Kaçkar by UTMB® 2026

There's always another mountain! 👀 Climb the Kaçkar by UTMB®, in Ayder in Turkey 🇹🇷, and try your luck for the holy grail of the races UTMB: that of Mont-Blanc! 🏔️ Yes, with these 3️⃣ exceptional courses awaiting you in the heart of the Pontic Mountains ⛰️: the "KAÇKAR 20K" (22 km), the "KAÇKAR 50K" (43 km), and the "KAÇKAR 100K" (76 km), you will accumulate Running Stones 🪙 to be drawn for the grand finale of the ultras 💪.

It is in the month of September 🌾 that the odyssey kicks off 💥. If you're a lover of nature 🐛, in search of thrills and an extraordinary experience where only a sample of crazy runners 🤪 gathers... then head to Ayder! 🫡 There, you will challenge the mountain trails and techniques of this magnificent region, face the wind 🌬️ and climb the Turkish flora and fauna 🐾. Before reaching your destination, take a breath, warm up your calves and expect to discover a sea of clouds ☁️ that will take your breath away, where the air is pure 😌: that's up to 5,900 meters altitude! Takma kafana, we know you can do it! With its optimal temperatures (10 to 19°C) to aim for the PB ⏱️, its rarely beautiful landscapes ✨ and good preparation (yes yes, you'll need to be diligent with your training young runner 🤓), your race can only go well and leave you with beautiful memories 🥰.

And after this effort worthy of a mountain chamois 🐐: comfort! 😚 The Kaçkar mountains are located in the heart of the Black Sea region 🏴, so if you're curious and feel like it, you can extend your stay to explore the surroundings with activities for all tastes 😛. Indeed, if you're already well-treated by the visual spectacle that will be offered to you 👀, we'll give you a few more tips to maximize your sporty stay 🏃‍♀️ into a unique cultural experience! 🚞 After your race, explore the village of Ayder and its famous thermal hot springs to relax your muscles 🦵. The village is also a bottomless well of history! 🕳️ Between its bridges 🌁 dating back to the Ottoman Empire, its fortresses 🏰, its wooden houses nestled in misty forests 🌳, drawn in pastoral traditions still very much alive ⛰️, you'll discover a facet of Turkey 🇹🇷 like no other. Not far away, you can also visit Rize, a picturesque town only an hour from Ayder 🚗, where you can discover its local specialties 😋. And if you still have strength left in your legs after all these adventures (we don't doubt it 😳), go for a hike in the Kaçkar mountains 🥾, and more specifically in the magnificent Fırtına Valley, perfect for a relaxing moment in nature 🦌.

Now you only have one thing to do: get your race bib and Güle güle kullan to you! 😉