This package includes the race bib for the MDS Ultra adventure and 5 nights’ accommodation with half-board.
MDS Ultra – MOROCCO, SAHARA 2026
1st edition – January 9 to 14, 2026
MDS ULTRA - MOROCCO
40 years, 40 hours
Registration opens: July 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM | UTC +2 |
CONCEPT
To celebrate our 40 years of extreme adventures, we’re kicking off our 40th year with an all-new format: the MDS ULTRA, in the Moroccan Sahara.
An endurance challenge in an Ultra-Trail format, with two distance options: 100 km or 100 miles (~160 km), to be completed in self-sufficiency over 40 hours of continuous racing.
What’s in store:
- A route following the iconic MDS Legendary tracks, in Morocco
- 100 or 160 km to cover – with the flexibility to choose your distance during the race
- Water stations every ~10 km
- Life bases approximately every 30 km with supplies and heated rest zones
- No bivouac
The MDS Ultra is a raw and poetic immersion into the true spirit of ultra-distance racing.
Limited to 200 participants.
FORMATS
Two distances are available:
- 100 km
- 100 miles (160 km)
Participants can choose their distance up to the split point, located around the 60th kilometer. The course is shared for the first 60 km and the final section, with a single start and a common finish line.
Minimum speed: 4.0 km/h
Maximum time to finish: 40 hours
KEY FEATURES
Terrain
The MDS ULTRA takes place on the trails of the MDS Legendary, in the Moroccan Sahara.
The route is fast and runnable — the most daring may even skip gaiters! Even the sand loves winter: firmer, more compact, and faster.
The entire course is fully marked.
Weather Conditions
In January, the Saharan desert offers a wide range of conditions:
- Daytime: 10 to 25°C, sunny
- Night: temperatures may drop close to 0°C, with a very cold feel
Runners must bring gear suited for both warm and cold weather, including possible rain.
Self-sufficiency & Aid
Participants must be fully self-sufficient for food.
No outside assistance is allowed during the race.
Water Stations
- Located approximately every 10 km
- Water only
- No rest zones
Life Bases
- Located approximately every 30 km
- Hot water, tea, soup, cakes and dried fruit
- Sheltered rest area with heating
Mandatory Equipment
Each participant must carry mandatory gear, including:
- Headlamp, survival blanket, water reserve, whistle
- Rain jacket, fleece, etc.
- Food for the full duration of the race
Safety & GPS Tracker
Each runner will carry a GPS tracker with SOS button, allowing real-time geolocation by the organization.
Medical and technical teams will be present throughout the course.
PROGRAM
Friday, January 9
- Arrival of participants at Errachidia Airport
- Transfer to hotel
- Overnight stay – Xaluca Erfoud Hotel
Saturday, January 10
- Briefing & technical checks
- Overnight stay at the hotel
Sunday, January 11
- Bus transfer (2h/3h)
- MDS ULTRA race start in the morning
- Start of the 40-hour continuous race
- Night on the course or at the hotel where you finished the race
Monday, January 12
- Continuation and end of the race during the day (40h time limit)
- Transfer back to hotel (rolling basis upon finish)
- Overnight stay at the hotel
Tuesday, January 13
- Awards ceremony
- Gala evening
- Overnight stay at the hotel
Wednesday, January 14
- Departures and transfers to Errachidia Airport
NEW: MIXED DUO RANKING (M/F)
The MDS Ultra 2026 introduces a Mixed Duo (Male/Female) Ranking, which will also be featured in MDS Legendary 2026.
How it works
You register as a Male/Female duo, with a shared team name.
Each runner competes at their own pace in the solo category.
At the finish line, your two times are added together to create a specific Mixed Duo ranking.
No need to run side by side or cross the finish line together:
What counts is your individual performance and combined time.
Combined Duo Ranking – Ultra + Legendary
A special ranking will reward Male/Female duos who take part in both races:
- MDS Ultra (January 2026)
- MDS Legendary (April 2026)
How it works
The individual times of both team members (M + F) across both races are combined.
