One Hundred® Ladakh Trail to Heaven

I think everything in this race has been very well conceived, particularly I appreciated a lot the previous acclimatisation days because other than allowing our bodies to gradually adapt to altitude, they also provided the opportunity to have a look at the surrounding and helped to figure out what was ahead.
About the race itself, of course I loved the majestic nature and the mountains that were actually unique.
The paths were not extremely technical although the multiple river crossing especially during the night can be demanding. Aid stations were well equipped because they provided a satisfying choice of carbs and proteins as well and this is important in ultra races and especially for a 100 mile race.
I completely recommend this experience because it is the only 100 miles at a such high altitude and there is nothing else in the world that can be comparable.

I was lucky to be a pioneer of this event! It has been an incredible experience — the beauty of the place is so distracting that at times you forget how tough the course is and how hard it is to breathe. I’m Costa Rican, and in a tropical country like Costa Rica, it’s hard to find the kind of mountains needed to prepare for a race with the conditions found in Ladakh.
Even so, I wanted to face the altitude and the extreme temperature changes. I did have issues with the cold, but that doesn’t overshadow how proud I am of completing 110 km and feeling good all the way up to the point where the temperature dropped significantly.
I will definitely be back, and I invite the ultratrail community to try this experience — but be very aware that finishing this race takes a lot of experience, and both physical and mental preparation!
See you in 2026!

Tuve la suerte de ser pionera de este evento! Ha sido una experiencia increíble, la belleza del lugar desconcentra tanto que por momentos se olvida la dureza del recorrido y la falta de aire. Soy costarricense y en un país tropical como Costa Rica difícilmente encuentre las montañas ideales para preparar una carrera con las condiciones que reunía Ladakh. A pesar de quise enfrentar la altura, las altas y bajas temperaturas. Tuve problemas con el frío sin embargo eso no va a opacar lo satisfecha que estoy de haber completado 110 kms y sentirme bien hasta el punto máximo que bajo mucho la temperatura. Sin duda volveré e invito a la comunidad de ultratrail a probar esta experiencia eso si muy conscientes que para ser finalista de esta prueba se requiere mucha experiencia y preparación física y mental!
Nos vemos en el 2026

I ran the Ladakh Trail to Heaven – Edition Zero: The Pioneer Edition, and it was one of the most incredible races I’ve ever done. Everything was perfect — from the organization to the course itself.

Running at high altitude was a fantastic experience. For me, arriving in Leh a week before the race was really important to train and adapt. I truly appreciated the huge effort the organizers put in to make everything perfect for us.

The landscapes were absolutely breathtaking. I loved spending time in Leh — such a beautiful mountain city — and crossing the high passes at 5,000 meters. I loved every single moment of this adventure.

Ladakh Trail to Heaven – Edição Zero pela visão de um participante

Existem provas que tu corres. Outras, tu vives. E existem aquelas que marcam para sempre. Ladakh Trail to Heaven é uma delas.

Já participei de muitas ultramaratonas e travessias, mas o que encontrei aqui foi algo que vai além da distância, da altimetria ou da altitude. Foi uma imersão completa num cenário extremo e, ao mesmo tempo, profundamente humano. A One Hundred conseguiu transformar o desafio brutal dos Himalaias em uma experiência calorosa, feita de cuidado, camaradagem e respeito entre todos.

Dois Joãos que, do primeiro ao último minuto, transmitiram amor pelo evento, passaram por desafios inimagináveis para fazer o evento acontecer e, ainda assim, mantiveram a melhor energia possível. O diretor de prova, Chetan Sehgal, com uma dedicação rara, cercado de uma equipe que parecia escolhida a dedo: cada pessoa colocada no nosso caminho trazia uma energia boa, uma mão amiga, um sorriso. Até a dona do resort que ficamos hospedados. Maravilhoso, todo florido, com árvores carregadas de damascos maduros, maçãs e uma horta linda. Os quartos, como chalés, se escondiam entre jardins repletos de flores. E ela ainda preparou a nossa refeição com um carinho impossível de esquecer.

O clima entre os atletas foi de total respeito e apoio mútuo. Em cada ponto de controlo, cada troca de olhar dizia: “estamos juntos nisso”. Em uma prova onde altitude, clima e terreno não dão espaço para distrações, essa conexão humana fez toda a diferença.

Ladakh é linda, mas também implacável. Altos passes acima dos 5.000 metros, noites geladas, dias quentes e um ar tão rarefeito que obriga cada passo a ser consciente. Para mim, não foi dia de cruzar a linha de chegada mas, foi dia de aprender. Porque, na montanha, saber a hora de parar é tão importante quanto saber continuar.

