The freedom you experience in the Moroccan Sahara doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of years of exploration, planning and fine-tuning.
At Motor Adventures, we’ve spent almost 30 years exploring Morocco, covering hundreds of thousands of kilometres both on and off road. That experience has taught us what makes a good desert route, how conditions change through the year and, just as importantly, what riders need after a long day in the saddle.
Our off-road tours in Morocco bring all of that knowledge together. Here’s some of what goes into planning it.
Finding the Right Off-Road Pistes Through Morocco
Our motorcycle tours don’t follow a route simply because it’s the quickest way from A to B.
Over the years, we’ve explored tracks throughout Morocco, discovering routes that take riders far beyond the beaten tracks and into terrain that’s truly rewarding to ride.
Our motorcycle tours start at the southern side of the Atlas Mountains, where riders encounter rocky trails, fast pistes and, eventually, the great dunes of Erg Chebbi. These tours can also be experienced by buggy as they follow the same off-road routes.
Only one of our tours, the Sahara Experience, begins in Marrakech and crosses the Atlas Mountains, reaching altitudes of around 2,400 metres, before heading off-road. This unique tour can be experienced by motorcycle, buggy or 4WD.
Planning a route means balancing distance, challenge and variety. We want every day to offer something different, not by making it difficult for difficulty’s sake, but by creating an exceptional off-road journey through Morocco’s most spectacular landscapes.
Planning Around the Sahara, Not the Calendar
The desert sets some of the rules.
We run our Morocco off-road tours between the end of September and May, avoiding the extreme summer heat. Temperatures in the Sahara can climb above 45°C during June, July and August, making demanding off-road riding both uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.
Conditions also change considerably within the riding season. Winter brings cooler days and firmer sand, while spring and autumn offer warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours.
Our knowledge of these seasonal changes helps us decide when individual tours should run and what riders are likely to encounter. You can read more in our guide to the best time to visit the Sahara Desert.
Preparing the Bikes and Buggies
A premium motorcycle or buggy tour also depends on having the right machinery.
Our Morocco off-road fleet includes recent-model KTM 450 EXCs and Gas Gas EC 450s, and Can-Am Sports buggies, kept at our garage and tour base in Ouarzazate. The bikes and buggies follow a strict maintenance schedule, with our mechanics checking and preparing them for the demands of desert riding.
We also have lowered Gas Gas bikes available for riders who require a lower seat height.
Every bike and buggy is fitted with a Garmin GPS. This is an important part of how our tours work: riders don’t have to travel in a tight procession behind a guide. Faster riders can move ahead while others can take the day at their own pace.
Find out more about our motorcycles and buggies and how they’re prepared.
Support Is Never Far Behind
That freedom works because there’s a support network travelling with the group.
Our support vehicle follows behind with a driver and mechanic, carrying drinking water and equipment including a compressor, first-aid and medical supplies and GPS equipment. On some tours, satellite communications are also carried.
If there’s a puncture or a bike or buggy needs attention after a fall, the mechanic is there to deal with it. The crew can also respond when changing conditions require adjustments to the day’s plans.
It’s one of the less visible parts of a Sahara tour, but one of the most important. You can learn more about the role of our Sahara crew.
Good Riding Deserves a Good Evening
A day off-road in Morocco is both exciting and demanding. When the riding is over, it’s time to relax.
Throughout our tours, you’ll stay in carefully selected accommodation where you can enjoy a good meal, recharge and prepare for the next day’s ride. Every detail is organised, so you can focus on what really matters: experiencing Morocco’s spectacular off-road landscapes.
It leaves you free to concentrate on the reason you came to Morocco in the first place: the riding.
Almost 30 Years Behind Every Tour
Our main Morocco base is in Ouarzazate, on the edge of the landscapes we ride. After almost three decades exploring the country, we’ve learned that a great Sahara motorcycle tour isn’t created by any one thing.
It’s the combination of the route, the bikes, the season, the mechanics, the accommodation and dozens of smaller logistical decisions.
When all of those things are taken care of, you can concentrate on the next stretch of piste.
Take a closer look at our Morocco off-road and adventure tours and find your next ride. Any questions? Feel free to get in touch.