The same team name must be used to appear in the overall ranking.
You don’t need to run together, but you must complete both events as the same pair.
Program
The offers
What is included in the package:
- Shuttle transfers to and from Errachidia airport
- 5 nights’ accommodation with half-board, from January 9 to 14 (Xaluca – Erfoud)
- Finisher medal and closing ceremony
- Medical repatriation assistance
When registering, you will be able to inform the name of the people with whom you would like to share your accommodation. If you don’t provide any information, you will be assigned with other participants who speak the same language as you.
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
Join the adventure serenely
We have set up ultra-flexible registration, cancellation and postponement conditions, so that you can book with complete peace of mind.
Free deferral
In case of doubt as the adventure approaches, you can postpone your participation free of charge until October 26, 2025, inclusive.
Cancellation Policy
Our terms allow you to cancel free of charge until August 17, 2025.
Refund in Case of Unexpected Events
If the event is cancelled by the organizers, you will receive a 100% refund of the amount you paid within 60 days.
SAHARA DESERT
The Sahara. Not the one from sun-drenched postcards, but the one in January: silent, sculpted by the wind, vast and luminous. A winter desert. Less known. More real.
Here, the sand is firm — almost fast. The dunes soften, the plateaus unfold in clean lines. Cold falls swiftly after sunset. The sky is strikingly clear. The night holds no sound.
MDS ULTRA INFO – MOROCCO 2026
HOW TO GET THERE?
You must arrive at Errachidia Airport (ERH) in Morocco.
If you're flying from a major European city, your flight will include a stopover in Casablanca before arriving in Errachidia around 1:00 a.m.
Transfers will be organized by the MDS team and will take place on January 9, 2026.
You may therefore plan to arrive at any time on that day.
It is recommended to purchase airline tickets with cancellation and change insurance, taking into account the restrictions that countries may impose.
WEEKLY PROGRAM
Friday, January 9: Arrival of participants at the airport, transfers to the hotel, overnight stay at the hotel.
Saturday, January 10: Free morning, race briefing & technical checks, overnight stay at the hotel.
Sunday, January 11: bus transfer, race start, beginning of the 40-hour non-stop race, night on the course or at the hotel if you have finished the race.
Monday, January 12: Race continues and finishes, transfer back to the hotel, overnight stay at the hotel.
Tuesday, January 13: Awards ceremony, gala evening, and overnight stay at the hotel.
Wednesday, January 14: Departures and transfers to Errachidia Airport.
If you wish, you can extend your stay to further explore Morocco.
DISTANCES
You can choose between two distance formats: 100 km or 100 miles, to be completed fully self-supported within a maximum duration of 40 continuous hours.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
The success of an MDS starts with good backpack preparation. To support you, we have created several equipment lists for the Ultra: the mandatory equipment list, a list of practical advice, and two specific kits (rain and cold) that will be mandatory and activated or not the day before the race.
Mandatory Equipment
All the items on this list are mandatory, which means that each participant must individually carry every item mentioned. They will be checked during technical inspections. If an item is missing, the participant may be penalized.
- Backpack with sufficient capacity to carry all equipment
- Minimum water capacity of 1.5 L
- Running outfit (top + bottom)
- Trail running shoes
- Warm long-sleeved second layer
- Headlamp + spare batteries + backup battery
- Survival blanket: minimum size 1.40 x 2 m
- Whistle
- Signaling mirror
- Metal-bladed knife
- Food for the entire race (self-sufficient)
- Sunscreen
- Antiseptic for skin use
- Elastic adhesive bandages for strapping or bandaging (100 cm x 6 cm)
- 6 safety pins or a race number belt
- €100 in cash
- Passport or identity card
- Official medical certificate provided by the organization, duly completed and signed by a doctor, dated less than 90 days before the start of the race
Recommended Equipment
These recommendations are based on feedback from participants in past MDS editions. They are not mandatory, but they may be necessary for some athletes and can make the adventure more comfortable. The choice of this equipment is entirely personal.
- Anti-sand gaiters: not mandatory, since less than 10% of the course is fully sandy.
