Trail Acacia M'ssici 2027

M'ssici, it’s going to be great—you’ll see! 🤪

Set course for Morocco, and more precisely the province of Tinghir, in the magnificent region of Dra-Tafilalet 🦂. It’s here, in the heart of the desert of the southeast, that every year in April the legendary Trail Acacia M’ssici 🏜️ takes place. If you thought the Sahara was just a huge expanse of monotonous sand worthy of a movie set, think again! 🫣 While the city of Tinghir is famous for its lush green palm grove, as soon as you head into the more arid areas toward M'ssici or Alnif, the scenery changes radically and gives way to fascinating acacias 😍. The Trail Acacia M’ssici is a truly immersive multi-day experience that blends sport, solidarity and ecology ♻️. The landscapes you’ll cross are simply spectacular, shifting between desert plateaus, dried-up wadis, hidden palm groves and majestic acacias (yes, the event really lives up to its name 🤫). These emblematic trees of the Sahara, called « Amrad» in the Amazigh language, are the kings of extreme resilience. They survive insane droughts thanks to roots that plunge dozens of meters down to hunt for water 💧. Safe to say they perfectly embody your mindset, right? 😏

For this edition, which promises to be unforgettable, the Taymat Association (which means “Fraternity” in the Amazigh language) is at the helm to help you discover its exceptional cultural and natural heritage 🍃. Founded in 2005 by young people from the region, it works tirelessly to promote the area and encourage civic engagement 🤝. Thus, 20% of the proceeds will be invested in the local "Taymat Community Pool" project 🏊. On the sports side, endurance is put to the test in this demanding yet incredibly beautiful environment 🤩. Several nature race and trail distances are on the program to satisfy both complete beginners and seasoned trail runners 🦾. The festivities start as early as Thursday with the welcome of participants and an immediate immersion in a bivouac under large traditional tents ⛺️. On Friday, it’s time for the opening ceremony before the big start of the first 10 km stage. The weekend continues to build with a second stage of 21 km on Saturday, followed by the flagship 42 km event on Sunday for the desert warriors 📍. The course will offer you some great runnable sections but also more technical rocky areas where you’ll need to smooth your effort so you don’t torch your thighs 🦵. Kids races of 600m, 1 km, 2 km and 3 km are also part of the program on Friday afternoon, as well as para-sports events 🧑‍🦽. The group atmosphere is ultra-friendly, driven by a unique solidarity dynamic since the event forges deep connections between runners and the residents of neighboring villages who handle the volunteer work. Of course, you don’t have to run every day! 😮‍💨 You can choose just one distance, or 3 if madness the urge strikes you 🫨.

After crossing the final finish line and receiving your symbolic prize, you’re probably wondering what to do to celebrate? 🥳 The organization has everything planned to let you experience the south of Morocco in the most authentic way possible! ☝️We forget pre-race carb loading and switch to pure indulgence with delicious local gastronomy and traditional mint tea 🍵. Evenings at the bivouac are punctuated by festive ceremonies and memorable musical nights hosted by local groups—perfect for recharging your endorphin batteries 🤪. You’ll have the chance to discover the region’s craft traditions and listen to fascinating testimonials from residents and partners 🦻. It’s also the perfect time to admire a starry sky of rare purity in the middle of the Sahara before packing up on Monday morning 🧳.