Enduro Holidayswith theMX-Academy

Enduro holidays with the MX-Academy combine two worlds: open desert close to the city of Dubai, and a training ground in Switzerland where you polish your technique on your own enduro bike before the next big trip.

Dubai: desert and city close togetherDubai: date of your choiceSchlatt TG: Zurich Airport around 39 minAll levels, groups by ability

Motocross trip to Switzerland MX-Academy Dubai

Enduro holidays: a rider in red Honda gear lifts the front wheel through a muddy pool, water spraying high

Enduro holiday in the desert, close to the city

In Dubai the desert and the modern city lie very close together, which makes an enduro holiday there unusually flexible. You decide each day how intense it should be: a long ride across the sand, a short session, or a day off the bike. One possible rhythm is to ride early in the morning and join your partner at the beach by midday.

If you want more, you can stay overnight in the desert and look up at a sky full of stars; this part is optional. The riding takes place with the MX-Academy in Dubai on a date you choose, so the trip follows your own calendar rather than a fixed programme. Because the distances are short, you can also change the plan from one day to the next without losing time on long transfers.

Enduro holiday in the desert: a lone rider crosses the face of a towering golden dune, sand blowing off the crest

Enduro travel with partners who do not ride

Not everyone in your party has to love sand and engines. Beach days and shopping give you a break from riding, and companions with other interests find plenty to do while you are out on the bike. That is why the MX-Academy sees Dubai as a destination where everyone in the group gets what they came for. For the days off the bike, the page on things to do in Dubai is full of ideas.

A good day can therefore look quite different for each person. The riders head out first, the rest of the group starts the day at a slower pace, and everyone meets again in the afternoon or evening to swap stories.

Early morning: enduro in the desert
Midday: the beach with your partner or family
Afternoon: shopping or sightseeing in the city
Optional: a night in the desert under the stars

Enduro holiday in the desert: a group of riders and their bikes rest on the sand below a rocky mountain ridge

Enduro holidays in Europe: practice days in Switzerland

Riding an enduro off-road is restricted in Switzerland to approved grounds, and that is why the MX-Academy trains on its own approved ground in Schlatt TG, which you reach from Zurich Airport in around 39 minutes by car. Every type of enduro bike is welcome, and riders are split into groups by ability so that each one is pushed without being overstretched.

Advanced riders tackle hard enduro sections: tree trunks, steep climbs and descents, high berms and balance exercises. If you bring your own bike, enduro training is €163 (CHF 150) on a Wednesday and €195 (CHF 180) on a Saturday, and protective gear can be rented if you travel light. Advanced dates on a Thursday are for riders with their own bike and gear. These prices are non-binding.

Enduro holidays in Europe: a rider in red and white gear tackles a flight of concrete steps on a grassy slope

Getting ready for the trip: technique before distance

On a long trip you want to keep a heavy enduro under control in every situation without getting tired. The basic techniques are the same as in motocross, which is why many good enduro riders come from that sport. A practical route is to learn on a light, agile motocross bike rented from the MX-Academy and then transfer what you have learnt to your own, heavier enduro before your enduro holidays begin.

One day of practice is a start, but advanced skills need regular training. For riders who want to be properly prepared for a bigger enduro or motorcycle trip, the MX-Academy runs a motocross and enduro team in Switzerland, which you can join with your own bike of any brand or with a rental bike. Typical exercises on the training ground include:

Riding position, standing and seated
Crossing roots, stones and logs
Pulling away on a slope and braking downhill
Cornering technique off-road

Enduro travel: a rider on a red and white bike on a steep, dusty hillside with a village far below

Planning flights, time zones and dates

Count on around six hours in the air from Switzerland to Dubai. While Switzerland is on summer time, the clocks in Dubai are two hours ahead, and in winter three hours, as the United Arab Emirates do not change to daylight saving time. You can book the MX package for Dubai, or organise hotel and flight yourself; in that case, get in touch with the MX-Academy in Dubai about the riding days.

More about the desert ride and about motocross training in Dubai is on the website of MX-Academy Dubai. For the Swiss part, enduro training dates are listed in the online calendar of events, and questions about both locations go to info@mx-academy.ch. The Swiss courses all start from the shop of the MX-Academy at Hauptstrasse 8; guests arriving by public transport use bus line 847, whose stop ‘Schlatt TG, Mettschlatt’ is about 70 metres from the door.

FAQ: Enduro Holidays

Which enduro holidays does the MX-Academy offer?

Enduro in the desert of Dubai on a date of your choice, and practice days on the approved training ground in Schlatt TG, Switzerland. Details on Dubai are on the website of MX-Academy Dubai.

Is Dubai a good enduro destination for non-riding partners?

Desert and city are close together, so companions can enjoy the beach, shopping or sightseeing while you ride, and you meet up again the same day.

Can I bring my own enduro bike to the training in Switzerland?

Yes. Any type of enduro bike is welcome in Schlatt TG, and riders train in groups that match their level. Advanced Thursday dates require your own bike and gear.

Why practise in Switzerland before an enduro trip?

The basic techniques are the same as in motocross. Practising them on a training ground makes a heavy enduro easier to control on the trip.

Is enduro riding allowed anywhere in Switzerland?

No. Off-road enduro riding is limited to approved grounds, so the MX-Academy holds its enduro courses on its own approved site in Schlatt TG.