Sahara Marathon

An International Solidarity Race in the Algerian Desert

The Sahara Marathon is the ultimate place to start your fundraising journey. Organised by Saharawi camp authorities and international volunteers, the Sahara Marathon has brought together runners from across the world every February since 2001. Unlike the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, the Sahara Marathon takes place inside the Saharawi refugee camps in southwest Algeria, raising funds and awareness for the refugee community.

Since 2009, Sandblast has been the UK’s main promotional partner for the Sahara Marathon, recruiting between 10–25 runners each year to join hundreds of others from up to 20 countries.

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A man with a red beard, wearing sunglasses and a red cap, running in a race in a desert with a race number 007 attached to his shirt. There are three people near a table with water bottles and supplies, and a flag flying in the wind in the background

A crowd of people, some in traditional clothing and others in military uniform, participating in a protest or demonstration holding a banner with an Arabic inscription and Algerian flags.

Two men sitting on a bed with arms around each other, smiling, in a room with gold curtains, a white wall, and various items on a table and bed.

Saharawi women dressed in black and white traditional clothing dancing at an outdoor event with spectators watching.

Group of young people gathered outdoors, some wearing shirts with the text "Decades of Resistance, Kilometers of Hope" and listening to a speaker in a tan jacket and sunglasses, near a wire fence and metal poles under a sunny sky.

Three women cooking and preparing food inside a bus, using a small grill with flames, while seated on the floor.

Two smiling men laughing and talking indoors with a table of food and beverages in the background.

A group of children and a man playing and running in a desert-like area with makeshift houses, electrical poles, and wires under a clear blue sky.

Group of seven young men standing in front of a brick building, holding a flag of western sahara, in a desert area with construction materials around, during daytime.

People sitting on the floor and sofas in a large room with blue and gold curtains, a purple tablecloth, and snacks, engaging in a social gathering or meeting.

Back view of a young man wearing a white t-shirt with black text that reads 'Decades of resistance, kilometers of hope' and a website URL 'www.saharamarathon.org'. He is walking through a dusty alleyway with makeshift buildings on either side.

Two men are inside a small workshop, one sitting on a chair wearing traditional blue and white clothing with a black head covering, the other working with threads and tools at a table. The workshop has blue doors and brick walls.

Five saharawi people sitting outdoors in front of a building, wearing traditional Middle Eastern attire with head coverings and sunglasses, posing for a photo, with one person making a peace sign gesture.

a saharawi woman holding the saharawi flag with red, black, white, and green horizontal stripes and a red crescent and star in the middle, at an outdoor gathering with other people in the background.

Join the Sahara Marathon with Sandblast

When you register for the Sahara Marathon with Sandblast, you’re doing far more than joining a race—you’re becoming part of a global Sandblast Family to empower Saharawi refugee children and women through education, culture, and solidarity.
Since 2009, more than 200 people have run or walked the 5km, 10km, half-marathon, or full marathon in support of Sandblast’s projects. Again and again, participants tell us it’s been one of the most life-changing experiences of their lives.
When you run with Sandblast, every pound you raise goes directly to Desert Voicebox—our groundbreaking after-school programme in the Boujdour refugee camp.
Launched in 2016, Desert Voicebox provides English and music education to Saharawi children, led by local women trained as teachers and educational leaders. The programme offers five weekly after-school classes using the innovative Stave House method, alongside enrichment activities like traditional music lessons, creative workshops, pen pal exchanges, Saturday story time, and conversation clubs—opportunities that simply didn’t exist before.
Your fundraising helps us cover learning resources for up to 60 students, pay the livelihoods of five refugee women teachers, fund weekly Saharawi music sessions, and sponsor skilled international volunteers to deliver workshops and training. Note on expanding next level.
With no public funding, Desert Voicebox relies entirely on donations and fundraising campaigns—your support is essential to keeping this unique programme alive and growing.
- No other sports event like it: The Sahara Marathon is the only annual international race hosted inside a refugee camp.
- A life-changing cultural exchange: You’ll live for a week with a local Saharawi family, gaining firsthand insight into one of the world’s least-known refugee situations and forming friendships with Saharawis and runners from around the world.
- A statement of solidarity: Every step you take is a public act of support, showing the Saharawi people they are not forgotten.
- A platform to raise awareness: You can amplify the cause, share the story, and inspire your own community—on your own terms.

A young woman smiling, wearing an orange headscarf, with a background featuring a person in white and other people in an outdoor setting.

Rowan Keech - 2025 Sahara Marathon runner

“The pride instilled in us being able to share a deep connection with the Saharawi people has changed each and every one of us. Immediately welcomed into their families and treated with more kindness than ever sought to be possible in humanity. ”

Watch Testimonies of Sandblast Runners

During the Sahara Marathon 2025 trip to the Saharawi refugee camps, Charlie, Wes and Nico documented their experience of the marathon race. Filled with runner testimonies, struggles along the race and beautiful reflections, these videos are a wonderful resource to get a feel for the Sahara Marathon and the week you will spend in the refugee camps.

Fundraise More, Pay Less

If you run on behalf of Sandblast, we ask that you aim to raise at least £1,000. The more you raise, the more support we can offer you toward your trip—and the more impact you’ll have!

Here’s how it works. The full package costs €850 and includes your return flights, visa fees, transportation, accomodation, food, donation towards a disabled sports project, race registration, merchandise.

Raise £3,001 or more

Raise £3,001 by January 10th, 2026, and you only pay the £50 Sandblast registration fee. We’ll cover the rest!

If you hit the goal after the race, we’ll still reimburse you. For a full breakdown of costs and details, check out our Info Pack.

Join Russ Cook in Running the Sahara Marathon 2026

After standing in solidarity for the Saharawi people during the Sahara Marathon 2025, Russ Cook will be returning to the Sahara next year!

Sahara Marathon 2025

The 2025 edition of the Sahara Marathon once again united 18 runners from around the world in a powerful show of international solidarity within the Saharawi refugee camps. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated team of Sandblast runners, whose efforts raised over £22,000 in support of Desert Voicebox. This year’s event was given an extra boost thanks to the adventurer Russ Cook, whose support helped introduce the Sahara Marathon to a wider audience—many of our runners discovered the race through his social media channels.

As part of their journey, Sandblast runners took part in a specially curated Sandblast programme, including visiting some locally led initiatives, the Desert Voicebox project which witnessed a hands-on music lesson, and a memorable picnic in the dunes featuring traditional bread baked in the sand. We were truly moved by their passion and commitment to sharing the Saharawi story—and we can’t wait to welcome them back for the 2026 edition! Check out the videos that the group produced below!