MDS TREK (Morocco) 2026 – Stage 3 Parts 1 & 2

Stage 3 of the MDS Trek is unlike any other. It is not simply a stage. It is an experience that unfolds across two days and one unforgettable night, offering participants something far more valuable than kilometres covered or finish lines crossed.

It is a reminder of what adventure truly means.

The stage begins with choice. Leaving the comfort of the bivouac behind, participants set out across the Sahara on either a 17.3km or 31.2km route. But this day carries a different energy. There is no return to the familiar tents waiting on the horizon. Instead, the finish line lies somewhere beyond, in a temporary camp deep within the desert.

Adding to the sense of anticipation is the knowledge of what is to come: Star Night.

For one evening, participants will sleep beneath the vast Moroccan sky with nothing more than a sleeping bag for shelter. No tent. No walls. No distractions. Just the silence of the Sahara and a canopy of stars stretching endlessly overhead. It is a chance to disconnect from the noise of modern life and experience the desert in a way that has changed little over centuries, much like the Amazigh people who have called this region home for generations.

The day began with strong winds and cloudy skies. In most parts of the world such conditions might feel challenging, but in the Sahara they were a gift. The temperature remained cool by desert standards, and participants welcomed the respite. Even so, the longer distances and the prospect of spending a night away from bivouac created an understandable sense of trepidation.

Questions lingered in many minds.

Would the distance prove too much? How would it feel to sleep out in the open desert? What awaited them after sunset? As it turned out, there was little to fear.

Steadily and determinedly, every participant rose to the challenge. Kilometres passed beneath their feet and, one by one, they reached camp having achieved their goals.

If the journey to camp felt adventurous, the evening that followed felt almost surreal.

Traditional Berber tents provided welcome shade from the afternoon sun, but as darkness approached, attention shifted towards a large open fire at the heart of the camp. Mats were laid out in a circle and participants gathered together, sharing stories from the trail while the desert slowly cooled around them.

Then came one of the day’s biggest surprises.

In the middle of nowhere, surrounded by sand and silence, the MDS organisation somehow managed to create a restaurant in the desert. Participants were treated to an impressive selection of food that seemed entirely at odds with their remote surroundings. It was a reminder that adventure does not always mean hardship. Sometimes it means appreciating simple comforts even more deeply because of where you find them.

As the fire burned low and conversations faded, the Sahara took centre stage.

The stars appeared. Thousands upon thousands of them.

With no artificial light to compete against, the night sky revealed itself in all its brilliance. Soon sleeping bags replaced campfire conversations and participants drifted off to sleep with only the stars for company – just like the Amzigah. Then, almost as quickly as it had arrived, the night was gone.

Morning brought smiles, laughter and perhaps a touch of surprise. Everyone had survived. More than that, everyone had loved it.

For many, it was an experience unlike anything they had ever known. A night they will carry with them long after memories of individual checkpoints and finish times have faded. One for the memory banks.

The next challenge arrived early.

At 06:00, participants once again set off into the desert, choosing between distances of 17.5km and 22.5km. A spectacular sunrise painted the dunes in shades of gold and orange, creating one final gift before the day’s reality emerged.

Heat.

After the unusually cool conditions of the previous day, the return of clear skies and rising temperatures came as a shock to many. The Sahara had revealed its gentler side, and now it was reminding everyone of its true character. Yet the participants responded in the same way they had all week: one step at a time.

By early afternoon, everyone had completed the stage and returned to the welcome familiarity of the bivouac. Two-person tents, lunch and the option of a shower suddenly felt like incredible luxuries.

Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons the desert teaches.

With just one stage of the MDS Trek remaining, an unexpected feeling is beginning to emerge. Many participants are already dreading the return to normality. Because somewhere between the dunes, the campfires and the endless horizons, they have discovered something rare.

The Sahara strips life back to its essentials. It removes distractions, routines and comforts that are often taken for granted. In doing so, it creates space for gratitude. Gratitude for movement, friendship, challenge and for the simple privilege of being able to explore places that many only dream of visiting.

Stage 3 encapsulates everything the MDS Trek is designed to be: an introduction to new experiences, new ways of moving and new ways of seeing the world.

And for one remarkable night beneath the stars, the desert reminded everyone that adventure is not about escaping life. It is about learning to appreciate it more deeply.

Live Trail Results HERE

Marathon des Sables website HERE