[3] The marathon began as an ambitious initiative to encourage the youth living in "hostile weather conditions" following the devastation of the 2010 flash floods.

With no sponsor at its helm, the Ladakh Marathon is supported by multiple partners, including Timing Technologies, Enerzal and Bisleri.

In 2022 the Khardung-La Challenge partnered with Tata Consumer Products' Himalayan with the objective of spreading awareness about the local communities being affected by melting glaciers.

The Ladakh Marathon has a long pre-marathon work-out schedule to train the participants, helping them acclimatizing to the high altitude and hilly conditions.

Starting at 3am in Khardong village and temperatures of −10 °C to 17586 ft Khardung La pass and descending into the Leh Valley the photographers capture the timeless moments through its lenses.