Dakar Rally 2027 in Morocco: Stages, Dates and Where to See It in the Sahara

Dakar Rally 2027 in Morocco – the world’s toughest off-road race is coming back to Moroccan soil from 9 to 23 January 2027, with one day crossing the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga.

For motorsport fans this is a rare chance. The rally left Africa for South America and then Saudi Arabia, and it has not raced in Morocco for around two decades. In 2027 the organisers bring it back for a two-week loop that starts in Portugal, crosses the Mediterranean and spends almost the whole race in Morocco: the eastern plateaus, the Sahara near Merzouga, the Draa valley, the Atlantic coast, the deep south and finally Marrakech.

Dakar 2027 in numbers

• Dates: 9–23 January 2027 (route announced by the organisers, still subject to final approval)
• Start: prologue in the Algarve, Portugal (Loulé/Faro area)
• Finish: Marrakech
• Total distance: about 7,824 km, of which about 4,341 km are timed special stages
• Rest day: Agadir, 17 January
• Sahara highlight: Stage 4, Bouarfa to Zagora, through the Merzouga dunes on 14 January

The route day by day

14 January: the day the Dakar meets Erg Chebbi

Merzouga only gets one day of racing, but it is the one most photographers will want. The cars, bikes, quads and trucks come in from the east after the Bouarfa loops and have to cross the big orange dunes of Erg Chebbi before heading west towards Zagora. Soft sand, steep faces and navigation make this a classic Dakar test, very different from the stony tracks of the plateaus.

If you are already staying in a desert camp in Merzouga that week, you are right in the middle of the action. Local roads and some pistes may be closed or busy on race day, so arrive the day before and let your driver plan the timing.

Watching the rally safely

• Stay well back. Rally vehicles arrive fast and can leave the track without warning. Stand on high ground, away from the racing line and never in the landing zone of a dune.
• Follow marshals and police. Spectator zones and closed areas are decided by the organisers and the authorities; check the official Dakar channels close to the date.
• Go with a local driver. Finding the route in the dunes without GPS knowledge is hard, and getting a normal car stuck in sand is easy.
• Bring layers. January days in the Sahara are pleasant (around 18–20°C) but nights can drop close to freezing.

Turning the race into a desert holiday

The Dakar week is a good excuse to see more of Morocco. A few ideas that fit the 2027 route:

• Marrakech – Merzouga – Marrakech: cross the Atlas, sleep two nights in the dunes around 14 January and come back for the finish on 23 January. See our tours from Marrakech.
• Fes – Merzouga: the shortest way into the Sahara from the north, ideal if you fly into Fes. See our tours from Fes.
• Errachidia or Ouarzazate: handy if you want to follow the race west towards Zagora and the Draa valley. See tours from Errachidia and tours from Ouarzazate.

Camps and hotels in Merzouga will be in high demand on 13–14 January, so book early. Our Merzouga trip page and Merzouga desert travel guide have more practical details.

Quick answers

Is Dakar 2027 really in Morocco?

Yes. After a start in Portugal, almost the whole 2027 edition is planned in Morocco, finishing in Marrakech on 23 January. Dates and stages can still change before the start, so check the official route nearer the time.

Which day is the rally in Merzouga?

Stage 4 on 14 January 2027, from Bouarfa to Zagora, is the day that crosses the Merzouga dunes.

Can I combine the Dakar with a camel trek?

Yes. A sunset camel ride and a night in a desert camp on 13 or 14 January is the easiest way to be close to the route.

Want to be in the Sahara for Dakar 2027? Contact us and we will build a private route around the race dates.