Cycle the Backroads of Morocco

This is a tough but incredibly rewarding cycle trip. Our guide Mohammed and his team Ibrahim and Saeed were fantastic and worked tirelessly. You really are off the beaten track so it’s a great opportunity to interact with the wonderful people of Morocco. This included special experiences such as having tea with a cave dwelling Berber family and jamming with local musicians. On several days we didn’t see any other tourists. The scenery is fantastic and there’s great road surfaces with very little traffic. The food we had was fantastic with delicious and plentiful lunches courtesy of Ibrahim. Most the places we stayed in were lovely and on a couple of occasions our group had the place to itself. I hadn’t really done any off road cycling previously and found it challenging but very enjoyable. The trip as a whole greatly exceeded expectations. Why not 5 stars? We did have a few issues:

• the bikes weren’t all great and it did impact the enjoyment of some people in the group. More spare parts were needed to replace gears etc. On previous MBA cycling trips spare bikes/parts were carried in the support vehicle.
• 1 of the hotels we stayed at wasn’t as per the trip notes and seemed of lower quality
• when we arrived at the desert camp we were allocated poor quality tents and not en suite as per the trip notes. We had to spend quite a while on the phone to the local company to get the issue sorted meaning we missed sunset
• during the cycle days there aren’t really formal toilet opportunities so this trip isn’t for you if you aren’t happy to go behind a bush!

I’d recommend taking pens to give out to the children as a lot of small and isolated schools are passed. Alcohol isn’t available in the hotels so if you want a drink in the evening you’ll need to take your own or ask the guide to call in at a supermarket. Most places were very accommodating at chilling alcohol

Wonderful guides/drivers. The route was absolutely amazing. The food lovely. The bikes were old and not maintained at all - half of us had serious issues like worn cassettes, bald tyres, faulty chains, broken suspension-it really impacted the trip. The guide was a skilled bike mechanic but he lacked any spares, proper tools & the spare bike was broken too; even the pump was broken - not his fault whatsoever he did an amazing job with the poor equipment he was provided with & sacrificed his own bike for us to use. The Marrakech Riad at either end of the trip had a pervasive smell of damp & the owners cigarettes which he constantly smoked around the place. He didn’t help me with my heavy bag but watched me carry it up the stairs…our transfer didn’t turn up on arrival we waited 45 mins before we called Hossein who eventually sent one. The minibus he organised for us @300dirham in Marrakech travelled 200m before dropping us far from our hotel where we had to walk with all our bags. It seems that anything that Hossein was involved with was shoddy. Otherwise the trip was wonderful. Regular MBA friends who were with us say this was exceptionally poor & they’ve not experienced this service before.

This was my first Much Better Adventures trip and it was great. Mohammad, our guide did a great job of leading the tour. The support team traveling with us were all so helpful. We stayed in wonderful guest houses each night, picnic lunches here delicious and relaxing. The rides were challenging but doable by novice cyclists.

The group of travelers I ended up with could not have been better. All great people, encouraging and supportive of each others' experience. We all took pictures and videos of each other to share.

This was one of the best cycling trips I've been on. Mohammed our guide was fantastic. The organisation was slick and as he had chosen his co-drivers and cook for the lunches he had a great team. I could tell he was looking out for every member of the group. The other thing that impressed me was he tried to help the local community economically. We drank mint tea with them and used their travel stops. I cannot praise Mohamed enough for every aspect his help during this trip.

Amazing cycle trip with a great group of people. A good mixture of tarmac and gravel. Loved all the Riad stays and the tagines!! The picnics were fantastic!! Following a tumble on gravel I was very well looked after by Mohammed and his team. I have been on several MBA cycle trips now and Mohammed was definitely the best guide yet!! The Moroccan people are really welcoming and I would recommend this trip 🚵😎

A great mix of different kinds of riding, absolutely gobsmacking scenery, great food - so much packed into one week. Our ride leader Mohammad was brilliant, along with the three support drivers. We were looked after so well. The trip is perfectly possible for anyone who is fit and rides reasonably regularly - some offroad experience useful but not really necessary. The ride over the Tizi n'Tazazert pass was a real highlight - a slow climb on a dirt road up an amazing valley, and then a stunning decent via good tarmac over many miles. If in any doubts, just do it !

