Riding a motorcycle in Morocco: what to check before you go
Morocco is a short ferry ride from southern Spain and has some of the best mountain roads anywhere, over the High Atlas and down through the gorges to the desert. The rules for bringing a UK bike in are set by others and can change, so we link straight to the official pages rather than repeat them.
Travel advice for Morocco
- Morocco travel advice (FCDO, GOV.UK)The UK government's current advice for Morocco. Read it close to your departure date, as it is updated.
- Entry requirementsPassports, visas and what you need at the border.
- Safety and securityIncludes the FCDO's notes on road travel and on remote and border areas.
- Local laws and customsWhat is different from home, including laws that may surprise UK visitors.
Your licence, bike and insurance
- Driving abroad (GOV.UK)Licences and vehicle documents for UK drivers and riders outside the UK.
- International driving permits (GOV.UK)Whether you need a permit for the country you are going to, and which type.
Ask your bike insurer and your breakdown provider, in writing, whether you are covered in Morocco and what document you need to carry. Do not assume a European policy extends there. Check the same with your travel insurer.
Getting there
From the UK you can ride through France and Spain, or take a ferry to northern Spain, then ride south to a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar. Our ferry and tunnel crossings page covers the crossings from the UK. For the crossing to Morocco, book with the operator directly and check what it asks for at check-in.
Routes in Morocco
We have plotted routes through the Atlas mountains and the Rif, including the Tizi n'Tichka and Tizi n'Test passes, the Dades Gorge and the road south to Merzouga. They are plotted on OpenStreetMap roads, not yet ridden by us. Mountain roads in Morocco can be damaged by weather and rockfall, and some were affected by the 2023 earthquake, so check locally before you rely on any of them.
This page is for guidance only and is not legal or travel advice. Check the official pages above before you go.