ULTRA ODYSSEY

Ultra Odyssey creates endurance expeditions that combine demanding physical challenges with cultural discovery and meaningful engagement. Its featured journey, IRAQ200, is a staged 200-kilometre ultra-marathon through Iraqi Kurdistan, scheduled for October 2027. Limited to 12 runners, the seven-day expedition travels from Soran in the Zagros Mountains to Erbil, crossing canyons, desert highways and mountain terrain before joining the Erbil City Marathon for the final 42 kilometres. The programme includes transfers, acclimatisation, expedition briefings, cultural orientation and organised stages, with opportunities to experience the region’s history and landscapes.

The expedition is led by founder Tim Buxton, whose connection to Iraqi Kurdistan began through humanitarian work supporting displaced families. Ultra Odyssey presents the route as an act of witness to the journeys families were forced to make, rather than simply a race or sporting achievement. The experience is designed for runners seeking a demanding challenge grounded in human resilience, local culture and purposeful travel.