For most riders, the Sahara is the reason Morocco is on the bucket list. Parking your bike at the foot of a golden dune, watching the sun go down from the top and sleeping under more stars than you have ever seen: it is the moment our guests talk about for years.
There are two classic ways to ride there, and they suit very different riders.
Merzouga and Erg Chebbi: the Sahara on tarmac
Merzouga sits at the foot of Erg Chebbi, a sea of orange dunes on the edge of the Sahara near the Algerian border. The best part for road riders: you can reach it on tarmac. The ride south from the Middle Atlas through Errachidia and the Ziz valley, the gateway to the desert, is a spectacle in itself, as the cedar forests give way to palm oases and then to open desert.
On our Atlas & Desert tour (99% tarmac), day 5 is a short 125 km ride from Errachidia so you arrive in Merzouga for lunch. The afternoon is yours:
- Experienced off-road riders follow the guide on their bikes to the ghost village of M’Fis and the old mines.
- Everyone else can take a dune buggy, ride a camel or relax by the hotel pool.
- At sunset the group heads into the big dunes by 4×4 or camel, then on to a luxury desert camp for a hot shower, dinner and music by the fire.
Next morning we climb the dunes for sunrise before breakfast. Optional activities are paid locally.
M’Hamid and the deep south: the Sahara off-road
M’Hamid is where the road runs out at the end of the Draa valley, south of Zagora. Beyond it lie remote pistes, dry lakes and sand: the real Sahara, and real off-road riding.
On Challenging Roads, day 3 ends with your first sand sections and a crossing of small dunes to reach a desert camp near M’Hamid. Day 4 is the big one: about 150 km of remote desert piste to Foum Zguid, a mix of sand, gravel and rock with no villages and no shortcuts. Riders describe it as the hardest and most rewarding day of their riding lives.
This is not a ride for beginners. You need solid off-road experience and the fitness to stand on the pegs all day.
Which Sahara ride is right for you?
| Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) | M’Hamid and beyond | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Tarmac all the way | Sand, gravel and remote pistes |
| Riding level | Experienced road riders | Experienced off-road riders only |
| Desert night | Luxury camp in the dunes | Desert camp near M’Hamid |
| Passengers | Welcome | On the bike only for very experienced pairs; the support car is better |
| Our tour | Atlas & Desert, Best of Morocco | Challenging Roads, Trails of the Sahara and Beyond |
Plan for time, too. A desert tour from Marrakech needs about a week: the Sahara is on the far side of the Atlas, and the ride there is half the experience.
Five tips for riding in sand
- Stand up. Weight on the pegs, knees gripping the tank, so the bike can move under you.
- Look far ahead. Where you look is where you go; staring at the front wheel is how you fall.
- Keep the momentum. Steady throttle keeps the front light. Backing off makes the front dig in.
- Weight back, bars loose. Let the front wheel wander; fighting the bars makes it worse.
- Get coached. On our off-road tours your lead guide is a BMW Motorrad certified off-road instructor. Want to prepare at home? Look at our riding trainings.
When to ride to the Sahara
October to April is the desert season. From late May the heat builds quickly, and in July and August inland temperatures regularly pass 40°C. Winter nights in the desert are cold, so pack a warm layer for the camp. More in our guide to the best time to ride in Morocco.
See desert tour dates → https://wheelsofmorocco.trekksoft.com/en/activity/246300/atlas-to-sahara-from-marrakesh
FAQ
Can you ride a motorcycle to the Sahara on tarmac? Yes. Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes, is reached by paved road. Our Atlas & Desert tour is 99% tarmac.
Do you sleep in the desert on a motorcycle tour? Yes. Our Atlas & Desert tour spends a night in a luxury camp in the Merzouga dunes, and Challenging Roads a night in a desert camp near M’Hamid.
Can you ride a motorcycle on the dunes? On the big dunes we use 4x4s, buggies or camels. Experienced riders can ride sandy pistes around Merzouga with the guide, and our off-road tours include real sand sections.
How many days do you need for a Sahara motorcycle trip from Marrakech? About a week of riding. Our desert tours are 9 days with 6 or 7 riding days.
Is it too hot to ride in the Sahara? From October to April temperatures are pleasant by day and cold at night. We do not run desert tours in high summer.
Sources
- Tour facts, prices and image URLs: Atlas & Desert, Challenging Roads, Long Weekend, homepage tour list
