UK to Morocco Motorcycle Tour

Overview

Currently our longest motorcycle tour in Morocco! This 21-day epic commences with an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Spain. From the northern coast, we travel the length of the Iberian Peninsula and then set sail to Morocco.

Thirteen days of motorcycling in Morocco follows, with 234mi/375km of dirt roads (piste), spread over five days. We cross the Middle, High and Anti-Atlas Mountain ranges as well as the Rif Mountains and the distinctly different ranges of Djebel Sarhro and Djebel Bani. Away from the dirt we’ll explore the picturesque ‘Blue City’ of Chefchouen, the walled Berber town of Taroudant and the UNESCO listed medina of Fez with its labyrinth of souks. A ribbon of tarmac laid through Morocco’s extraordinarily diverse landscape links the journey together.

Who’s it for?

A great introduction to the world of Adventure motorcycling, starting on your doorstep! If you’ve never ridden abroad or never ridden your Adventure bike on the dirt then this is the tour for you. The piste stages have been chosen to get you onto the dirt, without smashing-up your expensive adventure bike. With advice and riding tips on hand for those that want it, your confidence will grow and you’ll soon be up to speed on the dirt.

Experienced riders too will enjoy the whole experience of riding to Africa. You’ll just be more relaxed when the going gets dirty.

A note for small capacity bikes: Crossing Spain involves periods of cruising at 75mph/120kmh.

NOTE: 15-day option available. Join us in Benahavis, Spain for the Moroccan leg of the tour.

You can either make your own way there, or:

Bike transportation to southern Spain is available through our transportation partner https://www.flyandride.co.uk/
Drop-off your bike at Gatwick for secure transportation to/from Malaga. Book a cheap flight, collect your bike and enjoy the short ride to join us in Benahavis.

Itinerary

Day 1: Portsmouth

Meet at Porstsmouth ferry terminal. Our overnight ferry departs at 12:00.

Day 2: Bilbao – Avila

258mi/412km

The twisties start immediately we disembark the ferry as we wind our way through Basque Country, over the Cordillera Cantábrica and onto the Meseta Plateau for our run to Avila. The 11th century walls of the UNESCO listed city make for a striking approach in the late afternoon sun.

Day 3: Avila – Cordoba

258mi/412km

Across the Sierra de Gredos, we skirt the Parque NacionalCabañeros on a constant ribon of minor roads to Parque Natural de la Sierra de Hornachuelos. From there it’s a short run to the Roman city of Córdoba. Once the largest city in Europe and home to one of the worlds greatest Islamic buildings – the Mezquita.

Day 4: Cordoba – Benahavis

169mi/270km

More mountains and more twisties today as we cross the Sierra Morena en-route to Ronda and the infamous A-397 to Marbella.

Day 5: Benahavis – Chefchouen

127mi/205km

A short ride to Algeciras for our ferry crossing to Africa. Once the border formalities are completed we’ll head up into the Rif Mountains and the fabled Blue City. Same route as Atlas Eight.

Day 6: Chefchouen – Azrou

168mi/270km

Descend the Rif Mountains, stopping off at the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Roman ruins of Volubilis en-route to Azrou on the edge of the Middle Atlas. Same route as Atlas Eight.

Day 7: Azrou – Agoudal

176mi/284km

A network of undulating, minor roads through the Middle Atlas carry us across limestone plateaus, past polje lakes and through cedar forests (home to the Barbary Apes) en-route to the High Atlas.

Day 8: Agoudal – Agdz

Tarmac: 136mi/217km – Piste: 53mi/85km – Total: 189mi/302km – 28% Piste

WHOO-HOO! It’s time to hit the dirt! Our first dirt road is virtually on the doorstep as we climb to the highest point of the tour, the 2906m Tizi n’Ouano. Descending to the upper reaches of the Gorge du Dades, a second piste takes us to the Todrha Gorge and the oasis town of Tinerhir. After lunch we’ll climb the Jebel Sarhro to the Tizi n’Tazazert pass at 2316m. Beyond the pass the scenery changes dramatically, offering extraordinary views across basalt ridges and ravines to the Djebel Bani beyond. Our descent through Nekob takes us to the lush date palm oases of the Draa Valley and Agdz.

