UK to Morocco Motorcycle Tour

This is a 22 day motorbike tour itinerary covers 3,200 miles.  It starts and ends in Portsmouth, UK.

Day 1 : Portsmouth
Scheduled departure at 21:30 from Portsmouth on Brittany Ferries to Santander.

Day 2 : Brittany Ferries
En route to Spain.

Day 3: Santander – Salamanca. (253miles)
Scheduled arrival at 08.00AM in Santander. Head over the Piedrasluengas Pass at 1,355 m and through Parque Montaña Palentina. Sahagun. Overnight in UNESCO listed Salamanca.

Day 4: Salamanca – Zafra. (258 miles)
Enjoy beautiful roads of Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park and the Monfragüe National Park, to the small town of Zafra.

Day 5: Zafra – Monda. (210 miles).
Ride across the mountains, super twisty roads and fantastic bends in Parque Nacional Sierra de las Nieves.  Group Evening Dinner.

Day 6: Monda – Chefchaouen. (130 miles)
Catch the Algeciras – Tangier-Med ferry and head into the Atlas Mountains to the narrow alleys and blue buildings of Chefchaouen.

Day 7: Chefchaouen – Fes. (132 miles)
Take the back roads to Fes alongside El Wahda Dam and see real village life.

Day 8: Fes
You can join our half day guided tour in Fes with an expert local guide, including a visit to the Tanneries and the oldest University in the word, as well as exploring the maze of narrow alleyways of the medina.  Or just chill at the riad and explore at your own pace.

Day 9: Fes to Cascades D’Ouzoud. (238 miles)
A longer days ride on busier roads to then climb up into the Atlas mountains to view Morocco’s largest waterfalls. Group Evening Dinner.

Day 10: Cascades D’Ouzoud to Taroudant. (229 miles)
We head south and cross the famous Tizi n’Test pass at over 2,000m, riding above the clouds, before reaching our beautiful riad in Taroudant. Group Evening Dinner.

Day 11: Taroudant to Essaouira. (162 miles).
Ride Paradise Valley and head north on the Atlantic Coast to Essaouira. Explore this UNESCO listed late 18th century fortified port town, with its walls.  Try the fresh fish dinners in the old port area – simply delicious!

Day 12: Essaouira to Marrakesh. (110 miles)
A short mornings ride from the Atlantic Coast to the imperial city of Marrakesh. Join our organised half day tour with local expert guide to Jemaa el-Fnaa, the buzzing main square, with its snake charmers, souks and spices, Bahia Palace and Koutoubia Mosque.

Day 13: Marrakesh to Dades Gorge. (222 miles)
Ride the Tizi n’Ticha Pass at 2,200m. Time to explore the UNESCO site Ait Ben Haddou, the film set for Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Then into the Dades Gorge! Group Evening Dinner.

Day 14: Dades Gorge to Merzouga (236 miles)
Ride through the spectacular Todra Gorge and head to the Sahara! Camel ride & evening dinner with a night glamping under the stars of the Sahara Desert. Group Evening Dinner.

Day 15: Merzouga.
Jeep or camel ride back to Merzouga and our riad for tonight.  Time to get active – hotel reception can organise activities such as quad bikes or sand boarding. Or chill by the hotel pool and enjoy the view of the Saharan dunes. Group Evening Dinner.

Day 16: Merzouga to Azrou (175 miles)
Leave the desert behind and head for the cedar forests, wild monkeys of Khenifra National Park and the Alpine like village of Azrou. Group Evening Dinner.

Day 17: Azrou to Tangier (200 miles)
Plenty of country backroads, via the Roman Ruins of Volubilis, to the old town of Tangier and our beachside hotel.

Day 18: Tangier – Monda (261 miles)
Short ride to the port of Tangier-Med and catch the scheduled 11am ferry back to Spain and to Monda.  Group Evening Dinner. (Riders with hire bikes will drop them off today)

Day 19: Monda to Trujillo (265miles)
North through Parque Natural Sierra de Hornachuelos, with a huge variety of roads, from fast sweeping bends to small single track country roads.

Day 20:  Trujillo – Lerma (258 miles)
Continuing north, we ride through the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park to an incredible Parador stay in Lerma.

Day 21: Lerma – Santander. (130 miles)
Fantastic riding along the sweeping curves of the N623 and over the Puerto del Escudo Pass of 1,100m to Santander. Overnight ferry has scheduled departure of 14:15 for the overnight ferry from Santander to Portsmouth.

Day 22:  Portsmouth, UK
Scheduled arrival into Portsmouth is at 20.00

Hotels

Many previous customers have been delighted with the standard of accommodation, which exceeded their expectations.

