Chott el-Jérid hosts Défis du Chott on 24 October

Chott el-Jérid and Défis du Chott will meet near Tozeur on 24 October 2026, when the 29th edition of the desert sports event is scheduled in Tunisia. The race listing describes a course through dunes, tracks and salt-flat terrain, giving the natural landmark a direct role in the programme.

Défis du Chott brings desert races to Tozeur on 24 October

The International Trail Running Association lists Défis du Chott 2026 for 24 October 2026 in Tozeur. Its course page identifies Mos Espa, Tunisia, as both the start and finish for the listed 20 km trail, while describing the wider setting as dunes, tracks and a salt lake without oasis or shade.

A report by Tunisian news outlet Babnet says the 29th edition is organised by Les Foulées du Monde. It describes four formats: a 40 km race, 20 km and 10 km races, and an 8 km exploratory tour. The same report places the event in the Tozeur governorate and links its routes to the salt lake, sand and dunes. The event therefore offers a dated sporting use of the landscape rather than a general seasonal reference.

The 24 October 2026 date falls within the autumn travel window, and the event is presented as a sports and tourism programme open to participants from Tunisia and other countries. The public information names the routes and setting, but does not publish a general visitor programme around the races.

The salt lake gives the October race its setting

Britannica describes the lake as a large saline lake in south-western Tunisia, with a salt-flat basin of about 4,900 square kilometres. Water remains mainly in the lowest areas except after heavy rain, so the landscape encountered around the route can be a broad salt pan rather than a continuously flooded lake.

Tozeur and Nefta stand on the lake's periphery, and a roadway crosses the flats towards the desert oases and hinterland towns. That geography connects the race's Tozeur base with the place itself: the October course uses the same salt-and-dune environment that defines the region's road journey. The setting is low-lying, open and exposed, while the race listing specifies tracks rather than paved roads for the 20 km course.

Four formats connect Tozeur with the salt-flat landscape

The programme's range changes how the site is encountered. The 40 km route is the longest announced race, while the 20 km and 10 km formats provide shorter trail options. The 8 km exploratory tour is the non-race option named in the programme, although its detailed access arrangements are not stated in the available event information.

The event has a longer local history as well. Babnet reports that Défis du Chott began in 1994, making the 24 October 2026 edition the 29th. That history places the new 40 km format within an established desert-running event rather than a one-off activity.

Visiting Chott el-Jérid: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Défis du Chott is scheduled for 24 October 2026 in the Tozeur governorate, with the listed 20 km course starting and finishing at Mos Espa, Tunisia.
• The race information describes tracks, dunes and salt-flat terrain without oasis or shade; the public details do not announce a separate sightseeing programme for non-participants.
• The lake lies in south-western Tunisia on the edge of Tozeur and Nefta. A roadway crosses the salt flats towards the hinterland towns and desert oases.
• The landscape is a broad saline basin, and the race description identifies dunes and tracks rather than an urban venue or a conventional paved sports arena.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Chott el-Jérid

When does Défis du Chott take place at Chott el-Jérid?

Défis du Chott 2026 is scheduled for 24 October 2026 in the Tozeur governorate, with routes using salt-flat and desert terrain.

What is Chott el-Jérid?

It is a large saline lake in south-western Tunisia, occupying a salt-flat basin of about 4,900 square kilometres.

Where is Chott el-Jérid and how do you get there?

It lies on the periphery of Tozeur and Nefta and is crossed by a roadway serving the desert oases and hinterland towns.