Desert Rose to Dakar has been a long time in the making. This is a Desert Rose event, brought to you with our 20 plus years of experience riding, driving and supporting other events in North Africa. Built in the spirit of The Real Way to Dakar with the aim of making the dream of racing through North Africa to Dakar more accessible to all. If you can picture yourself on the shores of Lac Rose in Dakar, this is the event for you!
Desert Rose to Dakar has taken a fresh approach on two-week, intercontinental rally events. Loosely following the famous route that the original Dakar event, Desert Rose to Dakar hopes to invoke the same spirit and sense of adventure that helped create the very sport in the first place.
Where the Africa Eco Race is a high level, ultra competitive event with the support structures and safety nets to match, Desert Rose to Dakar is a more achievable and affordable event for those that have the dream of being a part of an event that follows the famous route to Dakar.
The event starts in the north of Morocco. From there the route heads south, skirting the border with Algeria as we explore the well travelled yet still challenging sands of Erg Chebbi and Chigaga, before turning slightly left, down past Guelmim, Tantan where the pace quickens as we set our sights on Dakhla, loosely marking the half way point, which we will have as a rest day location.
After this we head into Mauritania and for many this is where the real adventure begin. The terrain here becomes more challenging and also more remote, as well as some of the most beautiful trails in the event.
You’ll travel over mountains, through soft sands and very remote regions as you explore and race through this lesser travelled country. After several days, we once again head south and cross the border into Senegal. Just outside St Louis marks our penultimate bivouac and from here you begin the final sprint stage, almost entirely on the beach, down to Dakar, finishing at Lac Rose.
Desert Rose to Dakar is designed to be a more accessible event than the full on races and as such is achievable with a far more modest budget than it would take to complete other events. It really focuses on the overall adventure and experience rather than out and out racing. For many this only adds to the enjoyment and whilst the terrain is challenging and will be more than testing at times, you also have a chance to enjoy and absorb the incredible places that you’ll be travelling through.
The Route and How to Book can stay the same
- Historic Route, achieving their dream of racing to Dakar!
- Trans-Africa Experience
- Ultimate Desert Riding
- Authentic Bivouacs