One of the great things about routes like the Trans America Trail and Backcountry Discovery Routes is that area experts have already done the research for you. All you have to do is follow the route and plan your stops based on the information provided. This formula is continuing to gain popularity worldwide, as shown by the new Trans Morocco Trail, a 3,000 km (1,864 mile) route that will stretch from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean when it is complete.

The first section, comprising 80 percent of the full route, has just launched, featuring a 2,400 km (1,491 mile) route from the sand dunes of Merzouga to the Atlantic. It sets off into the Sahara’s ‘Black Rock Desert’ before swinging over the dramatic volcanic massif of Jebel Saghro on the way to the High Atlas mountains, reaching over 10,000 feet in elevation. It then turns south to cross the Saghro badlands again towards the vast Iriki clay pan back to the Sahara. 

Initially this is a tough 230 km of stony trails followed by deep sand ruts, but like every stage on the TMT, you can easily skip it via a road or alternative tracks. From there the TMT winds its way through the gnarled, palmy canyons of the Anti Atlas ranges before taking a final run via an abandoned Foreign Legion fort to the Draa river estuary on the Atlantic. Sometime in January, the last part of the route will be released, beginning on the Mediterranean coast at Nador and connecting to the beginning of this first section, completing the Trans Morocco Trail.

But words alone cannot capture the breathtaking scenery and terrain that awaits you on this journey. You can explore it virtually by checking out this Google Map. 

At around 50% dirt, the TMT isn’t pitched as a full off-roading challenge. And if not wild camping – which you can do safely anywhere – you’ll still need to plan your staging and research your lodgings. The TMT master map identifies dozens of places, as well as vital fuel stations. In the deep south some fillup stations are two days apart, so buy gas by the bottle from village shops — a task that North African desert biking connoisseurs and TMT creators, Chris Scott and Ed Gill say is easily done.

While any epic adventure will be a challenge, and the TMT is no exception, it isn’t designed to be excessively difficult, either. It is intended to be enjoyed by any off-road capable motorcycle, as well as overland rigs and even bicycles. While there are certainly some difficult sections, there are also highway bypasses available, similar to a BDR that gives you a choice between an easy or difficult section depending on your bike and riding ability.

In the spirit of the routes that inspired it, the TMT is free for anyone to use and explore. It is available for download as a .KML file, which can then be converted into a .GPX file if you prefer that format instead. That way, you can import the file into your mobile device of choice and use it to navigate without having to rely on cellular networks. The file includes not only the route itself, but also lodging, fuel, water, and other important stops along the way. 

The Creators

Of course, it takes people who know the area well to create a route like this, and the TMT is no exception. Chris Scott has made over 50 visits to North Africa and the Sahara since 1982, traveling by every method from motorcycle to camel. Much of the route started as leftovers from Chris Scott’s guide book, Morocco Overland. He was able to link together his favorite back roads and trails to create the first section of the TMT that is out now.

The other mind behind the TMT is veteran rider Ed Gill, who has ridden motorcycles in 46 countries across six continents, including riding solo from London to Sydney in 2015. More recently, he has taken trail riding expeditions in Georgia and Armenia, Europe, Morocco, and South America. In late 2023, he spent three months exploring Algeria’s deep Saharan south off-road, unguided and unassisted, becoming one the first non-Algerians to successfully do so in over twenty years. This fall, Gill will survey the last part of the TMT from the Mediterranean to the current starting point in the Erg Chebbi dune field to make sure everything is in order before its release in January 2025.

“We’ve deliberately pitched the Trail as an achievable way to explore and enjoy Morocco’s amazing landscapes and Amazigh [Berber] culture on any off-road capable bike,” says Chris. “It still requires solid planning and self-reliance, and some days will be tougher than others, but by the time you rock up at Cap Draa on the Atlantic you’ll have had some amazing adventures. And by the New Year you’ll be able to do the full 3000 km lap.” 

The best way to keep up with the latest Trans Morocco Trail developments is the TMT website, where the routes and other information are available. You can also follow the TMT on Instagram, or join the Trans Morocco Trail Facebook group to interact with the creators and others interested in the route.

Author: Justin Hughes

Justin has been an automotive and motorcycle journalist for the past 10 years. After learning to ride on a series of Suzuki GSs, he took up touring on a Honda Silverwing and PC800 before turning his attention to off-road adventures. His racing experience is mainly with cars, although he did do a track day once on a KLR650. He has traveled with his cat, Lister, to 44 states in his “moto-glamping” camper van, Smokey Da Van, with his V-Strom 650 in tow.