We use good standard 4* hotel accommodation in Spain, mainly Paradors and also we spend a couple of nights in a beautiful boutique hotel in Marbella.

When in Morocco, we select hotels for their character and quality, not just official star rating.  We have some superb Moroccan hotels on this tour, such as Hotel Borj des Cascades, with an awesome view of the Cascades D’Ouzoud Waterfalls, some delightful riads in Fes only a minute’s walk from the Medina and the 4 * MGallery Le Medina in Essaouira, right on the beach.  Everyone loves Riad El Jasmin in Taroudant with its fabulous pool and palm trees.  We even spend one night under the stars in the Sahara, in a Bedouin style camp (with proper beds!).

Many of the hotels serve up amazing local food for our group evening dinners.  You won’t go hungry, but be prepared to eat plenty of tasty tagines and kebabs.

*hotels listed are normally used but we reserve the right to substitute to another of a similar standard.

Brittany Ferries

Please note that riders booking a single room, this applies to the hotel accommodation only.  Your price still includes a shared cabin on the ferry.  If you want to upgrade this to a single cabin you can do so, there is the option to do so when you book the tour, at a cost of £175 (out & back).

 Before you go

• The assurance of booking with a fully bonded and insured UK operator, acting in accordance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, ensuring your money paid in advance is protected.
• GlobeBusters Guidance Handbook with all pre-trip information.
• Daily hard copy route notes (road book) with GPS co-ordinates and information about the hotels, the roads and the sights.
• Loan SD Card with open source GPS mapping for countries outside of Europe, suitable for Garmin units.
• Downloadable routes in GPX format and custom waypoints for hotels, lunch stops, viewpoints etc, suitable for Garmin, TomTom and phone navigation Apps, such as Scenic
• Morocco Tour Shirt.

En Route

• Return overnight Portsmouth (UK) – Santander (Spain) ferry crossing with Brittany Ferries for you (sharing a twin berth cabin) and your motorcycle.  If you wish to have a Single Cabin, please select Upgrade option when booking.
• Algeciras (Spain) to Tangier-Med (Morocco) return ferry crossing for you and your motorcycle.
• Hotel bed and breakfast accommodation on a shared basis (unless Single Room booked).
• Standard of accommodation is majority 4 *, some 3* or best in area.
• Half day tour with local guide in Fes
• Half day tour with local guide in Marrakesh
• Seven evening meals, including your Welcome & Farewell Meal and seven evening meals in locations which are remote and you have no other choice of restaurants.

Support Crew

• Motorcycle Tour Manager to accompany the group.
• Motorcycle Assistant Manager, where the group is more than 12 riders.
• Local fixer and translator in Morocco, an essential member of our team to help smooth the way, explain Moroccan traditions and who always knows a cousin who can help!
• Support Vehicle (in Morocco only), equipped with satellite phone, spare fuel, water, tools, selected spare parts and emergency first aid kit, acting as a sweeper vehicle.
• Support Driver (in Morocco only), with motorcycle mechanical experience.
• All Support Crew hold ITC Outdoor First Aid qualifications.

Not Included

• Any travel costs to get to the start and from the finish point for the tour.
• Personal travel, accident and medical insurance (covering matters such as medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, loss or damage to property).
• Motorcycle insurance cover, motorcycle breakdown cover or recovery costs.
• Entrance fees to sights and parks, optional local excursions or local activities, (except where stated).
• Lunches, snacks or evening meals (except where stated). Any meals whilst on board ferries.
• Hotel parking charges.
• Personal spending money, tips, souvenirs or other extras.
• Personal documentation (eg visas, passport), vaccinations, personal taxes, border crossing fees, motorcycle documentation.
• We do not supply riding gear; you must bring a minimum of your own helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves.
• Costs of motorcycle repair (parts, labour or other related costs), tyres.
• Fuel, oil & other motorcycle consumables.
• Toll road fees, traffic fines or other charges relating to breach of the law.
• Additional transportation of you or your motorcycle en route where you or your motorcycle cannot continue beyond the short and temporary assistance offered by GlobeBusters Support Vehicle.
• Any other item not specifically included in the price.

Please also refer to our Booking Conditions.

When you book this Morocco Motorbike Tour with us, we provide you with a Tour Specific Guidance Handbook that gives you detailed information about how to prepare and plan your tour, and what to expect when the tour.  Here are some of the questions that we often get asked before a rider makes a booking.   If you wish to meet with us prior to booking to ask more questions, do not hesitate to contact us and we can set up a one-to-one meeting.

