Monkey Run Morocco
The Details: Monkey Run Morocco
Everything you need to know to take on the Monkey Run Morocco – our original tiny bike adventure launched back in 2015.
All you need to do is turn up in Marrakech with a helmet, a spare pair of underpants and a healthy disregard for health & safety. Then mount your 50cc wonder machine and Morocco will deliver the rest. But just incase you want to know things like dates and what this beast of an adventure costs, here are some nuggets of wisdom…
1. The un-route
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START CAMP
Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes, near Merzouga
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FINISH LINE
Desert Camp, near Marrakech
Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes
The first bit looks like Mars
From here your un-route journey begins with the first of many navigational decisions.
We strongly advise heading vaguely in the general direction of the Atlas Mountains via as much off roading as you can muster. Avoid the main highways at all costs and find the dirt tracks leading to nowhere.
Head in the wrong direction. On purpose.
“We spent two days spent driving in the completely wrong direction. Two more spent on hiking trails and unmapped “roads” in the mountains, ignoring the protesting locals we kept to the mantra: “always forwards, even if it’s backwards.” On day five we met most of the other teams crossing the Atlas towards Marrakech as we happily headed in the opposite direction.
“Somehow we managed to get to the finish line for the party with the other teams but I reckon we drove in the wrong direction for 3 of the 7 days.”
Hit the back roads
The Atlas Mountains
Not only will you lose weight but you'll be driving on some of the most spectacular roads in Africa.
2. The dates
January 2026
April 2026
October 2026
3. Entry fee & what's included
Which is for all this stuff
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The Adventure Handbook
An online adventure handbook to help you prepare (or not, depending on your adventuring style). You'll get access to after you sign up, and we update it with everything we think you need to know as your adventure looms ever closer, including how to raise money for charity.
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The Monkey Bike
A mighty, if diminutive bike to fall in love with. It's 49cc of pure underpowered genius, all prepped to carry you and your glory across some of the world's gnarliest terrain.
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Paperwork & Insurance
Bike paperwork and third party vehicle insurance ready to go.
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Pre Adventure meet up
A chance to meet your fellow monkeys. These are the people you'll be riding alongside across a large slab of Morocco. They might be the people scraping you up off the asphalt, or rescuing you from an angry camel, so we think it's nice to say hello first.
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A bus to the start line
Merzouga is a long way from anywhere, and it takes many hours to get there. Luckily, we get you there for you.
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Test driving & Adventure prep
Test driving, bike prep and Saharan sand driving championships. This is when you attempt to do things like fix your luggage to the world's tiniest bike rack. You can see some past luggage rack innovations in our blog "The Art of the Strap On" if you're curious.
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Mechanical talks
Our expert mechanics will bestow their knowledge in sessions covering basic maintenance and repairs on the road.
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Official swag
We like to give you some stuff along the way. So each rider will ceremoniously receive...
- A Monkey Run Morocco patch to prove your metal
- A Monkey Run Morocco t-shirt in case you forget spare clothes -
A launch and finish party
A launch party to kill half your brain and a finish party to kill the other.
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The Adventure inbetween
The most ridiculous week of adventuring chaos imaginable. Seven days of getting to know yourself (and anyone lucky enough to be riding with you) more intimately than is usually comfortable as you attempt to cross 600 kilometers of desert, mountain, river and gorge on nothing but a tiny bike more suited for a child.
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The Adventurists Crew
An excellent crew of humans to attend to your adventuring needs and who work round the clock to make sure you get to adventure on monkey bikes.
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A community of likeminded idiots
We'll introduce you to Monkey Run veterans if you want a chat before the adventure, but most importantly you get the company of fellow Adventurists in Morocco. You're joining a collective of genius-idiots drawn to the call of overland stupidity. We welcome you to the fray.
Payment plan - spread the cost
Go on. Off you pop. Press the buttons of destiny.
Not included in the entry fee
4. The monkey bike
"These bikes are completely impractical. That’s why you don’t see thousands of them driving up and down the country. It’s because they’re useless."
• It's close to the ground, so you don't have far to fall.
• It's about the size of a rollerskate, so will fit through tiny gaps in traffic.
• It's incredibly light, so when it inevitably breaks down it's easy to carry.
• It's mechanically basic so a chimp could fix it.
They also have a super handy luggage rack over the rear wheel which can easily hold your wallet and maybe your keys (probably best to stick to three of four keys).
Engine: 48cc of 4 stroke genius
Power: 2.1 BHP
Weight: 69kg
Brakes: Disc front, drum rear
5. Going solo?
6. License & insurance
No motorcycle license required
But you must have a standard driving license to take part in the Monkey Run. If you only have a bike license that's fine too. But if you don't have any driving license at all you need to go and get one.
For riders who only have a car license we also still strongly recommend you get a small bike permit or license in your country, even if you don't technically need it by law.
Riders have taken part before with minimal experience but we don't recommend it. Your chances of losing limbs or getting squashed by a truck are increased if you don't know how to properly pilot a tiny motorbike.
Get some time in the tiny-bike saddle and build up some two-wheeled experience before you take on the Sahara desert and Atlas mountains. Even if it's not a monkey bike, pick the smallest bike you can get your hands on.
Bike insurance
The insurance doesn't cover damage to the bike, that comes out of your deposit. We only make deductions if you do real harm to our beauties - we don't charge for the standard kicking you'll give the bike just by taking on the adventure.
Travel Insurance
7. Saving the world
Anything above this can be raised for any other registered charity of your choice.
Cool Earth works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction. All their partnerships are community-owned and led. Local people stand to lose the most from deforestation but the most to gain from its protection, that’s why they are the forest’s best possible custodians.
Why?
How do we raise the cash?
You've got until 2 weeks after the end of your adventure to raise the minimum amount of £500. Teams often raise the most cash while they're on the road and just after they get back, but it's wise to start your campaign early.
If you don't raise £500 by the deadline, unfortunately you will go to hell. Together with Cool Earth we give you tips and resources to help you fundraise. Then 2 weeks after the finish line party we will pester you for your final total. But don't panic, we won’t set any dogs on you, or force you to sell your children. We will be very, very disappointed though and do a sad face at you.
8. The warning
Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. Individuals who have taken part in past Adventurists' adventures have been permanently disfigured, seriously disabled and even lost their life.
This is not a glorified holiday, it's an unsupported adventure and so by its very nature extremely risky. You really are on your own and you really are putting both your health and life at risk. This is what makes them adventures.