From Marrakesh to Dakar

Marrakesh to Dakar: Motorcycle expedition

You start by flying from your origin to Morocco. In Marrakech the motorcycles and off-road vehicles (if you want us to transport your off-road vehicle to the start) are waiting for you and off you go. After the crossing of the Atlas mountains we continue into the desert and move on to large sections off-road in the Western Sahara. Along the wild Atlantic coast we drive to Mauritania. In Mauritania it will really get down to business and we will only rarely see asphalt. The goal is to reach the capital of Senegal on the 14th day of Dakar, which is a thriving metropolis in West Africa.

City in Morocco

Motorcycle Tour Day 1: Arrival in Morocco

After landing in Marrakech you will be picked up at the airport and given your motorcycles. The rest of the day you can spend in the alleys of Marrakech pack your motorcycles and prepare for the upcoming tour.

Valley in Morocco close to Ouzoud

Motorcycle trip day 2: Meeting in Asni and crossing of the Tizi n'Test

We meet the participants of the Paris 2 Dakar in Asni at the foot of the Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. Together we continue to the pass summit of Tizi n'Test. Even if it is not too many kilometres it takes almost a day until we are in Taroudant on the other side. On the single-lane road everything from donkeys up to 40 ton trucks can come from ahead.

 Auf Motorradtour am Tizi n'Test

Motorcycle trip day 3: African culture and wonderful riding fun with the motorcycle

Driving onwards through a beautiful valley full of almond trees towards Tafraoute. The road meanders along the valley wall and makes the motorcyclist's heart beat faster. The first dromedaries will be visible and slowly the desert begins. Arrived in Tafraoute we can stock up with provisions for the next days and admire the gigantic monoliths which look as if they were built by human hands.

Motorcycle trip day 4 & 5: Through the Sahara to Smara

The first major off-road stage is ahead of us. Through the western foothills of the big Sahara we will drive for 2 days in the direction of the desert city Smara. On the way there is the controversial border between Morocco and the former Spanish Sahara. This is obvious to ones eye until today in the mentality of the inhabitants and the language. While in Morocco French is very common, you can now suddenly get on with Spanish.

Motorcycle tour in Africa with Overcross

Motorcycle Tour Day 6: To the Metropolis of the West Sahara

Continuing on a dusty track always along the Seguiet el Hamra, which also carries water most of the time of the year. Todays destination El Aaiún is not far away and there is time to rest your bike a bit, stretch your legs or take a dip in the sea.

 Expedition 2014: Morocco

Motorcycle trip day 7&8: Sahara, Sahara and Sahara

For two days we continue on the N1 for approx. 500 km to Dakhla. To our right is the blue Atlantic and to our left the endless expanse of the Sahara. We will have time to stop again and again at the beautiful coast or to drive parts of the beach along Off Road. Optionally we could drive faster on tarmac and have a rest day in the surfer city Dakhla.

Coast of the westerrn Sahara close to Dakhla

Motorcycle trip day 9: Off to the unknown

While Morocco is known to everyone, Mauritania is rather unknown despite its size. From Dakhla we drive to the border and cross the no man's land. Then we will spend the rest of the day entering Mauritania. Here they remind you of the fact that the Europeans have perhaps invented the clock but Africans the time. After the border we make camp for the night in the idyll of the dunes.

 Enduro fun in the Sahara

Motorcycle trip day 10 & 11: The oasis Atar as destination

We follow the route of the iron ore train Off Road to Atar. The route is very difficult and it will take us two days to reach the oasis. Atar was once an important city in the high culture of the Moors who are the original name givers of the country.

Motorcycle trip day 12: Out of the desert to Dakar

We drive back to the sea and will be half on and half off road in the Sahara for the last time before the Sahel Zone begins. We will spend the night at the beach and even if you only have one thread to fish you should be succesfull. The sea off Mauritania is considered to be one of the richest in fish in the world.

 On Tour in the Western Sahara

Motorcycle Tour Day 13: On the Beach

Before the road was built in 2006, the official way to Nuakchott was along the beach. Due to the tides, the sand is smooth and you can still make better progress than on the actual road. We take advantage of this and continue our motorcycle trip on this route. Our destination for the day is the capital Nuakchott where half of the Mauritanian population lives.

Motorcycle Tour Day 14: Across the Senegal River

Whoever does not know "Fech Fech yet will get to know today. On covered pistes we drive to the border of Senegal at the Senegal river. There are trees again along the road and more animals. Our road leads us through a bird protected national park in which our European birds spend the winter. The destination of the day is Saint-Louis. The city is located on an island in the delta of the Senegal River and has a very beautiful colonial core.

Boats coloured in multiple colours on the senegal river

Motorcycle trip day 15: Finish in Dakar

Von Saint-Louis brechen wir morgens auf und werden gegen Mittag Dakar erreichen. Wie die Paris Dakar endet unsere Reise am Ufer des Lac Rose, dem rosa Salzsee am Stadtrand von Dakar. Den letzten Abend verbringen wir gemeinsam und bei einem gutem Essen feiern wir unsere Ankunft.

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Do you want to experience the entire adventure? Click here for the Paris Dakar journey

Paris 2 Dakar 21 Days

Fancy more adventure and still have more time?

This is the 7-day tour through Senegal and Gambia:

Vom Atlantik in den Dschungel (GERMAN)