Venue
Loulé-Faro, Portugal
{{item.title}}
Dakar Rally guide
The 2027 Dakar moves to Portugal and Morocco.
In short
The 49th Dakar Rally runs from Saturday 9 to Saturday 23 January 2027 in Portugal and Morocco, not in Saudi Arabia. It starts at the Algarve Stadium near Loulé and Faro and finishes in Marrakech. Saudi Arabia, host since 2020, is due to take the rally back in 2028 for its 50th edition.
The 2027 Dakar Rally will not be held in Saudi Arabia. The organiser A.S.O. has moved the 49th edition to Portugal and Morocco, from Saturday 9 to Saturday 23 January 2027, after security concerns made the planned route there hard to run. Saudi Arabia, host every year since 2020, is due to take the rally back in 2028 for its 50th edition.
The new route opens with a prologue and the first special stage at the Algarve Stadium near Loulé and Faro in southern Portugal. Stage one then includes a transfer to the Moroccan port of Nador, with the crossing of the Mediterranean made overnight. The other eleven stages run in Morocco, and the rally finishes in Marrakech.
The route covers about 7,824 km, of which 4,341 km are timed special stages, with six bivouacs. Cars, motorbikes, trucks and lighter vehicles all take part. Most stages cross remote country with nothing set up for fans, so the start in the Algarve and the finish in Marrakech are the easiest places to see the crews.
–/5
No reviews yet
Been to this event? Your review helps other travellers.
Key Facts & Stats:
Ends: Saturday, 23 January 2027
Where: Faro, Portugal
Venue: Algarve Stadium
Held: Every year
Type of event: Sporting Events, Live Events
Currency: Euro (EUR, €)
Time zone: Western European Time, UTC+0 (UTC+1 in summer); Azores UTC−1
Language: Portuguese
Map
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
The 2027 rally dates in Portugal and Morocco
The organiser A.S.O. moved the 2027 rally to Portugal and Morocco and set the dates as 9 to 23 January 2027. Stage locations and the bivouac schedule go up on the official Dakar website nearer the start. Check there before you decide where to watch.
Stages from the Algarve to Marrakech
A prologue and the first special stage at the Algarve Stadium in Portugal, then a transfer to Nador and an overnight crossing of the Mediterranean, then eleven stages in Morocco to the finish in Marrakech. About 7,824 km in all, 4,341 km of them timed, with six bivouacs.
Vehicle classes and the Dakar Classic
The main rally has classes for cars, bikes, trucks and lighter vehicles. Running alongside it is the Dakar Classic, a regularity event for older cars and trucks, and registration for 2027 is open. Saudi Motorsport Company also runs Saudi Next Gen, a programme to bring on local rally-raid drivers. Its third intake was being picked in 2026.
Watching a stage safely in the desert
Driving out to a stage is only for the prepared. You need a capable four-wheel-drive, plenty of water and fuel, and someone who knows the area, and you must keep well clear of the racing line.
Flying to Faro or Marrakech
For the start, Faro airport is the closest to the Algarve Stadium. For the finish, Marrakech has its own international airport. Check stage locations on the official Dakar website before planning travel between the two.
Seeing the start in the Algarve and finish in Marrakech
Start with the ceremonies. For most spectators the start in the Algarve and the finish in Marrakech are the only easy ways to see the Dakar, because the timed stages mostly cross remote country with nothing set up for fans. A stage visit is a separate project that needs a proper four-wheel-drive vehicle, generous supplies of water and fuel, someone with local knowledge, and a safe distance from the racing line.
What makes the Dakar the best-known rally raid
The Dakar is the best-known rally raid in the world, a two-week test in which cars, motorbikes, trucks and other vehicles cover long stretches of off-road country every day. It began in 1978 between Paris and Dakar, moved to South America from 2009 to 2019 and to Saudi Arabia from 2020. The 2027 edition runs in Portugal and Morocco, and Saudi Arabia is due to host again in 2028 for the 50th edition.
Running alongside the main race is the Dakar Classic, a regularity contest for older cars and trucks.
