The Tizi n’Test is a 2,092-metre pass over Morocco’s High Atlas, linking Marrakech to Taroudant on the R203. It is not the highest road across the Atlas, but ask riders who have done both and most will tell you it is the better ride: narrow, technical, and almost entirely hairpins and blind bends for the best part of a day.
We ride it on two of our guided tours, and it is the road our guests talk about most at dinner. Here is what to expect.
Where is the Tizi n’Test?
The pass sits on the R203, roughly 100 km south of Marrakech as the crow flies, between the villages of the Nfis valley on the north side and the Souss plain on the south. From the top you look south over the Souss towards the Anti-Atlas and, on a clear day, east towards the Toubkal massif, North Africa’s highest peak.
The road was cut through the mountains by the French in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and for decades it was the only modern route between Marrakech and the Souss. Before that, this was a caravan route controlled by the Goundafi clan.
The Tizi n’Test is a rider’s road, not a tourist’s road. Expect:
- Tight, blind hairpins, many with no centre line, especially on the southern climb from the Souss.
- Narrow sections where a truck or minibus coming the other way takes most of the road.
- Changing surface: good new tarmac in places, patched or broken tarmac in others, and loose gravel washed onto the corners after rain.
- Big altitude change: you climb from the Souss plain to over 2,000 m in a short distance, so it can be warm at the bottom and cold, windy or misty at the top.
- Village life on the road: goats, donkeys, children walking to school and the odd grand taxi.
The September 2023 earthquake hit the villages on the northern side of the pass hard, and rebuilding of homes and roadworks have been continuing since. Conditions change from season to season, which is one reason we recce the road ourselves and brief every group on the morning of the ride.
North to south or south to north?
Both directions work. Riding south from Marrakech, you get a gentler start through the Nfis valley and save the steepest hairpins for the descent to the Souss. Riding north from Taroudant, you attack the steep southern switchbacks on the climb, which most riders find easier to judge than descending them.
On our Long Weekend tour we ride it north to south on day 2 (Marrakech to Taroudant, about 230 km). On Challenging Roads we ride it south to north on the final day, with coffee at the top before dropping back to Marrakech.
https://www.wheelsofmorocco.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Challenging-Roads-morocco-motorcycle-tours.jpg
Riding tips for the Tizi n’Test
- Stay in your lane on blind corners. Locals cut corners; assume something is coming.
- Use your horn before blind hairpins. It is normal practice here and drivers expect it.
- Watch for gravel on the apex, especially after rain or on the southern side.
- Fill up before the climb. Fuel stations are sparse once you are on the pass, so leave Marrakech or Taroudant with a full tank.
- Pack a warm layer. Even in spring the summit can be 10 to 15 degrees colder than the valley.
- Allow time. Average speeds are low. A day that looks short on the map takes most of the daylight once you add photo stops.
Which bike is best for the Tizi n’Test?
Any of our bikes handles it, but they suit different riders. The Yamaha Ténéré 700 and KTM 390 Adventure are light and easy to place in tight hairpins. The KTM 890 Adventure and BMW R1250GS are more comfortable on the faster sections and two-up with a passenger. See the full line-up on our fleet page.
Ride the Tizi n’Test with Wheels of Morocco
| Tour | Length | Surface | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Weekend | 5 days, 3 riding days, about 700 km | 90% tarmac | €1,900 |
| Challenging Roads | 9 days, 7 riding days, about 1,570 km | 50% off-road | €3,600 |
| Trails of the Sahara and Beyond | 9 days, 6 riding days | 70% challenging roads | €3,600 |
Every tour starts and ends in Marrakech and includes the bike, 4- and 5-star hotels with breakfast and dinner, a BMW Motorrad certified guide, a support car for your luggage, airport transfers and professional photos of your ride.
FAQ
How high is the Tizi n’Test pass? The summit is at 2,092 metres (6,864 ft) in the western High Atlas.
Is the Tizi n’Test dangerous on a motorcycle? It is demanding rather than dangerous for an experienced rider: narrow, with tight blind hairpins and some broken surface. Ride within your limits, use your horn on blind bends and check conditions before you go.
How long does it take to ride the Tizi n’Test? Plan most of a day between Marrakech and Taroudant. Our Long Weekend tour covers about 230 km that day with photo stops.
Can beginners ride the Tizi n’Test? We recommend it for riders comfortable on twisty, narrow roads. Our Long Weekend tour is graded for experienced riders.
What is the difference between the Tizi n’Test and the Tizi n’Tichka? The Tizi n’Tichka (2,260 m) is a wide, busy national road between Marrakech and Ouarzazate. The Tizi n’Test is lower, much narrower and quieter, with far more hairpins. Our Long Weekend tour rides both.