Day 9: Rest Day in Agdz

Switch off your alarm, enjoy a lazy breakfast, give your bike some TLC and chill-out by the pool. Tomorrow brings our longest day.

Day 10: Agdz – Tata

Tarmac: 66mi/107km – Piste: 98mi/158km – Total: 165mi/265km – 60% Piste

Four stages of piste make up todays total of 158km as we head south west to the market town and former capital of Tata. After an undulating start we enter a wide flood plain dotted with acacia trees and sandwiched between the Anti-Atlas to the north and Djebel Bani to the south.

Day 11: Tata – Taroudannt

115mi/185km

It may all be tarmac but todays ride across the Anti Atlas takes us through what was surely once the centre of rock strata rave culture with some serious shapes being thrown down by Mother Nature. An early finish allows us time to enjoy this delightful walled city.

Day 12: Rest Day in Taroudant

Referred to by some as ‘Little Marrakesh’, Taroudant is a far more chilled-out version of its larger cousin. Sunday sees a regional souk (market) come to town, bringing in Berbers from the local villages t sell farm produce. Pedal around the 5km of city walls or let a calèche (horse & carriage) take the strain. Either way, a lap is best topped off with a visit to one of the city’s many juice bars.

Day 13: Taroudant to Imi n’Ifri

Tarmac: 205mi/329km – Piste: 29mi/46km Total: 234mi/375km

A great look at village life as we climb into the High Atlas through a string of villages where donkeys outnumber cars. Passing beneath North Africa’s highest peak, Djebel Toubkal (4167m) we join the N9 for a twisty crossing of the Tizi n’Ticha pass at 2260m before returning to minor roads through farmland and forest as we descend to Imi n’Ifri.

Day 14: Imi-n’Ifri – Ahansal

Tarmac: 74mi/119km – Piste: 18mi/28km Total: 92mi/147km

A relaxed start to the day following yesterday long day in the saddle.

With a name that translates as ‘Valley of the Happy People’ who wouldn’t want to ride through the valley of Ait Bougmez!? We dive into the valley, dominated by the M’goun massif of the High Atlas, to wind our way alongside the Oued Lakhdar before climbing to the second highest point of the tour at 2764m, en-route to the medieval hamlet of Zaouiat Ahansal.

Day 15: Ahansal – Cascades d’Ouzoud

Tarmac: 76mi/122km – Piste: 36mi/58km Total: 113mi/180km

We follow the Assif Ahansal (stream) north until our piste climbs away from the valley, winding its way through pine forest beneath spectacular cirques. The 700m vertical rockface of Rocher de Mastrane (Cathedral Rock) dominates the view from our 1800m vantage point before we return to the valley floor and our exit to tarmac.

Day 16: Cascades d’Ouzoud – Fez

237mi/379km

The most ancient of Morocco’s Imperial cities, Fez can make you feel like a time traveller as you explore the labyrinth that is its old Medina. Will you find your way out?

Day 17: Fez – Benahavis

270mi/435km

Last day in Africa as we return to Tangier Med and the ferry to Spain. How’s that tagine strapped to the top of your luggage holding up?

Day 18: Benahavis – Zafra

223mi/359km

Another chance to enjoy the twisty route through Ronda before we side-step Seville and ride through the ‘Parque Natural de la Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche’ to the white washed city of Zafra – nicknamed ‘Sevilla la chica’ (the little Seville).

Day 19: Zafra – Zamora

271mi/436km

Mid-west Spain is all about mountains and reservoirs and they continue today as we head across the Sierra de la Peña de Francia to Zamora. Sporting the highest number of Romanesque churches in all of Europe, it has been called a ‘museum of Romanesque art’.

Day 20: Zamora – Santander

240mi/387km

Back across the Cordillera Cantábrica but this time skirting the eastern end of the Parque Nacional de Los Picos de Europa and out to the coast for our evening ferry departure.

Day 21: Portsmouth

Arrive back in Blighty at 14:45. Curse yourself for packing your waterproofs at the bottom of your luggage.

