Cycle Morocco

Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your adventure begins in Marrakech with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not visit the Dar Si Said Museum or nearby Saadian Tombs. Maybe chill out in the Marjorelle Gardens, luxuriate in a hammam or see Marrakech from above on a hot air balloon ride. After the meeting, head out to explore the city’s lively Djemaa el-Fna – one of the largest public spaces in the world, unique to Marrakech. When night falls it transforms into a hive of activity. Henna painters, performers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar packed with stalls. You’ll have an included welcome dinner here while the performers vie for your attention.

Fuel up with breakfast this morning, then get fitted for your bike – your transport and best friend for the next 13 days. Take a short test ride to make sure everything’s working properly, then begin a cycling tour in and around the city. Start near the royal olive groves of Menara Gardens and ride to well-known sites like Koutoubia Mosque and the Marrakech Medina. Finish your cycle in the Palmeraie – a palm tree oasis. Return to Djemaa el-Fna for an afternoon snack (a street stall pastry) with a glass of fresh orange juice. There will be ample time in the afternoon to freshen up before you board your sleeper train this evening for the journey to Tangier.

Arrive in Tangier this morning and check into your hotel, then meet up with your support crew and vehicle. Saddle up for today’s ride, which starts with an easy ride to the Grottes d'Hercules (Caves of Hercules). Legend says Hercules stayed in this cave before doing his 11th labour – collecting the golden apples from the Hesperides Garden. Its modern uses have been quite varied, from a brothel to a concert venue. From here, the road undulates and climbs as you jump back on the bike to explore Cap Spartel, known to the Romans and Greeks as the 'Cape of the Vines'. Stop by the 19th-century lighthouse and maybe climb up to the top for an amazing view across the Atlantic Ocean. Have lunch here, then a ride downhill back towards Tangiers' Mediterranean port. After, maybe relax with a mint tea at one of the many local cafes.

Leave Tangier behind and travel through the arid inland towards the beachside village of Azla. When you arrive you’ll hop on your bike and begin today's ride – follow the winding coastal road south to the small fishing town of Oued Laou. The shimmering waters of the Mediterranean will be on your left, steep mountains on your right and small coves dotted with beaches in-between. The climb will all be worth it when you stop for lunch at one of the beaches and take the opportunity to go for a swim. Later today, leave the saddle behind and let the support vehicle do the hard work of climbing the steep hills to the ‘Blue City’ of Chefchaouen. Your afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. Maybe shop for handicrafts in the ancient medina or find a spot at a local cafe and people-watch.

Today is a free day to explore Chefchaouen. Maybe take it easy at a cafe in the Plaza Uta el-Hammam, chill out in a Hamman or stroll around town admiring the architecture of the 15th-century Grand Mosque (the interior closed to non-Muslims). If you’re still feeling energetic, you might prefer to take an optional guided tour of the Blue City or head out of town for a hike in the Rif mountains (which lasts approximately 4 hours).

This morning, drive from Chefchaouen to the outskirts of Bab Taza village. When you arrive, you’ll stretch your legs on a ride along a quiet undulating road and through sparce landscapes to Tabouda. As the roads get busier and the day heats up, retreat to the comfort of the support vehicle and leave the quiet of the Rif Mountains behind you. You’ll then drive to Fes – the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. When you arrive, you have the rest of the day free to rest and recharge.

Leave your bike behind today and embark on a guided walk through the secret shortcuts and twisting alleyways of Fes. Pass donkeys piled high with goods and feel like you’re stepping back in time to the Middle Ages in the labyrinth of the medina. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Consider watching the sunset over the medina tonight and ask your local leader where the best local delicacies can be found.

Avoid the traffic and the heat with an early start today. Leave Fes behind and drive into the Middle Atlas Mountains, arriving at Ifrane. Set at an altitude of 1,650 metres this charming ‘hill station’ town is the perfect pace for a quick coffee stop before starting your ride through the wooded hills of Ifrane National Park. Take in the unique view of the Middle Atlas Mountains as you coast gently downhill to the tiny town of Timahdite, pausing for a snack in one of the largest cedar forest in the world along the way. Be sure to keep a keen eye out for the local Barbary macaques and deer that frequent the forest.
After lunch in Timahdite, continue the final 23 kms of your ride with the gentle climb up to Aguelmame Sidi Ali Lake (2080m) – a placid clear blue lake and wetland sanctuary. From here, drive to the Kasbah town of Midelt. Nestled in a valley, Midelt is surrounded by farmland and orchards. The rest of your day is free – maybe explore the town or visit a local embroidery co-operative run to benefit the local Amazigh women.

