Four days of dunes, oases and empty desert tracks
This 4 day motorcycle tour from Merzouga is a loop through the dunes, oases and lonely tracks of the Tafilalet, with two hotel nights and one night in our Erg Chebbi desert camp. It is a 4 days motorcycle desert tour in Merzouga that rides four different dune areas: Ouzina, Ramlia, Erg Chebbi and Mfis. You head south to Taouz and west to Tafraoute Sidi Ali, turn north through the Mharech oasis and Jorf to Erfoud, share lunch with a nomad family near Safsaf, and sleep among the Erg Chebbi dunes before riding back to Merzouga.
Why ride with us in Merzouga
Our KTMs are kept here in Merzouga, so the ride starts right after breakfast at your hotel. Over four days you ride about 400 km on stony desert, fast pistes, oasis tracks and sand, and your local guide adapts the pace and the dunes to your level. A support 4×4 carries your luggage, spare parts and water. You sleep in hotels in Tafraoute Sidi Ali and Erfoud, and in our camp in the middle of Erg Chebbi with a private washroom and shower. Our team has more than 16 years of experience in southern Morocco, so every track, lunch stop and night is chosen from long local knowledge.
Tour highlights
- Ouzina and Ramlia dunesRide two quiet dune areas far from the crowds on the very first day.
- Mharech oasisFind a green pocket of palm trees hidden among bare, stony hills.
- The road to JorfCross one of the emptiest and most beautiful landscapes of the tour.
- ErfoudSpend a night in the market town known for its fossils and dates.
- Lunch with nomadsShare a meal with a nomad family in their tents near the Safsaf oasis.
- Night in Erg ChebbiSleep in the middle of the dunes and watch the sunrise from the big dune.
Meet your motorcycle
Every rider gets a KTM 450 EXC from our own fleet, 2024 and 2025 models, kept and serviced here in Merzouga.
Why the KTM 450 EXC
It is a light, 450 cc enduro motorcycle with long-travel suspension, electric start and a 6-speed gearbox. It is built for exactly this kind of riding: loose gravel, rocky tracks, river crossings and sand.
Prepared for every tour
Each bike is serviced and checked by our mechanic before you ride, with fresh tyres and fuel included. The support 4×4 carries tools and spare parts, and the bikes are inspected again when you return them.
Fuel included
Fuel is included in the price. The tank is filled before each day of riding, so you can enjoy the tour without worrying about range.
Riding gear included
Your helmet, boots, gloves and body protection are included in the package, so you do not need to bring or buy any. Tell us your sizes when you book, and we will have the gear ready at pick-up.
Route map
Day 1 runs south from Merzouga to Taouz, then west past the Ouzina and Ramlia dunes to Tafraoute Sidi Ali. Day 2 heads north through the Mharech oasis and Jorf to Erfoud. Day 3 rides through the Safsaf oasis to a nomad family and across Erg Chebbi to the desert camp. Day 4 goes west to the Mfis dunes and back to Merzouga by way of Znigui.
Day by day
Here is how the 4 days motorbike tour from Merzouga runs, from the first morning in Merzouga to the drop-off at your hotel.
Day 1: Merzouga to Tafraoute Sidi Ali
About 150 km, stony desert, pistes and dunes
Once you have had breakfast at your hotel in Merzouga, your guide hands over the KTM, fits your gear and leads the group south. The first stop is Taouz, a small village close to the Algerian border, and the tracks carry on past Jdayd before swinging west towards the golden sand of the Ouzina dunes. A little further on, the Ramlia dunes are a good place to practise in soft sand before the last run of the day to the village of Tafraoute Sidi Ali, where dinner is waiting at the hotel.
Day 2: Tafraoute Sidi Ali to Erfoud
About 120 km, oasis tracks and open desert
After breakfast the route turns north to the Mharech oasis, a ribbon of palm trees tucked between bare hills. From there you ride across a wide and empty landscape to the village of Jorf, one of the quietest and most striking stretches of the whole tour. The day ends in Erfoud (opens in a new tab), a market town known for its fossils and its dates, with dinner and the night at a hotel.
Day 3: Erfoud to the Erg Chebbi desert camp
About 70 km, palm groves, sand and dunes
Leave Erfoud after breakfast and ride through the palm groves of the Safsaf oasis. Close by, a nomad family invites you into their tents, and you share lunch with them while they explain how they live and move with the seasons. In the afternoon you ride across the dunes of Erg Chebbi (opens in a new tab) to our camp in the heart of the sand, where dinner is served and you spend the night under the stars.
Day 4: Erg Chebbi desert camp to Merzouga
About 70 km, desert tracks and dunes
Set your alarm early to watch the sun come up from the big dune above the camp, then enjoy breakfast. The ride heads west on a smooth desert track that is pure fun on a KTM, to the small dunes of Mfis, where lunch is served. In the afternoon you continue to the village of Znigui and on to Merzouga, where we drop you off at your hotel.
Prices per rider
The more riders in your group, the lower the price per rider. Prices are per rider, including all three nights.
Every price includes
Prices may vary depending on travel dates. A non-riding companion can travel in the support 4×4 and stay in the same hotels and camp, ask us for the price. Infants (0 to 5 years) travel free in the 4×4.
