The day started with an emotional opening ceremony at Punakha Dzong with 600 students from the Punakha Secondary Highschool singing the national anthem of Bhutan. After the Lama of the monastery blessed all runners, the first stage started at 8am local time. First stage of 30,4 km with 2 checkpoints crossed the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan and ended after a 600m climb at the Chorten Ngympo Monastery. Runners stay in tents inside the monstery walls. Participants have the unique privilege tonight to join the buddhist evening ceremony with the monks in the monastery.

Winner of the first stage was Mo Foustok from Saudi Arabia ahead of William McMillan from UK and Scott Coey from Australia. First female runner was American/Hongkong Marcia Zhou ahead of French Isabelle Dufour and Chloe Onofrychuk from Canada.