Years ago, the Morocco Desert Challenge made history through its epic and legendary "Coast to Coast" route. A 3000km rally-raid adventure from Agadir and Plage Blanche at the Atlantic Ocean, to Saïdia at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In 2025 we will travel to the deep south of Morocco in 8 days of cross-country racing.
Every edition of the Morocco Desert Challenge guarantees a demanding course that not only gives drivers a tough challenge, but also requires navigators to be really attentive. Fast tracks, technical sections, vast African plains, many dunes, salt lakes, river beds and legendary Dakar tracks: almost all 8 stages start and end in the bivouac.
2025 will be a special anniversary edition. For the 10th time we will be heading to our favorite host country and that deserves to be celebrated. Of course, no “loops” around a bivouac, but also no “coast to coast”. It will be… something completely new! To put it in Star Trek terms: “To boldly go where only a few have gone before.”
The rally starts, 5 days after Ramadan, in Agadir and soon we will head deep into the south. A large part of the MDC2025 will be driven on unknown terrain: we will head to the sandy paths and canyons of the Moroccan Sahara. We will not only build bivouacs on the beach at Plage Blanche, but also in Laâyoune and Boujdour. No less than 3 stages include rides on virgin beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and we discover 2 new sand seas south of Laâyoune. Later during the rally, the vast dunes of Erg Chegaga are on the program.
As usual, we end with a smashing closing party in Ouarzazate, a stone's throw from Marrakech.
Stage 0 | Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th April
Technical and administrative checks
On Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th of April 2025 the Morocco Desert Challenge kicks off with scrutineering in Agadir, one of Morocco’s friendly seaside resorts with an international airport. Bivouac 0 is at Place Al Amal, Agadir’s largest public square. The rally hotels, where everybody is accommodated, are located along the square.
Stage 1 | Saturday 5th April
Liaison to the start = 32 km
SS1 = 83 km
Liaison 2 = 145 km
Assistance = 269 km
The first 32km liaison is certainly no punishment. After about 7.5 km from the Al Amal Square, you leave the main road and pass through a beautiful wooded area via winding paths to the start of this prologue. You quickly leave the asphalt behind and can warm up for the main event: the liaison goes off-road, and you even have to navigate a bit to avoid obstacles. The starting point on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean is truly beautiful, so you can enjoy the scenery if you arrive a little early.
The 85km prologue is immediately a very enjoyable special stage. The first 10km take you along the waterline with occasional dunes and beautiful paths along the sea. Then the landscape transitions to pampas: large open plains, gently rolling with nice sandy tracks. But be careful with the navigation. There are many left-right combinations that can be tricky, especially at higher speeds.
At the end of the stage you’ll have a 145 km beautiful liaison, from Aglou and via Sidi Ifni to our first bivouac at Plage Blanche. Enjoy the stunning views on the ocean.
Stage 2 | Sunday 6th April
Liaison 1 = 16 km
SS2 = 354 km
Liaison 2 = 143 km
Assistance = 535 km
The long but beautiful, hugely varied stage 2 consists of 3 separate specials, each with a small transfer to bypass towns like TanTan.
At 16 km from the bivouac, the stage starts on a plateau, and so unfortunately no start at Plage Blanche because it is high tide in the morning. After 17 km, we descend into the canyon and follow the Oued “Auorira” downstream for 16 km. Through a steep climb we exchange the canyon for a new plateau. What follows are 80 km of intense riding pleasure: sandy, winding slopes in a beautiful setting.
Part two is then again characterized by tough navigation on a gravelly surface and in the third part of the special there is again a lot of variety. Sandy trails, a 15 km sandy oued, beautiful views and a fast section of “piste du dakar” to end the day.
Truly a stage for the big boys!
Stage 3 | Monday 7th April
Liaison 1 = 4 km
SS3 = 264 km
Assistance = 120 km
In the first 35 km racers will have to battle with the tricky dunes of La’ayoune. No rules, no regularity, no logic compared to the dunes of Chegaga. Sometimes they’re soft on both sides, with steep descents. Luckily there’s often a way around.
The rest of the stage is a lot of fun, starting with a 20 km “hors piste” (off track) over large sandy desert planes, covered with a thin layer of gravel. For those who have “a need for speed” we’ll offer a 30 km stretch at full throttle over the old, legendary Dakar tracks.
After navigating between some more dunes, we present another novelty: a stretch of no less than 50 km off-track through camel grass, “floating” over what seem to be small dunes.
We’ll end the stage with an amazing ride along the Atlantic Ocean. Patches of soft sand combined with gravel track along side the beach. Difficult to decide what to focus on: the rally track or the impressive views and rock formations.
Stage 4 | Tuesday 8th April
liaison 1 = 24 km
SS4 = 526 km
Assistance = 380 km
The stage from Boujdour to Smara is a real monster stage with a grueling 526 km special. We have never been this far south in the Moroccan Sahara, but it is worth it!
