_____ THE ROUTE
FOUR STAGES. ONE ANCIENT LAND.
Beginning in Soran — the mountain refuge city at the base of the Zagros range on the Iranian border — the route descends through rugged canyon, desert highway, and mountain plateau before finishing in the heart of one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth.
The Canyon Pass
STAGE ONE
50km
Soran → Rwandz Canyon → Spelik Army Barracks
STAGE TWO
The Desert Highway
58km
Spelik → along the desert highway → Shaqlawa
The Mountain Descent
STAGE THREE
50km
Shaqlawa → descending into Erbil → The Citadel
STAGE FOUR
The Ancient Marathon
42km
Erbil City Marathon — alongside thousands of runners
ERBIL MARATHON
The Champs-Élysées Moment
On Day 4, after 160km of desert, canyon, and mountain — you don't cross a finish line alone. You merge into the Erbil City Marathon alongside thousands of local runners, in one of the oldest cities on earth. Your final 42km is run in celebration, not isolation. There is no finish line like it in ultramarathon running.
____ THE WEEK
SEVEN DAYS IN IRAQI KURDISTAN.
-
Arrival & Transfer to Soran
Fly into Erbil International Airport. Meet the IRAQ200 team at 12noon. Escorted convoy to Soran — your mountain basecamp at the foot of the Zagros range.Travel Day
-
Acclimatisation & Odyssey Briefing
Rest, acclimatise to altitude and heat. Full odyssey briefing, kit check, and cultural orientation. Your first real encounter with the mountains you're about to run.
Preparation Day -
Stage One — The Canyon
Soran → Rwandz Canyon → Spelik. The mountains open up. So do you.
50km Run -
Stage Two — The Desert Highway
Spelik → desert highway → Shaqlawa. The most remote and exposed stage. Road, heat, and sky.
58km Run -
Stage Three — The Mountain Descent
Shaqlawa → into the plains → Erbil Citadel. The ancient city comes into view. You've earned this sight.
50km Run -
Stage Four — The Ancient Marathon
Erbil City Marathon alongside thousands of runners. After 160km of desert and mountain, your final stage is run in celebration. Evening ceremony and dinner to close.
Marathon Finale -
Departure or Onward Journey
Plan to fly home on Saturday 31 October. Alternatively, continue your adventure and immerse yourself in more of the regions well-known historical and cultural experiences and locations.
Travel Day
A note on dates and programming.
IRAQ200 is an ultra odyssey set in a living, complex region. The Erbil Marathon — our Day 4 anchor — is an established international event, and our staging aligns with its annual calendar. Like any expedition in this part of the world, specific dates and programming can be subject to adjustment driven by regional dynamics, cultural calendars, and local conditions.
This is not uncertainty we hide from — it is the nature of operating in a place most events never attempt. Tim has spent a decade navigating these exact complexities, with deep relationships across government, community, and local stakeholders throughout Iraqi Kurdistan. If adjustments are needed, they will be communicated early, clearly, and with your full interests in mind.
What will not change: the route, the depth of the experience, and the reason this expedition exists.