Marseille Outdoor Experiences 2026
- Next event : Sun, November 8, 2026Date confirmed
- Last event : Sun, November 9, 2025
The event in a few words
Doing trail running under the expert eye of the “Bonne Mère”? 👀 Only at Marseille Outdoor Experiences is that possible ! 🤩 This race is a totally crazy urban trail waiting for you in the south of France 🌞, on Marseille soil. Whether you’re a fan of short trail or you prefer longer challenges, three routes will be offered: a 5 km, a 12 km and a 23 km! 👟 Every stride will take you as close as possible to the iconic monuments of the Phocaean City 🐟, queen of the Bouches-du-Rhône 👑. In early November, temperatures will be ideal for you to perform 💪. But just because you’ll have a view of the Mediterranean Sea all along the route doesn’t mean it’ll be easy! 😜
Yes, the city of Marseille has plenty of climbs in store for you! 📈 You won’t need spikes, but rather poles to help you tackle all those stair steps 😬. The 5 km will be kind and offer you 40 m D+, the 12 km will have a positive elevation gain of 267 m and the 23 km will feature 560 m D+ 😅. You probably weren’t expecting to gain that much height during your race, were you? 😶🌫️ Besides, the 23 km is fairly technical and falls into the 20K UTMB category, so the race can help you earn points toward potential qualifications! 🏆 Don’t panic: if you’re not a seasoned trail runner chasing results, you can absolutely enjoy the route without going all-in on performance 😉. The course is designed to blow your mind! ✨ Picture yourself running along the Corniche, with the blue of the Mediterranean as far as the eye can see, or through the picturesque alleys of Le Panier, the city’s oldest neighborhood 🏃♂️. But let’s not forget the high point of your climb ⬆️: the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde! ⛪ Perched atop its hill, it’s a monument you have to earn, but it’s also well worth seeing! 😍 Even Marseillais, who know the city like the back of their hand, discovered places they didn’t know! So, what do you think of this mad course? 🤪
If that still isn’t enough to make you grab your bib, we’ve cooked up a hand-picked selection of activities just for you 🧅 (the same onions as on the pissaladière 🐟). For football fans, a must-stop detour is the Stade Vélodrome: attending a match is an experience in itself! 🏟️ For lovers of nature, there’s no shortage of idyllic spots: the Calanques of Marseille, the Frioul Islands, the Cosquer caves… You won’t know where to look first! 😵💫 And to live the full Marseille experience, why not go celebrate your medal on one of the terraces of the Old Port with your buddies? 🍻
Between a sporting challenge and cultural discovery, Marseille Outdoor Experiences is the event you can’t miss! 🔥
5 reasons to join this race
A distance for every taste
23 kmTOP
12 km
5 km
- Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 7:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 560mD+
- Distinct starting and finishing locations
A few more words
Ah, a 23 km (a bit more than a half-marathon) is far from an easy task, so it’s better if there’s some beautiful scenery. In that respect, you’re in for a treat! ⭐️ But still, watch out for the elevation gain: 560 mD+ in total—that’s no small thing! 🤓
Starting from Le Peron restaurant 🏖️, you won’t be settling onto the terrace, but heading instead toward Parc Montvert and the Corniche Kennedy with views over the Mediterranean Sea 🌊. Running along the seafront until km 7, you won’t face any drastic climb—but enjoy it, because it won’t last. On your route, the 4th kilometer will actually be with your feet in the sand, just to warm up the calves for the climb that’s coming 📈.
After covering the whole of Prado’s large beach, at km 8, by Parc Borély, it’s time to turn around and head back up toward the north of the city 🤩. Careful—there will be quite a lot of stairs on your route among all these buildings, but the scenery will quickly make you forget how tough the course is 🤗. Also on the program: the picturesque Vallon des Auffes, a small fishing port nestled under the Corniche ⚓, and the Grand Port Maritime
From km 12, your thighs are going to start burning a bit, with a solid climb for almost 3 km and more than 150 mD+! But hey, that climb takes you to the magnificent Notre-Dame de la Garde, so yes, it’s well worth sweating a little 🥵. After that, we’ll let you catch your breath on the descent that will obviously lead you toward the Old Port and La Canebière 🙌. To finish on a high note, km 19 will take you around the Centre de la Vieille Charité, before ending in style on the Major esplanade, at the foot of the cathedral, facing the Mediterranean.
