very low | The 10am start hits the day’s building heat — do not underestimate valley-level temperatures |
December is Chiang Mai’s driest month — typically one rainy day in the entire month with around 16mm total precipitation. The cool season has officially arrived, but “cool” in northern Thailand is relative. Valley-level temperatures during the day at Chiang Dao’s start area (10am, ~500m elevation) regularly hit 28–30°C. The mountain ridges above 2,000m are a different story entirely, and the thermal swing between your start and your highest point on the Chiang Dao 160 or PAGODA 50 can exceed 18°C within the same race day. Pack accordingly. The clear skies are consistent and reliable — you will not be fighting rain on course, but the daytime UV at altitude is strong and should not be ignored.
Heat and cold management: Most runners flying in from temperate climates underestimate the heat at lower elevations and overestimate the warmth at altitude. The mandatory gear list for Chiang Dao 160 and Elephant 100 specifically includes warm and waterproof layers. Do not pack your kit based on the Chiang Mai city weather forecast — it tells you nothing about conditions on the ridge at 2am. Conversely, runners from colder climates often start too heavily dressed at valley level. Use drop bags where available to manage layering at altitude transitions.
Prize Money and Elite Field
| Place | Chiang Dao 160 (Men) | Chiang Dao 160 (Women) | Elephant 100 (Men) | Elephant 100 (Women) | Pagoda 50-Day (Men) | Pagoda 50-Day (Women) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | €5,000 | €5,000 | €5,000 | €5,000 | €5,000 | €5,000 |
| 2nd | €3,000 | €3,000 | €3,000 | €3,000 | €3,000 | €3,000 |
| 3rd | €2,000 | €2,000 | €2,000 | €2,000 | €2,000 | €2,000 |
| 4th | €1,250 | €1,250 | €1,250 | €1,250 | €1,250 | €1,250 |
| 5th | €1,000 | €1,000 | €1,000 | €1,000 | €1,000 | €1,000 |
Prize money applies to Chiang Dao 160, Elephant 100 and Pagoda 50-Day only. No prize money is listed for HMONG 50, SUTHEP 20, INTHANON 20 or CHEDI 20. Currency: Euro. Approximate conversion: 1 EUR = 38 Thai Baht at time of publication. Check official prize money page for any updates before the event.
Finals access: Top 10 men/women in 100M (Chiang Dao 160), 100K (Elephant 100) and OCC-qualifying 50K (Pagoda 50-Day) categories, plus age-group winners, earn direct entry to UTMB Finals (UTMB, CCC or OCC respectively). No lottery required. This is a Major-status benefit and one of the most significant reasons elite runners travel specifically to Chiang Mai.
Past Results — 2025 Defending Champions
The results below are from the 2025 edition. Note that the Chiang Dao 160 course in 2025 was 168km with 8,100m of elevation gain. The 2026 edition runs 173km with 9,800m — a substantially harder course — so winning times from 2025 are not a valid benchmark for 2026.
Chiang Dao 160 — 2025 (168km / 8,100m+)
| Place | Runner | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | |||
| 1st | Antonina Iushina | Individual Neutral Athlete | 22:34:21 |
| 2nd | Careth Arnold | USA | 24:33:35 |
| 3rd | Ronghua Deng | China | 26:07:12 |
| Men | |||
| 1st | Aleksei Beresnev | Individual Neutral Athlete | 21:14:01 |
| 2nd | Jiaju Zhao | China | 21:40:09 |
| 3rd | Masatoshi Obara | Japan | 21:58:16 |
Starters: 499 | DNF: 122 (24.4%) | Finishers: 377 | Women: 55 (15%) | Men: 322 (85%)
Elephant 100 — 2025 (96km / 4,600m+)
| Place | Runner | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | |||
| 1st | Hau Ha Thi | Vietnam | 10:43:28 |
| 2nd | Ekaterina Mityaeva | Individual Neutral Athlete | 11:02:02 |
| 3rd | Yuri Yoshizumi | Japan | 11:30:39 |
| Men | |||
| 1st | Miguel Arsenio | Portugal | 09:14:20 |
| 2nd | Kao Zhou | China | 09:51:39 |
| 3rd | Dmitry Mityaev | Individual Neutral Athlete | 09:52:24 |
Starters: 1,098 | DNF: 105 (9.6%) | Finishers: 993 | Women: 209 (21%) | Men: 784 (79%)
Selected Other 2025 Podiums
| Race | Women’s Winner | Time | Men’s Winner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMONG 50-DAY | Maude Mathys (SUI) | 05:03:33 | Guangfu Meng (CHN) | 04:31:58 |
| HMONG 50-NIGHT | Yaqun Ji (CHN) | 07:25:41 | Eric Candelanza (PHI) | 05:53:29 |
| INTHANON 20 | Yuri Yoshizumi (JPN) | 01:53:41 | Hiroki Kai (JPN) | 01:43:52 |
| SUTHEP 20-NIGHT | Natalia Mastrota (ITA) | 02:34:27 | Chaohai Qi (CHN) | 02:02:28 |
| SUTHEP 20-DAY | LING WU (CHN) | 02:26:31 | Moritz Auf Der Heide (GER) | 01:52:55 |
| CHEDI 20 | Natalia Mastrota (ITA) | 01:47:21 | Parattakorn Suppalapwattana (THA) | 01:38:31 |
Note: 2025 also featured the INTHANON 50 (now replaced by PAGODA 50 in 2026). Miguel Arsenio won the INTHANON 50 in 03:27:59 and returned the following week to win the ELEPHANT 100 — a double that remains one of the more extraordinary performances in the event’s history. Full results at live.utmb.world/chiangmai/2025.
