Love running? These are the most unique marathons in the world

Marathon vacations, or “mara-cations”, have been steadily gaining more popularity in the last few years. These are part of the wider run-cation travel trend, which covers everything from race sightseeing, guided trail running, organised runs and self-guided running routes.

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Rising interest in fitness among Gen Z and millennial travellers, especially women, has supported the boom in mara-cations, with Accor’s 2025 Travel Trend Report highlighting a 50% surge in searches for “workout holidays” in the last year.

But what if you’re done with the classic marathons like London, Berlin, Boston and New York, and are looking for something more offbeat?

Below are some of the most unique marathons that all runners should experience at least once.

St. Helena: Lush highlands and dramatic volcanoes

The “world’s most remote marathon” will take place in idyllic St.Helena, a volcanic tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean, on 28 February 2027.

Famed for being Napoleon Bonaparte’s place of exile, this British Overseas Territory is around 1,930 kilometres west of the southwest coast of Africa– so don’t expect too many of your friends and family to come cheer you on!

Runners will start from Plantation House and cross the island’s vibrant highlands and dramatic volcanic landscapes to finish in the historic capital, Jamestown.

There are four distance choices to pick from, a full marathon of 42.2km, half marathon of 21.1km, a 10km run or a 5km run. Entry fees are $79 (€68.50), $46 (€39.90), $24 (€20.80) and $15 (€13) respectively.

The marathon is part of the wider St. Helena’s Adventure Week, which focuses on the island’s natural beauty, along with other activities like open water swimming, guided hikes and the Jacob’s Ladder climb.

“The World’s Most Remote Marathon is far more than a race, it is an invitation to run in one of the most extraordinary and unique destinations on the planet,” said Jonathan Passaportis, head of tourism for St.Helena.

The island can mainly be reached via weekly Airlink flights from South Africa, although extra flights are arranged around the marathon. Runners can choose from a range of guesthouses, boutique hotels and self-catering cottages to stay in.

Amazon Marathon: Dense Peruvian jungles and living culture

The inaugural Amazon Marathon will take place on 9 September 2026 in Puerto Maldonado in Peru’s Madre de Dios region.

Launched by Marathon Tours & Travel, this marathon is part of a fully packaged, guided experience and is a prime example of how travel is blending with fitness.

With a limit of only 50 participants, the Amazon Marathon prioritises sustainable fitness tourism. Participants gain access to a unique looped jungle trail running experience in the Peruvian Amazon, replete with rich biodiversity, wildlife and adventure.

Runners can choose between full marathon, half-marathon and 10.5km distances.

Packages include jungle lodge accommodation, as well as stays in Lima, along with local transport and race entry. There are also options to extend this trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu as well.

“The Amazon Marathon is the definition of a bucket-list race,” said Jeff Adams, president of Marathon Tours & Travel.

“It’s not just about covering the distance, it’s about where you are, what you are able to experience and the stories you take home. Running in the Amazon rainforest is something very few people ever get to do, and we’re proud to be launching an event that makes that possible in a safe, supported and unforgettable way.”

Amazon Marathon packages start at $3,325 (€2,881) per person for double occupancy and $3,970 (€3,440) per person for single occupancy.

Great Wall Marathon: Ancient history and panoramic views

The Great Wall Marathon, held every year in May near Beijing, China, is one of the more intense marathons in the world. Set to take place on 16 May this year, the race has over 5,164 steps across the Huangyaguan section of the Wall.

The trail features steep ascents, dramatic, uneven and sometimes broken steps and high-altitude mountain landscapes. It crosses the Wall twice, with other flat stretches traversing farmland and local villages.

Despite the difficulty of the run, it remains one of the most iconic marathons, with stunning, panoramic views from the top of the Wall and the trail often including parts of the Jinshanling and Gubeikou sections too.

Runners can choose from a full marathon, a half marathon and an 8.5km fun run.

There is also a time limit of eight hours for the full marathon and a six-hour cut-off at 34km.

Several participants prefer to take part through organised travel packages, which includes race entry, accommodation and ground transport.

Big 5 Marathon: Run alongside South Africa’s wildest big cats

The Big Five Marathon is another memorable annual race, taking place in June every year in South Africa’s Entabeni Game Reserve.

Organised by Albatross Adventure Marathons, it offers participants the chance to run across the African savannah alongside wildlife like elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, buffalos, zebras, giraffes and more. Bird lovers can also spot a variety of savannah birds.

Game management teams and armed rangers patrol the course, to ensure safe distances from the animals.

The terrain is rugged, with a significant amount of rocks, sand and steep hills, making for a challenging course.

Runners have to take a mandatory travel package, which is usually for six to eight nights and is all-inclusive. The Albatross Adventure Marathons package starts from €2,890 and includes accommodation, food and race entry, along with bush walks and game drives.

However, other providers like Marathon Tours and Travels, also offer Big Five marathon options.

Antarctic Ice Marathon: Frozen isolation and an ultra-elite race

The Antarctic Ice Marathon, organised by Polar Running Adventures, is another once-in-a-lifetime race experience. As the world’s southernmost marathon, it is the only one held on mainland Antarctica, on Union Glacier. This is around 1,138km away from the South Pole.

In contrast, other Antarctic marathons usually run on peripheral islands, like King George island.

Runners must battle extreme temperatures in starkly isolated conditions, with an average windchill of -20C and around 3,000 feet altitudes to complete this race. Despite the 24-hour daylight, participants also have to deal with snow and ice underfoot.

Travellers take a private flight from Punta Arenas in Chile to Union Glacier and stay in specialised tents.

Participants choose from the classic full marathon, a Frozen Continent half marathon, or an ultra-elite “World’s Coolest 100” 100km race.

The Antarctic Ice Marathon is particularly popular with runners looking to complete the Marathon Grand Slam (all seven continents plus the North Pole) or the 7 Continents Marathon Club.

Not yet put off by the harsh conditions? The registration fee is $22,500 (€19,494.7), which covers round-trip flights from Chile to Union Glacier, food, accommodation and race entry.