Morocco's most photographed switchbacks, and the road above them.
Most riders know the Dades from one photograph: a tight stack of hairpins folding back on itself against red rock. That section is real, it is short, and it is only the beginning of the valley. Above the switchbacks the road continues north into the gorge proper, getting narrower, quieter and considerably more interesting than the viewpoint car park suggests.
The famous hairpins climb a few hundred metres in a very short horizontal distance, which makes them steep, tight and slow rather than fast. The surface is tarmac and generally sound. The main hazards are tour buses coming down, gravel washed onto the apex of the bends, and riders stopping abruptly for photographs.
Push north past the busy section and the valley narrows into genuine gorge riding — rock walls close on both sides, the tarmac degrades in places, and the traffic thins to almost nothing. This upper section is where the Dades is at its best on a bike, and it is the part most day-trippers never see because it does not appear in the photograph they came for.
The valley floor road running east–west between Ouarzazate and Tinghir is a completely different experience: fast, open and lined with palm groves and earthen kasbahs in varying states of repair. It is the natural link between the Dades and the Todra, and riding both gorges in one day is a common and rewarding plan.
The eroded shapes locally called the Monkey Fingers sit just off the main valley road, and several unsurfaced side tracks lead up into the hills from the valley floor. These are worth exploring with someone who knows which ones go somewhere, because a fair few simply end at a village.
Half a day covers the switchbacks and the main valley. A full day lets you ride the upper gorge and link across to the Todra.
Spring is particularly good — the valley floor is green and the light on the red rock is at its best. Autumn is equally comfortable; winter mornings can be cold in the gorge shadow.
Marrakech→Marrakech
A compact but varied loop from Marrakech across the High Atlas to the Sahara and back. Ride the Tizi n'Tichka pass, the kasbah valleys, Dades and Todra gorges, desert pistes around Erg Chebbi and the palm-lined Draa Valley, combining mountains, desert and culture in one week.
Marrakech→Marrakech
An eight-day Marrakech loop with a slower approach to the Sahara and more time in Morocco's southern valleys. Ride through the Ounila Valley, Dades and Todra gorges, spend two nights around Erg Chebbi, then return through the Draa Valley, Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou. The pace leaves room for photographs, short walks and desert exploration.
Casablanca→Marrakech
A sweeping north-to-south motorcycle journey from Casablanca to Marrakech through Fes, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, the Ziz Valley and the Sahara. After a full desert day at Erg Chebbi, ride west through Todra and Dades, Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou before crossing the High Atlas. The final route, pace and riding level are confirmed with you before booking.
Casablanca→Casablanca
Our 12-day loop combines the Atlantic coast, the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas ranges, the kasbah valleys, remote southern pistes and the dunes of Erg Chebbi before returning to Casablanca. With nights in Essaouira, Marrakech, the Sahara and the Draa region, it combines a wide range of landscapes and riding conditions in one itinerary.
We combine destinations into multi-day routes — from a short coast and Atlas loop to a Grand Morocco expedition.
