The World's Highest Marathon
Bolivia
May 14th – 26th 2027
The Expedition
In May 2027, a group of intrepid runners will take part in a once-in-a-lifetime challenge: to complete the highest marathon ever attempted.
The 42.2km course will start at 4,810m (above the summit of Mt Blanc) and every step will remain above 4,395 metres throughout – surpassing the world record set in 2026, which is based on the lowest point reached in the marathon.
Every participant who crosses the finish line will become a world record holder – part of a select group of runners who achieve something truly extraordinary, in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.
The expedition begins in La Paz, the highest capital city on Earth, before travelling through Lake Titicaca, the vast Uyuni Salt Flats, and into the high Andes. Along the way, participants will trek above 6,000 metres, allowing their bodies time to adapt before race day.
The marathon itself will start at 4,810 metres, where oxygen levels are just 58% of those at sea level. With every step remaining above 4,395 metres, the course will set a new world record for the highest marathon ever run.
Cold temperatures, exposed terrain, and the scale of the Altiplano make this a demanding environment. Throughout the journey, participants are supported by experienced high-altitude specialists, medics, and support teams.
Organised by BecomingX and Adventure Alternative, the 2027 expedition builds on a legacy of delivering world-first challenges in extreme environments.
Marathon Itinerary
The trip begins in La Paz, the world’s highest capital at 3,650m, and several days of acclimatisation, including rest in the city, travelling to the famed Lake Titicaca and the UNESCO world heritage site at Tiwanaku, before flying to Uyuni and crossing the Uyuni Salt Flats in 4WD vehicles.
Driving the legendary Road of Jewels high into the Andes and climbing above 6,000m – beyond the height of Kilimanjaro – there will be time to do some hikes and also climb a 6000m peak called Uturuncu, further acclimatising and preparing for the marathon itself.
At the final base camp which is a remote settlement in the altiplano, we prepare for our main challenge: running a full marathon at the extreme altitude of over 4600 metres. After the event we drive back to Uyuni and La Paz.
Friday 14th May. Arrival into La Paz which is the highest capital city in the world and because of the high altitude it is vital to take it easy and allow the body to acclimatise. From the airport, take a taxi to the hotel and meet the rest of the team. Dinner provided.
Rest day for acclimatisation. La Paz is a vibrant and fascinating city to explore, but it will be important to take it easy. Breakfast, dinner provided.
A visit to this famous lake, the highest navigable lake in the world and one of South America’s iconic destinations. We will take minibuses out of the city and visit the lake, and go on a hike up to about 4200m before coming back to Copacabana for dinner and overnight in a lakeside hotel. Breakfast, lunch, dinner provided.
This visit to the pre-Columban world heritage site enroute back to La Paz is a wonderful cultural experience into the ancient civilisation which once thrived in this part of the world. We head back to our hotel in La Paz for more sightseeing and acclimatisation. By now the group will be starting to feel better at this altitude.
Early morning flight to Uyuni, gateway to the world’s largest salt flat, known as the Salar de Uyuni locally. Here we will collect our fleet of 4WD vehicles and head into the wilderness and the start of the Marathon experience. Accommodation in a local hotel with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
The journey is now by vehicle across the salt flat and ending up at a small town called San Cristobel. Accommodation in a local hotel with breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
A further day of driving into the dramatic landscape of the Bolivian Altiplano and arriving finally at Quetena Chico which is another remote settlement with some lodgings. Sleeping altitude is now 4200m but by now everyone will be feeling stronger. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
This is another rest day to acclimatise and stretch the legs with some short runs and exercises at this altitude.
This is a non-technical but high altitude trek to the peak of Uturuncu which is 6008m, but we will drive to about 5700m and walk the final 300m which takes a couple of hours. The aim is to push the acclimatisation to a higher level but sleep back at 4200m, and also to exercise in this harsh environment. The temperature range is wide, with cold nights and hot desert days, cold winds and a very dry atmosphere. Preparing for the marathon in this environment is both acclimatising to the altitude but also getting ‘mountain fit’ so today is an important part of the trip although it should also be said that the summit is optional. The aim is to build health and strength, not to overdo it.
Back at Quetena Chico we continue our journey into the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Natural Reserve, following the ‘Road of Jewels’ for 3 hours to our final base camp at 4600m where there is a small collection of refuges to stay. We will also have some tents to use for those who wish. This is our home for the next three nights. Meals will be provided and the main aim now is to stay healthy and prepare for the marathon.
This is another full rest day and preparation for the marathon. The camp is very arid and dramatic with volcanoes, salt lakes and hot springs all around. We will be able to drive the marathon route and the support team will be setting up the course for the next day.
The day will start early at sunrise while it is still cool, and an initial hike up to 4810m where the marathon begins. The next 42.2 kilometres will be a huge challenge on mind and body as each person aims to complete the route which ends at a beautful salt lake. The support team will be on hand with the vehicles and we will have facility to deal with any situations that occur. All meals provided but we recommend participants bring their own preferred snacks for the run.
After celebrations the evening before, the aim today is pack and complete the long drive back to Uyuni and the hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
Wednesday 26th May. There is a morning flight back from Uyuni to La Paz and participants should be able to catch their international flights back home or stay on for further travel.
Ready to join the World's highest marathon team?
Before applying on this website to join the trip and make your deposit, all applicants must first have applied through BecomingX here. Having received this pre-approval then you can join up on this page and enter your personal information in order to pay the deposit.
For this trip the deposit is £1000.00 and payable by bank transfer. Please choose the bank transfer option during checkout and you will receive your invoice with the bank details for transfers. We recommend that you then obtain travel insurance for the trip and we will be in touch to discuss flights and all arrangements for this trip to Bolivia.
Fixed Itineraries
| Start Date | End Date | Days | Price (per person) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/05/2027 | 26/05/2027 | 13 | £8,500.00 | Book Now |
Private Itineraries
Our World’s Highest Marathon, Bolivia Experts
Gavin started Adventure Alternative in 1991 during a long period of travelling the world, working in a wide variety of jobs, climbing mountains and going on long expeditions. A six month solo trek across the Sahara Desert aged twenty one was the benchmark experience, after which travel and adventurous exploits became a way of life.
Born in the United Kingdom, Gavin went to high school in Western Australia and then moved to Northern Ireland to complete his BA in English Literature. He...
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