Where you sleep
Two nights are spent in hotels and one in our camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi dunes, each with a safe place for the bikes.
| Night | Location | Accommodation Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tafraoute Sidi Ali | Hotel |
| 2 | Erfoud | Hotel |
| 3 | Erg Chebbi, Merzouga | Desert camp, private washroom with shower |
What’s included and excluded
Included
- KTM 450 EXC (2024/2025) hire and fuel
- Riding gear: helmet, boots, gloves and protection
- English-speaking guide who rides with you
- Support 4×4 for luggage and backup
- 3 nights: hotels in Tafraoute Sidi Ali and Erfoud, and our Erg Chebbi desert camp with a private washroom and shower
- Dinner and breakfast every night, lunch on days 3 and 4, water, tea and snacks
- Visit to a nomad family, with lunch in their tents
- Sandboards at the camp
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Merzouga or Hassi Labied
Excluded
- Other accommodation
- Drinks other than water and tea
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips and gratuities
What riders say
Good to know before you ride
Riding level
You should be comfortable on a dirt bike and fit enough for four days of riding, the longest about 150 km on sand and stony tracks. Your guide adapts the pace and picks the dunes to match your level, and the bigger dunes are always optional.
Licence and documents
Bring your passport and a valid motorcycle licence. We handle the bike paperwork at pick-up.
Riding gear
Helmet, boots, gloves and body protection are included, so just tell us your sizes when you book. Pack a small bag for the nights, as the support 4×4 carries it to each stop. Desert mornings and nights can be cold, so bring a warm layer.
Best time to ride
October to April has the best temperatures for riding in the desert. In midsummer the midday heat is extreme, so we start earlier and take a longer lunch break.
Distance and driving
The 4 days motorbike desert tour in Merzouga covers about 400 km: around 150 km on day one, 120 km on day two and 70 km on each of the last two days. Sand and dune riding are slower than the distance suggests, so this 4 day motorbike tour from Merzouga leaves plenty of time for stops, photos and the nomad lunch. The tour starts and ends at your hotel in Merzouga, so there is no transfer before or after the ride.
Currency & payments
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). Carry some cash for small purchases and tips, as few places around Merzouga take cards.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Morocco. A general rule is 10% in restaurants and a lump sum for your guide and the camp team at the end of the tour.
Connectivity
Phone signal is weak between Taouz and Tafraoute Sidi Ali, on the Mharech tracks and at the desert camp. Your guide always has a way to call for help.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions riders ask most before booking a 4 day motorcycle tour from Merzouga.
How much does the 4 day motorcycle tour from Merzouga cost?
The price of a 4 days motorcycle desert tour in Merzouga depends on the size of your group. Each rider in a group of 3 or more pays €1500, each rider in a group of 2 pays €2100, and a solo rider pays €2700. All prices include the KTM 450 EXC, fuel, riding gear, all three nights, meals, the guide, the support 4×4 and hotel pick-up, and may vary with your travel dates.
Do we visit a nomad family on the 4 day motorbike tour from Merzouga?
Yes. On day three, near the Safsaf oasis, a nomad family welcomes you into their tents and you share lunch with them while learning about their life in the desert. To learn more about their way of life, read Berber Nomads (opens in a new tab).
What is included in the 4 days motorbike tour from Merzouga?
Every rider gets a KTM 450 EXC, 2024 or 2025 model, with fuel, full riding gear, a local guide, a support 4×4, two hotel nights and a night in our Erg Chebbi desert camp, breakfast and dinner every night, and lunch on days three and four. Tell us your height and riding experience when you send your request, and we will confirm the bike and availability for your dates. See our guide to Morocco Motorcycle Tours (opens in a new tab).
Do I need experience for the 4 days motorcycle desert tour in Merzouga?
You should be comfortable on a dirt bike and able to ride for most of the day on tracks, rocks and sand, four days in a row. The guide adapts the route and the dunes to your level. If you have any doubts, message us before booking and we will give you honest advice. To know what to pack for the trip, read What to Wear in Morocco (opens in a new tab).
What happens if my bike breaks down during the 4 days motorbike desert tour in Merzouga?
The support 4×4 carries tools and spare parts, and your guide handles small repairs on the spot. If a bike cannot be fixed quickly, the support 4×4 takes you on and we bring a replacement from our base in Merzouga as soon as possible.
Is it safe to ride a motorcycle in Morocco?
Yes, on a guided ride you are never alone. Your local guide knows every track around Merzouga and keeps the pace safe for everyone, and the support 4×4 carries first aid. As anywhere, ride within your limits and check your own government’s travel advice. You can also read Is Morocco Safe? What Travelers Should Know (opens in a new tab).
Can my partner join without riding?
Yes. On an off-road ride, passengers do not ride on the back of the bike. A non-riding partner travels in the support 4×4, meets you at the stops and sleeps in the same hotels and desert camp. Ask us for the companion price.
What is the best time of year for a motorcycle tour in Morocco?
October to April is the best season for riding in the desert. Summer days in Merzouga are very hot, often above 40°C, so in summer we start early and rest at midday, and winter nights at camp can be cold, so pack layers. Read more in Best Time to Visit Morocco (opens in a new tab).
How does payment work?
We ask for a 30% deposit to confirm your booking, and the remaining balance is paid on the first day of the tour. Send us your dates and group size through the form on this page or on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the details for your dates.
Are there toilets and showers at the desert camp?
Yes. Our Erg Chebbi desert camp has a private washroom with a shower, the hotels in Tafraoute Sidi Ali and Erfoud have private bathrooms, and sandboards are free to use whenever you want. Planning to see more of the region? Read Things to Do in Merzouga (opens in a new tab).
Ready to book this route?
We usually reply within 24 hours.