Where to Stay — Both Weeks
Most runners base themselves in Chiang Mai city and travel to start lines by shuttle or rental vehicle. Accommodation during the first week of December is high tourist season — book early. Race week prices at popular properties run 20–40% higher than off-peak.
| Zone | Best for | Distance to PAO Park | Price Range / Night | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nimman / Maya area | Week 2 races, restaurants, access | 5–10 min by car | ฿1,500–8,000 | Widest range of options; closest to Week 2 PAO Park hub and city food scene |
| Old City (Wua Lai area) | Culture, temples, affordable guesthouses | 15 min by car | ฿600–3,500 | Budget-friendly; excellent local food; moat area is pleasant for pre-race walks |
| Santitham / Huay Kaew | Proximity to Doi Suthep access roads | 10–15 min by car | ฿1,000–5,000 | Good position for runners also wanting to explore Doi Suthep NP during non-race days |
| Chom Thong / Doi Inthanon area | Week 1 races only | ~90 min | ฿500–2,000 | Very limited options; homestays and basic guesthouses; most runners stay in Chiang Mai city and take the official shuttle |
| Mae Rim / Mae Sa Valley | Quiet recovery between races | 30–40 min by car | ฿1,500–6,000 | Resorts with pools; popular with crews and families accompanying runners |
Shuttle buses: The organisers run official shuttle services between Chiang Mai city and the Doi Inthanon start area (Week 1) and between the city and more remote start lines in Week 2. Shuttle details for 2026 at chiangmai.utmb.world/discover/transportation/bus. Using the official shuttles is strongly recommended for the Chiang Dao 160 and Elephant 100 starts — parking logistics at Wat Tham Chiang Dao and Wat Nhong Bua Noi are not designed for individual car arrivals at scale.
International Runners — Visa and Travel
| Passport / Region | Entry to Thailand | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Visa on Arrival / e-Visa | 30 days | VOA available at CNX airport; e-Visa recommended for speed; apply via evisa.thaigov.go.th |
| USA / Canada / Australia | Visa exemption | 60 days (from 2024) | Extended visa exemption granted to most Western passports — no application required |
| EU / UK / Switzerland | Visa exemption | 60 days | No visa required for tourist stays; passport must be valid 6 months beyond entry |
| Singapore / Malaysia / Japan / South Korea | Visa exemption | 30–60 days depending on passport | Confirm exact conditions at Royal Thai Embassies or consular.go.th |
| China | Visa exemption (mutual) | 30 days | Implemented 2023; confirmed for tourist visits |
| All others | Check individual requirements | Varies | Verify at consular.go.th |
Getting to Chiang Mai
By air (recommended): Chiang Mai International Airport (IATA: CNX) has direct international connections to Singapore (Scoot, Singapore Airlines), Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia), Seoul (multiple carriers), Tokyo Narita (AirAsia Japan) and Doha (Qatar Airways). For most long-haul arrivals the most practical routing is to connect through Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) — dozens of daily Bangkok-Chiang Mai flights operate on Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia and Nok Air at 1h 10min flight time. Don’t Mueang (DMK) also offers abundant budget options on AirAsia and Nok Air.
Arriving in time: For Week 1 races (PAGODA 50-DAY on Nov 28), aim to arrive in Chiang Mai by November 25 at the latest to acclimatise and attend packet pickup. For Week 2 only, arrival by December 1-2 is comfortable. Chiang Dao 160 runners should arrive earlier and ideally spend 3–5 days at altitude before race day to allow basic acclimatisation.
From Bangkok by train: Overnight sleeper trains run from Bangkok Hua Lamphong to Chiang Mai (~12–13 hours) and are a comfortable, affordable alternative if you prefer not to fly domestic. Book at thairailwayticket.com.
Race kit shipping: Thai customs occasionally holds packages. Runners shipping mandatory gear should use courier services that offer import documentation support (DHL, FedEx) and ship at least 3–4 weeks before arrival. Alternatively, many runners carry mandatory gear in checked baggage — Thailand’s gear availability for trail running is improving but specialist items (poles, specific vests) should be brought from home.
FatMarathoner Verdict
HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB is the Asia-Pacific trail racing event you should have entered two years ago. The UTMB Major status gives it genuine stakes — the double Running Stones, the direct Finals entry slots, the prize money — but what actually makes this event special is the terrain and the culture surrounding it. You will run through Buddhist cave temples, Hmong hill tribe villages and UNESCO biosphere forest in a single race. That combination does not exist anywhere else on the trail running calendar.
The 2026 edition is more demanding than ever. The Chiang Dao 160’s jump to 173km with 9,800 metres is a significant increase and the DNF rate from 2025 (24%) will likely hold or rise. Go in informed, respect the heat at valley-level starts, manage your early kilometres carefully, and carry every item on the mandatory gear list — the night-time ridge temperatures catch out runners who pack for the start gun, not for the 2am summit.
For runners not ready for 100-mile distance, the Elephant 100 and HMONG 50 are the sweet spots. The Elephant 100’s 90% completion rate reflects a genuinely well-designed course at a challenging but realistic level. The PAGODA 50-NIGHT in 2026 is the most intriguing new addition — finishing at the twin pagodas at dawn on Doi Inthanon is worth the entry fee on its own.
December in Chiang Mai is also simply one of the best times to visit Thailand. Cool dry weather, clear skies and the most vibrant night market scene in the country. Stay two weeks, run more than one race, eat khao soi as a recovery meal and understand why Chiang Mai is becoming Asia’s trail running capital.
Bottom line: If you’re in Asia and chasing UTMB Finals entry, you need to be here. If you’re outside Asia and looking for a trail race that doubles as a trip worth taking, you should still be here.