Trail running in the desert near Marrakesh: Lalla Takerkoust

Bas, who manages this website, is a runner. When he was in Marrakesh in November 2024, he wanted to get out into the desert. He had found a route at Lalla Takerkoust and was looking for someone who could drive him there early in the morning. That is how he ended up with Soukayna.

The desert 45 minutes from the city

The Agafay is a stony, rolling plain southwest of Marrakesh, without sand dunes and with the High Atlas in the background. You get there in about 45 minutes. Read more about the area on the page about the Agafay desert.

On its edge is Lalla Takerkoust, a village by a reservoir. The French built the dam between 1929 and 1935 on the N'Fis river. Around the lake, dirt roads and trails lead into the hills. There are trail races with distances of 10, 21 and 42 kilometers.

Bas's run

Bas started on 10 November 2024 at a quarter to eight. He ran 23 kilometers with about 480 meters of climbing through the hills by the lake, and was out for 2 hours and 19 minutes.

It is not flat there, as that climbing figure shows. Expect dirt tracks, loose stones and gullies. Trail shoes are a good idea.

Soukayna was his driver that day. Bas says himself that she took very good care of him in Marrakesh. That is how the collaboration began.

What to arrange before you run

The first thing to arrange is transport. No bus goes to Lalla Takerkoust that early, and a taxi that waits two hours for you has to be agreed in advance. With a driver you agree on an end point and a time, and you know there is water in the car.

Bring water yourself too, and don't count on being able to buy anything along the way. For a half marathon you need at least a liter and a half, and more if it is warm.

Load the route onto your watch or phone beforehand and don't assume the trails are marked. Download the map, so you can also use it without a signal.

Start early, because even in November it warms up over the course of the morning and there is hardly any shade. A cap, sunscreen and a thin long-sleeved shirt come in handy.

When to go and when not to

The months from October through April are suitable. The mornings are cool then and the air is clear, so you can see the snow-covered peaks of the Atlas. In summer you are better off skipping it. How the weather turns out month by month is in the guide on the best time to visit.

It is also possible during Ramadan, but then eat and drink out of sight of the villages you pass through.

Running as a woman

You meet few people in the hills. In the villages you stand out in running clothes. Calf-length tights and a shirt with short sleeves attract less attention than shorts and a tank top. The guide on what to wear covers what else works.

Running alone on an unfamiliar route in a remote area is not a good idea for anyone. Let the driver know which loop you are running and how long you expect to be gone.

Combining it with the rest of the day

After a morning of running you are back in Marrakesh around midday. You can also stay in the Agafay, have lunch in a camp and watch the sun go down there. That is the program of the Agafay desert day trip, which Soukayna can rearrange so your run fits in.

If you want to run a route of your own, send it along when you get in touch. Soukayna will then look at where she can drop you off and pick you up.