Off-Road Adventure on the Paris-Dakar Rally Route

The expedition starts in the morning at Place Jacques Rueff, close to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. This is the symbolic starting point, just like the historic Dakar Rally.

After a short welcome and briefing, the convoy leaves Paris and heads south-west. The goal of the day is the Dune du Pilat near Arcachon, close to Bordeaux. It is the highest dune in Europe and gives the first taste of sand before Africa.

In the evening, we stay in a hotel and enjoy dinner near the harbour.

After seeing the Atlantic for the first time, we continue south. The route leads across the foothills of the Pyrenees and into Spain.

We cross the wide landscapes of the Iberian Meseta and head towards Burgos. The day is mostly about covering distance, but the scenery already gives a clear feeling of travel and open space.

Overnight stay is planned in a small country hotel. The evening ends with tapas and a relaxed atmosphere.

Northern Spain feels open, quiet and remote. Some landscapes almost look like classic 4x4 travel regions in North America.

On the third day, we stay near Talavera de la Reina. On day four, we continue towards Seville, our last major stop on European soil.

The goal is to arrive early enough to enjoy some time in the city after check-in. Seville is one of Spain’s great historic cities and a beautiful final stop before crossing into Africa.

The route follows the coast towards Rabat, the capital of Morocco. From there, we leave the main roads and move towards the Atlas Mountains.

Traffic in Morocco can be intense and requires full concentration. We take our time and work our way towards Ouzoud on smaller roads and mountain passes.

In the evening, we set up camp at a small campsite near the Cascades d’Ouzoud.

This day gives us time to slow down, check the vehicles and enjoy Morocco. The route continues through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

The driving is still demanding, but the day is planned with more breathing space. It is a good moment to prepare the vehicles for the harder desert stages ahead.

The evening is spent in camp.

In Asni, a mountain village in the High Atlas, we prepare for one of the great passes of the route: the Tizi n’Test.

The road climbs through the mountains below Jebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. Distances are not huge, but the narrow road and local traffic make the day slow and intense.

From donkeys to heavy trucks, almost anything can appear around the next corner.

Our goal is Taroudant, on the other side of the mountains.

The journey continues through southern Morocco. The landscapes become drier, wider and more remote.

This stage combines local culture, mountain scenery and enjoyable 4x4 driving. The convoy moves deeper into the south, away from the busy cities and closer to the Sahara.

The rhythm of the expedition is now clear: drive, adapt, camp and continue.

The first major off-road stage lies ahead. For two days, we drive through the western edges of the Sahara towards the desert town of Smara.

The route passes the disputed border region between Morocco and the former Spanish Western Sahara. The culture and language change along the way. In Morocco, French is widely used. In this region, Spanish can also be helpful.

Where we sleep depends on how far we get each day. Wild camps are set up wherever the place and conditions feel right.

For two days, we cross desert landscapes along Western Sahara and Mauritania.

Depending on progress and group dynamics, the expedition leader may choose between a more direct desert route and a more relaxed coastal route towards Dakhla and the Atlantic.

Both options offer a strong adventure feeling. One is more focused on pure Sahara and action. The other gives more time near the ocean before heading back into the desert.

We follow the route of the Mauritanian iron ore train for around 350 kilometres off-road. The full railway line is about 700 kilometres long and connects the mines near Zouerate with the Atlantic coast.

This section is demanding. The terrain is serious, and we need two days to reach the oasis town of Atar.

The iron ore train is one of the longest freight trains in the world. Atar itself was once an important city in the culture of the Moors, who gave Mauritania its name.

After several days in the Sahara, we head back towards the sea. We drive one last mix of on-road and off-road desert sections before the Sahel zone begins.

The night is planned near the beach. Anyone who enjoys fishing may have the chance to try it here.

The waters off Mauritania are among the richest fishing areas in the world.

Before the modern road to Nouakchott was built in 2006, the official route followed the beach along the Atlantic coast.

The tides press the sand into a firm and smooth surface. In some places, driving on the beach can feel easier than driving on rough inland tracks.

This historic route is part of the adventure, but it requires good timing. At high tide, some sections can become impassable, and the ocean may reach close to the dunes.

The goal of the day is Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.

Today, the route heads towards the Senegalese border at the Senegal River.

Fine dust, known as fesh-fesh, may appear on the tracks. The landscape changes again. Trees return, animals become more common and the dry desert slowly turns into the Sahel zone.

We drive through a bird protection area in a national park, where many migratory birds from Europe spend the winter.

The day’s goal is Saint-Louis. The city lies on an island in the Senegal River delta and has a well-preserved colonial centre. We camp near the coast.

We leave Saint-Louis in the morning and aim to reach Dakar around midday. Part of the route may again follow the beach.

Like the original Paris-Dakar Rally, this expedition ends at Lac Rose, the pink salt lake near Dakar.

In the evening, we celebrate the arrival together with a final dinner. The expedition officially ends the next day.

From Dakar, you can arrange container shipping for your 4x4 back to Europe and fly home. Another option is to return north by land with the guides towards Morocco, depending on the situation.

From Marrakesh, the route back to the ferry port can be driven on asphalt.