Riding 4×4 Quad Bikes on the Sahara with Merzouga Trails Quads & Buggy Excursion

The day after a friend’s beautiful wedding in Costa Rica, I jumped at the chance to try ATVing on 4×4 quad bikes – an experience I’d long wanted (ATV Off Roading at Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park). What began as confident excitement shifted when two back to back encounters with a steep, muddy embankment triggered panic in me and made me doubt my ability to safely control the vehicle.

Sensing my fear, my guide Chris offered me the back of his bike. And that simple shift transformed everything: instead of stressing about technique or holding up the group, I could finally relax, trust someone else’s skill, and truly take in the rainforest, the wildlife, and the sunset on the beach. The ride back – wind in my hair, rain pouring down, arms open – felt like flying and like freedom. Plus, it filled me with gratitude for the experience and the unexpected metaphor it carried about letting go and allowing myself to be led forward in adventure and pleasure.

However, a part of me regretted not truly facing my fear and continuing driving the ATV myself.  In a moment of panic, I’d let my fears take over. And I don’t like defining my experiences through that lens.

So, when Kim offered the experience as part of her tour of Morocco (A 10 Day Moroccan Adventure with Kim Larkin Adventures), I immediately said yes.

I’d done it in Costa Rica. So, why not the Sahara?

Pick Up and Check In

As we checked in for the “1 Hour Of Quad Tour Around Merzouga” excursion, I was excited. As, it was just myself, Kim and our Morocco guide Rachid, it felt truly like a private tour of adventure.

As the dusty SUV pulled into Merzouga Trails, I felt a sense of wonder. I was literally in the Sahara desert. In front of me, a pack of camels stood, waiting for further instructions from their driver. I was stunned. This – truly – was a dream come true.

After Kim checked us in, I was fitted and given a helmet. In quick order, we were shown how to use the ATVs and were on our way.

Driving the Dunes

As I fully took in the immense expanse of the sandy landscape, I verbally said “Fuck yes…” to myself. But internally, my mind began racing: What if I go off path? What if I panic like I did in Costa Rica? What if I get too afraid and can’t keep up? What if the sand shifts and I find myself going down a little valley? What if the 4×4 flips like the tragic accident that took LeRoi Moore from Dave Matthews Band?

Sure enough, only minutes into the ride, the shifting sands guided me off course. My ATV slipped into a small sandy valley. This is what I’d feared.

Immediately, it left me further behind Rachid and our guide. But Kim, our tour leader was behind me and slowed down.

My heart raced as my worst case scenario began to unfold.

Yet nothing catastrophic happened.

I didn’t flip, I didn’t fall. I simply stopped, looked at the path I needed to take, calmed myself down and listened to a very strong, quiet voice inside that said “You’ve faced this fear. Now, trust the sand.” Then, I eased my way back up to the path that was made before me, with slow, deliberate confidence.

In a strange way, facing the very thing I’d dreaded brought relief. And just like that, we were off again, with Rachid still casually perched on the back of our guide’s ATV, and me moving forward as if the desert had never spooked me at all.

As we carved our wheels into sands and turns, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the vista that surrounded me. The experience felt at once private and expansive. I felt the immense history of the landscape; the power of the 4×4 between my legs and a sense of exhilarating adventure. This was what I’d truly wanted to feel during the Evening Desert Safari in Dubai with Arabian Adventures Experience.

This feeling of incredible power in the moment.

Truly, not everything is better in Dubai.

I felt a similar feeling in appreciating the contrast at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa – which I loved – vs the Conrad Maldives – Rangali Island – which felt like hotel jail. Riding the dunes, I felt a sense of this being the year that I finally reached my goals what I’ve really wanted and waited for. Riding around and seeing camels in the Sahara was an experience of healing, of self love and above all else – fun.

sandboarding on a Sand Dune in the SAhara

Similar to my experience at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, our guide offered us a stop for sandboarding. Now, I know that I’ve snowboarded baby runs plenty of times. But, falling face first on a sand dune felt more uncomfortable than the joy I would feel from just sliding down on the sand dune. Which is what I opted to do. Again, it was so much fun!

However, walking up the same sand dune? So much work.

Overall

Overall, I was incredibly happy that I added the 4×4 Quad Bikes experience when I signed up for A 10 Day Moroccan Adventure with Kim Larkin Adventures. It was an hour and a half of play that I simply could not duplicate any way else.

In a very profound way, it truly was the best way to wear my larger Louis Vuitton scarf that I’d purchased in Paris, a few years earlier.  I felt it against my body as I whipped and turned the 4×4 around camels. As it was the largest scarf that I owned, it did what it was supposed to do – protect me from the sun and wrap me in comfort.

With every passing moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I felt gratitude for my parents and the lineage that endured so much so I could be here, fully alive in this extraordinary experience. I also felt gratitude for Kim Larkin, whose annual group Morocco trips made it all possible.

As the speedometer climbed and dipped around 30 miles an hour, something in me felt healed. I felt that a long held desire was finally being met.

By the time Kim and I tipped our guide, returned our helmets, and climbed into the dusty SUV back to Riad Serai, I was deeply proud of myself for saying yes to adventure.

Simply put, it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

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