Put the well-travelled routes behind you and enjoy the adventure and pleasure of riding in Morocco.
Our cycling holidays and tours are for the discerning cyclist, there is a real feeling of adventure but above all they are fun.
In Morocco, you will ride in fabulous surroundings. Departing from Marrakesh we ride to the base of Atlas and then on through the foothills and into the High Atlas mountains to climb to our first overnight stay in the famous village of Imlil below Mount Toubkal.
We will then circumnavigate the Atlas around Mount Toubkal the highest mountain in the Atlas, crossing the Tizi n'Test (2092m) an awe-inspiring pass that crosses the Atlas and connects to Taroudant and Taliouine. Cutting right through the heart of the Atlas, the road was blasted out of the mountains by the French from 1926 to 1932 – the first modern route to link Marrakesh with the Souss Plain and the Sahara Desert.
We then cross through the Souss Plain with the desert to the south and the Atlas to the north, the scenery is stunning and like nothing else.
Finally, before returning to Marrakesh we re-cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2260m) known as the gateway of the Sahara Desert, a mountain pass linking Marrakesh to the city of Ouarzazate.
We stay in comfortable accommodation en route, typically in authentic Moroccan Berber Riads surrounded by olive trees and in sight of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, where you can relax after your ride and imerse yourself in the local culture. We start each day with a traditional Berber breakfast and will keep you topped up on the rides with freshly brewed Mint Tea or Coffee along with a wide selection of local fresh foods. Each days refreshmants conclude with a nutritious, authentic Moroccan evening meal. Daytime refreshments will be a mixture of picnic style feed stops provided by our support crews and carefully selected cafe stops at local villages along the route.
There will be many opportunities for you to stop and enjoy the scenery and take pictures.
We will have an opportunity to visit a hammam and Souk with an evening in the Jemaa el Fna square where after watching the sunset from a balcony bar we can walk among the snake charmers, southsayers, storytellers, and pervayors of Moroccan Fare.
We want this tour to be an adventure for you, a social experience where you will meet new friends and make great memories. This tour is run in partnership with BPM Coaching Ltd and MTB Morocco. We look forward to seeing you in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, once ridden never forgotten...
Day One: Arrival and transfer from the airport in Marrakesh to our overnight hotel nearby, assembling your bike, a briefing, evening meal then a chance to visit Marrakech Old Town & Medina.
Day Two: On our first day of riding from the Atlas foothills we steadily climb into the high Atlas to finish our day in the beautiful village of Imlil. (77 miles with 7500 ft of elevation)
Day Three: We spend our third day in the beautiful Ouirgane Valley below Mount Toubkal the highest peak in Morocco, passing through gorges and climbing through the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Test, one of Africa's most iconic climbs. We spend the night on the summit, a night to remember. (64 miles with 8,500 ft of elevation)
Day Four: We begin the day with a fabulous descent from Tizi n'Test down to the Souss plains on the edge of the Sahara Desert. The views from here are truly awesome! We then traverse around the base of the Atlas towards the oasis town of Taliouine, dominated by hills and the impressive Glaoui Kasbah. Taliouine is the African centre of L’Or rouge (red gold) – saffron, the world’s most expensive spice. We spend the night at a traditional Kasbah on the edge of town. (67 miles with 3,800 ft of elevation)
Day Five: A memorable day of undulating climbs across the Souss-Massa, passing between mountain and desert. This incredible Mars-like terrain leaves you with a real sense of adventure and is a cycling experience like no other. (100 miles with 7,000 ft of elevation)
Day Six: We make our way around from the city of Ouarzazate, up to Telouet. Whilst this is the shortest day's cycling, don't be fooled, it has some tough sections of climbing along the way! However, it is also one of the most dramatic landscapes of the tour as we climb up out of the valley, passing ancient villages and through Ait Benhaddou where they filmed 'Gladiator' and 'Game of Thrones'. (55 miles with 4,600 ft of elevation)
Day Seven: For our final day's cycling we descend the Tizi n'Tichka Pass and roll through the Zat Valley back in to Marrakech. The Tizi n'Tichka Pass is known as the 'Gateway to the Sahara' and is the most famous of roads in Morocco. You will have an exhilarating 21 mile descent through stunning scenery with a beautiful series of switchbacks along the way. Your final day's cycling is a magical ride through ever-changing scenery all the way back to Marrakesh. (77 miles with 4,500 ft of elevation). We will then head into Marrakech Old Town & Medina to round of your Moroccan adventure.
Day Eight: Breakfast and transfer to the Airport.
