WELCOME TO MYANMAR
Tucked away in central Myanmar and home to more than 2,000 temples, Bagan’s beauty and historical significance is unsurpassed. Sacred pagodas and beautiful temples are scattered across the plains of Bagan creating a mystical, striking landscape. The marathon course will take runners on a voyage of discovery into this alluring and untouched land. An adventure awaits!
The Bagan Temple Marathon offers the choice of a 6 Day/5 Night or an 8 Day/7 Night package.
The 6 Day tour offers an unforgettable tour of the cultural hub of Yangon and the mystical plains of Bagan. It includes social events, tours of Yangon and Bagan, and hotel accommodation giving you the choice of a Standard hotel package (3 star properties) or a Deluxe hotel package (4 to 5 star properties).
The 8 Day tour offers visitors an incredible journey to a land of immense natural beauty. The journey begins in Yangon and takes in the highlights of Mandalay and Bagan. There is a choice of a Standard hotel package (3 star properties) or a Deluxe hotel package (4 to 5 star properties).
You will have the opportunity to book a cookery class, a trip to Mount Popa or a ride in a hot air balloon whilst in Bagan (please note that spaces for the Hot Air Balloon tour are strictly limited).
After the race, we travel back to Yangon where you can either extend your stay in Myanmar offering three different 4 Day extension tours which include: a glorious beach escape in Ngapali, the Magical Inle Lake or the Mount Victoria and Chin Villages.
- Packages Include
- ALL PACKAGES INCLUDE:
- Guaranteed Race Entry (Runners Only)
- Transportation as per the itinerary
- 4 Day entry into Bagan
- Bagan sightseeing tour
- Breakfast daily
- Snacks included after the race (Saturday)
- Pre-Race Day Pasta Dinner and Post Race Day Celebration Dinner
- Personalised Travelling Fit Running Top
exclusive to Travelling Fit clients - Invite to Travelling Fit’s Bagan Temple Marathon Closed Facebook Group
exclusive to Travelling Fit clients
- 6 Day/5 Night Itinerary
- Return flights from Yangon to Bagan
- 5 Nights’ Accommodation:
Check in: Wed 24 Nov | Check out: Mon 29 Nov 2021 - Lunch included on Day 2 and 3
- 8 Day/7 Night Itinerary
- Domestic flights from Yangon to Mandalay and Bagan to Yangon
- 7 Nights’ accommodation:
Check in: Mon 22 Nov | Check out: Mon 29 Nov 2021 - Mandalay sightseeing tour
- Cruise from Mandalay to Bagan
- Lunch included on Day 2, 3, 4 and 5
PACKAGE FLYERS
PACKAGE PRICES
The Course
The Bagan Temple Marathon starts and finishes at Htilominlo Temple, built in 1211 and known for its fine plaster carvings.
The first part of the route is the same for full and half marathon runners. And the last section starting at approximately 13km for the half marathoners and 35km for the marathon runners, the route converges.
The first 5km of the course is run on dirt roads through the plains of Bagan towards Old Bagan. Runners will be treated to magnificent views of thousand-year-old temples and pagodas. The course continues on asphalt for about 1km before hitting the dirt road again as runners carry on across Bagan. The next 5km are on dirt roads.
The full marathoners turn right after the Dhammayakiza Pagoda at the 11km mark. They carry on towards New Bagan, but instead of entering New Bagan, runners continue onto a sandy path and enter what feels like a different realm. The course takes runners on a journey of discovery. See ox carts laden with grain plodding on the sandy track. Wave to farmers tending their rice and peanut fields. Be prepared to high five gaggles of children decked out in their festive clothes waiting to say hello. It feels like time has been standing still in this remote corner of the world.
At 22km, runners enter the beautiful Nyaungdo village. The surface is now back to being a dirt road and the course continues onto a dam with the view to the right of a stunning mountain-top pagoda, Tuyin Taung Pagoda. To the left, the palm-fringed fields lie below and the spires of Bagan’s temples shimmer in the distance. From 26-30km, runners continue on an asphalt road which is not closed off to traffic, so remember to keep to the left.
The route continues onto a dirt road and through the fields until another village is reached. The course takes you through East Pwazaw village where the residents are likely to be outside their homes and cheering you on! This small village with its palm-leaf roofs and warm residents will undoubtedly give you a boost of energy to carry on.
A dirt trail connects the route to West Pwazaw village where the marathon route meets the half marathon course. After West Pwazaw village, the course continues through the plains of Bagan and runners are again rewarded with views of the historic temples. At this point, the surface becomes asphalt for about 1km before reverting back to dirt tracks again.
The final stretch is a mix of dirt and asphalt surfaces before the long-awaited finish line is in sight back at Htilominlo Temple.
Have you thought about extending your stay? Check out our amazing optional tours to make your holiday the trip of a lifetime.
Testimonials
Race Information
Entry Fees
The entry fee for the Bagan Temple Marathon is incorporated into the price of the package you choose and cannot be purchased independently.
Qualifying Times
There are no qualifying times for the Bagan Temple Marathon.
Note that all participants must be 18 years or older at the time of the race
Start Time
The Bagan Temple Marathon starts at 6:15am
Cut-Off Times
The Bagan Temple Marathon must be completed in 7 hours.
Note: Marathon runners have a 5-hour cut-off at 27km, near Water Station 7.
All runners who don’t make the cut-off time or the time limit will be picked up and driven to the finish line.
Race Timing
The Bagan Temple Marathon is timed with a bib chip timing system.
The final results will be published on the website as soon as possible after the race.
Race Packets
You will receive your start/bib number in the race goodie bag will be handed out to you upon arrival in Bagan.
All runners will receive one bib number that must be worn during the race. It must be attached to the front of your body and readable – both for safety and for photography purposes!
The bib numbers are colour-coded according to the distance you are running:
Pace Setters
Aid Stations
There will be water stations along the route and all water stations will also have energy drinks.
Some stations will also allow for personal drinks and there will be bananas towards the middle of the course.
Aid Station | Water | Energy Drink | Personal Drinks | Bananas |
1 | x | x | ||
2 | x | x | ||
3 | x | x | x | |
4 | x | x | ||
5 | x | x | ||
6 | x | x | ||
7 | x | x | x | |
8 | x | x | x | |
9 | x | x | ||
10 | x | x | ||
11 | x | x |
Personal Refreshments and Clothing
Personal supplies can be deposited at water station 3 (approx. 12km) and 7 (approx. 27km mark).
It is possible to deposit bags at the race start/finish area with personal items for use after the race.
Short-sleeve technical shirts are a good choice for race-day as they do not absorb sweat.
In the morning prior to the race start, you may wish to have a light jacket or windbreaker to help you stay comfortable during your ride to the race. Consider packing a change of clothes for after the race.
TRANSPORT
You will be transported to the start of the Bagan Temple Marathon on race morning and transported back after the race.
Expo
Not Applicable
Finishes T-Shirts, Medals and Certificates
Weather Conditions
The weather in November is hot and humid with temperatures reaching highs of around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Light-coloured, technical shirts are a good choice as sweat is not absorbed (unlike cotton). Although clothing in Myanmar should generally be conservative, there are no restrictions on what to wear on race day.
Due to the frequency of tourists and the number of years that this race has been run, villagers and locals are accustomed to seeing shorts and tank tops, and it is widely accepted.
Sun block is an absolute necessity (use SPF30 or above), and a running hat with visor is also advisable as it can help keep the sun out of your eyes.
Other Events
- Half Marathon
- 10km