Volto para casa com novos limites, novas ferramentas e um olhar renovado sobre mim mesmo. Com a certeza de que cada minuto nessa prova valeu a pena. A cada edição, a One Hundred se supera. E Ladakh, com seu nível único de entrega, respeito e conexão, já está eternamente gravada na minha história.

Muito obrigado a todos que tornaram essa experiência possível.

The Trail to Heaven absolutely lived up to its name — and then some.

The scenery was breathtaking, with vast Himalayan landscapes, towering peaks, and river valleys that made every step worth it. The organisation was excellent, and I have to give a huge shout-out to the incredible Sherpa crew and the Boots & Crampons team for their support, logistics, and constant good vibes along the way.

I think retaining course markings in the future is a great idea — combined with a GPX file, they make navigation far easier, especially over such varied and technical terrain. And varied it was: steep climbs, rocky descents, snow, loose scree, and multiple river crossings — this course threw everything at us. It’s easily the toughest I’ve ever tackled, and I can see it becoming one of the most (if not the most) difficult races in the world.

The only thing I’d flag for future editions is the final section. There were a few tricky parts involving climbing and walking along narrow ledges, and after 32+ hours on the move, my concentration was definitely tested. The river level was quite high this year — fine for me, but for shorter athletes like Francesca, some crossings would have been almost impossible without assistance. It might be worth having Sherpa stationed at each river crossing, and perhaps a few more in that final section to ensure safety.

Overall, this was an unforgettable adventure and an event I feel privileged to have been part of. A massive thanks to the team at One Hundred for creating such a visionary race — I can only imagine the work that went into it, and I’m so grateful to have been one of the pioneers.

One of the best organised races currently. Felt blessed. Thank you 🙏
The inaugural Ladakh 100 trail to heaven wasn’t just a race; it was a pilgrimage into the raw, untamed heart of the Indian Himalayas, a 100-mile journey that lived up to its name with exquisite beauty and soul-crushing brutality. This wasn’t just another ultra; it was a definitive statement in the world of endurance, a true “Pioneer Edition” that etched itself into the annals of extreme running. Leh, Ladakh: This ancient town sits perched in a high-altitude desert, a landscape of stark, breathtaking beauty that instantly humbles. From the moment the start gun fired, the environment was the primary competitor. Thin air, already challenging at 3,500m+, promised only to get thinner. The sun, unfiltered and intense, baked the valleys by day (hitting 35°C), contrasting with plunging temperatures towards freezing (sub 0°C), under a blanket of stars at night. This extreme diurnal swing was draining and proved to be the biggest challenge. The Course: The route was unprecedented: deep, sculpted canyons, wide, wind-scoured valleys, glacial rivers demanding constant hopping and wading through, and ridges offering panoramic views that stole your breath – both literally and figuratively. It was relentless. But the defining moment, the specter looming over the entire event, was Kongmaru La. Cresting at approximately 5,300 meters (17,388 ft) – a height rivaling Everest Base Camp – this pass wasn’t just a climb; it was an ascent into another world. The air here held barely enough oxygen to sustain thought, let alone forward motion. The steep, rocky trail demanded every ounce of physical strength and mental fortitude. Reaching the prayer-flag adorned summit was a spiritual moment, but the descent was equally punishing, a jarring transition that tested quads and resolve anew. This section alone cemented the race\’s legendary status. The Spirit: The organizers\’ statement rings profoundly true: \”Every Runner a Hero\”. Merely standing on the start line in Leh required immense courage and respect for the mountains. For many, the dream ended somewhere along those majestic, punishing miles – at a high pass, in a cold canyon, under the relentless sun. And crucially, those decisions to stop, made with hard-won wisdom listening to bodies pushed to their absolute limit, were victories of judgment and respect. They honored the mountain\’s power just as much as the staggering achievement of those who persevered through the darkness, the cold, the thin air, and the distance to cross the finish line. Each finisher carried the aura of someone profoundly changed. The Experience: \”Unforgettable\” barely scratches the surface. The beauty was indeed beyond belief – starscapes unlike any other, vistas of impossible scale, the profound silence of the high desert. The brutality was equally undeniable – a physical and mental pummeling that left no participant untouched. The camaraderie forged in this crucible was intense, a shared understanding of having faced something truly elemental. Ladakh Trail to Heaven – Edition Zero wasn’t just a successful inaugural event; it instantly established itself as one of the planet\’s premier and most demanding 100-mile races. It delivered a unique, raw, and awe-inspiring challenge worthy of the One Hundred® mantle. It\’s a race for those who seek not just distance, but a transformative encounter with the extremes of nature and self. It\’s Beautiful. It\’s Brutal. It\’s utterly Unforgettable. If you crave the ultimate proving ground, where heaven and hell intertwine, look no further. Gods will look after you.