Wow! Where to start? Wasn't too sure what to expect - the pair of us are keen road cyclists, but not offroad experts in the slightest, but we needn't have worried, from the start MBA looked after the admin whilst Mohammad, Omar and the boys looked after us, our welfare and our fabulous Moroccan adventure. Travelled in mid-November which proved a good decision - daily temps out on the cycle a pleasant 21 degrees and a nice 26 for the weekends we explored Marrakesh. Marrakesh - place was buzzing! A real experience. The Souks and alleyways were always busy. Never ending market traders to haggle with and watch out for the mopeds (the only form of transport in the city centre - they take no prisoners!!) Plenty of terrace restaurants in the main square, SKY bar was good, but NOMAD was easily the best. We stayed in the Riad Nakhla which was very cute with friendly family owners and a great breakfast. In fact all of the accommodation was fine during the holiday, once we were out and about the Riads were comfortable though basic, with a decent meal every evening, and once again friendly owners and staff. TBH Morocco is a pretty friendly place! The cycling? Epic - loved every minute. A day would consist of some positioning on the very comfortable minibus, and then a couple of hours of cycling either side of a very nice traditional tabled lunch provided by the lads at a mid-point - all very tasty. The jeep (with on board snacks) followed us around the route, so it was easy to take a break from the cycling if required. Classed as 'Moderate' we were concerned whether we would cope offroad, but overall we were pleasantly surprised that our general standard of cycling fitness proved sufficient to cope with the demands of the week. And there were some hills, especially days 3 and 4 - but the absolutely incredible scenery and views made it all worthwhile. Morocco really is a beautiful country and the routes during the week are amazing. You need to experience this if you can. Of course what also made the week was the other 10 intrepid adventurers who went with us - what a laugh! Especially the camel ride, another unforgettable experience - for many reasons!! It was all over too quickly, but thanks must go to our cycling support team: friendly, knowledgeable and great english - they made the holiday what it was: totally enjoyable and breath-taking at times. Admin points: get money when you arrive from the ATMs outside arrivals (the airport banks exchange rate was high) and we used a Holafly eSIM with unlimited data for Morocco cost £32 each for the 11 days (4G coverage is better than at home in Scotland!!) So glad that we gave MBA a try - already thinking of what to do next year now - enjoy!!

This was an amazing experience. Everything about this adventure was excellent! The riding was superb and a fabulous way to see the country. The tracks were challenging at times but glorious fun. The bikes were fine for the mixed terrain. The guides were excellent. They soon learned everyone’s expectations & limitations and every need was catered for. Safety was never overlooked & we were encouraged to enjoy the adventure. Mohamed and Omar were absolutely the best guides ensuring we got a wonderful overview of the country & it’s culture. There is no better way to experience Morocco. The scenery was breathtaking. Every corner offered further beauty. Spectacular scenery & rock formations. The sweeper car was always behind us and offered plentiful supplies of water, dates, fruits & nuts. It was easy to pop bikes on top of the car & catch a lift if energy levels had dropped. The other vehicle often to be seen carried the bike mechanics & cooks. These guys prepared some of the best food of the week. It seemed they always knew of our expected arrival time & the excellent food & tea was ready promptly. Accommodation was of a fine standard for a country situated in a desert land. Varied & obviously not like home but the welcome we received from every host, hostel, hotel was genuine & warm. We have no hesitation recommending this trip or company to friends. I only hope to keep up my fitness levels & expand my riding experience so that I can book something similar for next year!! We met wonderful, likeminded & fun people who were very inspiring. The group size was perfect.

Wouldn't mind a bit more comms regarding arrival accommodation, swapping riads etc. It's an easy thing to help people settle in.

Lead guides Mohammad and Omar were first class from start to finish, up for a laugh and even just laughed when my Scottish humour went way above them 😄

Delighted with the model of bike, it had top reviews when released in 2018.

