10 Days · 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.
The Grand Morocco is a north-to-south crossing rather than a loop, and that is what makes it different from our expedition route. You start in Casablanca, spend a night in Fes, then climb through Ifrane and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas — the only tour in our range that rides that plateau properly. From Midelt the road drops through the Tizi n'Talghomt pass and the Ziz gorge to the Sahara at Merzouga, where a full day is set aside for the dunes. The return leg follows Todra and Dades, Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou before the High Atlas crossing into Marrakech, where a rest day lets you enjoy the city before flying home. There is no Atlantic coast section and no deep southern piste stage; the emphasis is on imperial cities, cedar forest and the classic kasbah road.
Approximate distances, riding time, surfaces and the experience you'll want before you book.
These are planning figures, not fixed contractual distances. The final route can change with weather, roadworks, piste conditions and your group.
A typical daily plan. We adjust it for weather, your pace and any must-see requests.
Arrive in Casablanca and settle into the accommodation confirmed for your itinerary. If an airport transfer is included, it is arranged in advance. If motorcycle rental is part of your booking, the handover is completed later in the day, when your guide also explains the route, terrain and important practical information. An optional short shakedown ride can be considered if your arrival time allows.
Leave Casablanca and ride inland across Morocco's fertile plains toward Fes. Depending on the group's pace, stops can be made in Rabat or near Volubilis before arriving at the cultural capital, where the evening is free to experience the atmosphere around the old medina.
Ride through Ifrane and climb into the cedar forests around Azrou, with cool air and sweeping mountain roads. Continue across the Middle Atlas plateau as the scenery becomes more open and rugged, reaching Midelt beneath the peaks of the eastern High Atlas.
Cross the Tizi n'Talghomt pass and descend through the Ziz Gorge to a panoramic viewpoint above the palm-filled valley. Continue through Errachidia and Erfoud, then cross the desert plain to Merzouga as the great dunes of Erg Chebbi appear ahead.
Ride a complete circuit around Erg Chebbi, using a mix of rocky pistes, dry-lake tracks and optional sand selected for the group's skill. The route may include Khamlia and selected desert settlements, with lunch near the dunes before finishing at the accommodation or camp confirmed in your itinerary.
Leave the Sahara and ride toward Tinghir, stopping for a walk beneath the high walls of Todra Gorge. Continue through the dramatic Dades Valley and its mountain bends, following sections of the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the overnight stop.
Ride through the Rose Valley and the palm groves of Skoura before reaching Ouarzazate. Continue to Ait Benhaddou, where there is time to explore the UNESCO-listed ksar and enjoy the evening views across its earthen towers and surrounding valley.
Leave Ait Benhaddou through the Ounila Valley or the main mountain road, depending on conditions. Climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass, stop at high viewpoints and then follow the long descent into Marrakech for a well-earned evening in the Red City.
Take a rest day to explore Marrakech's palaces, souks and Jemaa el-Fna, or choose an optional half-day ride into the nearby Atlas foothills. The day also allows time for motorcycle checks, shopping and a relaxed final dinner with the group.
After breakfast, complete any motorcycle return included in your rental arrangement and the final luggage check. If an airport transfer is included in your confirmed itinerary, it is scheduled around your flight. Additional nights or onward travel can also be arranged on request.
You can ride your own motorcycle or ask us about current rental options. Motorcycle rental can be arranged for your tour, and the available motorcycles, availability and rental conditions are confirmed with you before booking.
A 4x4 support vehicle can be added to your tour on request. It can carry luggage and equipment, provide additional logistical support and accommodate non-riding companions. We can advise whether a support vehicle is useful for your itinerary, and the final setup is confirmed in your personalised quotation.
Hand-picked riads, hotels and a desert camp, chosen for comfort and location. Standards can be adjusted on request.
Meal arrangements depend on your itinerary. Breakfast and dinner are included at selected stages, particularly where meals are arranged with the accommodation, such as Merzouga and Dades. Your personalised itinerary clearly shows which meals are included. Vegetarian, halal and other dietary needs can be catered for — just tell us when you enquire.
Examples of the riads, hotels and camps we may use. Exact properties are confirmed in your personalised itinerary and can change with availability.
Hôtel Club Val d'Anfa Casablanca · Hotel Kenzi Basma · or similar
Riad Sayeda Al Hora · Riad Louna · Riad Al Makan · or similar
Hotel Meteorites Boulaajoul · or similar
Riad / hotel: Dar Hassan Merzouga · Riad Merzouga Dunes · or similar
Desert camp: Merzouga All-inclusive Glamping · Sirocco Luxury Camp · or similar
For two-night Sahara stays, we can combine a riad/hotel with a desert camp when that fits the itinerary.
Ksar Sultan Dades · Hotel Babylon Dades · Grand Canyon Lodge Dades · or similar
Riad Ksar Ighnda · or similar
Riad Terra Bahia · Riad Bahia Salam · or similar
A general guide by season — we confirm the ideal window when you book.
This route crosses the Middle Atlas plateau and the Sahara in the same trip, so the shoulder seasons suit it best. Spring and autumn give open passes and manageable desert heat. The notes below are a general guide — we confirm dates and adjust daily distances when you book.
A popular window. The cedar forests are green, the Ziz valley is in leaf and desert days are warm without being punishing.
Equally strong and usually quieter, with stable weather and comfortable Sahara temperatures after the summer peak.
Clear, bright days in the south, but the Middle Atlas plateau and Midelt are genuinely cold and snow can affect the higher sections. Warm layers essential.
Hot inland and very hot at Merzouga. We start at first light, shorten the desert stages and build in long midday breaks.
A glimpse of the landscapes and roads on this route.
Specific questions about this route.
Price on request — we provide a tailored quote based on dates, group size, bike and accommodation. Please use the inquiry form.
Price on request — we provide a tailored quote based on dates, group size, bike and accommodation. Please use the inquiry form.
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→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.