What bike is suitable to bring?
If you are bringing you own bike, we recommend an adventure style bike as the most suitable.  Typical bikes used are Triumph Tiger, BMW GS, Africa Twin, Yamaha Tenere etc.  However, as this is primarily a paved road tour, any robust road bike will also be suitable.  Just be aware that paved roads can be potholed with broken surfaces, so the higher clearance the better.  Having said that, we have had riders on Harleys successfully complete the trip, so it just depends on what you are comfortable riding and what compromises you are prepared to make.  What is important is that you have a reliable and robust bike that you are comfortable riding and that it has been properly prepared and fully serviced prior to the start and has new tyres.

What riding experience do I need?
This tour is normally best for riders who are already experienced tourers in Europe and are looking for that extra challenge of a varied and unpredictable road conditions and hazards, coupled with a different culture, foods and way of life.  On your ride you will encounter poor road surfaces (as well as excellent ones!).  The mountain roads can often have bends that may have broken or gravelly surfaces, or the tarmac may have been completely washed away in sections.  There will be potholes, diesel spills, unmarked sharp bends, as well as other road users who follow the local rules of the road and not the Highway Code! In addition, the asphalt roads may be subject to road construction which can divert you to ride on gravel or dirt roads, so you do need to take this in your stride.

You will enjoy the experience more if your riding is of an advanced standard and by that we mean you have a good command of slow control (eg you don’t dangle your feet or paddle at slow speeds and can U-turn your bike), you are assertive on the road and have good forward planning and hazard perception, you are able to perform safe and precise overtakes and are able ride to the legal speed limits where appropriate.

There are some options to ride on dirt or gravel roads.  If you wish to do this, we recommend have experience of riding your motorcycle on the types of unpaved surfaces.   If you need to improve your off road riding skills, attending a training school such as Adventure Bike Training www.adventurebiketraining.co.uk, Triumph Adventure Experience https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/adventure-experience or BMW Off Road Skills is highly recommended.

It is your responsibility to ensure your motorcycling skills are up to the requirements for this tour.

Do I have to ride in a group?
We do not make you ride in convoy.  We offer you the freedom to decide how you would like to ride.  We give you a road book, with recommendations for lunch or coffee stops, fuel stops and hotel information.  You also get an SD card with mapping, custom routes & GPS co-ordinates to download to your GPS.  You can use these tools to self-navigate.  Most riders prefer to have this freedom, so they can stop where they want and for how long they want without feeling under pressure.  However if you prefer to ride with our Motorcycle Tour Manager, then you can do this.  They will give you a time to start in the morning, so please be prompt and ready to ride with them.  Each day you can change between riding on your own, or with a small group of other riders or with the Tour Manager.  We like to have a very flexible approach.

Is this ride suitable for a passenger?
Yes. We have had other riders successfully complete this ride with a pillion passenger.  Your passenger needs to also be an experienced tourer, used to long distance riding.  Your passenger must ride the motorcycle each touring day – there is no option to sit in the support vehicle, unless the road conditions are too difficult for a rider and passenger to attempt two-up or your passenger is ill or injured.

What is the average group size?
Our groups are normally between 10 – 16 riders (some riders will have passengers). Most riders are from the UK, but we do also have overseas riders who may take part.

Is there a support vehicle?
Yes, this tour operates with a support vehicle and driver (in Morocco only).   It is capable of carrying two motorcycles and two passengers.  Our support vehicles carry a mobile phone, medical bag and spinal board, spare fuel, water, tools and some spare tyres.  Our support vehicle provides temporary assistance to you if you have a mechanical problem or have had an accident and are injured or if you are ill.  This is not a luggage vehicle – you must carry your own luggage on your motorcycle.  For more information, please see our Support Vehicle section.

Is Morocco safe?
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice ) monitors overseas destinations and provides destination travel advice for UK nationals. GlobeBusters monitors the advice from the FCDO and any decisions taken regarding a Tour’s safety and security will use the vast experience of the company’s 20 years of operating as well as the FCDO advice. In the interests of your safety and security, changes may be made to your tour based on any FCDO warnings given.

We strongly recommend that you read the information about Spain & Morocco – each country has a summary and general information as well as advice on safety & security, local laws & customs, entry requirements and health, and road conditions.  Currently, the British FCDO state “Almost 700,000 visitors from the UK come to Morocco every year. Most visits are trouble-free.”

What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents* as follows:  Passport and Driving Licence.  Passengers only need their passport.  Note that the EU only recognises passports as valid for a period of ten years. If your passport expiry date is more than ten years after the start date, the EU will only recognise it valid to ten years after the issue date.  Please check your passport carefully. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the tour.  Riders from outside the EU will need an 1968 International Driving Permit.