After 25 km we descend into a beautiful dirt track that gradually turns into an endless gorge. An otherworldly landscape presents itself. It is crucial to always stay at the edge of the chott if you don't want to lose your vehicle in the mud and quicksand. This amazing experience lasts about 40 km.
Given the high mileage, you can assume it will be a fast stage. Yes, it's definitely one that favors the fast T1 and T1+ cars, but you can still lose a lot of time with the tricky navigation. And given the distance and several stretches of soft sand, fuel management is also a factor not to be underestimated!
Stage 5 | Wednesday 9th April
SS5 = 375 km
Liaison = 12 km
Assistance = 466 km
The 5th stage of the Morocco Desert Challenge 2025 is hugely varied: it treats you to a breathtaking mix of sand, fesh fesh, gravel, stones and vast plains.
The first kilometers take you over undulating sandy slopes, but around km 40 the landscape changes dramatically as the track plunges into the Oued Draa. Here the terrain becomes treacherous due to deep fesh fesh.
After km 50, narrow tracks, hilly sections and three fast chotts alternate. From km 120, a long, smooth salt flat opens up, perfect for going full throttle. The “rest” is short-lived, however, because from km 150 the infamous Piste Africaine begins, where sharp rocks, deep gullies and treacherous obstacles dampen the speed considerably. Here technical and tactical riding is essential.
From km 200, the fast sand returns and wide, flowing slopes again offer room to set pace. The last 100 km of driving is largely smooth and spectacular, with fast sections through a vast desert valley. Surrounded by mountains on the horizon, this stage ends in one of the rally's most beautiful settings, a worthy finale to a day of challenges.
Stage 6 | Thursday 10th April
Liaison 1 = 187 km
SS6 = 312 km
Assistance = 340 km
An early morning start today for a 187 km liaison. Normally long liaisons are not part of an MDC, but if it allows us to avoid a stretch of bad track and 7 military checkpoints, we will make an exception this year.
Stage 6 has two parts: Part 1 first takes you through a landscape as rugged as it is breathtaking. A mix of eroded river beds, deep pits and rocky steps that firmly press the pace. The hard, uneven terrain requires extreme concentration and a thoughtful riding style. From KM 60 the terrain opens up and the stony surface gives way to faster tracks with a mix of gravel and hard sand but although the roads look wider and smoother, the terrain remains treacherous: hidden bumps and small steps mean that full speed is rarely without risk.
The fun of stage 6 is mainly in part 2 which includes a beautiful dune section of about 20 kilometers, where the sand feels soft and playful. The dunes are not extremely technical, but do vary in height and shape, making finding a flowing line essential. After leaving the dunes, you ride 20 km via “La Piste des Camps,” a wide, dusty track with deep ruts that allows for speed but mercilessly punishes steering errors.
Stage 7 | Friday 11th April
SS7 = 290 km
Assistance = 0 km
Those who have craved for dunes the past few days, will get their share today. After 70 km, we dive into Erg Chegaga for a second time for a completely new, undiscovered dune zone. Over a distance of 45 kilometers, you meander through an impressive landscape of sand hills and sharp ridges, with every meter challenging but achievable.
After the dunes, the terrain opens up to a fast track toward the abandoned barracks, but it doesn't get easy here. The sand turns into treacherous fesh-fesh. For about 10 km, overtaking becomes a perilous undertaking. The route bends toward M'Hamid, then from the easternmost point of the rally plunges into the sandy Oued Draa. The scenery here is breathtaking, but vigilance is still required, especially in the zones where vegetation covers the ancient slopes and makes navigating extra challenging.
After 20 km of plowing into the oued, a second dune field of another 30 km awaits, where larger and more majestic dunes are the playground. The transition to Lac Iriki is spectacular, with a quick crossing of the vast dry lake. This is followed by a succession of Dakar slopes and technical sections. The day ends with a descent to the bivouac, a worthy conclusion to a stage full of sand, tactical choices and unpredictable challenges.
Stage 8 | Saturday 12th April
Liaison 1 = 188 km
SS8a = 97 km
Liaison 2 = 82 km
SS8b = 52 km
Assistance = 150 km
It ain't over till the fat lady sings!
At the start of the final stage of the Morocco Desert Challenge, we hit the tourist tour and start with a 188-kilometer liaison through breathtaking mountain scenery. Once you arrive at the start of the special, a varied course unfolds that combines both technical and fast sections. The rugged mountain terrain soon turns into a high plateau, on which most of special 8A will be ridden.
After an 82 km transfer, the very last chronometrated section begins: SS 8B. Only 52 KM now separate you from the finish line.
On the program: Fast slopes towards Ait Ben Hadou. sometimes smooth, sometimes stony and one last moment of clenched jaws when a sheer descent presents itself. All in all, “un plaisir de pilotage” (a pleasure to drive) and a nice ending in the bivouac at the castle of the movie Kingdom of Heaven.
A cold beer, and champagne for the winners, awaits you at the finish line!
On Saturday 12th April the finish & award ceremony will take place in Ouarzazate. The airport of Marrakech is just around the corner. The day after the rally, you can be home.
Don't limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.
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