La Routa Adventure Race 2025 Kicks Off in Biliran as ARWS Asian Championship Leg

TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippines’ premier and longest-running adventure race, La Routa Adventure Race 2025, returns to Biliran province to serve as the Asian Championship Leg of the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) from November 18 to 21.

Organized collaboratively by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Eastern Visayas regional office, the Biliran provincial government, and Bukid Outdoor Shop, this year’s event highlights Eastern Visayas’ emergence as a leading destination for international adventure and outdoor sporting competitions.

The race features 12 elite teams hailing from Malaysia, India, Japan, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines. Notable participants include Malaysia’s KBS Adventure Team, KBS Phantom Stride, Kamikaze Silva, and Skomad; India’s Shershah Adventure Racing Team; Japanese squads East Wind and B-Kemonogotchi; and the Czech Republic’s Fenix Multisport team, which includes athletes from the United States, Czechia, Switzerland, and Canada. Representing the host nation are the Philippine teams Dirt Adventure Racing Team, A-Plot, Team Apurado, and Tres Islas.

DOT Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, who also directs the race, shared that competitors will undertake a demanding 300-kilometer, nonstop four-day course featuring mountain biking, paddling, trekking, navigation, and continuous strategic decision-making.

"Approximately 80 percent of the route has been redesigned to incorporate a newly opened cross-country jungle trail and segments inspired by traditional Filipino games, offering a unique cultural experience that distinguishes La Routa from other ARWS events," Tiopes explained.

She further emphasized Biliran’s growing reputation as a premier global adventure destination, saying, "This marks the second occasion that both La Routa and Biliran have been selected to host the ARWS Asian Championship Leg, a testament to the race’s caliber, the dedication of its organizers, and the exceptional terrain that Biliran provides to the international adventure community."

First held annually from 2000 to 2010 and revived in 2019, La Routa has established itself as a cornerstone of Philippine outdoor sports. The race gained increased international recognition after hosting the inaugural ARWS Asian Championship under the ARWS Asia Circuit in 2023, confirming its status as one of the region’s most challenging and culturally distinctive adventure races.

This year’s event has attracted wide international attention, including delegations from Malaysia, India, and the Czech Republic, as well as a 13-member media team from Japan’s NHK TV, further expanding La Routa’s global footprint.

After four grueling days of competition, one team will be crowned the 2025 champion and earn the prestigious opportunity to participate in the ARWS World Championship in 2026.