Five days on the old caravan trails of the south
This 5 days motorcycle tour from Merzouga follows the old caravan and rally trails of southern Morocco, with four nights in hotels along the way. Our Merzouga 5 day motorcycle tour starts in the Erg Chebbi dunes, rides through the oases of Tisserdmine and Safsaf to Erfoud, passes Jbel Mdawar on the way to M’harech, then follows the Paris-Dakar tracks past Lac Maider to Zagora. The return loop visits the kasbahs of N’Kob, the palm grove of Tazzarine and the fossil village of Alnif before ending at the market town of Rissani and Merzouga.
Why ride with us in Merzouga
Our KTMs are kept here in Merzouga, so the ride starts at your hotel with no long transfer. Over five days you ride about 700 km on dunes, oasis tracks, stony plains, a dry lakebed and the long pistes towards the Draa Valley, and your local guide adapts the pace to your level. A support 4×4 carries your luggage, spare parts and water, and every night is spent in a hotel with dinner included. Our team has more than 16 years of experience in southern Morocco, so every track, lunch stop and hotel is chosen from long local knowledge.
Tour highlights
- Erg Chebbi crossingStart the tour by riding straight through the tallest dunes in Morocco.
- Desert land artSee the large works built in the open desert by German artist Hannsjörg Voth.
- Paris-Dakar tracksFollow the old rally route past Lac Maider and the Oumjrane mines to Zagora.
- N’Kob kasbahsVisit a kasbah in the Berber village famous for its 45 kasbahs.
- Tazzarine and AlnifRide through a green palm grove to a village known for its fossils.
- RissaniStop at the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif and stroll through the market.
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 crosses the Erg Chebbi dunes from Merzouga and rides through Tisserdmine and Safsaf to Erfoud. Day 2 heads past El Borj and Jbel Mdawar to M’harech. Day 3 follows the old rally route past Lac Maider and Oumjrane to Zagora. Day 4 rides up the Draa Valley to N’Kob, then east through Tazzarine to Alnif. Day 5 returns by Tazoulayt and Rissani to Merzouga.
Day by day
Here is how the Merzouga 5 day motorbike tour runs, from the first ride into the dunes to the last stop in Merzouga.
Day 1: Merzouga to Erfoud
About 90 km, dunes and oasis tracks
We start where Merzouga meets the sand. After a gear fitting and a bike briefing, your guide leads you straight into the dunes of Erg Chebbi (opens in a new tab), a first taste of riding the great sand sea with wide Saharan views all around. Beyond the dunes you reach the Tisserdmine oasis and ride on to Safsaf, where a picnic lunch is laid out in the shade of the trees. The afternoon run brings you to Erfoud, with dinner and the night at a hotel.
Day 2: Erfoud to M’harech
About 80 km, desert tracks and mountain paths
After breakfast you leave Erfoud for El Borj and the desert land art of German artist Hannsjörg Voth, large works built in the middle of the open plain. The route continues to Jbel Mdawar, where you can take a short walk on a mountain path for wide views over the desert. You then ride on to M’harech and spend the night at a nearby hotel, with dinner included.
Day 3: M’harech to Zagora
About 200 km, dry lake and long pistes
A long and wild day. After breakfast you ride past Lac Maider, a wide dry lake, and the old mines of Oumjrane, then follow pistes once used by the Dakar Rally (opens in a new tab) when it still crossed Morocco. Long before the rally, camel caravans used this same corridor to reach the southern Sahara, and you may still meet nomads with their herds along the way. The day ends in Zagora, with dinner and the night at a hotel.
Day 4: Zagora to Alnif
About 190 km, valley tracks and palm groves
Leaving Zagora, you ride through the valley of the Draa River (opens in a new tab) and then north to N’Kob, a Berber village famous for its 45 kasbahs. Lunch is a traditional meal in the village, followed by a visit to one of its finest kasbahs. In the afternoon the tracks lead east to the palm grove of Tazzarine and on to Alnif, where dinner and the night are at a hotel.
Day 5: Alnif to Merzouga
About 170 km, pistes, villages and sand
After breakfast you ride east to Tazoulayt and on to Rissani (opens in a new tab), once the great trading town of southern Morocco. You stop at the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, founder of the Alaouite dynasty, and wander through the busy market before lunch. The last stretch takes you back to Merzouga, where the tour ends at your hotel.
Prices per rider
The more riders in your group, the lower the price per rider. Prices are per rider, including all four 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 places, ask us for the price. Infants (0 to 5 years) travel free in the 4×4.
Where you sleep
Every night is spent in a hotel with dinner included, each with a safe place for the bikes.
| Night | Location | Accommodation Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erfoud | Hotel |
| 2 | M’harech | Hotel |
| 3 | Zagora | Hotel |
| 4 | Alnif | Hotel |
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
- 4 nights in hotels in Erfoud, M’harech, Zagora and Alnif
- Dinner and breakfast every night, lunch on days 1, 4 and 5, water, tea and snacks
- Kasbah visit in N’Kob
- Stops at the Rissani market and the Moulay Ali Cherif mausoleum
- 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 five days of riding, with two long days of about 200 km on pistes. 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 evenings 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 5 days motorcycle desert tour in Merzouga covers about 700 km: around 90 km on day one, 80 km on day two, 200 km on day three, 190 km on day four and 170 km on the last day. Sand and piste riding are slower than the distance suggests, so on the long days this 5 day motorbike tour from Merzouga starts early to leave time for stops and photos. 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 support driver at the end of the tour.
Connectivity
Phone signal is weak on the pistes between M’harech and Zagora and around Lac Maider. It returns in the towns where you sleep. Your guide always has a way to call for help.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions riders ask most before booking a 5 days motorcycle tour from Merzouga.
How much does the Merzouga 5 day motorcycle tour cost?
The price of the 5 days motorcycle tour from Merzouga depends on the size of your group. Each rider in a group of 3 or more pays €1800, each rider in a group of 2 pays €2520, and a solo rider pays €3240. All prices include the KTM 450 EXC, fuel, riding gear, all four nights, meals, the guide, the support 4×4 and hotel pick-up, and may vary with your travel dates.
Do we visit kasbahs and markets on the 5 day motorbike tour from Merzouga?
Yes. On day four you visit a kasbah in N’Kob, a village famous for its 45 kasbahs, and on the last day you stop at the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif and the market in Rissani. To learn more about these earthen buildings, read What Is a Kasbah (opens in a new tab).
What is included in the Merzouga 5 day motorbike tour?
Every rider gets a KTM 450 EXC, 2024 or 2025 model, with fuel, full riding gear, a local guide, a support 4×4, four nights in hotels, breakfast and dinner every night, and lunch on days one, four and five. 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 5 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, five 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 5 day motorbike tour from 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 on the route 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 places each night. 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 mornings 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.
Can we add a night in a desert camp?
Yes. This route sleeps in hotels every night, but we can add a night in our Erg Chebbi desert camp before or after the ride, with a private washroom and shower. 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.