Annapurna I Base Camp, located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, Narchyang of Myagdi district, is now being promoted as a hub for sports tourism. The initiative was launched during the ‘Annapurna Diamond Jubilee Festival,’ marking the 75th anniversary of the first ascent of Annapurna I.
For the first time, a marathon race was successfully organized from the Annapurna Base Camp, situated at an altitude of 4,190 meters above sea level, to Narchyang village. The 38-kilometer trail followed the “Maurice Herzog Trail,” named after the first climber of Annapurna. A total of 40 participants took part in the event, which highlighted the potential of promoting tourism through sports in the high Himalayas.
According to Bharat Kumar Pun, Chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality, the successful completion of the marathon has laid the foundation for integrating adventure sports with tourism promotion at the base camp. Local athletes, inspired by the rare opportunity to compete in such a setting, showed great enthusiasm for the initiative.
Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi
Tourism entrepreneur Tej Gurung of Narchyang emphasized that the marathon has encouraged the local community to pursue sports-based tourism promotion. “Previously, tourists visited the area for its natural beauty, but now there’s potential to attract adventurers and sports enthusiasts as well,” he said, expressing confidence that such events could significantly boost tourism inflow.
High-altitude ultramarathons are gaining popularity across the Himalayan region and are often considered adventurous, drawing national and international attention. This successful district-level marathon has opened the door for future national-level ultramarathons, according to Raju Thapa, Treasurer of the Gandaki Province Athletics Association.
Thapa also shared that Kushal Purja from Gharamdi, Annapurna Rural Municipality-7, won the marathon title organized as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The event was held in honor of French mountaineer Maurice Herzog, who made the first successful ascent of Annapurna I on June 3, 1950. The celebration aimed to promote the Maurice Herzog Trail that links the Annapurna Base Camp to Narchyang.
Annapurna Rural Municipality had previously organized short-distance runs and various sporting events at the base camp during the Annapurna Climbing Day two years ago. The municipality aims to continue using sporting events in the Himalayan geography as a means to promote tourism on both national and international levels by engaging renowned athletes.
