Experience the rally spirit on the legendary Paris-Dakar tracks
Paris-Dakar motorcycle tour: Motorcycle rental and motorcycle tours Departure Marrakech or any other city of your choice
The motorcycle circuit on the legendary Paris-Dakar tracks in Morocco is for motorcyclists who dream of riding where rally-raid history was made. For decades, Morocco has been a land of warm-up and emblematic Paris-Dakar passages, with its fast tracks, regs, wadis, dunes and lunar landscapes. Even today, these tracks still bear the rally’s imprint, offering an exceptional playground for a committed and authentic motorcycle raid.
This circuit is designed for riders who like to open up the trajectory, read the terrain, manage the navigation and feel that unique sensation of freedom typical of the great African raids. Motorcycles are rented on site, prepared for the sand, distance and demanding conditions of southern Morocco.
Morocco, historic home of the Paris-Dakar Rally
Long before it set off for South America, the Paris-Dakar Rally passed through Morocco. The regions of Ouarzazate, Zagora, M’Hamid, Foum Zguid and Chegaga have seen some of the biggest names in rally-raiding pass through. These areas have remained benchmarks for fans of fast tracks and desert navigation.
Riding these routes means :
- follow old rally stages
- cross areas where reading the terrain is essential
- alternating sand, pebbles, plateaus and dunes
experience the Dakar spirit, without a stopwatch but with commitment
A route made for raids
Ouarzazate, gateway to the desert
The tour starts at the gateway to the south, in Ouarzazate, a strategic point between the Atlas mountains and the Sahara. After passing through Aït Ben Haddou, the famous UNESCO kasbah, and the film studios, the route quickly shifts to wilder areas.
The Fint oasis
With its palm trees, wadi and tracks, marks the transition between mountain and desert.
Zagora and the Drâa Valley
Then head for Zagora, along the Drâa Valley. The terrain becomes more rolling, the tracks open up and the heat rises. This is where we start to ride “raid”, managing fuel, pace and concentration.
M’Hamid and Erg Chegaga
After Tagounite, things get serious. We head for Lake Iriki and the first sandy stages. Lake Iriki, an immense dry expanse, is renowned for its fast tracks, but requires constant vigilance: navigation, speed, deceptive terrain.
Then come the dunes of Erg Chegaga, among the wildest in Morocco. The sand becomes more technical, and dune reading is essential. Two days are devoted to this area, with :
- dune riding
- connecting tracks
- nights in bivouacs or inns at the foot of the dunes
Here, the soul of the Dakar can be fully felt.
Foum Zguid and the mineral South
Exit from Chegaga towards Foum Zguid, on fast, brittle tracks. The scenery is lunar and concentration is at a peak. A day on the road allows you to recuperate before continuing on to Tata, then Tiznit and Taroudant, alternating between tracks and secondary roads.
Return via the Atlas
The return journey takes in mountain passes and tracks, notably the Sirou Pass and the Tizi n’Test, offering a striking contrast to the desert. The last few kilometers back to Marrakech pass through Ijoukane, Tahanaoute, Siti Fatma and the Ourika valley.
Typical raid schedule
On arrival
Welcome at Marrakech airport, transfer to accommodation, collection and adjustment of bikes, dinner and planning.
Next days
Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Zagora – M’Hamid – Erg Chegaga – Foum Zguid – Tata – Tiznit – Taroudant – Tizi n’Test – Marrakech
(Itinerary adjusted according to level and conditions)
Last night
Hotel in Marrakech, then departure the next day.
The Dakar spirit, without a stopwatch but with soul
A motorcycle tour in the footsteps of the Paris-Dakar Rally in Morocco is not just a ride. It’s a committed adventure, where every day has to be earned, the sand has to be respected, and the pleasure comes from the riding, the effort and the immensity. A raid designed for bikers who want to experience the Dakar for real.
Organization, safety and professional support
With tours organized and supervised by morocco-rides.com, you can drive with complete peace of mind.
Framing
Lodgings
Every morning begins with a safety and route briefing, and every evening a debriefing to adjust pace, analyze difficulties and prepare for the next stage.