One prologue, twelve stages and 7,824 kilometres will take the Dakar Rally back to Europe and Africa. A return to the landscapes, challenges and spirit that helped make the race a legend.
Some news makes you want to unfold a map and start dreaming of the journey ahead. The Dakar Rally’s return to Africa in 2027 is one of those stories. Starting in Portugal and finishing in Marrakech, the race will reconnect with the continent where its extraordinary history began.
For anyone who has followed the Dakar over the years, there is something special about this announcement. The thought of competitors crossing vast African landscapes once again brings back memories of an adventure that has captivated generations of motorsport fans.
At Bajas Magazine, we are genuinely excited about what lies ahead. Not because the Dakar has lost its magic in recent years, but because returning to Africa opens another chapter in a story that has always been about much more than racing against the clock.
According to ASO’s official announcement, the 49th edition of the Dakar Rally is scheduled to take place from 9 to 23 January 2027, starting in Loulé-Faro, Portugal, and finishing in Marrakech, Morocco.
The route will cover 7,824 kilometres, including 4,341 kilometres of timed special stages, spread across one prologue and twelve stages. The dates remain subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
The Dakar’s official history takes us back to Thierry Sabine, who came up with the idea for the rally after getting lost in the Libyan desert during the Abidjan–Nice Rally. His vision was to create an extraordinary adventure that would begin in Europe and finish in Dakar. That connection between two continents became part of the race’s identity, and it helps explain why this return carries so much emotion.
Of course, the 2027 edition will not be a recreation of the original Paris–Dakar. The finish line will be in Marrakech, Morocco, rather than Senegal. But bringing the race back to Africa means returning to the landscapes that shaped its legend.
Portugal also has its own place in Dakar history. In 2008, competitors gathered in Lisbon for what should have been another great adventure, only for the rally to be cancelled before it began.
For those of us who love rally-raid, this return means something special. You don’t need to have competed in the Dakar to understand why. Just think of the images that first captured our imagination: endless desert landscapes, the uncertainty of what lies beyond the next dune, and competitors pushing themselves and their machines to the limit.
Seeing Africa back on the Dakar map brings those memories rushing back. And that is something no distance, stage count or set of statistics can fully capture.
The sporting breakdown is now clear. Portugal’s Algarve region will host the prologue and the opening stage, while Morocco will stage the remaining eleven. The route will feature six different bivouacs, with a rest day scheduled in Agadir.
ASO has described the move as an exceptional arrangement, with the Dakar expected to return to Saudi Arabia for its 50th edition in 2028.
Beyond the excitement of the new route, there is another side to this story. For the drivers, riders and co-drivers, the challenge will be as demanding as ever. Managing fatigue, protecting their machines and maintaining concentration over nearly two weeks of racing will be just as important as outright speed.
And that is what makes the 2027 Dakar so intriguing. The return to Africa will bring a sense of nostalgia and adventure, but there will be little room for sentiment once the competition begins.
Some of the terrain may feel familiar to experienced competitors. Yet tackling stage after stage, keeping the machinery running and making the right decisions under pressure will remain a formidable test. A familiar landscape does not necessarily mean an easier Dakar.
The official schedule sets out how the opening days will unfold. The service park will open in Loulé-Faro on 5 January, followed by administrative and technical checks from 6 to 8 January.
The action begins with the prologue on 9 January, before the first full stage takes place in Portugal on 10 January. Competitors will then make their way to the port for the crossing to Nador, Morocco.
According to ASO’s announced schedule, the ferry crossing will take place overnight on 10–11 January. Once on African soil, competitors will travel by road to Bouarfa, where the first Moroccan bivouac awaits.
There is something special about this journey between continents. First comes the anticipation of the start, then the race through Portugal, the ferry crossing and finally the arrival in Africa. It is the kind of adventure that has always made the Dakar more than just another motorsport event.
For fans, the crossing brings back a sense of excitement and anticipation that goes well beyond the racing itself. For the teams, however, it will also be a logistical challenge, requiring careful planning before the demanding Moroccan stages begin.
