PDC – a lot more than just desert

When people think of the Paris-Dakar Challenge, their minds often jump straight to the Sahara — sand, sweat, and the occasional struggle. But the journey doesn’t start in the desert. It begins with the open roads of Europe, where the adventure builds long before any off-road sections begin.

The first few days are all about freedom and flow — covering big miles across France and Spain on fast, open tarmac. With comfortable accommodation and good food along the way, it’s the perfect way to ease into the trip, felling the slow build of anticipation as the miles roll by and Africa draws nearer.

By the time you reach the ferry to Morocco, you’re already in a different headspace. The gear’s dusty, the group’s bonded, and the real adventure is just beginning.

Then come the twisting roads of the Atlas Mountains, where the air cools, the landscape turns dramatic, and you’ll find yourself leaning into bend after bend with sheer drops and snow-capped peaks in the distance. This part of Morocco feels a world away from the urban rush — until you hit the chaotic beauty of Marrakech, where weaving through rush-hour traffic becomes its own kind of thrill. You’ll dodge mopeds, carts, and the occasional oblivious pedestrian, then settle down for mint tea in a quiet riad courtyard cafe that feels like stepping back in time.

From there, the route stretches into the vast emptiness of the Western Sahara — a place where the road runs straight to the horizon, the wind hums past your helmet, and the solitude is strangely addictive. There are long days in the saddle, yes, but also a kind of meditative rhythm that only comes from hours of open road beneath you and nothing but space all around.

And then, if you’re up for it, there’s the optional push into Mauritania’s sand tracks and remote pistes — a tougher, rawer ride that’ll test your resolve but reward you with stories you’ll be telling for years.

This journey is also about quiet moments by the ocean, late-night laughter around campfires, and the surreal experience of crossing the Gambia River by ferry on the final day — knowing you’ve ridden from the UK all the way across the Sahara Desert and deep into Africa.

The Paris-Dakar Challenge is about contrast. Smooth tarmac one day, border crossings and coastal tracks the next. Shared beers by the ocean. Spontaneous street food in a dusty market. Long stretches of peace broken by bursts of chaos and colour.

The desert is part of the adventure. But it’s not the whole story. Not even close.