Seeing Marrakech from a sidecar is the city's most photogenic tour. You sit in the passenger seat of a vintage motorcycle sidecar, with the guide riding alongside, and head out to see the city beyond the guidebook route. The booking page lists a three-hour private ride tailored to your interests, with each ride different. Reviewers mention a riad stop for tea, the Medina, the newer Gueliz district and the palm grove. The operator lists an insider guide and driver, helmets with disposable hair nets, rain gear, live commentary, bottled water and food and drinks unless otherwise specified. The page shows a perfect 5.0 from about 550 reviews, with 100 percent of travelers recommending it. It operates in all weather. The experience is for ages two to ninety-nine, but a sidecar holds a maximum of two passengers including infants and children, and children up to twelve must be accompanied by an adult in the sidecar. The page lists the meeting point at the operator base on Avenue Moulay El Hassan, near the Medina.
Why it works
The sidecar is a good way to cover distance between very different parts of town, to travel the lanes that cars cannot and to hear a local perspective. You get breeze, photos and a story rather than a series of ticket queues. Guides tailor the route: ask for history, street art, hidden gardens, food stops or the palm grove. Because it is private and tailored, it is also a good choice for couples and for a first morning when you want to orient yourself.
Safety and comfort
Riders wear helmets, and the vehicles are driven by the guide at city speeds. Dress in casual, comfortable clothes, closed shoes and sunglasses, and bring a light layer for early mornings. Passengers with reduced mobility should mention it when booking. If you are taller or larger, ask the operator whether the sidecar will be comfortable. The booking page states a maximum of two passengers per sidecar, and one sidecar per person can be arranged by contacting the operator.
Booking
Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so reserve early in high season. Free cancellation is listed up to 24 hours before the start; for heavy rain, cancel at least ninety minutes before departure for an alternative date or a ninety percent refund. Because the tour runs in all weather, check the forecast and bring rain gear if offered. Tips for your guide are optional. The tour is among the more expensive per person on this list, but the private format and the reviews justify the price for many.
For a cheaper way to see the same districts, try the Medina cycling tour on this site. Photography is half the fun, so keep your phone in a wrist strap or zipped pocket, ask your guide to stop for pictures at viewpoints and carry a light scarf if you are sensitive to dust or wind. Morning departures are the most popular, and the tour is a good choice for a first day because the guide can point out places you will want to return to on foot, including cafes, shops and gardens.
What to expect
The experience
A private three-hour ride in a vintage motorcycle sidecar with an insider guide-driver, tailored to your interests, with tea in a riad.
Best time
Morning for cooler air and soft light; sunset for photographs. It runs in all weather.
How long
About three hours.
Tips
Wear casual clothes and closed shoes. Maximum two passengers per sidecar. Tell the operator your interests when booking.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Couples and photographers who want a tailored, private look at the city.
- Families
- Ages two and up are listed, but each sidecar holds only two passengers, so a family needs several vehicles.
- Couples
- One of the most memorable ways to spend a morning in Marrakech.
- Pair with
- A food tour or a hammam in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
How long is the sidecar tour?+
About three hours, as a private ride tailored to your interests.
How many people fit?+
A maximum of two passengers per sidecar, including infants and children; contact the operator to arrange several sidecars.
What is included?+
The operator lists an insider guide and driver, helmets with disposable hair nets, rain gear, live commentary, bottled water, and food and drinks unless specified.
Does it run in the rain?+
It operates in all weather. For heavy rain, cancel at least 90 minutes before departure for an alternative date or a 90 percent refund.
Where does it start?+
At the operator base on Avenue Moulay El Hassan near the Medina, where it also ends.