The Dakar 2027 route will cover 7,824 kilometres, including 4,341 kilometres of timed special stages, across Portugal and Morocco. The rally will feature one prologue, twelve stages and a rest day in Agadir on 17 January.
| Stage | Date | Route | Special (km) | Total (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue | 9 January | Loulé/Faro → Loulé/Faro | 29 | 129 |
| Stage 1 | 10 January | Loulé/Faro → Loulé/Faro | 100 | 300 |
| Transfer | 11 January | Loulé/Faro → Bouarfa | — | 590 |
| Stage 2 | 12 January | Bouarfa → Bouarfa | 390 | 490 |
| Stage 3 | 13 January | Bouarfa → Bouarfa | 410 | 490 |
| Stage 4 | 14 January | Bouarfa → Zagora | 490 | 750 |
| Stage 5 | 15 January | Zagora → Zagora | 365 | 540 |
| Stage 6 | 16 January | Zagora → Agadir | 365 | 760 |
| Rest Day | 17 January | Agadir | — | — |
| Stage 7 | 18 January | Agadir → Smara | 500 | 790 |
| Stage 8 | 19 January | Smara → Refuge Bivouac | 355 | 525 |
| Stage 9 | 20 January | Refuge Bivouac → Smara | 390 | 625 |
| Stage 10 | 21 January | Smara → Smara | 470 | 560 |
| Stage 11 | 22 January | Smara → Marrakech | 455 | 1,035 |
| Stage 12 | 23 January | Marrakech → Marrakech | 22 | 240 |
TOTAL DISTANCE: 7,824 KM
TIMED SPECIAL STAGES: 4,341 KM
The opening stage combines the Portuguese timed special with the road transfer towards the ferry crossing. 11 January is dedicated to the transfer to Bouarfa, with no numbered stage scheduled on the official route map.
The Dakar 2027 route features a demanding mix of timed special stages and road sections, with competitors covering 7,824 kilometres, including 4,341 kilometres against the clock. Several stages will feature specials of between 350 and 500 kilometres, promising a challenging two weeks of racing across Portugal and Morocco.
Source Official 2027 Dakar stage schedule and route — Dakar / ASO.
For European motorsport fans, the Dakar’s return to Portugal brings something that has been missing for years: the chance to experience the start of the world’s toughest rally much closer to home.
For Portuguese fans, the Dakar will be right on their doorstep. For those travelling from France, Spain, Italy or elsewhere in Europe, the Algarve offers a far more accessible starting point than Saudi Arabia.
And that changes everything. Instead of following the build-up from thousands of kilometres away, fans can start thinking about making the journey themselves. Seeing the competitors, hearing the engines, exploring the atmosphere around the bivouac and experiencing the excitement before the first stage.
The Dakar will also pass through Spain on 10 January, as competitors travel from the Algarve towards the Strait of Gibraltar. However, this section will be a road transfer, not a timed special stage. ASO has confirmed that the opening competitive stage will take place in Portugal before the rally heads towards the ferry crossing to Morocco.
For many European fans, this could be a rare opportunity to feel part of the Dakar adventure rather than simply watch it unfold on a screen.
Of course, there are still important details to be confirmed. Spectator areas, public access and viewing locations will depend on the organisers’ official announcements. Being close to the route does not automatically mean every section will be open to spectators.
But one thing is certain: the Dakar’s European start brings the race closer to a huge community of passionate fans. And for some, January 2027 could be the perfect excuse to finally experience it in person.
Perhaps that is what makes the Dakar’s return so exciting. The chance to actually be there.
To witness the start of a new Dakar on European soil. To feel the anticipation before the competitors head towards Africa. To stand alongside thousands of motorsport fans who share the same passion for adventure, competition and the unknown.
For us at Bajas Magazine, this return is about more than nostalgia. It is about what comes next. New fans discovering the Dakar for the first time, unforgettable journeys, conversations between people brought together by their love of rally-raid, and the unmistakable sound of racing engines coming to life.
There is still plenty to learn about the 2027 edition, and we will be following every development closely.
But for now, there is every reason to be excited. The Dakar is bringing Europe and Africa together once again. And this time, the adventure feels closer than ever.
Follow the latest updates, competitors and stories in the Dakar section of Bajas Magazine.