# Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles

The women's Aïcha des Gazelles rally-raid, an off-road navigation race by map and compass with no GPS, crosses south-eastern Morocco from 20 March to 3 April 2027, finishing on the beach at Essaouira.

Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/events/rallye-aicha-des-gazelles/

## A navigation race

Since 1990, the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc has been an off-road rally-raid open only to women. It is not won on speed: each crew has to find a series of markers while covering the shortest possible distance between two checkpoints. The tools are those of the old navigators: a 1950s map, a compass and a navigation ruler. GPS and phones are banned; participants hand their phones to the organisers after the prologue and only get them back at the end of the last stage.

Crews choose their category: 4x4s and trucks, quads and SSVs (two-seat side-by-side off-road vehicles), crossovers, and two electric categories, E-Gazelle and Rétrofit, for 4x4s converted to all-electric. Participants range from 18 to 71 years old. In 2026, 320 "Gazelles" crossed the finish arch in Essaouira for the 35th edition; the bivouac brings together about 800 people.

## The 2027 timetable

- **20 and 21 March, in southern France**: technical and administrative checks for European crews, then the start village, open to the public, and the official start under the arch. Crews then board the boat to Morocco.
- **23 March**: checks for non-European crews and SSVs.
- **25 March**: prologue, a short loop, then phones are handed in.
- **26 March to 1 April**: seven days of racing in south-eastern Morocco, around three bivouacs, with dune stages and two marathon stages, during which crews navigate alone and sleep in the desert without returning to the bivouac.
- **2 April**: transfer to Essaouira.
- **3 April, Essaouira**: crews parade on the beach, cross the finish arch, then the awards ceremony and closing evening.

## Seeing the finish in Essaouira

For a traveller, the moment to catch is the finish, on Saturday 3 April 2027. The vehicles parade on the beach before crossing the finish arch. Sabaro recommends booking early and staying two or three nights.

In the medina, the Heure Bleue Palais, near Bab Marrakech, and the adults-only Riad EspritBleu, 700 m from the beach, let you do everything on foot. Le Jardin des Douars, in the hills south of the town, suits those who want calm after the celebrations. In early April, the wind often blows in the afternoon: Sabaro recommends the beach in the morning and a jacket for the evening.

Essaouira is about 2 hours 30 minutes by road from Marrakech. The same week, Marrakech usually hosts the Grand Prix Hassan II, a tennis tournament on the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tour, and the Marathon des Sables starts from Ouarzazate on 2 April.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can you watch the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles?

Yes, at two moments: at the start village, open to the public, on 21 March 2027 in southern France, and at the finish on the beach in Essaouira, on 3 April 2027. The race itself takes place in the desert, far from the roads.

### Is GPS allowed?

No. Navigation is done only with a 1950s map, a compass and a ruler; phones are handed to the organisers during the race.

### Who wins the rally?

The ranking rewards the crew that finds its markers while covering the shortest distance. Speed does not count.

### Where to stay for the finish in Essaouira?

In the medina, to walk to the beach, or in the hinterland for peace and quiet. Sabaro recommends booking early.