12 km – Technical, fun and intense
Trail- Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 8:30 AM
- Elevation gain : 267mD+ / 258mD-
- 12 km
A few more words
12 km and 267 mD+, in the heart of Marseille, that’s pretty nice, isn’t it, to get your legs warmed up before winter! ❄️
Starting from the Le Peron restaurant 🏖️, you won’t be settling in on the terrace, but heading instead toward Parc Montvert and the Corniche Kennedy with a view of the Mediterranean Sea 🌊. Running along the seafront until km 3, you won’t have a drastic climb, but enjoy it because it won’t last. After passing the park, you’ll head toward the beautiful and imposing Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, which will make you understand where those 200mD+ come from...
After that, we’ll let you catch your breath on the descent that will of course take you toward the Old Port and the Canebière 🙌. To finish off nicely, head back to the water’s edge to enjoy the Port of Marseille all the way to the finish on the esplanade of La Major! 🚢 Right by the port’s terraces, you’ll be ready to sit down and chill after the run 🥂.
5 km – Accessible, fun and explosive
Trail- Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 40mD+ / 38mD-
- 5 km
A few more words
For this 5 km, you will start on La Canebière, before heading to the Esplanade of La Major for the finish. This urban trail will have you running through the heart of the Le Panier district, all along the Old Port! 🚣
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
The location and times for bib pickup will be communicated by the organizers about 10 days before the race. No pickup will be possible on race day, Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Starts will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in waves:
The 23 km will start between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. from 56 Corniche Président John Fitzgerald Kennedy (13007 Marseille), by the Le Peron restaurant.
The 12 km will start between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. from the same place.
The 5 km will start from 9:45 a.m. from La Canebière (13001 Marseille).
All three races finish on the esplanade of La Major. Times are given as an estimate and may be adjusted by the organizers.
The minimum required age depends on the distance:
You must be at least 14 to take part in the 5 km.
You must be at least 16 to take part in the 12 km.
You must be at least 18 to take part in the 23 km.
Minor participants must provide parental consent.
Prices increase in tiers, depending on the number of bibs sold:
The 23 km bib costs €39 at the first tier, then €42, €45 and €49.
The 12 km bib costs €32 at the first tier, then €34, €36 and €40.
The 5 km bib costs €12 at the first tier, then €15, €17 and €20.
The first tier is reserved for participants from the 2024 and 2025 editions. Registration platform management fees are added to these prices. Registration is online only and will close on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Aid stations are planned approximately every 6 km.
Paper medical certificates are not accepted. Adult participants must provide one of the following two documents:
a PPS certificate (Parcours Prévention Santé) valid on the race date, to be obtained on pps.athle.fr;
a valid FFA license.
No other sports license is accepted. Minor participants must complete a health questionnaire on athle.fr and provide parental consent. If they are licensed, only an FFA license is accepted. A PPS certificate is recommended for foreign participants.
Each distance has its own cut-off time:
The 23 km cut-off time is set at 3 hours.
The 12 km cut-off time is set at 2 hours.
The 5 km cut-off time is set at 1 hour.
Any runner over the cut-off time will be asked to leave the course.
No gear is mandatory, but the organizers strongly recommend bringing:
at least 50 cl of water;
energy bars or gels;
a reusable cup.
The bib must be worn visibly throughout the race.
All registrations are final: entry fees are neither refundable nor transferable. When the race is sold out, an official resale platform is opened. This is the only authorized way to transfer your bib. The buyer must meet the age requirements and provide a valid medical document.
Your registration includes:
a race kit;
a finisher medal;
a free beer at the finish;
access to aid stations and the recovery area;
partner products;
chip timing;
course security.
If you have any questions, you can write to contact@marseilleoutdoorexperiences.fr.
For questions related to your registration, the dedicated address is inscription@marseilleoutdoorexperiences.fr.
A contact form is also available at the bottom of the official website’s homepage: https://www.marseilleoutdoorexperiences.fr
You can check the race rules here
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