A handcrafted bamboo arch tied together with rope marked the start and finish line when the Cameron Ultra Trail (Cultra) made its debut in Cameron Highlands back in 2016.
A decade on, the race has grown into Malaysia’s premier ultra‑trail event, drawing 3,600 runners from 33 countries and shaping the nation’s fast‑rising trail‑running culture.
The 10th‑anniversary race affirmed Cultra’s rise as Malaysia’s flagship ultra‑trail event.
Cultra is now a major driver of sports tourism, generating millions of ringgit annually for Cameron Highlands.
All race slots were snapped up in under six hours, with 70% Malaysians and international runners the remaining 30% – a sign of Cultra’s expanding global appeal.
This year’s Cultra presented by ASICS 2026 event featured five categories – Mossy100 (100km), Berembun60 (60km), Habu30 (30km), Pauh14 (14km) and Tanahrata4 (4km).
To mark the anniversary, organiser Bolt 360 Management Sdn Bhd introduced Habu30‑Night – a night run created in response to growing demand.
Bolt Media and Communications director Azlihana Abdul Rahim said Cultra’s true achievement lies not in its numbers but in the community it has nurtured.
Participation, Azlihana said, climbed from 850 runners in 2016 to 3,600 this year.
She added that Cultra had stayed true to its “Republic of Trail” roots.
“From the beginning, our vision was never just to organise a race.
“We wanted to build a community where runners, volunteers, crew members and locals feel they belong,” she told Bernama.
“That’s what Cultra has become over the past 10 years.”
The event contributes more than RM12mil a year to the local economy.
With record participation in 2026, the organisers expect the festival to surpass RM15mil and attract over 10,000 visitors.
Cultra’s legacy is visible in its loyal international following.
Thailand’s Nirodha Ruencharoen, who first raced Cultra in 2024, said the event made him feel connected to runners worldwide.
Forced to withdraw from this year’s Mossy100 at 77km, he is looking forward to next year.
“I’ll be back next year to finish what I started,” he said.
