MDS 120

A unique experience that blends sporting adventure and new landscapes

ATLANTIC COAST

MOROCCO

CAPPADOCIA

PERU

JORDAN

ATLANTIC COAST

MOROCCO

CAPPADOCIA

PERU

JORDAN

ATLANTIC COAST

MOROCCO

CAPPADOCIA

PERU

JORDAN

ATLANTIC COAST

MOROCCO

CAPPADOCIA

PERU

JORDAN

8 days4 in the desert

4 hotel nights2 before, 2 after

70, 100 or 120 kmin 3 stages

FormatFood self-sufficiency

Accessibilityopen to everyone, walkers and runners

70, 100 or 120 km of adventure through the world’s most beautiful deserts, whether walking or running.

THE CONCEPT

The MDS is a week-long sporting adventure that blends discovering new landscapes, connecting with others, and testing your limits.
It begins with 1 or 2 nights in a hotel, before you set off for 4 days of self-sufficient walking or running in the desert. You’ll cover 70, 100, or 120 km, divided into 3 stages and spend 3 or 4 nights in the bivouac.
After completing the race, participants return to the hotel to celebrate, relax, or explore more of the destination.

70, 100 OR 120 km

The Format

The structure of the stages and the distribution of distances may vary from year to year, depending on the chosen routes.

The total distance to cover is 70, 100, or 120 km.

The course is fully marked to ensure your safety and to facilitate navigation. Each participant is equipped with a GPS tracking device.

The exact course details and distances are revealed in the roadbook provided to participants two days before the start of the race.

stage

25 km

stage

20, 40 or 60 km

Day ofRest

stage

25 to 30 km

Finish line

stage

25 km

stage

20, 40 or 60 km

stage

25 to 30 km

Finish line

ORGANISATION

TYPICAL PROGRAM

Day 1

Night : Hotel

Arrival of the participants

Day 2

Night : Hotel

Technical & Medical checks

Free day

Day 3

Night : Bivouac

Transfer to the start

Étape 1

25 to 30 km

Day 4

Night : Bivouac

Stage 2

20, 40 or 60 km

Day 5

Night : Bivouac

Rest day

Day 6

Night : Hotel

Stage 3

25 to 30 km

Finish line & Medical ceremony

Day 7

Night : Hotel

Awards ceremony

Gala dinner

Day 8

Departure of the participants

Day 1

Night : Hotel

Arrival of the participants

Day 2

Night : Hotel

Technical & Medical checks

Free day

Day 3

Night : Bivouac

Transfer to the start

Étape 1

25 to 30 km

Day 4

Night : Bivouac

Stage 2

20, 40 or 60 km

Day 5

Night : Bivouac

Rest day

Day 6

Night : Hotel

Stage 3

25 to 30 km

Finish line & Medical ceremony

Day 7

Night : Hotel

Awards ceremony

Gala dinner

Day 8

Departure of the participants

01 / 08

accessibility

THE MDS 120 CONCEPT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE

The MDS 120 concept is accessible to all. Whether you’re a runner, a walker, or simply an everyday adventurer, you can experience this challenge at your own pace.

With an average speed of 5.5 km/h and a minimum required speed of 3.5 km/h, the format allows everyone to move forward comfortably. Participants can also choose between several distances, even directly on the course, adapting the effort to their level or their wishes.

To give you an idea: 70% of participants choose to walk.

MDS 120 isn’t a race against others: it’s a personal challenge to be fully experienced… and shared.

01 / 02

Extended time limits

Choose your distance

Run or walk

Run

Walk

MDS 120

THE BIVOUAC

The MDS 120 bivouac is designed to offer simple and practical comfort, allowing for complete disconnection. Organized into cells of 6 individual tents provided and pitched by the organization, the bivouac remains in the same location throughout the entire adventure. Each participant has a numbered spot and keeps the same tent from start to finish. At the end of the adventure, the tent is given to each participant as a souvenir of this unique experience.

There is no electricity, no mobile network, no showers, and no dedicated water supply for washing—just the essentials to reconnect with what truly matters: adventure, nature… and other people. You can bring cleaning wipes if you wish, and use part of your water rations for washing.

The bivouac is also a place for meeting and sharing, where strong bonds form among participants. A shaded area is set up in the center of the bivouac for rest and socializing, especially on the rest day.

Facilities include toilets (remember to bring your own toilet paper) and a medical area staffed by specialized teams ready to treat issues like blisters and handle emergencies, remaining open at all times.

Each day before leaving for a stage, competitors must completely empty their tents and leave no equipment inside to avoid penalties.

Advice from experienced MDS participants includes ventilating your tent at night to reduce humidity, carrying clothespins for drying clothes, positioning the tent opening away from the wind, staying organized, and keeping the bivouac clean and free of waste

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

a self-sufficient adventure

MDS 120 is a self-sufficient adventure where participants carry all food required for the four race days in their backpack. Only drinking water is provided by the organization at the bivouac and checkpoints, making autonomy a central part of the challenge and the experience.

Depending on your MDS 120 destination, plan for 10 to 12 meals and aim for at least 2000 kcal per race day. All meals must be presented during technical checks before the start. Finding the right mix of freeze-dried meals, snacks, energy bars, and soups is key, especially for the long stage. Test your food choices beforehand to avoid surprises.

Popular food options: tabbouleh, potato-based dishes, vacuum-packed cold meats, dried fruits, fruit pastes, energy bars, salty crackers, puree pouches, soups.

Cooking equipment like a pot, stove, fire starter cubes, lighter, and utensils can be brought, but gas stoves are strictly forbidden. Some participants prefer cold meals to reduce weight and equipment.

Water is managed by the organization and distributed regularly, with checkpoints roughly every 8 to 12 km. After each stage, you’ll receive 5 liters of water for meals, hygiene, and hydration until the next stage. On the rest day, an additional 5 liters are provided.

Tips from past participants

Drink small sips regularly during stages.
Stay hydrated between stages and on the rest day.
Don’t wait until hungry to eat; snack every hour.
Repack meals by day in labeled bags with calorie counts.
Choose foods you enjoy, as taste can change during the race.
Practice heating water and preparing meals beforehand.
Cold meals can be a good option to save weight.
Broth-based soups help with hydration.

medical teams

At MDS 120, participant safety is a priority. Specialized medical teams are present throughout the adventure, both on the course and at the bivouac, ready to intervene if needed. An equipped medical clinic is set up at the bivouac.

HOTEL

HOTEL BEFORE AND AFTER THE ADVENTURE

Before and after the adventure, participants stay in a hotel on a half-board basis. It’s in this comfortable environment that technical checks are done before the adventure, trophies are awarded, and the gala evening takes place. These moments in the hotel provide participants with essential rest time to prepare properly before departure and to recover peacefully after the intense challenge of the race.