Moroccan Magic
20 days. Approx 4,200km from the Mediterranean coast at Tangier to the Sahara Desert and back in a figure-of-8, crossing the Atlas Mountain ranges several times.
Ride a current model BMW GS through the Rif and Atlas Mountains, along the Atlantic coast, across the Anti Atlas and down to the end of the Sahara Desert road at M’hamid.
World On Wheels founder Mike Ferris personally leads each Moroccan departure.
We don’t make everyone play follow-the-leader all day. Set your own pace on the open road; we’ll bunch up through busy towns and whenever the route calls for it. The mechanic and support vehicle run at the back with your luggage. There's plenty of time to meet the locals, sit and soak it all in, and give your camera a workout.
Starts and finishes in Tangier. Approximately 4,200km, with (optional) an additional 150km loop ride available on one of the scheduled rest days.
International airfares not included. Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory.
1–20 May 2027
Open for bookings
20 days
15 scheduled riding days, with your bike also available for you on 'rest' days
Rider €7,000
Pillion €6,000
Ride your own ride.
We’ll keep the group together.
You won't be wanting to come all the way to Morocco to spend every day staring at the same few tail lights. That’s not our style at all.
Each morning we’ll show you where we’re going, how far we’re riding and where we expect to stop for lunch, fuel and sightseeing.
We use a proven corner-man system, so once we’re clear of the towns you can ride at a pace that suits you. We’ll bring everyone together through busy cities, complicated junctions and any section where it makes sense to stay close.
Isn’t this what riding is all about?
The long way around Morocco
Our Moroccan Magic tour isn’t just Marrakech, a quick desert stop and then back to the airport.
It's a comprehensive figure-of-8 tour of the country taking the long way round, encompassing coastal, desert, and forested roads with lots of twisty mountain climbs and river gorges.
From Tangier to Marrakech
Sector 1: Our first riding day begins along the Mediterranean Sea, before climbing through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen.
Get up early the next morning and you can wander through the old blue medina while the town is waking up, before the tourist shops get busy.
From there we ride south past Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, then on through Ifrane and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. The road continues to Bin-el-Ouidane before smaller inland routes bring us into Marrakech and the evening noise, food and street theatre in the open town square, Djemaa el-Fna.
Down the Atlantic Coast and across the Anti Atlas Mountains
Sector 2: From Marrakech we head further west to Essaouira, where a rest day gives you time to explore the harbour, citadel ramparts and medina. This is the town where Jimi Hendrix apparently failed to learn how to surf...
There will also be plenty of time for a glass of Moroccan mint tea, otherwise known around here as whiskey de Berber.
We then follow the rugged Atlantic Coast south to Mirleft before turning inland on remote and winding roads towards Tafraoute. We cross the Anti Atlas on stunning roads which take us through dry mountains, pink rock faces and the palm groves of the Ameln Valley. Apricots, almonds and dates are grown here in abundance.
To the end of the road
Sector 3: Beyond Tafraoute the towns become smaller, the country opens up and the smell of the desert begins. We ride via Foum Zguid along the Draa Valley to M’hamid.
At M’hamid, the road ends. Beyond it, nothing but sand.
This evening includes a sunset camel ride into the Sahara and a bivouac dinner with traditional Berber music, then return to the hotel.
From there we retrace part of the Draa Valley and ride north through Ouarzazate to the amazing kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the setting for Gladiator amongst other Hollywood blockbusters.
Here, apparently, ‘Aussie actor Russell Crowe came to my shop!’
And yes, we know he’s actually a Kiwi.
A rest day follows, with the choice of exploring the kasbah, relaxing by the hotel pool, or adding an optional 150km loop ride to Morocco’s highest pass, Tizi’n’Tichka.
River gorges and Fes medina
Sector 4: Next come the amazing Dades Gorge switchbacks. We ride them up, turn around, then ride 'em again back down .
It would be rude not to.
Todra Gorge follows, then open Atlas country on the way to Midelt. From there we head to Fes, with an afternoon to explore the vast medina, wherein is found the world's oldest university .
The last stages take us through twisting rural roads west to Casablanca, with a rest day here to visit the Hassan II Mosque and Bogart's famous Rick’s Café, ('Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world...' ) before the final ride back to Tangier where we reluctantly bid farewell to our motorbikes.
See the route at a glance
Our Moroccan Magic tour starts and finishes in Tangier, looping through the Rif and Atlas Mountains, down the Atlantic coast, across the Atlas Mountains and to M’hamid at the edge of the Sahara, before returning north through Fes and Casablanca.
Use the interactive map to see the overall shape of the journey and the principal places along the way. The detailed itinerary remains the definitive guide to the day-by-day route, distances and practical notes.
Download the day-by-day itinerary
Watch our Moroccan Magic preview
Mick Matheson discusses the Moroccan roads, landscapes and places from the tour.
What the package includes
The €7,000 rider price covers your bike, fuel, accommodation, almost all meals, and the team behind the ride.
Your motorcycle
BMW F800GS rental (larger bikes available as upgrades)
Fuel and maintenance
Motorcycle insurance as detailed in the itinerary and rental terms
Mechanic, spare parts and tools
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation for the whole tour, nights 1 to 19
Clean, friendly, mid-range properties, with lots of pools
Twin-share accommodation (single room available as an upgrade)
Three meals on scheduled riding days
Breakfast on non-riding days
Your support team
WOW founder Mike Ferris as tour leader
Established local agent
Mechanical assistance
Support vehicle and driver
Luggage transport
First-aid equipment
Also included
Daily maps and directions
Sunset camel ride in the desert
Sahara bivouac dinner and music
World On Wheels welcome pack
WhatsApp chat group
Choose your BMW
The standard package includes the
BMW F800GS.
BMW F800GS
Included, standard
BMW F850GS or F900GS
Upgrade: €500
BMW F900XR
Upgrade: €500
BMW R1250GS or R1300GS
Upgrade: €1,000
Will this ride suit you?
A full and unrestricted motorcycle licence is required.
You also need enough experience to handle a large-capacity BMW on unfamiliar roads.
And of course, we must insist that you take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy which adequately covers motorcycling!
The Moroccan Magic tour suits competent riders who are comfortable with:
Riding days of up to approximately 380km
Mountain bends and tight switchbacks
Busy towns and unfamiliar traffic
Changing road surfaces and weather
Cooler mountain conditions and hotter days near the Sahara
Following daily directions and the corner-marking system
Making sensible decisions about their own pace
You’ll also need a reasonable level of health, fitness and stamina. Some riding days are long, and the heat can build as we approach the desert.
Solo riders, couples and pillions are welcome.
So, are we ready to do this?
Step 1
Download and read the fully Detailed Itinerary
Read the full route including dates, distances and conditions, and make sure the riding format suits what you're looking for.
Step 2
Complete and return the Booking Form
Return the completed Booking Form and required deposit to confirm your place.
Step 3
Receive your Confirmation
We’ll send written confirmation, a preparation checklist and further tour notes, including suggested arrival information, health checks and travel insurance requirements.
