Doi Inthanon by UTMB, also known as Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB, is a trail running race which is part of the UTMB World Series.
Centred around Thailand’s tallest mountain, the titular Doi Inthanon, the race is in Chiang Mai province and will take runners throughout the Doi Inthanon National Park, one of the most popular in Thailand.
The event has five races, all of which will offer athletes running stones to allow them to enter the lottery for the following year’s Ultra-trail de Mont Blanc.
Here is our full guide to everything you need to know about Doi Inthanon by UTMB, from the dates to the live tracking, the routes and how to enter.
Date, start time & live tracking
The Doi Inthanon by UTMB 2022 will take place between December 8 and 11.
The 170km race ‘Summit 160’ will begin on December 9 at 10:00am, the 104km ‘Cliffs 100’ at 5:00am on December 10, the ‘Pagoda 50’ then follows at 6:00am, the ‘Terrace 20’ at the same time the next day and the ‘Tribes 10’ at 8:00am.
The races will be available to be tracked live on the UTMB Live website here.
Doi Inthanon by UTMB Route
The longest of the Doi Inthanon races is the 170km, 100-mile category race the ‘Summit 160’. This is the only one of the races which takes runners to the peak of Doi Inthanon itself, resulting in a total elevation gain of 10045m across the course of the race.
Like all the others races, the Summit 160 begins and ends at the Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters. Runners will hit the summit of Doi Inthanon in 51km, with a sharp climb to the top beginning around the 35km mark. A short descent then follows, and by 65km participants will be at the lowest point of the race.
Across the remaining 100km, runners will contend with several smaller but equally challenging climbs and descents, passing through various sites and villages that litter the National Park before racing to the finish at the familiar Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters.
Whilst not taking runners up to the peak of Doi Inthanon, the Cliffs 100 still has a total elevation of 6107m over its 104km. This 100km UTMB category race will take athletes to the cliffs in the national park.
Again beginning at the Doi Inthanon National Park headquarters, the Cliffs 100 takes runners first to Pha Mon village and will hit its highest point before they reach the Huay Pla Kub viewpoint in 30km.
Then it’s a long loop back round to the headquarters with more climbs on the way, including a quick ascent after Huai Wok School in the final 20km.
The Pagoda 50, a 55km race in the UTMB 50km category, takes runners across 3186m of total elevation to the stunning Double Pagoda. The route finishes following the descent down from the Pagodas.
The 24km, 1067m total elevation Terrace 20 race will take runners along the outskirts of Mae Klang Luang Village and its rice fields. Meanwhile the Tribes 10 race, also a UTMB 20km category event, will have runners climb 712m over its 14km route through local villages.
Facts, Tips & FAQ
UTMB running stones are on offer for all of the races at Doi Inothanon by UTMB. Summit 160 offers eight, Cliffs 100 six, Pagoda 50 four and two apiece for Terrace 20 and Tribes 10.
Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB is the Asia-Pacific ‘Major event’, one of three on UTMB World Series, meaning finishers will collect double amount of Running Stones compared to other World Series events. The top ten elite runners and top age group athletes in the 100 mile, 100km and 50km categories will automatically win their place at the ‘Final’- the following year’s UTMB.
The routes takes runners past areas ownerd by the Hmong, Pga-Gan-Yaw and Karenic tribes.
How to qualify and enter Doi Inthanon by UTMB
Entry for all 2022 Doi Inthanon by UTMB races are closed.
Doi Inthanon by UTMB records and past winners
2022 is the first edition of Doi Inthanon by UTMB. It is based on the event 2020 and 2021 Thailand by UTMB events, which featured different routes and races.
Doi Inthanon by UTMB kit list
The mandatory kit list for the races is below. Other races vary slighlty.
Mandatory
- Pack designed to transport mandatory gear throughout the race.
- Mobile phone (smartphone strongly recommended):
- Mobile phone with international roaming allowing for its use in the country (load into its memory the organization’s security numbers, don’t mask your number and don’t forget to leave with the battery fully charged)
- Keep the phone on, airplane mode is prohibited and could give rise to penalties.
- For smartphones: LiveRun application installed and activated.
- An external battery is highly recommended
- Personal softcup: 150 ml. minimum (bottles or flasks with lids are not accepted)
- Supply of water of 1 litre minimum
- 2 working headlamps with spare cells/batteries for each torch. Recommendation: 200 lumens or more for the main torch
- Survival blanket of 1.40m x 2m minimum
- Whistle
- First aid kits
- Self-adhesive elasticated bandage which can serve as a bandage or strapping (minimum 100 cm x 6 cm)
- Food reserve
Recommendation: 800kcal (2 gels + 2 energy bars each of 50-65g) - Jacket with hood which will withstand bad weather in the mountains and made with a waterproof and breathable membrane (eg. Outdry)
- Minimum recommended 10,000 Schmerber
- RET recommended inferior to 13
- the jacket must, imperatively, be fitted with an integrated hood or one which is attached to the jacket by the original system designed for that purpose by the manufacturer.
- the seams must be sealed.
- the jacket must not have sections of fabric which are not waterproof, but air vents fitted by the manufacturer (under-arm, in the back), since they do not damage in any obvious way the impermeability, are accepted.
- It is the runner’s responsibility to judge, with these criteria, if their jacket fits the regulations stated and so bad weather in the mountains, but, during a check, the judgment is made by the person in charge of the check or the steward.
- Long-legged trousers or race leggings OR a combination of legging and socks which cover the legs completely. (Optional for Cliffs 100, and Pagoda 50)
- Cap or bandana or saharian cap or Buff
- Additional warm second layer (Optional for Cliffs 100, and Pagoda 50) : a warm second layer top with long sleeves (cotton excluded) of a weight of a minimum of 180g (men’s size medium (M)) OR the combination of a warm long-sleeved underwear (first or second layered cotton exclude) of a minimum weight of 110g (men’s size medium (M)) and a durable water repellant (DWR protection) windproof jacket
- Note: the wind-proof jacket does not replace the obligatory waterproof jacket, and vice versa
- Warm gloves (Optional for Cliffs 100, and Pagoda 50)
- Copy OR original passport/ID card
- Mask
- Alcohol spray or gel
- LED, reflective vest or belt, or reflective band with at least 2 inches length
- Reusable bowl and spoon/spork
All clothing must be the correct size for the competitor and without having been modified in any way after leaving the factory.
You carry this equipment in a pack which must be tagged during race-bib distribution and is not interchangeable during the race.
Other recommended equipment (including but not limited to)
- Hat
- Waterproof over trousers
- Spare warm clothing, indispensable in the case of cold or wet weather or in the case of injury.
- Poles in the case of rain for your security on slippery ground
- Vaseline or anti-heat cream
- A sum of a minimum of 500 Baht (for contingencies)
- GPS watch, with race map loaded
- Knife or scissors for cutting elasticated bandage
- Emergency sewing kit…
If you choose to take poles, it is for the duration of the race. It is forbidden to start without poles and acquire them during the course of the race.
No poles are authorized in the drop bags.