Scooter tours: back roads, encounters and freedom

How does a scooter change the way you travel?

A scooter encourages riders to leave major roads behind and explore secondary routes and accessible tracks. Its manoeuvrability makes villages and smaller roads easier to navigate, while the relaxed pace creates more opportunities to stop at markets, ports and natural sites.

This is less about performance than proximity to the destination. Riders experience changes in temperature, vegetation and village life without being separated from their surroundings. The scooter becomes more than a practical vehicle: it shapes the entire journey.

Which scooter journey does Planet Ride currently offer?

Our current selection features a guided twelve-day journey covering approximately 700 kilometres across West Africa. The route begins on Senegal’s Petite-Côte, crosses the Sine Saloum region and The Gambia, and continues south into Casamance.

Highlights include riding among baobabs and mangrove channels, crossing the River Gambia by ferry, following the Atlantic coastline and reaching Kafountine, Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring. Scooter stages are complemented by activities such as kayaking, travelling by pirogue and exploring selected areas by quad.

Who are scooter tours designed for?

This style of journey suits travellers who want the pleasure of a motorised road trip without seeking an intensely sporting challenge. Riders should nevertheless feel comfortable on two wheels and be ready for heat, sandy sections and changing road surfaces.

It works particularly well for couples, friends and small groups who value manageable daily stages, local encounters and cultural discovery over long distances. Flexibility is useful when crossing borders, using river ferries or adapting to local conditions.

What does a typical day on the road look like?

Each day begins with a briefing about the route, terrain and any specific conditions ahead. The group then rides with the guide along secondary roads and accessible tracks. Regular stops provide time to explore villages, markets and natural areas.

Distances are planned to leave room for visits, conversations and rest. At the end of the stage, riders reach a hotel, lodge or ecolodge and have time to enjoy the surroundings before dinner.

What should you check before departure?

Licence requirements, minimum age and expected riding experience can vary according to the country and vehicle. Planet Ride confirms the precise conditions before booking. Entry documents, possible visas and border formalities should also be checked well in advance.

For West Africa, lightweight protective clothing, sun protection and compact luggage are recommended. The current journey includes the scooter, helmet, half-board accommodation, airport transfers and guidance. Flights, fuel, lunches and visa or border-related expenses should be budgeted separately.

Why book a scooter journey with Planet Ride?

Planet Ride selects journeys where the vehicle genuinely enhances the experience. On this route, the scooter makes it possible to approach villages, mangroves and beaches at a pace that suits the destination.

Guidance, reserved accommodation and carefully designed stages provide a dependable framework without removing spontaneity. Our travel advisers help riders prepare the practical details, leaving them free to focus on the road, the landscapes and the encounters that give the journey its character.