Moderate rating on the website, I don't know what the moderate bit relates to? Maybe just the ability to bike on tarmac. Fitness levels need be above moderate to be able to complete the uphill sections, especially on the tarmac with a full suspension bike with trail tyres. The bikes dont fully lock out either so still some bouncing and sapping of energy. There were some people who competed each section but they were the event riders etc, not the moderate cyclist (imo). Obviously there is the jeep & certainly no shame in using it.

Bikes 4/5 : Good bikes but too much road work for this type of bike. It is definitely needed for the downhill sand trails, where is was an absolute blast. They are reaching 7yr now too and I didnt see too many new parts, just constant maintenance, specifically rear suspension, which takes a hammering . . . it did get us round though and have to remember, mechanical things break, regardless of how new or used they are.

Lunches 5/5: looked forward to lunch every day. Just great food, always great food.

Riads 5/5: I loved them, the company name is much better Adventures, not tip top luxury, not one complaints from me, done the job, catered for everyone or at least tried their very best.

Dinners 5/5: You will get a wee bit Tajined out towards the end but you can shut your eyes and just enjoy the flavours. Zero negatives really.

Guides and support team, Mohammad & Omar, super fit chaps delighted to have met both, would happily do more riding with these guys, made me feel so welcome and had a laugh everyday with me, I cant fault either of them. Put in some hard work to ensure people were happy

Cooks, drivers. . . same, super friendly, helpful, up for a laugh.

You'll see some amazing scenery, you'll have a laugh if you want to, you'll enjoy it if you want to.

I could easily have cried, stamped my feet at the amount of up parts and roads, but its an adventure. Try and chill out and take each part as it comes, have a laugh, take the next hill up or dirt trail down as a challenge, the guides will help.

I'd happily go back even with the full suspension bikes but I would be getting my fitness up to ensure I was completing each cycle on the bike. Thats my challenge.

This was a memorable and fabulous cycle trip. Mohammadt and Omar were fabulous guides and the rest of the team friendly, smiling and superb drivers and chefs. The Lunches were possibly the best part of the food day though some of the evening taglines were also great. Lovely like minded group who were great fun and so mutually supportive. You’ll get to see some things on this trip that you would never see in any other way than biking. The riding was tough at times but the truck always available. Sometimes it felt like swapping biking for a 4x4 experience. Accommodation was good on the whole. The only negative I would mention is that the Sahara tents felt more like Army barracks and definitely poorer accommodation and catering than the other days. The group tended to agree. Still I’d definitely do a trip with MBA again, based on this my first trip with them it’s going to be hard to beat!

Great fun! Great team, food and itinerary.

The cycling is varied and largely off road. There are steep climbs of up to 30mins and some rocky descents. The landscape is majestic and was the real star of the show. All our guides and support crew were friendly and professional, I couldn’t fault them. The bikes were good (I took my own spd pedals and saddle) and full suspension. Food was really excellent - plenty of fresh fruit and veg. The trip cook provided a great lunch every day and the guesthouses all had their own twist on tagine in the evening. You need plenty of layers (including long gloves and cycle legs) in late November - it was very cold in the mornings but heated up by lunchtime. We bought dates and nuts in the market in Marrakech for cycle snacks pre trip. It’s a fantastic way to see Morocco. We had a couple of days in the city after the trip to relax. 100% recommend!

Great first trip with MBA and to Morocco I was concerned about the trip beforehand but didn't need to be. We were looked after well by Mohammed, Mohammed and Hassan who went out of their way to support us, make snacks and good cooked lunches along our rides. Good varied rides and you would enjoy more if you have a certain level of fitness. Off road parts were challenging but there was always the jeep to get in if you didn't want to do it. Accommodation is basic but clean. Lots of tagines on the way!

Great way to see the country!

Beautiful country, beautiful people. Muhammad and team were lovely and supportive, food was great (delicious lunches), and ascent through some major passes were appropriately challenging.

A well-rounded cycle adventure across many types of fabulous landscapes. A decent fitness level and some off-road MTB Skills are an advantage on this trip. We were very well looked after by our guide Muhammad, and the meals were all very tasty and filling. The riads stayed in were all of a good standard and some benefited from a refreshing swim in their pools at the end of the day. The optional camel ride across the desert to your desert camp is well worth doing.

