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Authentic Morocco by Bicycle
Duration
8 days
Site savings
$53
From
$1,697 USD
Located on the northwesternmost stretch of Africa and a gateway to Europe, Morocco is one of the most vibrant cultural and commercial crossroads of the continent. In the saddle, explore the rugged hills and valleys of Morocco's Atlas Mountains. Venture into these highlands inhabited by the Berbers and be delighted by their proud traditions that have been passed down for millennia. Roll and pedal up and down the sea of red massifs and take in the captivating views of snow-capped peaks just a few miles further from the unforgiving desert, a contrasting picture of unparalleled beauty.
- CategoryCultural & Historical
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration8 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
- Distance164 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance32.9 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration8 days
- Main DestinationMorocco
- Distance164 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance32.9 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMixed
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Arrive in Marrakech
Having arrived at the riad, after a trip briefing, it's off on a trip briefing and city tour to visit the Medina of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of shops and stalls of succulent food and exquisite handicraft, before returning for a welcome dinner. After the explorations there will be dinner in a restaurant near the Jemaa El Fena Square.
- Riad Luzia
- Dinner
- Day 2Marrakech – Kasbah Telouet – Kasbah Ait Benhaddou
This morning you'll leave Marrakech early and drive via the High Atlas Mountains to Kasbah Telouet (3-4 hours). Once the stronghold of Thami El Glaoui, the so-called Lord of the Atlas during French colonial occupation, Telouet is a great place to start familiarizing ourselves with the unique architecture and history of Moroccan desert citadels. This is also where you'll saddle up for your first ride of the tour. You’ll be cycling on a winding road through the Ounila Valley, surrounded by a picturesque pre-Saharan landscape of rocky cliffs, lush oases, and traditional Berber villages. After 46 km you'll arrive at your destination for the day: the stunning village of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains a well-preserved medieval kasbah renowned for its labyrinth of clay-brick buildings, meandering alleys, and breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery.
- 28.6 miles
- -1,738.8 ft
1,141.7 ft
2,880.6 ft - Riad Maktoub
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 3Kasbah Ait Benhaddou – Dades Gorges
Today you'll go valley hopping in the scenic foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. These valleys offer a transition zone between the higher altitudes of the Atlas Mountains and the lower, arid desert regions, creating a unique and diverse landscape - perfect for mountain biking! Departing from Ait Benhaddou in the morning you'll transfer 90 minutes by vehicle to the town of Kalaat M'gouna. This is the gateway to the “Valley of the Roses” which, though known for its annual festival dedicated to the blooming Damascus roses, is gorgeous any time of the year. You'll start cycling out off Kalaat M’gouna, traversing an impressively high plateau that connects the Valley of the Roses with Dades Valley of southwestern Morocco. In this region, Bebers still live in centuries-old caves and grow figs, almonds, and pomegranates on the scarce, narrow strips of greenery. Should the occasion present itself, you’ll enjoy some fresh mint tea alongside Bebers in one of the inhabited caves.
- 24.2 miles
- 482.3 ft
2,158.8 ft
1,676.5 ft - Dar Essyaha
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Dades Gorges – Jbel Saghro – N'kob
Today you will snake your way through the Dades Valley to the Berber oasis town of N’kob. The first 25 km is a gradual uphill trek to the heights of the Tizi n’Tzazert Pass which, sitting at 2,200 m ASL, offers stunning panoramic views over the Jbel Saghro Mountains. You’ll rest your legs a little and then embark on a very pleasant, at times steep, downhill section leading you into the Draa River Valley. This is one of the most fertile landscapes of southern Morocco, jam-packed with crop and palm plantations tended to by Berber communities. You’ll spend the night in the oasis town of N’kob, known for its traditional adobe buildings.
- 39.1 miles
- -1,935.7 ft
2,523 ft
4,458.7 ft - Kasbah Ennakhil
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 5N'kob - Agdz
As you cycle out of N’Kob in the morning, the scenery opens up to vast stretches of date palm plantations and fertile fields that offer a rich tapestry of greens and earthy tones. The terraced gardens and palm groves present an oasis-like contrast against the arid desert surroundings. You will be cycling on gravel roads that connect the Berber communities and farmlands of the Draa Valley, along the way gaining a candid appreciation for the millenia-old ingenuity required to cultivate under such unforgiving desert conditions. As long as the route follows the river, honey and watermelon fields line your way but, if you move just a few hundred meters away from the riverbanks, the landscape is again dry and barren! By lunchtime, you’ll arrive in the village of Tafechna after which you'll have another 15 km to the cycling endpoint. You'll hop in the support van and drive to the tranquil town of Agdz (1 hour) where you'll spend the night.
- 31.1 miles
- 9.8 ft
1,807.7 ft
1,797.9 ft - Kasbah Itrane Tamnougalte
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 6Agdz - Tizi-n-Tichka Pass - Marrakech
On the tour’s final ride, you will be cycling from Agdz to Cascade Tisgui, leisurely taking in the scenes of life in the oases and Berber villages lining the Draa River. After completing the ride you will transfer back to Marrakech via the city of Ouarzazate and the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass. At 2,260 m above sea level, it is a spectacular piece of engineering that is often listed as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. You’ll be on the road for 3-4 hours but time goes fast when the views are that nice! Once you arrive in Marrakech you’ll get settled at the hotel and leave the evening for free time. Dinner is on your own in vibrant Marrakech.
- 19.9 miles
- 1,069.6 ft
1,742.1 ft
672.6 ft - Riad Luzia
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 7Marrakech
It's a bike-free day and your muscles can relax by taking a guided tour of Marrakech, the Southern Pearl of Morocco, to learn more about the city's rich history and culture. Discover the Palace of Bahia built the late 19th century. It consists of 160 rooms and was aimed to be the grandest palace of the time. Next you'll visit Saadian Tombs, the exquisitely decorated and sculptured mausoleum of the Saadi Dynasty members, who ruled Morocco from 1554 to 1659. And you will continue the tour to the 69-metre (226 ft) Koutoubia Mosque, the city's most famous and largest mosque and the nearby square Djeema el-Fna, a bustling square full of shops and stalls where you can practice your bargaining skills. The tour concludes with an exploration of the souk (market) filled with mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets, ceramics, hand-made leather goods, and other tantalizing food stalls. Lunch is on your own but everyone will meet up for a farewell dinner to reminisce this magical time in Morocco.
- Riad Luzia
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 8Departure