Private, guided KTM enduro riding in the dunes, pistes and hamada around Erg Chebbi — from half a day to multi-day programmes, run from our base in Merzouga.
Merzouga sits at the western edge of Erg Chebbi, the tall dune sea that most riders picture when they think of the Moroccan Sahara. It is one of the few places in Morocco where you can be on varied desert terrain within minutes of leaving your accommodation — which is exactly why it suits short, focused KTM enduro trips.
This page is for riders who already know they want a KTM under them. If you are still deciding whether Merzouga belongs in your trip at all, the Merzouga destination page covers the region in more general terms.
Plenty of places in Morocco have sand. Merzouga is different for practical reasons that matter once you are actually on the bike.
The riding terrain begins close to Merzouga, so available experiences can focus directly on the desert rather than long transfer sections. Tell us how much time you have and we will confirm the available KTM/enduro options for your dates.
Soft dune, compacted piste, stony hamada and dry oued beds all sit within the same area, so a route can be adjusted to the group without long link sections.
Merzouga and Hassi Labied have accommodation, fuel and people who know the desert, which makes multi-day trips practical rather than expedition-scale.
Erg Chebbi itself, the villages south towards Taouz, Khamlia, and the open ground between them give a route structure beyond simply circling the dunes.
Desert riding around Merzouga is not one surface. These are the types you are likely to meet, and they are mixed to suit the group.
Graded desert track, generally firmer than the soft sand in the area, and the backbone of most routes.
The technical part. How much of it a route includes is decided with the group rather than fixed in advance.
Flat, open, rocky desert. How demanding it feels depends on surface condition, pace and rider experience, and the rocky ground can be hard on tyres over distance.
Sandy watercourses that thread between the dunes and villages, with surfaces that change through the season.
Our enduro programmes use KTM motorcycles supplied through our local partner network. The fleet includes KTM 450 EXC-F models, subject to availability, a platform well suited to the varied sand, piste and hamada terrain of southern Morocco.
Motorcycle models and model years are subject to availability and will be confirmed for your dates before booking. Tell us your riding experience, approximate height and any motorcycle preference when you enquire, and we will confirm the most appropriate available option.
Merzouga is our base, but it is not the limit. Our KTM and enduro programmes also run across the wider southern desert, including routes around Ouarzazate, Zagora, M'Hamid, Erg Chegaga and Lac Iriki.
Explore Morocco Enduro Tours for the national overview, or compare the Merzouga duration pages below.
Riders searching for the old Paris-Dakar route in Merzouga are usually looking for the remote piste south and east of Erg Chebbi rather than a single marked road. Our local partner programmes use desert corridors around Taouz, Ouzina, Ramlia and neighbouring hamada where old rally-route sections form part of the riding.
The one-, two- and three-day Merzouga enduro programmes combine that rally-piste character with dunes, dry riverbeds and rocky desert. The exact historic section is confirmed only when it is part of the booked itinerary and conditions allow.
Motorcycle Morocco Tours is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Dakar Rally or its organisers.
Motorcycle Morocco Tours is run by Yassin, its owner, and is based in Hassi Labied, on the edge of Merzouga. The company operates locally from this region.
That matters here more than in most places. Desert routes change with the season and the weather, and the difference between a good day and a bad one is usually local knowledge rather than a GPS file downloaded from somewhere else.
For KTM and enduro programmes based around Merzouga, we normally use a riad or hotel so you can start riding rested and return to a comfortable base. A desert-camp night can be included when it fits the programme.
Riad / hotel: Dar Hassan Merzouga · Riad Merzouga Dunes · or similar
Desert camp: Merzouga All-inclusive Glamping · Sirocco Luxury Camp · or similar
The exact property is confirmed in your personalised itinerary and may change with availability. For multi-day programmes, accommodation can also vary with the route outside Merzouga.
Some riders come to Merzouga specifically for the desert. Others add a couple of days here to a longer route across Morocco. Both work, and several of our multi-day tours already pass through this region.
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.
A glimpse of the landscapes and roads on this route.
Tell us your dates, your group and how much desert riding you want. We will reply with what is possible and a quote for it.
