Akha Trail returns to ATM on 1/2 August

A nice return to the ATM calendar: Akha Trail in the far north of Thailand comes back after two years and will be one of the last qualifier events for the Season 11 Championship points ranking. Organised by Route Map Co, Akha Trail is scheduled for the first weekend of August and features a flagship race of 80km - which is also valid for the Grandmaster Quest.

Nicknamed “The Way of Tribes” , Akha Trail stems from the people inhabiting the mountain region, an ethnic group spread out over mountain areas in Thailand, Myanmar, Yunnan (China) and Laos. The Akha people are quite well-known on the tourist trail for their colourful and distinctive traditional customes. Their home terrain in the north of Thailand is spectactular mountainous jungle with a number of caves in the mix as well. Runners will face a challenge, especially on the long distance of 80km with over approx 4600 hm. The course goes up and down, although there’s one long uphill climb, too, that follows a long descent to the second checkpoint at km 14. The last 20 km is a test of strength for many runners, although overall the course has been made a bit easier compared to the first editions of 2023 and 2024.

Less ambitious runners have three more shorter distance categories to choose from, but bear in mind that only the 80km offers ATM points.

To get to Akha Trail, you can fly to Chiang Rai where shuttle busses can be booked to the event venue at Pha Hee Village. Information on these can be seen below. If you prefer to be independent, it is even possible to fly to Chiang Mai and arrange a Grab or other transportation there.

Registration for the race is already open. Click on the button below to find the details. It is also recommended to follow the Akha Trail facebook page to stay updated on latest news.