Morocco Motorcycle Tour - Desert Raid Tour

Morocco/Spanish Motorcycle Tour:

Our Morocco motorcycle tour has always been a firm favourite with clients.  A trip of a lifetime.  These are no idle words – join us on an adventure motorcycle tour through the heart of Spain and then into North Africa over the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert.  No waiting in airport lounges, no long haul flights, no riding unfamiliar motorcycles.  This is an epic, challenging adventure which starts on day one; you will be riding your own motorcycle to another continent.  On this tour you will experience very high mountain passes over the tallest mountain range in North Africa; beautiful windswept beaches; bivouac in the desert; chaotic souks and cities.  It really is a trip that many dream of but few actually do. 

The Cost of the Tour (2024)

• £2200 (2024 cost) for a single rider in shared room. 

• £2850 (2024 cost) for a single rider in a single room (all hotel accommodation).

• £4000 (2024 cost) for a Rider & Pillion

A £250 deposit secures a place on the tour and the remaining balance payment is due 16 weeks before departure.

Please note that you will be accompanied throughout the tour by UK based guide(s).  They will meet you in Portsmouth at the start of the tour and leave you at Portsmouth at the end of the tour.  In addition, there will be a local guide accompanying us in Morocco who also drives our support vehicle.

What is Included in the Price

• Return ferry with shared cabin. (Portsmouth – Bilbao/Santander)
• Return ferry Algeciras - Tangiers
• UK guide on bike  
• Local Berber guide in Morocco
• Support vehicle in Morocco
• Camel trek and desert bivouac
• All hotel accommodation in good quality hotels
• All Breakfasts in hotels
• Two evening meals
• Tour routes and information pack.

What is Not Included in the Price

• Petrol
• Travel Insurance
• Breakdown cover
• Hotel parking
• Drinks
• Evening meals

Day 1: Portsmouth – Bilbao/Santander (Brittany Ferries 0 miles)

A trip down to Portsmouth to catch our ferry for the trip across the Bay of Biscay.   You will have approx 30 hrs to relax, have a few beers, look for whales in the Bay of Biscay, get some sleep and generally chill out before reaching the north Spanish coast. The ferries are excellent - everyone will have a cabin with shower (2 people in a 4 berth cabin).  In the evening, there is plenty of entertainment including live cabaret, recent films in the cinema, bars etc.  It is a great way for everyone to get to know each other.

Day 2: Bilbao/Santander to Segovia (230 miles approx)

Off the ferry in the morning and then due South over the beautiful Cantabria mountains towards Madrid.  This is an easy day on fabulous roads which will give us time to get back into riding a bike after the winter months (fair weather riders!!).  Our destination for the day will be Segovia in the foothills of the Guadarrama mountains, North of Madrid.  This fortified city is a ‘World Heritage Site’ with many historic landmarks including one of the world's best preserved Roman aqueducts and the fairytale-like Alcazar castle where Queen Isabel promised Christopher Columbus the funds to discover the New World.  Segovia is a beautiful town and we know some great bars!!

Day 3: Segovia to Granada (340 miles approx)

Up relatively early (0800hrs) for our continued crossing of Central Spain.  This is a great days ride starting off with a wonderful ride into the mountains south of Segovia - quite often we stop for a group picture in the snow!! Today’s route will take us around Madrid as we head due South and into the region of Andalucia and the Sierra Nevada for our overnight stay in the beautiful city of Granada.  The Alhambra Palace overlooking the city of Granada, stands out as the most famous example of Moorish architecture.

Day 4: Granada to Algeciras to Chefchaouen (200miles).

Day 4 and we will journey out of the Sierra Nevada and along the coastal roads past Malaga, Marbella, Gibraltar to the port of Algeciras.  We will take an afternoon crossing to Tangier.  The crossing takes about 1hr 30mins and there are usually 8 crossings a day.  We have made it to Africa.  The border crossing is typical of Africa - we would like to say that it is organised chaos - in reality it is just chaos but a great experience.  We won’t spend much time in Tangiers, instead we will head South-Eastwards into the foothills of the Rif mountains. 

Day 5: Chefchaouen to Fes (160 miles approx)

Today we will head deeper into the Rif mountains, initially to the town of Ketima.  On the way up to the mountains you may recognise the crops that are grown on the slopes.  Rif equals Reefer!!  As we pass through Ketima we will get fantastic views of Mount Tidirhine which at 8,059ft is the tallest mountain in the Rif.  Then its on to our destination of Fes.  Fes is the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities and is a World Heritage Site.  It is a bustling, busy city with very narrow streets – the only way of getting round the Medina is by foot.  We usually arrange for everyone to go on an optional organised tour of the city including the wonderfully aromatic and world famous Tannnery.  The evening is finished off with a traditional Moroccan meal and entertainment in the Souk.

