Morocco Motorcycle Tours: Dunes to Coast

A relaxed ride of about 1h45 to Algeciras (140 km) and 2h25 from Tangier Med or Ceuta to Chefchaouen (130 km) across the Straits of Gibraltar. Don’t be surprised by how similar this northern tip of Morocco is to the Spain you’ll have just left! Verdant, good roads, though quite possibly more animals wandering across them as we travel across the Rif mountain range to the blue-hued town of Chefchaouen, your first stop on the African continent.

As said, Northern Morocco is surprisingly lush and green which often surprises new-comers. You’ll wind your way through hilly terrain to the Roman Ruins of Volubilis where we’ll have a break and consider the wonders of the Roman empire. Then to Fes, one of Morocco’s 4 historic capital cities (the others being Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat).

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Big biking day today. We cross the Atlas mountains and you’ll notice the dramatic change between the northern coastal side and the distinctly desert-like features on the southern side of the range. High altitude desert, possible sightings of Berber nomads and Barbary macaques, and your first date palms and oases. Morocco’s largest chunk of the Sahara, the Erg Chebbi sand belt will be our destination today, in the desert town of Merzouga, close to the Algerian border and the most easterly point of our tour.

Today, feast your eyes on all things “desert”: take it easy with a gentle wander around on a camel, or take a local tour by 4×4, quad bike or dirt bike and visit the stunning desert that is the Sahara. Or simply relax with a good book – all options are good options!

Batteries charged, we head off into a Morocco unchanged for centuries. We head further into the south of the country through landscapes that verge from lunar to resembling the Bolivian altiplano. Our destination is Zagora, an oasis town which was a traditional crossroads for the travelling caravans that transported salt, slaves and silver, amongst other commodities.

A fabulous day in store as we ride up the Draa valley in yet more dramatic desert scenery, with the looming presence of the Jebel Kissane range on our right. Things then get even more interesting as we offer the chance to do a desert crossing on a well-worn dirt road, or follow the more leisurely asphalt road to our day’s destination in Tinghir, from where we’ll launch ourselves at the Todhra Gorge during the course of the next day.

Another day of surprises: the famous hairpin bends that you’ll recognize from a hundred photos in the Todhra and Dades gorges, kasbahs galore (we’ll be on part of the Route of the 1000 kasbahs) (where a kasbah, by the way, is a fortress) and as we pass by Ouarzazate, you’ll see evidence of the Atlas film sets, where such classics as Black Hawk Down, The Mummy, the first Star Wars and Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator have been filmed. We’ll arrive in Aït Benhaddou, whose centre is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and site of much more film-making.

Taroudant is in the fertile Souss valley, itself part of the Anti-Atlas mountains (essentially the foothills of the Atlas range). The town’s medina is surrounded by fine golden walls and while Taroudant is referred to as a mini-Marrakesh, it is a much more laid-back version, with a friendly bustling souk and a huge market place just outside the walls. We’ll make our way there via the very remote Jebel Siroua, a now extinct 3000+ m volcanic peak.

We leave the hinterland behind us as we spend some time by the Atlantic shores of Western Morocco, heading west to Agadir and then north, along pretty rolling coastline until we reach the charming fishing village, age-old medina, souks, lovely cafés and windsurfer haven and all-round cool place that is Essaouira. A real treat, with sandy beaches awaiting the swimming aficionados and the souk close by for those who prefer to keep dry feet.

An early start so we can get to Marrakesh asap and enjoy this wonderful city for the rest of the day. The old centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the key attractions is the Djemaa el Fna (the Square of the Beheaded), the world-famous medieval market and executioner’s square, where you’ll see storytellers, snake charmers and jugglers. You won’t be able to miss the call to prayer of the muezzin at sunset. Whether of a literary bent or not, you’ll find yourself plunged into the world of 1001 nights and Aladdin.

Yes, Rabat is the capital of Morocco, despite being only its 7 th largest city, and the home of King Hassan. But firstly, the road out of Marrakech will weave through Morocco’s fertile agricultural lands for the first few hundred kilometres before we had back into the mountains for some more great sweepers and pine forests all the way to Rabat.

Journey details: 290 km / 3h00 to Tangier Med, ferry crossing, then Algeciras to Malaga (140 km/1h45) Four-lane highway to Tangier for the ferry home. Depending on arrival time and weather in Spain, we can take a scenic route, or go directly back to the hotel near Malaga.

We hope you’ll go home with fabulous memories (and a few souvenirs) and

look forward to seeing you again. Hasta la vista!