Eco Trail Morocco – Race Guide & Getting to Ouarzazate

The Eco Trail Morocco (Eco Trail du Maroc) is a three-stage running and walking event around Ouarzazate, the "gateway to the desert" south of the High Atlas. This guide sums up the 2026 and 2027 dates, the distances, the rules runners ask about most, and how to get to Ouarzazate from Marrakech.

We are a transfer company, not the organiser. Fees and registration are handled only on the official Eco Trail Morocco website. Details below come from the organiser's pages and press reports and can change, so check the official site before you book anything.

Eco Trail Morocco at a Glance

The Race Format

The event lasts four nights. Participants check in at the hotel in Ouarzazate on day one, run or walk one stage on each of the next three mornings, and leave after breakfast on the last day. Buses take everyone from the hotel to the start of each stage, with starts at about 7:00 to use the cooler hours.

The organiser's FAQ gives only about 120–140 m of climbing per stage, on a plateau at around 1,200 m. The courses are mostly flat desert tracks, but the altitude, the dry air and the sun make them harder than the numbers suggest. Walkers can take part on the short course, and runners on the 70 km can switch to the 30 km if they struggle.

Kasbahs, oases and film sets

The routes change from one session to another. Past editions have started near the Atlas film studios, crossed desert tracks and dry riverbeds to the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, and looped through the palm groves and villages around Skoura. Films such as Gladiator were shot in this landscape.

Rules Runners Ask About

• Medical certificate: a certificate of "no contraindication to competitive running", less than 2 months old on the start date, is required for all distances, walkers included. A race licence is not accepted instead.
• Mandatory equipment: a hydration pack or vest with at least 1 litre of water, an eco-cup for the aid stations, a mobile phone that works in Morocco and a whistle.
• Rooms: double or twin rooms in the race hotel. If you come alone, you share with another participant.
• Groups: from 5 people, a group rate is available. Companions who are not running can follow the race by 4x4, with places limited.
• Changing distance: possible up to one month before the start.

Getting to Ouarzazate

Flying into Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate has its own airport, and the organiser recommends flying there directly when you can. Flights are limited, though, and often more expensive than flights to Marrakech.

Flying into Marrakech

Most international runners land at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). Ouarzazate is about 200 km away, roughly 4 hours by road over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) in the High Atlas. There are daily buses (CTM and Supratours) from Marrakech, but they leave from the bus stations in the city, not from the airport, and the trip takes longer.

A private transfer from Marrakech to Ouarzazate picks you up in arrivals or at your riad and drops you at the race hotel. It costs the same from the airport and from the city:

For a running club of 12, a minibus works out at under €23 per person. Check-in at the race hotel usually opens at midday on the first day, so an early flight into Marrakech, or a night in Marrakech before, gives you time to arrive relaxed.

Planning Your Trip

• Leave legs fresh: the drive over the Atlas has many bends. Short stops are free, and arriving the day before the check-in date gives you time to rest.
• Going back: the event ends after breakfast on the last day, around 9:00. That leaves time to reach Marrakech for an evening flight, about 4 hours plus stops.
• Extra days: see the kasbahs, Aït Ben Haddou and the film studios before or after the race. Read our Ouarzazate travel guide for ideas, or read the best time to visit the Sahara if you want to continue to the desert.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Eco Trail Morocco?

The next sessions are 26–29 October 2026, with registration closed, and 18–22 April 2027. Check the official website for the latest dates.

How long are the distances?

The long course is about 70 km in three stages of 20, 24 and 26 km. The short course is three stages of about 10 km, open to runners and walkers.

Is there a time limit?

No. The organiser says there is no time limit and you can go at your own pace.

Do I need a medical certificate?

Yes. A medical certificate for competitive running, less than 2 months old on the start date, is required for every distance.

How do I get from Marrakech to Ouarzazate for the race?

By bus from the city, or by private transfer from Marrakech Airport or your hotel in about 4 hours, from €110 per vehicle.

Can a whole running club travel together?

Yes. A van takes up to 6 people for €160 and a minibus up to 17 people for €330, with room for luggage.