Day 6: Fes to  Merzouga (260 miles approx)

Today sees us head south from Fes and into the Moyen (Middle) Atlas.  The Middle Atlas is surprisingly little visited and is a wild area of great beauty.  The mountain sides are covered with great Cedar forests.  We will head over the thinly populated high plateau between Azrou and Timhadit.

We will pass over the Col du Zad at 7,100ft and then out of the mountains heading towards the Sahara.  Following the Wadi Ziz through the impressive Ziz gorge we will come across numerous Oasis as we cross the natural boundary where the mountains meet the Sahara.

Day 7: Merzouga (0 miles  - Rest day or Adventure Day)

No biking today, instead you can go quad biking or take a 4x4 trip into the desert (optional excursions).  Alternatively you can spend the morning and early afternoon lazing by the pool at our lovely traditional Berber hotel (it is lovely). Then its onto our camels for an hour and half trek into the Sahara desert and our overnight Bivouac.  A night under the stars in the desert and then the wonderful sunrise from the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi-  you will remember this experience for the rest of your life!

Day 8: Merzouga to Ouarzazate (200 miles approx)

This is a long day but what a day!  Desert, oases, mountains, gorges, fabulous roads – this day has it all.  Up early for the beautiful sunrise and then back to the village of Merzouga to pick up our bikes, breakfast and then we hit the road.  On the way we will travel past numerous oases and up to the Todra Gorge, Draa Valley and Dades Gorge.  A truly stunning day on the bikes which is hard to adequately describe - it is a real belter of a day.

Day 9: Ouarzazate to Marrakech (130 miles approx)

We cross the High Atlas via the marvellous Tizi-n-Tichka pass.  This is fantastic, twisty road which takes you through delightful mountain scenery before heading down into Marrakech.  The road itself was built by the French Foreign Legion in 1931 and is a spine tingling experience as it loops and twists its way along the exposed ridges, reaching a maximum height of 7,415ft.  We aim to get to Marrakech early afternoon so that you get a decent amount of time to explore this wonderful city.

Day 10: Marrakech to Beni Mellal (180 miles approx)

Back into the Middle Atlas mountains and the little used roads that lead to the Cascades d’Ouzoud.  This waterfall is one of the most spectacular sights in Morocco (especially in Spring time).

Day 11: Beni Mellal to Meknes (170 miles approx)

We will head into the agricultural heartland of Morocco and the Imperial city of Meknes.  You will have time to explore the densely packed Medina quarter and the fine Moorish buildings within the Kasbah.

Day 12: Meknes to Tangiers (200 miles approx)

Immediately to the North of Meknes lies the ancient remains of Volubilis.  Volubilis is the most important archaeological site in Morocco.  Originally found in the 3^rd Century B.C it prospered to AD 45 and has been inhabited by Romans, Christians and then was Islamicized in 788AD.  The ancient buildings of the forum, basilica and capitol are still easily identifiable.  A real treasure.  From Volubilis we will head back into the busy port of Tangiers.

Day 13: Tangiers to Seville (200 miles approx).

We will catch the early morning ferry back to Algeciras (Spain) and head directly northwards towards to the beautiful city of Seville.  Again this is a fantastic city to visit - it is so full of life and the people are so friendly.  An evening spent in Seville is not easily forgotten - lots of bars and restaurants - our favourite food 'Solomillo al whiskey' - fried pork loin in a whiskey sauce - delicious.

Day 14: Seville to Salamanca (310 miles approx)

Our penultimate day will take us across the heart of Spain to the historic city of Salamanca.  Yet another World Heritage site, the city is famous for its University (one of the oldest in Europe).

Day 15 - Salamanca to Bilbao/Santander (270 miles approx)

Up early for the final leg of our journey to Bilbao/Santander.  We usually make a detour through the heart of the Picos de Europa National Park.  The roads in this mountainous region are superb and it is fitting way to finish this spectacular motorcycle tour.  Then it is into Bilbao/Santander for our final dinner in Spain.

Day 16 - Bilbao/Santander to Portsmouth 

Don’t worry you will have plenty of time to shake off your hangover, do some last minute shopping etc.  Our ferry doesn’t leave for Portsmouth until early afternoon.