Ouarzazate: The gateway to the desert, your base camp for the ultimate adventure with Morocco-Rides.com
Ouarzazat is at the crossroads of the Chemins Légendaires, as you are equidistant from the major routes. Here, you don’t waste any time: the desert, gorges and green valleys are yours from day one.
Here, the sun reigns supreme, sculpting landscapes that seem straight out of a film. Ouarzazate is not just a town; it’s a myth, a land of contrasts where the Atlas Mountains meet the vastness of the Sahara.
Renting a motorcycle with Morocco-Rides.com in Ouarzazate means choosing the heart of Moroccan adventure for a week-long tour that promises access to the greatest roads and tracks in southern Morocco, offering immediate access to an incredible diversity of landscapes The High Atlas (towards Marrakech), The Dades Valley and its gorges, The Drâa Valley and its palm groves, The Desert (towards Zagora and Merzouga):
Choice of routes
1) The Classic Loop of valleys and gorges :
Ouarzazate → Dades Valley → Todra Gorge (Tinghir) → Erfoud → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi, overnight in bivouac) → Rissani → Return via Drâa Valley (N9) → Ouarzazate.
2) The Anti-Atlas & Siroua Adventure. Itinerary:
Ouarzazate → Taznakht (carpet capital) → Tizi n’tifourt pass → Drâa valley (Agdz, Zagora) → Trails in the palm grove → Siroua mountain (trails) → Back to Ouarzazate
3) The Great Wild South & Erg Chigaga (7 days)
Ouarzazate → Zagora → M’Hamid -→Trail to Erg Chigaga (dunes) → Desert crossing/Lac Iriqui → Foum Zguid → Tazenakht → Ouarzazate.
Cinematic Energy: Breathe in the air of great film shoots at the Atlas Studios and in front of the majestic Kasbah Aït Benhaddou. Your raid begins in legendary settings.
Bonus: The Ultimate Itinerary: Desert, Gorges & Secret Valleys
Day 1: Ouarzazate - Behind the scenes
Gentle acclimatization. Visit to the film studios and Kasbah Taourirt. Briefing and familiarization with the machines.
First ride to the sublime UNESCO-listed Kasbah Aït Benhaddou for a magical sunset.
Overnight in a comfortable riad in Ouarzazate.
Day 2: Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Head north on the famous “Route des Mille Kasbahs”.
Exploration of the Dades Gorge and its breathtaking viewpoints, including the famous “Monkey’s Paws”.
Overnight in a kasbah-hotel in Boumalne Dades, feet warm by the fire.
Day 3: Dades → Todra Gorge → Tinerhir
Two giants in a row. Cross palm grove landscapes to reach the Gorges du Todra, a spectacular fault where the road winds its way between 300-metre walls.
Thrill guaranteed as you roll along the canyon floor.
Overnight in Tinerhir, a charming oasis town.
Day 4: Tinerhir → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
A magical day in the Sahara. You leave the mountains for the expanses of desert. Stop at Erfoud, the city of fossils.
Late afternoon arrival in Merzouga. Park your motorcycle and mount camels or a 4×4 for a ride to the bivouac at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
An unforgettable night under the stars, lulled by the silence of the desert.
Day 5: Merzouga → Draa Valley
Magical sunrise over the dunes. Return to the bike and head west.
Discover the mythical Draa Valley, an endless palm grove contrasting with the ochre of the desert. The road along the way is a delight of curves and landscapes.
Overnight in a charming kasbah in Agdz or Zagora.
Day 6: Exploring the Secrets of the Draa
A day of exploration. Detour to the villages of Tamegroute and its Koranic library and green pottery workshops.
You can take accessible tracks to discover ksars (fortified villages) hidden in the heart of the palm grove.
Second night in the valley.
Day 7: Draa Valley → Ouarzazate (The loop is complete 🙂
The home stretch. You drive up the Draa Valley, one of Morocco’s most beautiful roads, to Ouarzazate.
Last raid dinner to share your fondest memories and celebrate this accomplished adventure.
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.