Dreaming of a motorcycle trip to distant climes? This section will help you to plan your trip, whether it's to the next state, country or all the way around the world! Start here!
The Achievable Dream 5-part series - the definitive video guide for planning your motorcycle adventure. Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"
See the trailer here!
So you've done it - got inspired, planned your trip, packed your stuff and you're on the road! This section is about staying healthy, happy and secure on your motorcycle adventure. And crossing borders, war zones or oceans!
Tire Changing!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
With an HU blog, you'll get a lot more readers than in some obscure corner of the web, it's all set to go, no setup required, and it's free! Start your Travel Story Blog right now!
800+ HU Communities in over 115 countries! People who want to meet travellers - yes that's YOU - and can provide local assistance, and may be your new best friends!
Make a Difference Tips on fundraising or donating time and energy to a cause.
After the big trip - Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?
Resources and Links
Horizons Unlimited Presents!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!
Meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or across Asia! They will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!
We're not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown a hobby into a full time job and a labour of love.
When you decide to become a Member, it helps directly support the site. You get additional privileges on the HUBB, access to the Members Private Store, and more. Of course, you get our sincere thanks, good karma and knowing you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. :-)
All contributions are greatly appreciated and acknowledged.
T-shirts, Calendars, Stickers
T-shirts Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
World Map Sticker for PanniersShow your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Travel BooksMotorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
Videos - Watch and Learn!
Horizons Unlimited presents!
Achievable Dream The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
"The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."
Road Heroes"Inspiring and hilarious!" (only on DVD)
Advertisers- Horizons Unlimited is well-established as the first source of reliable, unbiased information on all aspects of adventure motorcycle travel.
We reach a dedicated, worldwide group of real travellers, and are the only website focusing exclusively on long distance motorcycle travellers.
If you sell motorcycles or motorcycle accessories, riding gear, camping equipment and clothing, transport motorcycles, organize motorcycle tours, or have motorcycles to rent, you should be advertising with us!
I am heading down to Morocco in January for 5-6 weeks, wondering if anyone else is going at the same time and fancies hooking up for part or all of trip? There's a few roads I would like to try that I'm not too keen on doing solo. My bike is a modified Himalayan.I'm familiar with Morocco, my ex is from there, but I've not been for 10 years or so, and not been on the bike before. Im an old fart at 62, but fairly experienced offroad and don't mind long days in the saddle and am fairly impervious to rain, heat or cold. I am planning a mix of camping and cheap hotels.
I'm not too bothered about cold, though I will avoid any roads that might have ice on them while I am there. I use the bike through the winter in the UK so have clothing pretty much sorted out alteady. Not too bothered about campsites either, I've done a fair bit of wild camping in Morocco while travelling by car. I will stay in hotels some of the time. Its the desert which is my main focus.
I've stayed overnight in the Moroccan desert in December and it's not a pleasant experience. It's absolutely bone chilling. In addition, the road over the Atlas mountains can be a muddy hell in winter. I would consider doing the trip with you but I wouldn't be camping and I would confine the route to paved roads, probably Ceuta to Merzouga, then the Todra Gorge, Zagora, Ourzazate, then towards the Atlantic coast, but I wouldn't bother carrying a load of camping gear when accommodation is so cheap and you get a shower and a meal instead of roughing it. Life is hard enough without giving yourself extra hardship, in my opinion anyway. It can be absolutely freezing in the mountains in winter and a large part of getting away in the winter, for me anyway, is to get away from cold weather, so if I was doing that journey I would stick to warmer areas. Call me a wimp but there you are... that's my take on it.
Morocco in winter is a great destination compared to being stuck at home. Riding through Spain is likely to be the coldest as so much of the country is at altitude and I won't do that anymore in winter without an electrically-heated jacket and handlebar muffs. And I tend to get the Brittany ferry from the UK to northern Spain, feel free to use code S86513 to get 10% discount on vehicle and passenger costs.
The north of Morocco can also be cold and I tend to get south as quick as I can—you can ride the motorway network from Tanger, to Casablanca, then to Marrakech in one day on your Himalayan. My favourite winter go-to place is Tafraoute in the Anti Atlas mountains.
This was 11 years ago, the rocks have since been repainted.
It's an awful long time dark when you are camping in Morocco in winter and most camp sites are really intended for 'camping cars' (French for motorhomes) rather than tents, so I echo the comments above.
This was one of my experiences 15 years ago now, of camping in the desert without tent, sleeping bag, etc., in 0ºC temperature in winter. I survived, but boy was it cold.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
CAMPING is great ...... park up by some river , nice and warm , great views,
no rain etc ... but 2 things
1 how many days do we get like that in uk ?
2 and as you get a wee bit older its nice to have a few comforts !
But camping in Maroc is a no no
too hot in summer
too cold in winter
and your lugging all that gear around
" basic" maroc hotel aound £7 -£12!
Have an insurance claim being finalised for compensation to conclude before March. Plus spring is preferred for wild camping and sites.
Would love to do the full 6 weeks if mid March would suit, I too speak some Arabic and French, have off road experience and have plans to go to same regions. Happy to bimble along as I`m 63 years old, using my KTM Adventure which survived a solo trip to Kazakhstan and Georgia before Covid.
Are you buying insurance at the port in Marocco?
I'm considering doing this trip, but possibly leaving mid February. I reckon it's a 5 day ride from Dieppe or Calais in France, to Tarifa or Algeciras, then I estimate approximately 14 days riding around Morocco.
So, in total, I reckon 5 days to and from the UK to morocco, plus 14 days in Morocco, so around 24-25 days in total. I would be riding a 650 V-Strom on road tyres so I don't plan on doing any off roading. For me, it's really a road trip. Anyone interested in joining me?
Have an insurance claim being finalised for compensation to conclude before March. Plus spring is preferred for wild camping and sites.
Would love to do the full 6 weeks if mid March would suit, I too speak some Arabic and French, have off road experience and have plans to go to same regions. Happy to bimble along as I`m 63 years old, using my KTM Adventure which survived a solo trip to Kazakhstan and Georgia before Covid.
Are you buying insurance at the port in Marocco?
I'm heading down there next week, 23rd January. Ferry from Spain to Santander. I have to be back at work mid March, so can't delay the trip, unfortunately. Yes, I'll be buying insurance at the port. I've also taken out personal accident insurance.
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books availablefrom the author or as eBooks and audio books
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.