If you are bringing your own motorcycle, you will also need your motorcycle registration document (V5 / log book) and your motorcycle insurance.  You will need a Green Card as proof of insurance in Morocco – please check with your UK insurer.  If your insurer will not issue this (some do not), then you can buy local 3rd party insurance at Tangier-Med Port.  The level of 3rd party cover is only in line with the legal minimum stipulated in Morocco; it is not fully comprehensive and does not cover theft or damage to your motorcycle. There are also other EU insurers that can offer 3rd party liability insurance with Green Card for Morocco that can be bought in advance.

In addition, you must have valid travel/medical insurance (See below).

You should note that we need to request copies of the above documentation, which we have to send to suppliers who are outside the EU and who do not have the safeguards in place with regard to data protection as we have within the EU. These suppliers are for services such as motorcycle freight, hotels, customs clearance, ferry services.   Please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Do I need visas for travel?
Please check all entry requirements for your nationality into Spain & Morocco.  At the time of writing we show below an overview of requirements, but these can change at short notice.  We advise you to consult with a Visa Agency if you are uncertain.

• SPAIN: For UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand citizens, short term tourist visits are allowed to the EU without the need for a visa, for the duration of up to 90 days within any 180 day period. You must ensure that you will not exceed your maximum of 90 days in the Schengen Area by participating in this tour.  If you have already travelled extensively in the Schengen Area prior to this tour, check the number of days you have left that you can travel visa free.  Other nationalities may require a Schengen Visa.
• MOROCCO: Visas are not required for UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most EU citizens.  Other nationalities may require a Moroccan Visa.

It is your responsibility to ensure you comply with all applicable passport and visa requirements. GlobeBusters cannot accept any responsibility if you cannot travel or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.

What about local currency?
Local currency in Morocco is the Dirham.  The Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is non-convertible. You can import or export up to a maximum of 2,000 MAD to or from Morocco.  Most major credit cards are accepted in the larger towns. ATMs are widely available in cities and most of the main towns.  The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

http://www.oanda.com/
http://www.travelex.co.uk/

What will the weather be like?
May is normally a good time to travel in Morocco.  You miss the intense heat of the Sahara Desert, but riding in the Atlas Mountains should normally be dry and pleasant.  Having said that temperatures can still be up to 35C and sometimes there can be storms and flash floods in the desert.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather
http://www.worldclimate.com/

What about my health when I am abroad?
You need to be physically fit and healthy and also take the necessary health precautions.  It is essential for you to consult your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date medical travel information prior of travel, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. For up-to-date medical advice you may wish to use the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad “MASTA”  https://www.masta-travel-health.com/, the NHS website  http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx  or NaTHNaC https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/.

You will be obliged to disclose any medical condition or medication that you are taking to GlobeBusters in advance and to your Tour Manager at the start of your Tour, for health and safety purposes. We provide you with our Emergency Details Form for this purpose and to collect information about who to contact for you back home in the event of an emergency.

Please note that Morocco does not have the same level of medical infrastructure nor consistent medical standards that you may be used to.  In particular, emergency services often may be a long distance away, with no co-ordinated response, or sometimes no medical response available within reasonable times. Please do not book this trip if this unduly concerns you.

Just a remark about First Aid Training.  It is not a requirement to be first aid trained to participate in this tour.  However, we do recommend that you consider doing a motorcycle first aid course.  Some sections of this trip are remote and hours away from medical treatment.  If you, or a rider you are with, are involved in any accident, whilst not riding with or not close to the support team, having first aid skills may make a significant difference to an injured party.

Do I need Travel / Medical Insurance?
It is a condition of you travelling with us that you are adequately insured.  Your insurance policy must cover you for the costs of any medical expenses, medical treatment or repatriation needed, due to injury or illness on this trip, including those that occur whilst motorcycle touring, either as the rider or a passenger.  It is important that your insurance company understands that the main purpose of your trip is motorcycle touring, using your own large capacity cc motorcycle or a rental motorcycle.  Your insurance must cover you for the full duration of the trip and for all countries we travel through.

In addition, we strongly recommend that your insurance policy has cover for loss or damage to your personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation and curtailment.

We also strongly recommend that you take out your travel insurance at the time you pay your deposit for your trip as cover will commence for pre-departure cancellation from the policy issue date. This will therefore provide cover should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious injury. We do not refund your deposit simply because you failed to take out insurance in sufficient time.

Minimum Numbers
We require a minimum number of 8 riders on this tour.  If we do not have this number of bookings, then we reserve the right to cancel the tour.