Great experience great guides. If anything I think you undersell the scenery. Good bikes and accomodation. Would possibly liked to have learned a little more of the history or culture as we went along. Overall excellent

Expect jaw dropping landscapes, sweet sweeping descents, chewy n challenging climbs and technical off road adventures. A deep dive into the heart of rural Morocco, each day brought something fresh and rewarding. The accommodation was basic but good, food was hearty, healthy, home prepared and filling. The hosts were so welcoming and our guides were warm, friendly and went the extra mile to make for an unforgettable trip. You need to be fit to do this trip, don't let the Moderate rating fool you, you'd also benefit from some MTB skills. There's no pressure to do all the cycling and always a chance to jump in the 4x4 but you'll enjoy it most if you're fit for it. Check the weather, our trip was seriously hot, and be prepared to eat a lot of tagine! Enjoy!!

I wanted a shorter cycle trip than others I had done before, and this trip certainly didnt disappoint. From the bustling city of Marrakech on day one, to the rocky landscapes and multiple riads used during the week, this is one stunning country. The cycling varied between rocky desert, challenging climbs and rolling roads, with an added desert wind thrown in on the last day. The desert camp was well appointed, and the final hotel and pool a welcome recovery option. Muhammed our guide was constantly encouraging and watching out for all of the participants. The local hosts were all so welcoming, providing well cooked meals, and the teams drivers provided amazing meals for a number of lunches during the week.

Enjoyable first cycling trip for me with MBA. Thanks for Mohammed, Mustafa and Mohammed for their support on the trip. Really helped with moving luggage from accommodation to accommodation, fixing issues with bikes, and printing extra documents for the airport I'd forgotten to print. Physically challenging but rewarding with some great views of Morocco and the Sahara Desert.

I am submitting this review to help others have a better experience then I did.

Name and address of Riad was not given out before I arrived. At immigration I was asked for this information and was delayed while they decided if they would let me into Morocco. This could have ended badly by me being put on the next flight out.

Waiting outside the terminal no one was waiting to collect me. I left messages on WhatsApp and tried to call MBA but no answer. I ended up calling up another rider from our group who called your office to tell them about my situation and only then after about one hour did someone arrived to collect me. Even then they didn’t have a sign saying MBA Back Roads, they only picked me out of the crowd because a had my bike helmet strapped to my backpack.

I paid for an extra three nights at the start and had three different Riad’s I was not told anything about moving and on the second move I was in the middle of a paid tour when I was contacted to say I needed to get back (50min walk) to change my riad to a third location. I could have planed my own accommodation and saved money but didn’t want to be moving around. I paid for the extra day’s months in advanced. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTAL.

Your website says “As the sun sets, gather with the guide and rest of the group for a welcoming dinner and a briefing on the epic adventure ahead” It did say on your webpage in the section what’s included that the first dinner was not. I found this to be misleading at best. Also, the same for the last night’s dinner.

We stopped at our Riad in Ait Ben Aaddou and the only thing we were told was what time was dinner and breakfast and that we could go into a Kasbah if we wanted. I was the only one who went for a walk and came across the UNESCO site used for filming and at dinner I told everyone that it is a must see and only then did Mohammad say that we can meet up one hour before breakfast and have a walk around the site. This is the main attraction on day three on your webpage (mentioned twice on your website first page and in Itinerary) and if I hadn’t gone for a walk everyone would have missed it. Not impressed.

Difficulty rating Moderate. We all agreed at the end it was more than that and even the seasoned riders agreed. I was the oldest but do cycle between 150 and 200 k a week swapping between my road and mountain bike. I did have to hop into the van on the bigger climbs, I might have been able to ride up at my own pace but Mohammed seamed to keep the pace quite high and I had on a couple of occasions been over a kilometer behind while riding. Thanks to Mohammed (the driver) who always stayed behind at a safe distance and was never a problem to but my bike in and out of the van. A big thankyou to him.