- Poles: optional, but highly recommended if you are used to running or hiking with them.
- Multifunctional neck gaiter / cap: protects against sun, sand, and rain, keeps you warm at night, cools during the day, and adapts to all conditions.
- Sunglasses: the desert light can be intense, and glasses are also useful in case of a sandstorm.
- Sleeping bag: not mandatory, but can be useful if you wish to sleep in the life bases, which will be heated.
- Hygiene kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, wipes): optional, but hand sanitizer is recommended to reduce risks.
- Toilet paper: toilets will be available at checkpoints and life bases, but toilet paper is not provided by the organization.
- Knorr bouillon cubes: they help rehydration thanks to their balanced salt intake, without causing excessive water accumulation in the stomach, thus facilitating absorption during effort
Weather-Specific Kits
In January, the Moroccan Sahara offers contrasting weather: mild, sunny days but very cold nights. For this reason, two additional kits will be required: the cold kit and the rain kit. Each participant must pack all the items from these kits in their luggage. The day before the race, the organization will decide whether one or both kits will be activated based on the weather forecast for the next 40 hours.
Cold Kit
Thermal long-sleeve top
Thermal long pants or tights
Lightweight gloves
Multifunctional neck gaiter or beanie
Warm socks for the night
Rain Kit
Waterproof jacket with hood (minimum 20,000 Schmerber)
Waterproof pants
Backpack rain cover
Spare outfit (top + bottom)
Spare socks (1 pair)
For more details, click here.
PRICES
- Standard entry fee:
€1,950 - Special launch offer (1st edition): €1,750
- Discounts available:
- €150 for the first 40 registered participants
- €200 for MDS finishers (any format)
If you're among the first 40 and you’ve already completed an MDS, your entry fee will be €1,400.
INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE
- Race bib for the MDS Ultra
- Shuttle transfers to and from Errachidia Airport
- 5 nights’ hotel accommodation with half-board, from January 9 to 14 ( Kasbah Hotel - Xaluca Erfoud)
- Finisher’s medal
- Closing ceremony evening
- Repatriation assistance
ULTRA-FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION CONDITIONS
Cancellation conditions:
- Cancellation free of charge possible until August 17, 2025 (inclusive).
- From August 18 to September 21, 2025 (inclusive), 25% of the total registration fee will be retained by the organizers in case of cancellation.
- From September 22 to October 26, 2025 (inclusive), 50% of the total registration fee will be retained by the organizers in case of cancellation.
- After October 26, 2025 (inclusive), no refund is possible; however, it will still be possible to postpone your registration according to the event’s conditions.
Postponement conditions:
- Until October 26, 2025 (inclusive), postponement to the next edition is possible free of charge.
- From October 27 to November 30, 2025 (inclusive), a €250 fee applies for postponement.
- From December 1, 2025 onwards, no postponement is allowed.
SAFETY
During the race, you will be supported by medical and organizational teams from the start to the finish of each stage.
The routes are marked with stakes every 50 to 100 meters, making it impossible to get lost.
Each participant will be equipped with a GPS tracker featuring an emergency button, allowing the organizers to locate you at all times.
A medical tent will be available at the bivouac, where you can go at any time
PAYMENT METHODS
You can pay by:
Credit card
- In 1, 3, or 5 installments
Bank transfer
- Single payment only
The number of installments may vary depending on the registration date. Your registration will be fully confirmed once the total registration fee has been paid.
ABOUT US
Since 1986, the MARATHON DES SABLES has offered adventure enthusiasts the opportunity to live a unique experience in some of the most beautiful deserts in the world.
Over the years, new formats have been introduced. Today, everyone can experience the MDS in their own way, whether walking or running, but with an unchanged promise: to step out of their comfort zone, push their limits, and immerse themselves in a world of intense emotions, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.
The MARATHON DES SABLES is not just a sporting challenge; it is a powerful and unforgettable human adventure.
RULES
MDS in the press
Equip yourself for the MDS
WAA Ultra has been developing specialized products for MDS participants since 2009.