Getting there
Flying in for the start
Faro airport serves the Algarve and is the closest to the Algarve Stadium.
The finish
Marrakech has its own international airport. Check Morocco visa rules for your passport before you travel.
Out on the stages
Following the rally into the desert takes your own four-wheel-drive vehicle; there is no public transport to the special stages.
Where to stay during the festival
Faro is the nearest city to the start at the Algarve Stadium, and Marrakech hosts the finish two weeks later. Book both ends early once you know which you want to see.
Car hire in Faro
Airport transfer to Dakar Rally
Met at arrivals at Seville Airport (SVQ) and driven door to door to Algarve Stadium.
- Seville Airport (SVQ) → Algarve Stadium
- 209 km · 2 hr 30 min
Contribute:
Recently viewed events
Others of this kind you opened on this device, so you can get back to them quickly.
Travelers are asking
No questions yet about Dakar Rally. Ask the community or our travel team, and the answer will show here once it is published.
Be the first to ask
Our team answers questions here
Explore Portugal
Other festivals around the same time
Festivals held in the same weeks, if you want to plan more than one.
31
Dec, 2026
Dec, 2026
Sporting Events, Cultural Events, Folk Festival
Al Wakrah, Qatar
14
Jan, 2027
Jan, 2027
Cultural Events, Arts Festivals, Exhibition
AlUla, Saudi Arabia
19
Jan, 2027
Jan, 2027
Cultural Events, Exhibition, Fair
Cairo, Egypt
Explore Portugal
More events and festivals in Portugal
Festivals and events across Portugal, with dates, venues and ticket details where available.
25
Mar, 2026
Mar, 2026
Arts Festivals, Exhibition
Lagoa, Portugal
18 photos
11
Jun, 2027
Jun, 2027
Cultural Events, Religious Festivals, Social Festivals
Portugal
11 photos
26
Jun, 2027
Jun, 2027
Musical Events, Social Festivals, Community Events
Lisbon, Portugal
8 photos
02
Jul, 2027
Jul, 2027
Cultural Events, Religious Festivals, Parade
Tomar, Portugal
9 photos
Save time: create a trip and get offers from locals
Tell us where and when you want to go, and local travel experts send you offers for your trip.
1 Create a trip
2 Get offers from locals
3 Pick the one you like
Create a trip
Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General
No. The 2027 rally runs in Portugal and Morocco from 9 to 23 January 2027. Organisers moved it for security reasons, and they plan to return to Saudi Arabia in 2028 for the 50th edition.
It starts with a prologue and the first special stage at the Algarve Stadium, between Loulé and Faro in Portugal, and finishes in Marrakech, Morocco.
Stage one includes a transfer to the port of Nador in Morocco, and the Mediterranean is crossed overnight. The remaining eleven stages are all in Morocco.
There is no ticket for roadside viewing on the stages. Check the official Dakar website for spectator zones and any registration needed for the start in Portugal and the finish in Marrakech.
The bivouac is a working camp and is mostly restricted to teams, staff and accredited media. Organisers sometimes open public areas, so check the official Dakar site for spectator zones.
The main categories are Bikes, Ultimate cars, Challenger and SSV lightweight vehicles, and Trucks. There is also Dakar Classic, a regularity event for older vehicles running alongside the main race.
The rally began in 1978 between Paris and Dakar in Senegal. Security threats led to the 2008 cancellation and a move to South America from 2009 to 2019. Saudi Arabia hosted from 2020, and the 2027 edition moved to Portugal and Morocco.
The ceremonial podium and the area around it are the best chances to see crews up close. Drivers are busy on stage days, so be patient and respectful if you approach a team.
Getting there
About 7,824 km in total, with 4,341 km of timed special stages and six bivouacs.
Health & safety
Only from marked spectator points. Vehicles arrive at high speed and drivers cannot see people standing on dune crests. Stay well back on the outside of bends and never park on or near the route.
Timing & weather
The official Dakar app and website carry live tracking, stage results and daily highlights, and TV coverage is broadcast in many countries.