Trail of the Kings - Lake Toba by UTMB.
The Caldera Crown 100K is the long loop of the Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB: a start in the middle of the night on the Pangururan waterfront, just over 100 km across Samosir and about 4,200 m of climbing, with the hardest of it waiting beyond the marathon mark. Getting to the finish means preparing to climb very steep ground on tired legs.
Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The first half is a loop of its own. From the shore the course goes straight into a climb of just over 3 km, then rises in waves past the Paraduan and Ronggur Nihuta aid stations to a little over 1,500 m. A long descent through Huta Tinggi brings you back almost to start level by km 40. Up to here the ground is demanding but runnable for long stretches.
Then comes the part the 60K field also runs. From km 42 three ramps follow in quick succession, the last nearly 4 km long at close to 19 percent on average with sections beyond 50 percent, past the Pusuk Buhit aid station to over 1,700 m. After that the pattern repeats: a steep drop, then at km 64 and km 75 a wall of two to three kilometres above 17 percent, each followed by a descent of several hundred metres. The climb at km 83 is moderate, and the course then rolls along at around 1,100 m before it falls back to the lake.
The loop runs through rugged terrain and dense forest, through valleys around the site of the great Toba eruption, with the lake coming back into view again and again. Start and finish are at Waterfront City in Pangururan on Samosir. Because the gun goes long before sunrise, the first hours of the eastern loop are run by headlamp.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.2 | 3.4 km | 6.8 % | 17.5 % | +228 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 8.5 | 2.5 km | 8.4 % | 14.5 % | +212 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 42.3 | 1.4 km | 10.8 % | 24 % | +149 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 43.8 | 1.2 km | 15 % | 33.7 % | +176 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 46.2 | 3.9 km | 18.9 % | 53.8 % | +727 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 64.1 | 2.2 km | 19.1 % | 37.9 % | +419 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 75 | 2.7 km | 17.3 % | 55.4 % | +463 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 82.6 | 2.4 km | 7.3 % | 24.4 % | +175 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB.
Start under control
Treat the race as two halves of completely different character. The loop to km 40 carries far less climbing than the rest and tempts you into speed with runnable rollers in the dark. That is where the mistake is made that gets paid for from km 42: arrive at the low point before the big climb having asked nothing of yourself, and eat consistently through this phase.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 42 and km 80. The long, steep climb towards Pusuk Buhit is not running terrain: short steps, hands on thighs, and an intensity you could repeat twice more. The descents that follow cost nearly as much as the climbs because each drops several hundred metres in one go; burn your quads here and the walls at km 64 and km 75 become a crawl.
Spend what is left
The last trap comes after km 83. The ground flattens and invites you to win back lost time, but after roughly 3,500 m of climbing what pays off there is a steady shuffle, not a late surge.
Training plan for Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 17 to 26 hours as a committed age-group runner. The effort is mostly aerobic but restless: long hiking stretches on ramps near 20 percent, running sections in between, and descents that tire the muscles more than the heart and lungs. Add a short night, since the race starts hours before sunrise.
Train race pace
The three big climbs of the second half decide the day, each two to four kilometres of steep ground with 40 to 75 km already in your legs. Train steep uphill hiking as a discipline of its own: 20 to 40 minute intervals on the steepest grade you can find, or hiking blocks on a treadmill at maximum incline if your terrain falls short.
Rehearse the course
The second focus is descending on fatigue. Build long sessions so the steepest descent comes last, and stack two long days back to back so your quads learn to keep braking after many hours. Practise eating at hiking pace as well, because the long climbs are where you take in energy most reliably.
Arrive fresh
The night start calls for experience with a headlamp on forest trails, so begin at least one long session in the dark. Rugged ground and dense forest demand sure footing for many hours, which puts ankle stability and runs on technical trails into every training week.
Courses
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Everything about Trail of the Kings - Lake Toba by UTMB.
How long is Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB?
Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB is 101.19 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB have?
Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB has around 4,009 m of elevation gain over 101.19 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB?
Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB is classified as Mountainous, averaging 39.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 12% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 18% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB have?
The hardest climb of Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB starts at kilometre 46.2, runs for 3.9 km at an average of 18.9% and gains 727 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB a loop course?
Yes, Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB course?
Yes. The Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB?
Preparation for Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB should account for 101.19 km, 4,009 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB?
The pacing strategy for Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB should reflect 101.19 km, 4,009 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Trail of the Kings - Lake Toba by UTMB 2027 take place?
Trail of the Kings - Lake Toba by UTMB 2027 takes place on June 12, 2027.
Where does Trail of the Kings - Lake Toba by UTMB 2027 take place?
Trail of the Kings - Lake Toba by UTMB 2027 takes place in Pangururan, Indonesia.
Which distances does Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB offer?
Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB offers 4 distances — Caldera Crown 100K: 101.19 km; Ultimate Expedition 60K: 64.03 km; King's Ascent 25K: 25 km; Legacy Dash 17K: 17 km.
How do I register for Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB?
Registration runs through the organiser: laketoba.utmb.world. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
