Wadi Rayan Desert Challenge 2026

This adventure is designed to explore the beautiful landscapes of Wadi Rayan Desert, located in the Western Sahara of Egypt, about 2 hours south-west of Cairo.

This unique natural protectorate offers diverse landscapes with runnable trails, featuring lakes, waterfalls, sand dunes, ancient rock formations, in addition to hills and plateaus with stunning views. The challenge offers various distances in single-stage and multi-stage formats.

Checkpoints/aid stations will be stationed approximately every 12 km along the race route, and will offer water and some fruits. Runners should not count on checkpoints for fueling and are strongly encouraged to carry their own nutrition and electrolytes throughout the challenge, especially those with food preferences and allergies.

The challenge routes are mostly hard trails with some sections of soft sand dunes. Day 1 will be around the lake shores, beautiful scenery and excellent photo opportunities with the iconic Wadi Rayan lake background. Day 2 will be in the open desert and dunes, an amazing, serene space where you will get lost in the beauty of the desert, but still find your way back home.

The challenge route GPX files will be shared with runners well in advance of the challenge. Runners must download the route GPX files onto their sports watches or their smartphone GPS navigation application.

No runner will be allowed to start the challenge without uploading and saving the GPX file to their device.

You can expect the following approximate elevation gains, all subject to the final GPX file.

Single stage 

• 30 KM (4 Dec). Elevation: Approx. 200 M
• 60 KM (4 Dec). Elevation: Approx. 580 M

Two stages 

• 60 KM (30 km 4 Dec + 30 km 5 Dec). Elevation: Approx. 390 M
• 90 KM  (60 km 4 Dec + 30 km 5 Dec). Elevation: Approx. 770 M
• 110 KM (60 km 4 Dec + 50 km 5 Dec). Elevation: Approx. 960 M

Distances and elevations are subject to change, and the final route will be provided in GPX files.

We will be putting up markers to guide you along the trail. To minimize the environmental impact, these markers will be minimal. For additional guidance, runners are required to download the route GPX files onto their sports watches and/or their smartphone GPS navigation applications. No runner will be allowed to start the challenge without the GPS file downloaded and saved on their device.

Mandatory Gear

For your safety, we require you to bring all mandatory gear listed below at all times during the race. While trail running is a fun and adventure-filled sport, we aim to make sure that all participants understand the importance of safety first and are well-equipped to endure the challenges and risks of the event.  

• Running vest with at least 1L water capacity
• Bladder and/or bottles
• Electrolytes – at least 3,000mg sodium + other electrolytes
• Nutrition – at least 1,000 Kcal of energy gels, bars or equivalent
• Whistle
• Emergency blanket
• Trail running-specific shoes in good condition, with socks
• Comfortable, moisture-wicking clothing
• Fully charged phone
• Sports watch or smartphone with pre-uploaded GPX route file
• Headlamp or flashlight with primary and spare batteries, for the longer distance runners
• A small first aid kit

Recommended Gear

These items are more for your comfort and convenience during the race. You have the choice to bring the following:

• Running cap or hat, preferably with neck protection or a buff
• Sunglasses
• Sand gaiters
• Sunscreen
• Trekking poles
• Removable arm sleeves
• Power bank to charge your phone

Our start/finish line will be at Zowara Ecolodge, which will accommodate our event participants. Located 200 km southwest of Cairo, Zowara is easily accessible and offers spacious free parking. Zowara offers two types of accommodation:

• Shared double stone huts – Double beds only. No single beds.
• Shared double/triple/quadruple tents – Single sleeping mats
• Bathrooms and showers are shared – Very clean with running hot water

 Please note that Wadi Rayan lakeside road is partially under renovation, so we recommend taking the Asyut desert highway south from Cairo-Fayoum highway, near the Giza Pyramids. Here’s the map of the area where Zowara Ecolodge is located:

https://goo.gl/maps/WQ7KfftPCuYHkq9Y8

We will share more detailed driving instructions from Cairo to Zowara closer to the race dates. Rest assured that no one who followed our instructions got lost in the previous years.

Family, friends and support crew are welcome to join the adventure, and assist or cheer for you at the challenge. If you are running the longer distances, your support crew can assist you along the race course. Support crew are allowed only at the checkpoints and some points along the route, to be announced closer to the race dates.

Zowara Ecolodge offers many activities such as sand boarding, desert safari, picnic by the lake, Wadi Hitan museum and World Heritage Site, etc. We will attend to family and friends’ reservations after securing runners’ bookings.

Runners will need to organize their transportation to and back from Zowara Ecolodge. If you are going with your family, friends or support group, we suggest planning ahead for carpool arrangements or hiring van rentals.

Runners must reserve their meals during registration process. Likewise, family and friends supporting the runners also must reserve their meals during registration process.