We had problems with the bikes not shifting properly and only then did they oil the bike chains which helped but did not fix it completely. On about the fourth day the rear axle on my bike completely unwound itself causing the rear tire to jam on the frame. If this would have happened on one of the fast downhill road sections I could have been seriously hurt. I’m a retired motor mechanic and do all the repairs on my own and friends’ bikes and can honestly say the bikes lacked any real maintenance. It seamed the only time when something was looked at was when it needed attention. Your website says they carry tools and spare parts. Tools were very basic and spare parts were a bag with second hand parts and nuts and bolts. One of the bikes could not be fixed and they gave her another bike that could not shift into the large chain ring making it difficult to keep up.

All the accommodation was excellent and what I was expecting. A special mention to the lady at Kashab Mahdaoui near Skoura village who made a special effort to welcome us.

As we arrived at our last night of the group stay and as I had stayed there before I went straight to my room, after dropping my bags off and I opened the door and found Mohammed (guide) standing out side to say goodbye and I gave him a tip then he left without telling me anything how I was going to get to the airport three days later. On the day before I was due to leave, I tried to find out how and what time I was going to be collected but didn’t get any answer throught whatsapp and MBA and email then tried to call Huissain direct but just rang out I asked the lady who ran the Riad if she could call someone which she I think called Hussian, She got an answer in seconds. I did get a whats app message later saying “First you don’t never call me direct either by WhatsApp or by phone, I think Mohamed on the last day he arranged pick up time with you” This did not happen. I have the screen shot from WhatsApp You can understand my concern at not being collected, missing the flight and being a repeat of being forgotten on arrival.

I know you do not run the tours but I would assume that they have been completely vetted by you to a high stranded as any problems on any tour would reflect badly on MBA.

My Google review will only be three out of five stares and its only that high due to the accommodation, riding the Atlas mountains and the other riders that I made friends with. It was rare that we had points of interested pointed out to us along the ride.

I’m 50/50 on would I recommend MBA to anyone

Ronald Xuereb. You can contact me if you have any questions before I do my Google review.

A fantastic MTB cycling holiday over 6 days covering approx 250km. 6 in our group (all individuals) all ably supported by guide Mohammed, driver Mustafa and driver/mechanic Mohammed. They all did a great job, loading the vans, providing excellent picnic lunches, fixing the well maintained bikes, transporting our stuff and giving us all encouragement when required! Fitter you are the more enjoyable it will be, but everybody made it round cyclist or not, there’s always the sag wagon! Accommodation was basic, food was good & people all welcoming & friendly. Highly recommended.

A great experience. Courtesy of the 3 M’s Mohammed,Mustafa and Mohammed number two. Those 3 are so keen for you to enjoy everything about their country. They should be recognised as being outstanding in everything they did for us. I am so glad I didn’t give in to my reservations about being a senior female (66yrs) going alone and whether or not I would fit in with a group. My fellow riders ranged in age from 64 - to 36. We all got along easily and enjoyed the challenges together. The rides are varied. You do need to be fit. Some of the off road stuff is not for the feint hearted and some mountain bike experience would definitely help. I managed to ruin two inner tubes. Mohammed got me back on the road or lack of a road very promptly. The accommodation is generally Ok. The food however is all excellent, fresh and tasty. You will get plenty Tagines. Print off your boarding pass for your return flight.

A very highly recommended cycling tour! The Morocco wilderness and landscape I found truly amazing as we cycled our way through the week. Very friendly local people. Mohammad, Mustafa and Mohammad were a great team and were thoroughly patient and attentive providing and supporting a great experience. My third MBA trip, and again I have been impressed with what unfolded during the week.

We had a fantastic week. The group size was 8 which was perfect. We had a fabulous guide, Mohammad. He went out of his way to help us . All the hard work was done for us making it a low stress way to travel. Local guides and drivers are a great way to see the back roads. The accommodation was good. It is all 2-3 star but clean and great food and lovely people. We would highly recommend this tour if you want to see the true Morrocan wilderness with the security of local knowledge.

