Sidecar Tours: The Ultimate New Trend in Sightseeing

Imagine this: The motorcycle roars to life as you fasten your helmet and tweak your goggles. In no time, you're weaving through the winding alleys of Marrakech’s historic medina, stirring up dust as you zoom around sharp bends, navigating the grand arches of the city's ancient walls, occasionally pausing for a mule-cart blockade. The streets are so tight you could almost touch the carpets or spices sold in the souk. You feel the vibrations of the engine, yet the mechanical growl isn't between your legs but about two feet to your left. You're simply along for the journey.

Step into a sidecar tour, where you experience all the thrill and charm of a high-speed adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones, minus the hassle. The skill required to navigate these narrow lanes? The quick reflexes to dodge obstacles? Those tasks are best left to an expert driver, allowing you to relax and soak in the views.

Sidecars originated in 1890s France, thanks to army officer Jean Bertoux, who won a newspaper competition to create a new way to transport passengers on bicycles. They later became synonymous with motorbikes and played a vital role in military tactics during the World Wars, used for carrying machine guns and ammunition.

Nowadays, sidecars are an increasingly sought-after choice for soft adventure travel, with tour companies sprouting up all over the world. You can now ride sidecars through the streets of Singapore and New York, the vineyards of Napa Valley and Bordeaux, a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia, and along the winding roads of the Canadian Rockies. New operators are constantly emerging, including Third Wheel Tours, which launched in Paso Robles this summer.

Kensington Tours, known for its tailor-made luxury travel experiences, has started incorporating sidecar adventures into its bespoke itineraries in Morocco, collaborating with a local provider named Marrakech Insiders. The aim is total immersion. "The vintage sidecar journey bombards your senses with a panoramic view of vibrant colors, alluring scents, and resonant sounds," says Cynthia Hill, Kensington’s VP of sales. "It brings you face-to-face with the magnificent red city of Marrakech." Beyond the medina, your guide can lead you through the historic French district of Guéliz, into the palm grove to witness the ancient khettara irrigation system, or even further into Berber villages nestled in the Atlas Mountains or the Agafay Desert.

At the opposite end of the continent in Cape Town, Kensington Tours partners with Cape Sidecar Adventures, where founder Tim Clarke highlights the immersive nature of the experience: "As Robert M. Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, noted, when you travel by car or bus, the scenery flashes by like a film. But on a motorbike, you feel like you’re in the movie. That’s precisely the experience our guests cherish while riding in our vintage sidecars."

Clarke stumbled upon the world of sidecar tourism in a rather unexpected manner while co-owning an Irish pub in Shanghai nearly two decades ago. "I found that the best way to clear out my pub at 2 a.m. was to combine a last call for drinks with an offer to transport everyone left to the next all-night pub on my beloved sidecar, Amanda," he recalls. "I was astonished by how eager everyone was to hop on the bike, and that planted the idea in my mind." When he returned to Cape Town, he brought Amanda along with six other sidecars and launched one of the first sidecar tour companies in 2005.

Now boasting a fleet of 41 sidecars, Clarke and his crew guide guests along exhilarating routes that may feature Chapman’s Peak Drive (South Africa’s stunning equivalent to the Pacific Coast Highway), nearby vineyards, and even the Stony Point penguin colony. Additionally, beyond the wildlife you might glimpse at the Cape of Good Hope, there’s a furry staff member who has gained popularity rivaling that of the tours themselves: Brody the rescue dog (@brodysidecar on Instagram) can frequently be seen sporting a bandanna and “doggles,” resting his head on guests’ shoulders during their rides.

Another delightful perk: The vintage sidecars are a magnet for automotive enthusiasts and history lovers alike. Both Marrakech Insiders and Cape Sidecar Adventures utilize Chang Jiang 750 sidecars, relics from the Cold War with a fascinating backstory. These mid-century Chinese replicas stem from an earlier Soviet model, which was originally “borrowed” from a 1930s BMW sidecar design, and they were extensively used by the People’s Liberation Army. In Morocco, they became popular with the Marrakech police in the 1950s, and as you cruise through the medina, it’s easy to see why they were cherished for their nimbleness.

It’s no surprise that this mode of travel gained traction during the pandemic. "The appeal of sidecar tours during that time was our ability to provide entirely exclusive and personalized experiences without the risk of mingling in crowds," Clarke explains. Guests were collected and dropped off at their lodgings, enjoying picnic lunches in secluded locations along the way. "Since our sidecars are smaller and more adaptable than traditional vehicles, we can access places that are off-limits to the general public, allowing guests to stay within their own bubble."

Beyond the practical advantages, Hill notes that many of the most attractive features of a sidecar tour align with broader trends in the resurgence of international travel. "[Our clients] were weary of the monotonous routines imposed by lockdown and were eager for adventure," Hill explains, stating that travelers are now seeking “excitement and the extraordinary.”

With the rising trend of multigenerational travel, Hill remarks, "Younger family members are increasingly demanding unique and immersive experiences that challenge their relatives to step out of their comfort zones.” Sure, the wind may whip through your hair and the ride can get a bit bumpy (that’s part of the thrill!), but sidecar tours still provide a comfortable, chauffeured experience. Remember, you don’t have to be behind the wheel to enjoy the ride of a lifetime.