Greece · Central Greece (Phocis)
TihioRace
Distance
250 km
Date
June 3, 2026
Entry fee
220 EUR
€ / km
€0.88
Greece’s long-form adventure: huge distance options, big climbs, and a true endurance expedition format.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
14000m
D+/KM
56m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
12.6%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-13.8%
Uphill gradient distribution
Route Profile
Analysed 2026-05-02Terrain breakdown
Terrain
Climbs
Top climbs
11.3 km · 1669 m gain
starts km 75 · avg 14.8% · max 58.5%
15.0 km · 1630 m gain
starts km 140 · avg 10.9% · max 47.6%
10.1 km · 1152 m gain
starts km 47 · avg 11.4% · max 84.2%
Top descents
8.3 km · 1456 m drop
starts km 57 · avg -17.5% · max -78.9%
9.3 km · 1290 m drop
starts km 158 · avg -13.9% · max -51.9%
10.1 km · 1096 m drop
starts km 173 · avg -11.0% · max -52.5%
The TihioRace Ultra Edition (3 UltraSummits) is a 250 km trail race held in early June in Central Greece.
The course gains 14,000 m over 250 km (56 m/km), looping from Tihio across three major Greek summits — Korakas (Vardoussia, 2,495m), Pyramida (Giona, 2,510m), and Liakoura (Parnassos, 2,457m) — before returning to start.
The biggest climb rises 1,669 m — the 16th largest single ascent of 385 European trail distances tracked. The biggest descent drops 1,456 m — the 25th largest single descent of 386 European distances. The route is more an Odyssean adventure than race - it includes a bridgeless river crossing at km 22, a 38.5 km gap between aid stations requiring self-sufficiency, and a pass through the UNESCO World Heritage site at Delphi at km 177.
The race is also charming in its unknown - to arrive at the race start requires commitment and time - the nearest airport is Athens (ATH), four hours away. Founded in 2020, the race earns 6 ITRA points with a mountain rating of 10, and drew 18 finishers in 2025 — one of the smallest finishing fields for a 250 km race in Europe. Entry costs €220 (~€0.88/km), less than many 100km races. It suits self-sufficient mountain runners drawn to genuine Greek wilderness and one of the best-value long ultras on the continent.
How hard is the TihioRace Ultra 250km? (Course profile, summits, and GPX data)
Q: How hard is the TihioRace Ultra 250km? A: Very hard. The TihioRace covers 250km with 14,000m of elevation gain (56m per km), summiting three major Greek peaks — Korakas (2,495m), Pyramida on Giona (2,510m), and Liakoura on Parnassos (2,457m). The biggest climb rises 1,669m — the 16th largest single ascent of 385 European trail distances tracked. The biggest descent drops 1,456m — the 25th largest. A 38.5km gap between aid stations 3 and 4 requires genuine self-sufficiency. The Giona summit section is classified as mountaineering: no distinct trail, navigation by markers only. In 2024, only 10 of 30 starters finished.
What makes the TihioRace Ultra route unlike any other 250km in Europe?
Q: What makes the TihioRace route distinctive? A: Few ultras in Europe combine athletic and historical stakes like the TihioRace. The route passes through Delphi — the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site and home of the ancient Oracle — at km 177. At km 85, runners pass Myers Cave, a WWII hiding place used by British SOE operative Monty Woodhouse during the Gorgopotamos bridge sabotage operation in 1944. The route also includes a bridgeless river crossing at km 22, a wild gorge section (Reka, km 90–103) where the trail disappears into the creek bed, and a descent to olive groves at just 40m elevation before climbing back to 2,457m on Parnassos. [Official: en.tihiorace.gr]
How does the TihioRace Ultra compare to UTMB and Eiger E250 on value?
Q: How does the TihioRace Ultra compare to UTMB on value? A: Both cover similar elevation density: TihioRace 56m/km (rank 106/389) vs UTMB 56.9m/km (rank 119/389). Both earn maximum ITRA points. The TihioRace entry is €220 (€0.88/km); the UTMB is €479 (€2.75/km). The TihioRace is open entry — no lottery, no qualification stones — while UTMB requires years of qualifying races and a lottery draw. The TihioRace also delivers a bigger single climb (rank 16 vs UTMB's rank 23) and a bigger single descent (rank 25 vs UTMB's rank 63). For runners who want UTMB-calibre vertical in an intimate, open-entry format, the TihioRace represents extraordinary value.
How do you get to Tihio from Athens for the TihioRace Ultra?
Q: How do you get to Tihio from Athens for the TihioRace Ultra? A: Athens airport (ATH) is approximately 222 minutes by car from Tihio in the Phocis region — a drive of roughly 210km. Public transport options are limited; the likely route is a bus toward Nafpaktos or Lidoriki followed by a taxi, but this has not been fully verified. [NEEDS SOURCE] Accommodation is limited in small surrounding villages; a base in Nafpaktos (~40km away) or Amfissa is practical. Book early for the June race window.
Race files
Logistics
Nearest airport
Athens (ATH)
Notes
Start: ~3.0–4.0 hrs drive to Tihio/Dorida (Fokida) / Public transport: limited; likely bus to Nafpaktos/Lidoriki + taxi last-mile (TODO: verify) / Accommodation: limited in small villages; consider base in Nafpaktos or Amfissa; book early
FAR
It’ll possibly take 3+ hours from the closest large airport to arrive. Plan your adventure accordingly, take an extra day for those after-race beers or Curranz.
