Ouarzazate Relay International Marathon 2026

Have you ever run in a place where the spectators have four legs and spit when you're not fast enough 🤪? Welcome to Ouarzazate, where only camels and dromedaries judge your stride! 🐪

Hold on tight because we're not talking about a little Sunday morning run in your local park! In November, you're invited to come sweat like never before (but in style 😎) in Ouarzazate, in Morocco 🇲🇦. Actually, the weather during this period is perfect 🤩: between 11°C and 20°C! You have everything to be in top shape 🫡. On the menu: a real marathon of 42 km (yes, the full package!) and a half-marathon, for those who just want to test, and even a relay marathon of 4 to share the suffering with friends (friendship is beautiful 🥲). But wait, it's not over 🎉! Imagine packages of 3 or 5 nights in a hotel with your transfer from the airport 🛫 for you and your companions (obviously without a bib on their side)? It's reality at the Ouarzazate Marathon! It's up to you to choose the most suitable option, and we assure you that the experience will only be better 😉. In short, it's not just a marathon, it's a complete adventure like "Into the Wild" but with wifi and croissants for breakfast! 🥐

Let's not lie, 42 km is quite a long haul. BUT (and it's a big but), when you're running with a view of the Atlas 🏔️ on one side and the desert of the Sahara on the other 🌵, your legs will oddly forget they should be begging you to stop 🙏. Ouarzazate is THE city legendary of the Morocco, perched at 1,160 m high 📈 (a little taste of altitude for your lungs 💨). Nicknamed "the Gateway to the Desert" 🚪, it's also "Moroccan Hollywood" because tons of films and series have been shot here: Gladiator, Game of Thrones, The Mummy... In short, you'll be running on filming locations, you might even play Russell Crowe style "strength and honor" 💪 at kilometer 35 when it really starts to burn! 🌶️

The marathon course is an insane mix: you'll go through desert areas where you'll feel like you're in a 4x4 commercial, pass by palm groves that appear out of nowhere (like a surprise oasis, and we're not talking about a concert of Noel and Liam Gallagher! 🌴), pass by kasbahs made of earth that have centuries of history, all with the Atlas chain in the background taunting you with its snow-capped peaks. The colors constantly change: ochre, red, gold, green... it's like running in a giant Pantone palette 🎨. For the half-marathon (21 km), it's the same vibe but in "I want to enjoy without ending up crawling" mode 😓. You'll get all the beauty of the course, the landscapes, the atmosphere, but you'll finish with enough energy to eat a full tajine without falling asleep headfirst in the dish 😴. And for the teams who want to share the love (and the pain), the 4-relais marathon is the perfect option! You'll divide the 42 km, about 10 km each and activate rocket mode 🚀. It's friendly, it's fun, and above all, it allows for great memories among friends✨! The best part of it all? The Moroccan hospitality! The locals will cheer you on as if you were Kipchoge himself. Expect "Yallah yallah!" (go go!), with cheers in a mix of French, Arabic, and Berber. The atmosphere is just incredible, warm, and it gives you wings 🪽 (or at least makes you forget your blisters).

Once you've recovered from your adventure and are walking normally again, it's time for you to discover why Ouarzazate is a must-see city. We've mentioned it earlier, but it's a bit like the hub of cinema 🎦 in Morocco. You can visit the Atlas studios 🎬 where many film and series sets 🍿 remain. The Roman coliseum 🏟️ of Gladiator ⚔️, Egyptian palaces, and reconstructed villages 🏘️ are still there, and it's amazing! We also recommend a tour of the Kasbah of Taourirt 🏰, an earthen fortified palace dating from the 19th century. In addition to its architecture, it's a perfect spot 👌 for incredible sunset photos 🌅! In the same vibe, you'll find the Aït-Ben-Haddou Kasbah 🏜️, a UNESCO World Heritage fortified village. That's right! And for some greenery, you can head to the oases and palm groves, particularly those of Fint and Skoura. It's a total escape! Now that we've talked about sports and culture, let's talk about the most important thing: food! 🍽️ Ouarzazate and its surroundings are the kingdom 👑 of tajine (chicken, lemon, lamb, kefta), couscous, pastillas, and of course, mint tea at any time 🍵. If you're adventurous, don't hesitate to try the street food: that's where you'll eat the best (and the cheapest 🐀). Pro tip: always order a freshly squeezed orange juice 🍊, it's just divine!