What's Included

Return overnight ferry from Portsmouth (UK) to Bilbao/Santander (Spain)

Return ferry from Algeciras (Spain) to Tanger Med (Morocco) for bike and rider.

Bed & Breakfast accommodation on a twin-sharing basis – unless a single room has been booked.

Eight evening meals in Morocco

Tour lead by Adventure Rider and World Traveler Adam Lewis.

Support vehicle carrying medical kit, tools and some spares including tyres.

Professional Medic

Excludes

Any travel costs associated with getting to the start/finish of the tour.

Personal Travel Insurance (compulsory)

Motorcycle Insurance including compulsory 3rd Party motorcycle insurance (Green Card or buy at the border)

Breakdown recovery insurance

Fuel, oil, tyres, and any other motorcycle consumables or spare parts

Road tolls and traffic fines

Meals – except where stated

Drinks

Tips

Personal spending money

Anything else not stated as included

Useful Info

Documents

Passport – valid for at least 6 months.

Driving License

Registration document (Logbook/V5)

Motorcycle Insurance

Green card – if available from your insurer, otherwise available to buy at the border.

Health

It’s a good idea to check the validity of your current vaccinations prior to coming on tour. The following websites should be useful in determining what vaccinations you need.

https://www.masta-travel-health.com/

https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home

Local currency

The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). ATM’s are widely available.

Language

The official language is Modern Standard Arabic but most government and official business is conducted in French so dust of your old school books. – “Deux bières s’il vous plait”.

Weather

Once we get down to the desert it’ll be comfortably warm but leaving Nador and crossing the Rekam Plateau can be quite chilly, downright cold if it rains. By the middle of day two we should see temperatures around 20°C and increasing to the mid-20’s as we head further south. Desert nights can be cold so a 0°C rated sleeping bag is recommended.

How to book

Bookings can be made through the website, via email or over the phone!

Payment Methods

– Website

Direct Bank Transfer
Debit/Credit Card

– Phone

Direct Bank Transfer
Debit/Credit Card

– Email

Direct Bank Transfer

To make a booking online…

The method has changed recently and should be more straightforward. Read below for more details.

Go to the relevant page of your desired tour, first select the tour date then simply add your chosen tour to the cart. At this point you can also choose if you’d like to pay the single room supplement (on certain tours) as well as choosing if you’d like to pay a deposit only, or the full amount.
NB – If you are booking within 10 weeks of the start date you must pay the full amount.

Selecting your date and deposit option

2. Once you press Book Now the tour is now in your basket, which will appear on the right.

3. You’ll now be asked to login. If you haven’t already registered please do so. You’ll be automatically logged in and forwarded to the checkout.

4. Checkout is straightforward and once you’ve done so you’ll receive a confirmation email.

IMPORTANT

5. Once you’ve placed your order you’ll now have access to TWO important forms.

You’ll need to complete these forms and submit them at least 10 weeks prior to your tour start date (which is the same time you’ll need to complete your final payment).
If you’re booking within the ten week window, please complete the forms ASAP!

If you’re travelling with us for the second time you should submit new forms.

6. To find the forms please go to your account dashboard, by the link in the menu.

Click to go to your account

7. Once your in your account you will see several tabs. Here you can check your account details, order and payment history as well as find your booking forms.

Your Forms to be completed

8. You don’t have to complete and submit all the form straightaway.

If you partially complete a form, and press submit you can return to it later. To view, complete or amend a historical document, click in “My Submitted Forms” and choose the form you want to edit.

Please do not edit documents within 10 weeks of your trip as we will have already made advance bookings on your behalf. If you’ve made a mistake, please contact us.

Your Submitted Forms

9. At the bottom of the form page, is the link to edit.

Edit your Submission

As always, if you have any trouble please contact us by email, phone or on facebook messenger.

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21 DAYS	TOTAL: 3314 mi
0 CAMPS	19 HOTELS (2 FERRIES)
PAVED ROADS: 3080 mi	DIRT-ROADS: 234 mi

Tours

UK to Morocco

At a Glance

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