The Last Desert by RacingThePlanet 2026

An Ultramarathon at the End of the World

The Last Desert by RacingThePlanet is the only multi-stage ultramarathon held on the Antarctic continent. Part of the legendary 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, it takes competitors across up to 250 kilometres of the most remote and inhospitable terrain on Earth: the Antarctic Peninsula. Often referred to as the "White Desert", Antarctica is technically the largest desert in the world, and racing here represents the ultimate challenge for endurance athletes.

Founded in 2006, The Last Desert was created as the crown jewel of the 4 Deserts series, joining the Gobi March, the Atacama Crossing and the Namib Race. Unlike those events, participation in The Last Desert is by invitation only: competitors must first complete at least two other RacingThePlanet or 4 Deserts ultramarathons to qualify. This exclusivity, combined with the extreme environment, limits the field to roughly 50 athletes per edition, making it one of the most selective ultra-distance events in the world.

The race departs from Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city on Earth, aboard an expedition ship that serves as a floating base camp throughout the event. Since 2010, The Last Desert has been held on a biennial schedule to minimise environmental impact on this pristine continent.

Course and Race Format

Multi-Stage Structure

The Last Desert unfolds across up to six stages, each held in a different location along the Antarctic Peninsula. Competitors are transported from the expedition ship to shore via zodiac boats, where courses are set up in circuit loops ranging from approximately 2 to 14 kilometres. Rather than covering a fixed distance, each stage is time-based: racers must remain on the course for the full allocated time (up to 12 hours per stage), completing as many laps as possible. The overall winner is the athlete who covers the greatest total distance across all stages.

Distance and Variability

The maximum distance achievable across all stages is approximately 250 kilometres, though actual distances vary enormously between competitors. In past editions, the top athletes have covered over 250 km while others have completed around 80 to 100 km, with all participants spending the same total time on the course (roughly 26 hours and 42 minutes across all stages combined). This format rewards consistency, resilience and the ability to keep moving in extreme conditions rather than pure speed alone.

Locations Used

Over its history, The Last Desert has used more than 20 different locations across the Antarctic Peninsula, with four to six selected for each edition. Past stage locations have included Deception Island, Half Moon Island, King George Island, Danco Island, Esperanza Base, Paradise Bay, Dorion Bay and various horseshoe-shaped islands. The specific locations are chosen based on weather, ice conditions and accessibility, and may change at short notice depending on conditions.

Terrain and Difficulty

The Last Desert is widely considered the most demanding race in the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series. The terrain is primarily snow of varying depth, from a few centimetres to over one metre, interspersed with volcanic rock, black sand, glacial ice and coastal paths. Temperatures on the course can drop as low as -20C (-4F), with strong winds and unpredictable weather that can change conditions within minutes.

Unlike other multi-stage desert races where competitors carry all their own gear and camp in tents, The Last Desert operates from the expedition ship. Runners return to the vessel after each stage to warm up, shower, eat hot meals and sleep in proper beds. This hybrid format -- extreme racing by day, relative comfort by night -- is unique in the ultra-distance world. However, the cold, wind, unstable footing on snow and the psychological challenge of racing in such a remote environment make this far more difficult than the distance alone would suggest.

Elevation gain is minimal in absolute terms, as the stages take place near sea level on coastal terrain, but the energy cost of running through deep snow and battling wind chill more than compensates. Competitors must be prepared for whiteout conditions, sudden storms and the disorientating effect of near-continuous daylight during the austral summer.

History and Notable Performances

The inaugural Last Desert took place in 2006, when fifteen pioneers became the first humans to complete a 250-kilometre footrace on the Antarctic continent. They raced across three locations: Esperanza, Deception Island and King George Island. Since then, RacingThePlanet has returned to Antarctica nine times, with the eleventh expedition scheduled for November 2026.

Several performances stand out in the race's storied history. In 2010, South African trail running legend Ryan Sandes recorded the lowest possible aggregate score of 4 points by winning every one of the four desert races he entered, covering an impressive 230.50 km in Antarctica alone. In 2012, Spain's Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito and Germany's Anne-Marie Flammersfeld replicated this feat by winning all four races in the same calendar year, earning the coveted 4 Deserts Grand Slam. Garcia Beneito covered 200.35 km while Flammersfeld logged 186.95 km during their Antarctic edition.

More recently, Vicki Connelly of the United Kingdom and Hiroyuki Matsuda of Japan have claimed victories. The race has also attracted elite names like Dean Karnazes, reinforcing its status as one of the premier ultra-endurance events on the planet. In 2014, Jose Manuel Martinez Fernandez (Spain) won the men's race with 163.30 km while Isis Breiter (Mexico) took the women's title with 121.60 km.

Practical Information for Participants

• Qualification: Competitors must have successfully completed at least two RacingThePlanet or 4 Deserts ultramarathons before being eligible. Entry is by invitation only and subject to availability.
• Entry fee: US$14,900, payable in two instalments (approximately US$5,150 deposit, balance due by May 2026). The fee includes ten nights on the expedition ship with accommodation, all meals onboard, international staff and medical support, water during stages, zodiac transfers, awards banquet ticket, finisher's medal and a special edition RacingThePlanet jacket.
• Equipment: Competitors must carry mandatory gear including extreme cold-weather clothing, waterproof layers, thermal base layers, gloves, balaclava, sunglasses, sun protection and personal nutrition. A detailed mandatory gear list is provided by the organisers upon registration.
• Meeting point: Ushuaia, Argentina. Competitors must arrange their own travel to Ushuaia; the expedition ship departs from there.
• Environmental responsibility: Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, and all participants must adhere to strict environmental guidelines. Nothing may be left behind, wildlife must not be disturbed, and all waste is carried out.
• Weather contingency: Start times, stage distances and locations may change at short notice due to weather, sea ice and wind conditions. Flexibility and a positive mindset are essential.
• Fuel surcharge: A surcharge of US$250 to US$500 may apply if oil prices exceed certain thresholds.