I'm recently back from this trip and will not forget it for a long time. It was my first time doing any gravel or mountain biking and, while challenging at times, I came away feeling like I had learned a lot and more confident in off-road cycling, which was the reason I booked the trip. The whole trip was organised extremely well with knowledgeable and skillful guides and drivers. The scenery was absolutely stunning. I've been to Morocco several times before but never seen it like this. The food was great - healthy, big portions, all homemade and tasty. I would say the trip is doable for anyone of reasonable fitness but it is definitely challenging at times, but the option of getting in the support vehicle is always there and a few of the group took that up on several occasions. Overall, a really fantastic trip that I'll remember for a long time! Thank you to Mohammed, the guide, and all the team.

I have just returned from the Backroads of Morocco trip. I was shocked to find that every town and village in the area looks like a building site covered in garbage. It is quite sad to see and it was certainly not like that when I visited the country 23 years ago. However, my biggest problem with the trip was the quality of the bikes provided. Frankly, they were awful and very poorly maintained. The first bike I was provided with had knackered rear wheel bearings and the gears would not function correctly. The second bike I was provided with was ok for half a day before a derailleur jockey wheel fell off. The third bike provided had a knackered bottom bracket bearing and more worrying had totally worn out front break pads. This became apparent when doing a fast 1000m decent. The “support” vehicle that follows the riders is a transit van. On two occasions found myself sat in the back of the van either on a garden chair or on the floor. It’s neither safe nor legal to be transported in this manner. I do feel that you are more likely to return from this trip in a body bag rather than with a smile on your face.

Brilliant experience. Well organised, fantastic guides, great routes with varied places to stay, and gave a window into the Moroccan landscape and people. Suggest staying an extra night or 2 in Marrakesh - so much to see and do. We were lucky to be joined by some lovely like-minded people and had a great time. Can't recommended highly enough.

Morocco mountain-biking adventure. :woman-mountain-biking:🇲🇦❤️ High Atlas and Jbel Saghro mountain ranges to the Sahara desert, along the ancient camel trails to Timbuktu, and the Tizi n Tazazert mountain pass. 252km off road 2986m elevation - it felt a whole lot more 😳. Mostly into strong Saharan headwinds that knocked us off our bikes - I am sand blasted! Proper endurance at times - emptied the tank, sobs and shouting at the wind - pure Type 2 fun! 😂 Our guide Mohammed was amazing. He looked after us so well, he knows and loves his country, he was a really super guide. The bikes were great, Scott MTB. And really well maintained by our mechanic, also called Mohammed, who was super-cheerful and encouraging all the way through. The two Mohammeds were a great team! What a country… last year’s earthquake devastation, souks, riads and kasbah, cave dwellers, hand hewn salt mines, the friendliest Berber people, children high-fiving us through tiny mountain villages. Moroccan tea, nous nous (coffee), dates, nuts and tagines, climbed a mountain to watch the sun rise over the Sahara. Perfect, perfect peace… TIPS: bring everything on the kit list. I went end of March and at times it was cold. One day I wore 4 layers. And you don’t need to bring anything fancy for the evenings! Our trip was with the most wonderful friendly group of adventurers. More than half travelling solo. What a trip. Exhausted. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. This is my 3rd trip with MBA, they do such a good job. Highly recommend this trip!

Excellent trip. Really lovely to see the difference in lifestyle between Marrakech and the mountain towns/villages. Everyone gave us such a warm welcome. We stayed in a variety of accommodation, all good. Our guide Mohammad was great ... I was a little unsure whether I'd be fit enough but everyone can go at their own pace, and the breaks were spaced at just the right interval so everyone can snack, dehydrate and regroup. Our group were really lovely, some singles, some couples with ages ranging from mid-twenties to mid-seventies. We were a novelty for the local children who would give us "high fives" wherever we went and ran next to us as we puffed up the gravel inclines. Wished we'd had some pens/pencils/paper to give them. The scenery is BIG! Wasn't really expecting such a vastness to the mountains ... beautiful ... am so glad we did this trip

Booked this last minute and so glad I did. This is an amazing trip taking you to places off the beaten track. We had a great group and Mohammed our guide and the support team were fantastic. I cannot recommend this trip enough, you'll stay in traditional accommodation and experience Morocco as you should.