Midelt to Merzouga is a long journey, so you’ll embark early on the drive to the Tizi n Telghemt Pass (1900m), then get your wheels moving on a gentle downhill cycle through rugged canyons and arid plateaus to Er-rich for a coffee stop. From Er-rich you’ll continue downhill by bike to the banks of the Ziz River and the cavernous Tunnel Zaabal. Re-board the vehicle and drive through frontier towns like Erfoud that have been the setting for films like ‘The Mummy’ and James Bond’s ‘Spectre’. Arrive in Merzouga, leave your gear at your overnight camp and jump on a camel for a ride to the edge of the Sahara Desert. Enjoy a scenic sunset then return to camp for a dinner of delicious local cuisine and fall asleep under a sky dotted with North African stars.

Start the day with a ride directly from your desert camp (it’s not every day you can say you’ve ridden a bike in the Sahara Desert!), following the flat off-road gravel tracks across the orange-hued open plains for almost 10kms before meeting the tarmac road that takes you to the nearby oasis town of Erfoud City. Known for its marble quarries and some of the best dates in Morocco it’s a great place to finish the ride before jumping into the vehicle for a short transfer to view the ancient underground water channels (khattarat) for a fascinating insight into the skills and ingenuity Morocco’s desert people.
From here drive to Tinghir – your entry point to the remarkable Todra Gorge. This massive trench with sheer rock walls rises over 300 m to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco as the Todgha River snakes into the canyon. The limestone stacks make this area best discovered on foot, so join in for a walk through the surrounding farmland and a ruined village. Afterwards, the rest of the day is free to take it easy at your Kasbah accommodation, which sits in the middle of the gorge surrounded by palm trees.

This morning you’ll drive to the green-fringed Dades Valley. This is one of the most scenic stretches of road in Morocco and you’ll begin your ride downhill on the hairpins of the Dades Gorge. Leaving the greenery behind, take a small gravel road deep into the desolate Mgoun Valley near Bou Tharar, as you wind through the red rock scenery with the Dades River below. On the way, stop in at a local family's home and share a traditional cup of tea with your hosts. This is a genuine opportunity for local interaction with a nomadic family who spend their lives travelling this remote land. Your leader will be there at all times to help you communicate and understand each other. Later in the afternoon, bid farewell to your new friends and head to your accommodation in a mountain gite, where you’ll sit down for a traditional Moroccan dinner.

Start your day in the cool morning air with a ride directly from the homestay, cycling through the beautiful landscapes of the M’Goun Valley. After a short time take a pause at a spectacular viewpoint with stunning views over the valley then continue through the rugged scenery along quiet undulating roads until you hit the smooth tarmac of the main road. From here begin your drive to mythical Ait Benhaddou, passing ancient Kasbah ruins, former military outposts and austere mountains. Pause for lunch in Ouarzazate, where ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Black Hawk Down’ were filmed. If time permits, maybe tour the Atlas Movie Studios. Visit the Horizon Association for People with Disabilities – an organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation, health and empowerment of people living with disabilities. They provide essential services like prosthetic limbs, physio and social therapy, as well as training in skills like pottery or metal work. After, take a walk to Ait Benhaddou – centuries ago, this was an important stop for caravans carrying salt across the Sahara. Today, its grand Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the star of movies and TV shows like ‘Gladiator’, ‘Games of Thrones’ and ‘The Living Daylights’.

Commence the long, winding ride up into the Atlas Mountains and the small town of Anmiter on your last cycle of the trip. You’ll then drive to the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka Pass. At 2260 m above sea level, this is the highest major mountain pass in North Africa. After a brief break for refreshments and photos, descend the High Atlas Mountains back to Marrakech. When you arrive, say goodbye to your support crew and settle in for some free time to relax. Tonight, you’ll likely be drawn back to the Djemaa el-Fna for a celebratory dinner.

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.