# Ultra Mirage El Djerid

The Ultra Mirage El Djerid is an ultra-trail held every year around Tozeur over four distances: 25, 50 and 100 km and, since 2026, 100 miles (162 km). The 10th edition took place from 1 to 4 October 2026 with 501 runners from 20 countries; a 2027 edition has been announced, with no date as of 3 November 2026.

Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/events/ultra-mirage/

The Ultra Mirage El Djerid, or UMED, bills itself as the first ultra-trail in the Tunisian Sahara. It is run once a year in the Jerid region, around Tozeur. The 10th edition took place from 1 to 4 October 2026, with the races on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October. The organisers have announced a 2027 edition, with no date published as of 3 November 2026.

## Four distances, one stage

Each race is run in a single stage over very varied terrain: soft sand, small dunes, rocks, dry riverbeds and oases. Checkpoints provide medical and technical help and water.

| Distance | Runners in 2026 |
|---|---|
| 100 miles (162 km) | 32 |
| 100 km | 112 |
| 50 km | 212 |
| 25 km | 145 |

The 100 miles, created for the tenth anniversary, started on Friday 2 October at 6.30 pm local time, with a 32-hour cut-off: some runners spent the night on the trails.

## Ten years of growth

The first edition drew 60 runners from 12 countries; the 2026 race had 501 from 20 countries, and nearly 700 people were expected in Tozeur including supporters and crews. The race village is set up at Lake Shamsa, with craftspeople, local producers and food stalls.

The race is organised by the Association Ultra Marathon Tunisie, a non-profit. It was the first sporting event in the country to pay equal prize money to women and men, and one of the first signatories of the Courmayeur convention for clean sporting events; it relies on Jerid craftspeople and producers, dates included, and on local helpers.

## Running in Tozeur in early October

Tozeur is still hot in early October: the average October high is 29.6 °C, and September's is 34.9 °C. Tozeur–Nefta airport is a few hours' flight from Europe's main cities, direct or with one stop, and Tunisair Express links it to Tunis.

The Jerid offers plenty to extend the trip: Tozeur's brick medina, Nefta and its Corbeille, Chott el Djerid and the Star Wars sets, described on the [Tozeur, Nefta and the Jerid](/en/tunisia/tozeur-nefta/) page. The two addresses chosen by Sabaro are [The Mora Sahara Tozeur](/en/hotels/the-mora-sahara-tozeur/) and [Dar HI Life](/en/hotels/dar-hi-life-nefta/) in Nefta. Later in October, the [Défis du Chott](/en/events/defis-du-chott/) offered shorter races of 10 to 40 km.

Foreign ministries do not all give the same advice. Your country's advice:

(Depends on the traveller's country: see the table on https://sabaro-travel.com/en/events/ultra-mirage/)

The [Tunisia safety](/en/guides/securite-tunisie/) guide sets out the situation in the south, including near the Algerian border, where the mountain oases lie.

## Frequently asked questions

### When is the Ultra Mirage El Djerid?

Once a year in autumn: in 2026, from 1 to 4 October. A 2027 edition has been announced, with no date published as of 3 November 2026.

### What are the distances?

25 km, 50 km, 100 km and 100 miles (162 km), each run in a single stage.

### Do I need to be a professional runner?

The organisers open the race to everyone, from professional ultra-runners to keen amateurs; the 25 km is the entry point.