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MOTORCYCLE-TRIPS · SENEGAL
This Paris Dakar motorcycle trip takes you from Paris to Dakar in Senegal in 22 days. Following in the tracks of the legendary rally, you roll through Spain, cross over to Morocco, and work your way through the Atlas Mountains into the desert.
The Journey
The start of your Paris Dakar motorcycle journey is in Paris. From there, you ride your own motorcycle or a rented enduro for 22 days towards Dakar. In just a few days, you will reach Gibraltar and cross over to Africa. Through the green north of Morocco, you will cross the Atlas Mountains and finally find yourself in the desert.
On large sections, you will travel off-road towards the Western Sahara. Along the wild Atlantic coast, you will cross the border into Mauritania, where it becomes even more challenging for both man and machine. You will rarely see asphalt, mostly only to cover some distance. The route chosen by OVERCROSS largely follows the original course of the rally, with a clear focus on the aspect of adventure travel.
The goal is Dakar, the capital of Senegal. If you want more, you can add the connecting tour through Senegal and Gambia. Short on time? Then you can also book the stage from Marrakech to Dakar separately.
Your Paris Dakar motorcycle trip begins at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. After the welcome by the OVERCROSS team, the vehicle check, and a briefing on the route and safety, you are in the saddle. The first stage takes you out of the metropolis towards the south, where the landscape gradually opens up and the anticipation of the great adventure noticeably increases.
On the second day of your Paris Dakar motorcycle trip, you cover kilometers through France. Over highways and country roads, you make your way south towards the Spanish border. This connection stage is meant to make good progress so that there is more time for the driving highlights in Africa. In the evening, you reach the border area to Spain and set up your campsite.
Your Paris Dakar motorcycle journey continues across the Spanish border. You cross northern Spain and cover good miles on the route south. Between mountain ranges and wide plains, fast sections alternate with winding parts. In the evening, you reach your stage destination inland and prepare for the translation to Africa.
The fourth day takes you through Andalusia to the southern coast of Spain. In Algeciras near Gibraltar, the European part of this motorcycle tour Paris Dakar ends. You bring your motorcycle on board the ferry that takes you across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco. With the first glimpse of the African continent, the true expedition character of the journey begins.
After the ferry crossing, you step onto African soil in Tangier. The motorbike trip in Morocco starts in the green north of the country with first impressions of culture, traffic, and landscape. You head inland, get used to the new conditions, and enjoy the first winding roads. In the evening, you reach your camp and wind down the first day in Africa.
Today, the motorcycle journey Morocco takes you to the Middle Atlas. Cedar forests, high plateaus, and winding passes characterize the stage while the elevation steadily increases. Between small mountain villages and wide views, you challenge your machine on varied terrain. Initial light off-road sections give you a taste of what awaits you in the desert.
The High Atlas is on the agenda of this motorcycle trip through Morocco. You cross high passes over spectacular serpentines and gaze at rugged peaks and deep valleys. The route requires full concentration, but rewards you with some of the most beautiful views of the entire route. On the southern side of the mountains, the landscape becomes drier and signals the approaching desert.
From Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, you continue your Sahara motorcycle journey. Clay kasbahs and vast stone deserts shape the landscape as asphalt increasingly gives way to tracks. You gather initial experiences on loose terrain and learn to handle your motorcycle safely off-road. In the evening, you set up your camp under a clear starry sky.
Along the Draa Valley, this off-road motorcycle journey through Africa takes you through endless palm groves and small oasis towns. The tracks become sandier, and you practice the right technique for soft ground. Between green oases and barren desert, the contrast of the landscape is particularly striking. The day ends with a campfire and sharing impressions within the group.
The route leads deeper into the south of Morocco. On this Sahara motorcycle trip, gravel roads, sand fields, and rocky passages alternate. Far away from paved roads, you move through vast, desolate landscapes. The support vehicle stays nearby while you continue to refine your riding skills in open terrain. Overnight stays are in the mobile desert camp.
Today you will reach the Western Sahara and the wild Atlantic coast. This motorcycle expedition through West Africa follows long tracks between the ocean and desert, where wind and openness dictate the rhythm. Again and again, the view opens up to the raging surf. The stage demands endurance, as supply points are far apart. In the evening, you will reach a place along the coastal road.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
From Laayoune, the motorcycle expedition West Africa takes you further south. The coastal road runs straight through the desert, interrupted by off-road sections off the route. Sand drifts and strong winds are part of everyday life on this stage. You get used to the long distances and the barren beauty of the Sahara before you reach your next camp.
You reach the Dakhla peninsula, the last larger town before the border. Here, the group prepares for the crossing into Mauritania: papers are checked, the motorcycles are serviced, and supplies are replenished. This Sahara motorcycle trip takes a brief break before the most challenging part begins. Between lagoon and Atlantic, you enjoy the evening by the water.
Today marks the border crossing into Mauritania. After the formalities, you will cross the notorious no man's land, a field of sand and stones without a solid path. This begins the motorcycle journey through Mauritania, the wildest part of this expedition. You will reach Nouadhibou and receive an initial briefing on the special conditions of this country before the night in the camp follows.
From Nouadhibou, the motorcycle journey in Mauritania takes you along long sandy tracks along the coast. Soft ground and dune fields require the right technique and full concentration. The Atlantic keeps appearing on the horizon, while the landscape remains uninhabited. The support team secures the stage while you work your way through the sand meter by meter.
This enduro trip continues through West Africa along the Banc d'Arguin National Park. Here, desert and sea meet, and the tracks lead through one of the most remote regions of the route. Flocks of birds and empty beaches accompany you as the deep sand challenges you. In the evening, you set up your camp far from any civilization under the open sky.
The stage takes you to Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. This motorcycle trip in Mauritania switches from solitary sand to the bustling activity of an African metropolis. You stock up on supplies, service your motorcycle, and immerse yourself in the daily life of the city. The colorful fish market by the Atlantic is a contrast to the quiet desert days before.
From Nouakchott, the motorcycle trip through Mauritania takes you south towards the border with Senegal. The landscape gradually becomes greener, with the first acacias and bushes lining the track. Sand and gravel challenge you one last time in Mauritania before the vegetation becomes denser. In the evening, you reach the border area and prepare for the last country change of the journey.
At the border river Senegal you cross the last national border of this journey. The crossing at Rosso or Diama marks the beginning of your motorcycle journey through Senegal. Suddenly the landscape becomes greener and more vibrant, villages and fields replace the desert. You drive inland and feel how close the great destination Dakar is already. You will spend the night in a camp by the river.
This motorcycle trip Senegal takes you to Saint Louis, the old colonial city on the Atlantic. Colorful facades, narrow alleys, and the hustle and bustle at the harbor characterize the place. You take a more relaxed stage and immerse yourself in Senegalese culture. After the tough desert days, you enjoy the milder climate and the relaxed atmosphere of the coastal city before continuing toward Dakar.
On the second-to-last stage of your Paris Dakar motorcycle journey, you ride along the coast towards Dakar. Palm trees, fishing villages, and the Atlantic accompany you on your way to the metropolis. The traffic increases, and the proximity to the great destination is clearly felt. On the edge of the capital, you set up your camp and prepare for the big goal day the next morning.
The big goal day of your motorcycle trip to Senegal has arrived. You reach Lac Rose near Dakar, the legendary finish point of the rally, where the pink salt lake lies before you. Together with the group, you celebrate the completion of 22 days in the saddle. Those who wish can add the follow-up tour through Senegal and Gambia. The motorcycles will then be prepared for transport back in the container.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
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