Désertours

What Désertours does

Désertours, legally Rey Voyages SAS, is a French licensed travel agency (licence d'état) and adventure-sports event organizer headquartered in Ciboure, Pays Basque, with a secondary office in Québec, Canada. Founded in 1987 by Jean-Jacques Rey following his participation in the 1986 Paris-Dakar rally, the company has organized large-scale orientation rallies and treks for nearly four decades, with annual participation exceeding 2,000 across its flagship events. Its product portfolio centers on the 4L Trophy — a student-only orientation rally launched in 1997 covering roughly 6,000 km from Biarritz to Marrakech in Renault 4L vehicles — and the Rose Trip series of 100% female orientation treks launched in 2018, now spanning Morocco, Senegal and Cape Verde. Earlier rally formats (Trophée Roses des Sables, 2001; Trophée Roses des Andes, 2014) extend the offering, and the Club Entreprises program packages corporate team-building for companies such as L'Oréal Canada and MSD France.

Operationally, events are delivered through a recurring caravan of 50–300 staff under a permanent core team of 20+, supported by proprietary event-management infrastructure: a centralized PC Course control center, satellite geolocation beacons issued to all participants for real-time tracking and safety intervention, and Tripy odometer devices providing live distance-based rankings. Every event embeds a solidarity component — including 10 kg of food donations per 4L Trophy crew for Croix-Rouge française, breast-cancer fundraising with Ruban Rose, and infrastructure projects (schools, wells, solar panels) via Enfants du désert and Cap Eco Solidaire — alongside CO2-offset partnerships with Fondation GoodPlanet.

The revenue model is primarily one-time participant registration fees priced per crew or team, supplemented by Club Entreprises corporate packages sold as professional services and ancillary travel-agency services under the company's state-issued licence. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer registration through event-specific websites, media partnerships (NRJ, Studyrama, RMC), student-association channels (e.g., Rennes School of Business), and community-led word-of-mouth driven by returning participants. The business is privately held by the Rey family with no disclosed external investors.

Name

Désertours

Legal name

Rey Voyages SAS

Website

https://desertours.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Désertours (Rey Voyages SAS) is a French licensed travel agency that organizes large-scale orientation rallies and treks, primarily the 4L Trophy student rally in Morocco and the Rose Trip women-only trekking series across Morocco, Senegal and Cape Verde, serving individual participants and corporate clients via its Club Entreprises program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Sports Event Organization

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Desert & Dune Adventure Tour Operators (Camel treks, sandboarding) (THAAADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG)

Keywords

• Adventure travel events
• Orientation rally raids
• Solidarity trekking experiences
• Corporate team-building events
• Desert expedition organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Ciboure

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from participant registration fees for sporting events including the 4L Trophy rally and Rose Trip treks. Participants pay to register and participate in orientation races and treks.
2. Club Entreprises Corporate Packages: Corporate engagement packages where companies sponsor and support female employees participating in Rose Trip events, including visibility and communication benefits.
3. Travel Agency Services: As a licensed travel agency (agence de voyage titulaire d'une licence d'état), Désertours provides travel organization services for adventure trips.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Désertours is a state-licensed French travel agency (agence de voyage titulaire d'une licence d'état) that organizes large-scale sporting adventure events combining orientation rallies and treks with embedded solidarity actions. Its portfolio includes the 4L Trophy student rally (since 1997) and the Rose Trip series of 100% female solidarity treks in Morocco, Senegal, and Cape Verde, plus a corporate Club Entreprises program for companies sponsoring employee participation.

Product overview

Désertours is a travel agency and adventure sports event organizer offering a portfolio of rally and trek events. The core products include the 4L Trophy rally raid for young adults (launched 1997) and a series of Rose Trip feminine treks in Morocco (2018), Senegal (2022), and Cape Verde. The Club Entreprises add-on program enables corporate teams to participate in the Rose Trip events. All events combine orientation racing, outdoor adventure, and solidarity actions supporting local communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 4L Trophy: First student and young adult (18–28) rally raid event to Morocco, launched in 1997, departing from Biarritz to Marrakech. Orientation rally using Renault 4L vehicles with road books and compass navigation.
• Rose Trip Maroc
• Rose Trip Sénégal
• Rose Trip Cap-Vert Boa Vista
• Trophée Roses des Sables
• Trophée Roses des Andes

