It is the first question most riders ask when they start planning: should I ride my own bike down to Morocco, or fly to Marrakech and rent one? Both work. The right answer depends on how many days you have, what you ride at home, and how much of your holiday you want to spend on the motorway through Spain.
Option 1: Bring your own motorcycle
Most riders from Europe ride down through Spain and take a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Tanger Med, or take a longer crossing from France or Italy. From Tanger Med it is roughly 550–600 km by motorway to Marrakech.
What you need:
- Your vehicle registration document and licence (an International Driving Permit is recommended).
- Insurance valid in Morocco. Check that your Green Card covers Morocco (country code MA) or buy cover at the port.
- A temporary import declaration for the bike, completed at Moroccan customs on arrival and cancelled when you leave. The bike is linked to your passport.
Pros: your own bike, set up the way you like it, and the freedom to extend the trip.
Cons: from northern Europe you can spend four or five days each way just getting to and from Morocco. Add ferries, tolls, hotels on the way and a set of tyres, and the savings shrink fast. If the bike breaks in the Atlas, you are a long way from your dealer.
Option 2: Fly in and rent
Marrakech has direct flights from most European cities, often under four hours. You land, get picked up, and your bike is ready the next morning.
Pros: every day of your holiday is a riding day. You can choose a bike suited to the terrain, a lighter one for off-road or a big GS for two-up touring. No transit, no tyre wear on your own bike, no customs paperwork.
Cons: it is not your bike, and the bike’s insurance has a damage deposit, so read the rental terms.
What it costs: a real example
On our 9-day Atlas & Desert tour you can ride your own bike or one of ours. Prices per rider in a shared twin room, with hotels, breakfast, dinner, guide and support car included either way:
| Bike | Price per rider |
|---|---|
| Your own motorcycle | €2,700 |
| KTM 390 Adventure | €3,400 |
| Yamaha Ténéré 700 | €3,600 |
| KTM 890 Adventure | €3,800 |
| BMW R1200GS / R1250GS | €4,000 |
So renting adds €700 to €1,300 to the tour price. Riding your own bike from central Europe usually costs more than that in ferries, fuel, tolls, transit hotels and tyre wear, plus the extra days off work.
Our fleet
All our rentals come with comprehensive insurance and are maintained in our own Marrakech workshop between tours.
| Bike | Best for |
|---|---|
| KTM 390 Adventure | Lighter riders, tight roads, newer off-road riders |
| Yamaha Ténéré 700 | The all-rounder: agile on hairpins, strong off-road |
| KTM 890 Adventure | Fast, capable riders who want power off-road |
| BMW R1250GS | Long tarmac days and riding two-up |
See the details on our fleet page.
Can I just rent a bike and ride on my own?
We focus on guided tours, and we do not recommend solo off-road riding in Morocco: the distances are big, the pistes are remote and help can be hours away. For riders who want independence on tarmac, ask us about private and self-guided options.
Our verdict
If you have three weeks or more and live in southern Europe, riding your own bike down is a great adventure in itself. If you have a week or two, fly in and rent: you will spend your days in the Atlas and the Sahara, not on the motorway.
Choose your bike and tour →https://wheelsofmorocco.trekksoft.com/en
FAQ
Can I rent a motorcycle in Marrakech? Yes. Our tours include rental of a KTM 390 Adventure, Yamaha Ténéré 700, KTM 890 Adventure or BMW R1250GS with comprehensive insurance.
How do I get my own motorcycle to Morocco? Most European riders ride through Spain and take a ferry to Tanger Med, then about 550–600 km of motorway to Marrakech.
What paperwork do I need to bring my bike into Morocco? Registration documents, your licence, insurance valid in Morocco and a temporary import declaration completed at customs.
Is it cheaper to bring my own bike? The tour is cheaper on your own bike, but transit costs and extra days usually cancel out the saving unless you live in southern Europe.
Can I ride my own bike on an off-road tour? Our off-road tours use our own fleet. Own-bike places are available on selected tarmac tours such as Atlas & Desert.
