The first high altitude marathon will be held in the Ladakh Himalayas in August this year, Jammu and Kashmir tourism minister Ghulam Hassan Mir announced on Friday.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Mir said hundreds of runners from across the globe are expected to participate in the 42.5 km marathon on August 16.

He said the marathon, the first at the world's highest altitude, will cover the Indus valley and follow the course of the Indus river.

This, he said, will help to promote the area as a tourist destination and create broader understanding of the region and its people.

Co-organiser and Mountain Adventure director Nazir Rah said it took about three years to plan the event after European travel company 'Albatross' of Denmark agreed to promote it.

The company specializes in organising and institutionalizing international marathon events is different parts of the world, he said, adding Albatross has been running the Great Wall marathon in China since long.