Quad Biking the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech

Expect a mix of dusty tracks, Berber villages, rocky hills and desert-like scenery depending on which direction you go. Most tours head either into the lower Atlas near Lalla Takerkoust or the Agafay desert area. It's genuinely fun if you like riding but can feel touristy; you'll spend a lot of time posing for photos at viewpoints and stopping at scenic spots rather than ripping around freely. The riding itself is easy to moderate – no technical off-roading – but you'll eat dust if you're not leading the group. Full-day trips get you deeper into the mountains and feel more worthwhile than the shorter ones.

Best time is spring (March-May) or autumn (October-November). Summers are brutally hot in the desert areas and winters can be surprisingly cold once you're up in the Atlas. Expect to pay around $35-55 for a 2-hour excursion and $130-180 for a full-day trip that includes lunch and more varied terrain. Transfers from central Marrakech are included in decent operators.

Pick a morning departure to avoid the worst heat and crowds. Skip anything that bundles quad biking with camel rides and dinner shows – they're usually rushed and tacky. Go for the longer version if your back and backside can handle it; the half-day trips often feel like just enough time to get dusty and turn around.