Who knows what you might see while running your next marathon? In Juneau, Alaska it could be bears, eagles or whales, a common sight along the waterfront course.gettyActive travel and interest in outdoor sports has been booming since before the pandemic, and running is no exception. All of the biggest marathons, London, New York, Berlin, Boston, Chicago and so on, have been selling out in record time with record fields for the past few years. Even though London recently switched to a 2-day format with twice as many entries, over 90% of the more than 1.3 million applicants were rejected for 2027, and getting into any of the largest races—all of which are in major cities—has become a nightmare for recreational athletes. The good news is that there are plenty of races that are still easy to get into, especially if you look at growing number of unique events in far flung and singular locations around the globe, like these 10 exotic marathons.Rangers watch from the side as runners race through Kenya's Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on a route shared with lions, rhinos and other big animals.Bobby NeptuneThese unconventional events make for great stories, great memories, and are perfect options for those seeking to run a 26.2 mile race away from home and double up on the trip as a fun vacation. Known as “runcations,” “racecations” or “destination marathons,” this is a hot travel and fitness trend I wrote about recently here at Forbes. Since most people spend between three and five hours completing the event, the rest of your trip should be a great and memorable vacation, and these fit the bill. I also just wrote about big changes in one of the most desirable tourism locations here in the U.S., for anyone interested in running the “new” Las Vegas marathon.10 Exotic MarathonsLewa Safari Marathon, KenyaNo matter how fast your marathon time, these sprinters with whom you'll share the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy are faster—the fastest animals on earth.gettyMORE FOR YOUYou might be surprised to find that there are several marathons run amidst lions, leopards and giraffes through the unfenced wilds of African safari reserves and National Parks, and the Lewa is just one of the most prominent examples. Magical Kenya, the brand name for the nation’s tourist board, has been investing in, developing and supporting an entire series of mountain and trail races throughout the country, and this one offers both a full and half marathon on dirt roads through a UNESCO World Heritage designated wildlife conservancy in northern Kenya. Armed rangers are on the course alongside guests, since the route runs through rhino, elephant and big cat territory. Runner’s World Magazine put it on their Top 10 "must do" marathons list. About 1,200 runners from 30+ countries enter and it’s easy, no lottery, no ballot (late June 2027).Christmas Island Marathon, AustraliaOn your Christmas Island marathon run you'll go through the rain forest, famously home to thousands of red crabs.gettyWhere? This is physically one of the more challenging races on this list, but by far the hardest part for most readers will be getting there. Where is Christmas Island, you might ask? No, it’s not at Santa’s North Pole workshop, but rather in the Indian Ocean, approximately 900-miles from the coast of Western Australia, and while it is governed by Australia it is much closer to Indonesia’s Jakarta. Qantas flies there twice a week from Perth, so plan on an extended “runcation.” The course for this race is mostly dirt trails, and Christmas Island has seaside cliffs and a high central plateau, rising sharply from sea level to almost 1200-feet, and almost two thirds of the island is National Park. Run coastal cliffs, tropical landscapes and rainforest, possibly viewing abundant wildlife and the Island’s famous red crabs along the way—then tell all your friends and check out their puzzled expressions (August 2027). St. Helena Island, British Overseas TerritorySt. Helena's most famous tourist attraction is Longwood House, the final residence of Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile from 1815 until his death in 1821.gettyLocated 1,200 miles west of the coast of Africa and1,800 miles east of South America, in the middle of the South Atlantic, St. Helena bills itself as the World's Most Remote Marathon, and it’s hard to get more exotic than that. It’s the size of San Francisco but with a population of around 4,000 people. Considering its location, it is a recognizable name chiefly due to the fact that it is where Napoleon was exiled and imprisoned from 1815 until his death here in 1821. For most of its tourism history the only way to get to St. Helena here was a 5-day boat trip from Cape Town, South Africa, but in 2017 one flight a week was launched from Johannesburg, so while it’s much easier, there’s still no way to visit for less than seven days. The marathon anchors the island’s official “Adventure Week,” and you can add in some rugged guided hiking, diving with sharks, snorkeling, kayaking and exploring the island’s history. There’s even a single golf course, and St. Helena produces some of the rarest coffee on the planet. Like the Christmas Island race, it is rugged, largely off-road and has substantial elevation changes, with cliffs, mountain paths and green forest (February 28, 2027). The Dead Sea Marathon, Israel The Dead Sea Marathon in Israel claims to be the lowest elevation race on earth. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP) (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesRun at 1,300 feet below sea level, this is the lowest elevation marathon in the world—enough said. Much of it is run on pier-like dikes and salt and dirt embankments normally closed to the public as well as the desert, with very little pavement. There are also 5, 10, 15 and 50K options, plus a half-marathon (Feb. 5, 2027).Haulin’ Aspen, Bend, ORDeschutes National Forest near Bend is home to the Haulin' Aspen Marathon.gettyThere are plenty of off-road trail running races, and this dominates the “ultra” category of races longer than standard marathon, such as 50K (31 miles), 50-miles, 100K (62-miles) and 100-miles. But surprisingly, there are very few classic marathons entirely on dirt trails at the standard 26.2 miles distance, and this is one of those (there’s also a regular half marathon). The good news is that dirt is less punishing and easier on the joints and muscles, the bad news is the rolling terrain makes it challenging, especially with a big 700-foot climb in the final stage. But the great news is that is it in Bend, a wonderful outdoorsy town with a fun, craft beer-driven aesthetic (August 2027).Laguna Phuket Marathon, ThailandYou will have plenty of time to enjoy the gorgeous sunny beaches of Phuket, since the Marathon here is run in the middle of the night.gettyIf you suffer from jet lag, this might be the foreign race for you. It is the largest annual sporting event on Thailand’s tourism epicenter of Phuket and features a unique “Sunset-Sunrise” concept, with a 3AM start time so most of the race is run in the dark, with the sun coming up for the finish, well suited for long haul international travelers and beating the heat. Then recover on the island’s beautiful beaches for the rest of the day (June 13, 2027). EVA Air Run, Taipei, TaiwanTaipei offers one of the most surprising big city marathons in the world.gettyOK, so Taipei isn’t quite as exotic as Christmas Island or a Kenyan safari park, but it’s one of the most overlooked great cities of the world for American tourists and went up in my book after the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong. Taipei is safe, modern, has some standout attractions (Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, etc.) and an amazing, world-class food (and whisky) scene. It’s also very easy to get to in style as Taiwanese airline EVA is one of the best and most luxurious carriers on the planet, with excellent business (and coach) class and lounges, and flies non-stop from eight major U.S. cities including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Because EVA is the main race sponsor, they offer some great travel packages including air, something almost no other marathon can match, and the full-marathon is capped at very leisurely 4,000 runners. After about the first four miles, almost the entire race runs up and down both sides of the central Tamsui River, much of it through parks and urban greenspace. It’s a great way to take in the sights of the city and there is also do a Half Marathon, 10k and 3k (October 2027).Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge, Bermuda Come for the run, stay for the rum.getty“Run? We thought you said rum,” is a tagline for this marathon, which claims to be the only one in the world dedicated “Rum Stops” along the route, sponsored by Bermuda’s Goslings. That’s the story-telling hook, but it also offers great scenery, frequent ocean views, a mild climate, and the marathon begins with a free ferry ride from Hamilton to the start at the Royal Navy Dockyard. A unique three-day race weekend includes a festive Friday night one miler through Hamilton, a Saturday 10K and Sunday half or full marathon, giving travelers the option to do all three and complete the iconic “Bermuda Triangle Challenge” (or half Triangle, January 17, 2027).Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon, Louisville, KYThis could be you, running past the famed "Twin Spires" at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.gettyThe Kentucky Derby is known as the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” but the month long festival lead up has about 70 other events in Louisville, including the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon & Marathon. The big moment comes around Mile 8 when runners enter the nation’s most famous racetrack, run through the track’s infield and then out past the iconic Twin Spires where champions are crowned, a one of a kind opportunity (April 24, 2027).Juneau Marathon/Half Marathon, AlaskaThe "City Skyline" of Juneau, AKgettyNo list of 10 exotic marathons would be complete without Alaska, a Bucket List travel destination for many. Summer is short and sweet in “The Last Frontier,” and this race, a Boston Marathon qualifier, is held In late July. Juneau is located in the world's largest temperate rainforest, the 17.1-million-acre Tongass National Forest, surrounded by water on one side and icefields on the other. The city has just one main road and can only be reached by air or boat (Alaska Airlines and Delta, just two hours from Seattle). The race route is flat and sea-level, with just 75-feet elevation change, along the shores of Douglas Island, with views of mountains, glaciers, and potentially humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, bald eagles, black bears, porcupines and marmots. Before or after the marathon, you can explore Juneau’s 250-miles of hiking trails, a tram to the top of Mount Roberts, 38 area glaciers that can be visited by foot, paddling, helicopter or floatplane, and the city boasts some of Alaska's best whale watching (July 31, 2027).