Products and services

• 4L Trophy Flagship orientation rally raid for students and young adults aged 18-28, covering approximately 6,000 km from Biarritz to Marrakech via Spain and Morocco over 12 days, in 2-person Renault 4L crews with road-book and compass navigation, combined with 10 kg of food donations per crew for Croix-Rouge française.
• Rose Trip Maroc 100% female orientation trek held in southern Morocco near Merzouga; four-day trek in teams of three using compass, topographic map, and protractor, including three competitive stages and one solidarity stage.
• Rose Trip Sénégal 100% female orientation trek in northern Senegal between Dakar and Saint-Louis, featuring a warm-up, three scored stages, and a solidarity stage supporting children's education.
• Rose Trip Cap-Vert Boa Vista 100% female orientation trek on Boa Vista island in Cape Verde, featuring four days of orientation courses by teams of three across diverse desert landscapes with solidarity actions for local women and children.
• Club Entreprises Corporate engagement program enabling companies to sponsor female employees participating in Rose Trip treks under the company banner, with dedicated visibility, internal communication campaigns, team-building benefits, and CSR alignment.
• Trophée Roses des Sables Female-only 4x4 rally raid from the French Basque Country to Marrakech via the Moroccan desert, navigated using road books and compass.
• Trophée Roses des Andes Female-only rally raid in northwestern Argentina, departing from Buenos Aires through the Andes and altiplano.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2000+ participants annually across all events
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ruban RosecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreast cancer awareness association partnered with all Rose Trip events since 2012. Events dedicate solidarity steps to the cause and raise funds through participant donations. Ruban Rose has been fighting breast cancer since 1994, formerly known as 'Le Cancer du Sein, Parlons-en!'
• Enfants du désertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation founded in early 2000s with Désertours support, working to improve living conditions and schooling for disadvantaged children in desert regions. Partners on 4L Trophy and Rose Trip events to finance schools, libraries, wells, and solar panel installations.
• Croix-Rouge françaisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Red Cross partners with 4L Trophy since 2011 to collect 10kg of non-perishable food per crew at Village-Départ. Croix-Rouge volunteers are present on all bivouacs providing first aid support.
• Surfrider Foundation MarocminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partnered with Rose Trip Maroc since 2018 and 4L Trophy since 2020 to sensitize participants about ocean and coastal protection issues.
• Cap Eco SolidairecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEco-citizen association partnering with Rose Trip Sénégal and Rose Trip Cap-Vert for education access projects with local structures (schools and educational centers). Also present at 4L Trophy for environmental protection actions.
• Rennes School of BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrande École de Management supports student association '4L Trophy Coordination' engaged in co-organizing the raid. Students develop project management, leadership, and intercultural agility skills through their involvement.
• Fondation GoodplanetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYann Arthus Bertrand foundation partners to compensate CO2 emissions of organization vehicles. Supports climate change projects including energy access in Peru, Bolivia, India and waste valorization in Togo, Cameroon, Madagascar.
• NRJminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrance's leading music radio station (5+ million daily listeners) partners as media sponsor for 4L Trophy, providing coverage and promotional support.
• StudyramaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent orientation and media group (160 annual events, 560,000+ visitors) partners as media sponsor, promoting events to student audience.
• Royaume du MarocminorOthersMoroccan Kingdom supports 4L Trophy rally as official government partner for tourism promotion.
• FRMSA (Fédération Royale Marocaine des Sports Automobiles)minorOthersRoyal Moroccan Federation of Automobile Sports welcomes 4L Trophy in Moroccan desert each year, providing official sanctioning and local organization support.
• Mairie de MarrakechminorOthersCity of Marrakech serves as terminus for 4L Trophy, hosting the award ceremony in this historic imperial city.
• ELCminorOthersFrench manufacturer of LUMAPHORE mobile lighting equipment provides illumination solutions for bivouacs and event spaces.
• CasamançaiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSenegalese natural mineral water brand (2nd national brand) sponsors Rose Trip Sénégal, present at event and shares values of regional commitment.
• Fondation cancer du sein QuébecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec Breast Cancer Foundation partners with Rose Trip events for breast cancer awareness, particularly among Quebec participants. Works on research funding, patient support, and education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nomade Aventure: French adventure travel agency offering trekking, desert expeditions, and solidarity-focused trips worldwide. Comparable to Désertours as a French adventure operator with similar trekking and solidarity positioning.
• Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles: Morocco-based women's-only orientation rally using roadbooks across Moroccan desert, organized since 1990 by Maïenga. Direct competitor to Désertours' Roses des Sables in the women's desert rally category with similar participant demographics and Morocco focus.
• Allibert Trekking: French trekking and expedition specialist offering guided adventure trips including desert destinations (Morocco, Sahara, Sahel). Comparable as a French-market adventure travel operator focused on trekking experiences similar to Rose Trip series.
• Terres d'Aventure: French adventure travel agency specializing in guided treks and adventure trips worldwide, owned by Voyageurs du Monde. Directly comparable to Désertours as a French-language adventure travel operator serving similar trekking customers.
• Huwans Club Aventure: French adventure travel club operating organized group treks and adventure experiences including desert destinations. Comparable to Désertours as a French adventure travel operator with organized group event formats.
• Raid Amazones: Women's-only multi-sport adventure event combining trekking, biking, and canoeing stages. Direct competitor to Désertours' Rose Trip series in the women-only adventure event category in France.

Broad incumbents

• Voyageurs du Monde: Large French high-end travel agency (parent of Terres d'Aventure and Allibert Trekking) offering adventure trips including trekking. Comparable as a French-market player with overlapping adventure offerings, though operating at much larger scale across broader travel categories.
• Exodus Travels: UK-based global adventure travel company offering small-group trekking and adventure tours worldwide including desert destinations. Comparable as an adventure tour operator with similar trekking and expedition products at larger international scale.
• Intrepid Travel: Global adventure tour operator offering small-group experiences including trekking in Morocco, West Africa, and global destinations. Comparable as an adventure travel company with similar trekking/active travel offerings at much larger international scale.
• Dakar Rally: Iconic professional motorsport rally-raid event originally Paris-Dakar, founded 1978. Comparable as the foundational desert rally experience that inspired founder Jean-Jacques Rey, though operating at vastly larger professional motorsport scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvXDOfevz9sDDbWYlhD4a7Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desertours

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Désertours