Cycle the Backroads of Morocco

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.

This is an amazing trip if you want to see breathtaking scenery every day. I went in October and it was very hot on some days but enjoyable. The bikes are excellent and I did take my own pedals and saddle which were fitted for the week. I would say you do need good fitness to really enjoy this trip as some of the climbs are full on and you will ride for 6 days straight (something I had not done). Some basic MTB skills will also help on the descents as well. Some days are more road-based but there are some days with trails and gravel paths. Our guide Mohammed was excellent as well as my group and we all enjoyed it as we got to see some amazing sights and experiences, and the local people were friendly and welcoming (I wish I could speak a bit of French to get by!)

My initial plan was cancelled due to the earthquake so I booked this at the last minute. I’m so glad I did, as it was a real adventure. Our guide, Mahammad was kind and considerate. The food was excellent as was the accommodation. If you can, bring a water filtration bike packers system or chlorine tablets to help this country’s use of single plastic. Lots of really interesting sites, good balance of culture, history and cycling.

A truly amazing experience in the Atlas mountains, fantastic landscapes, lovely guides, great and healthy food, many snacks, loads of fun!

Great itinerary and positive group dynamic. Very good trip all round.

I would highly recommend this morocco cycling trip. It was our first MBA trip and it definitely didn't disappoint. Our cycling guide Mohammed and his team were great. They were friendly, helpful and very accommodating, answering all of our questions and taking us to additional sightseeing places in the evenings. They were really knowledgeable about the surrounding area. Mohammed was really keen to make sure we were all enjoying the way the days were set out, which we were! The amount of driving varied each day, but none of it felt too much, we had plenty of cycling time each day. There is a mix of on and off road and plenty of stops for water refills and snacks of dates and nuts. As a mountianbiker, there was nothing technical on the off road days, but they were really enjoyable and you could take in all the views. The cars are never far away, with one always close enough behind for anything you need. We didn't feel rushed or pressured on any of the days, and always had a good description of the day the night before. The additional excursion and stops throughout the day were all really well planned, and while its clear Mohammed wanted to give you a real experience of what life is like in morocco, you didn't feel like you were intruding on the locals. The group we had were absolutely great. A variety of backgrounds and nationalities and really friendly. We were a small group, all with different cycling experiences and strengths but all rode together throughout the days with no issues, and enjoyed our evenings eating together. The accommodation chosen was a real bonus. You wont stay in many touristy hotels, and you will stay in some very small family run guest houses that are amazing! The food is also great, both in the guesthouses and hotels, but especially the picnic lunches on you days eating out in the desert My tips would be: If you're thinking about taking your own seat and pedals - definitely do it! The seats looked ok but for 6 days in the saddle I was pleased to have my own! I didn't take my pedals as I ride flats so didn't think I'd need them, but the pedals on the bikes are basic, and quite small in surface area, this sometimes gave me pins and needles! A reminder for those from the UK - Your brakes will be on the opposite sides to what you're used to! You will need cash as soon as you arrive in Marrakech for tips. Change some money at the airport but don't get the travel card some of our group got, as its not needed. Make sure you change enough money for the full 6 days when you're cycling as there isn't any opportunity to do so once you've left Marrakech. You really wont spend much on this holiday, but its nice to leave tips or the locals you visit. You don't need much in the way of clothing other than your cycling gear and comfy clothing for evenings. Take lots of sun lotion and apply it every time you stop!

Fantastic introduction to Morocco! Stunning scenery, brilliant guides and the mix of on- and off-road cycling had something for everyone.

We had a wonderful time in Morocco, from start to finish the trip was great - from the booking experience (one of the best websites out there) to the guide/driver and our group, the whole experience was brilliant. We had never cycled in that way before and just had the best time, the group dynamic was fun and it was so nice to meet a really great group of lovely people. The trip rating was spot on, we loved feeling a little challenged and even on the hardest day we had a choice of the easy or harder route. We were the only ones out there and that really added to the wildness of the experience yet the guide and staff and support car were with us all the time so we always felt supported. Health and safety was also good. The food was plentiful and tasty, great shady picnic spots and the pace of the cycling was also good and gauged well for the group. The equipment was good and well maintained, accommodation was basic and in good condition and the hosts of all the places we stayed were so friendly, all in all a very good value for money trip and a real highlight was ending the tour at the sand dunes - pretty magical.

Excellent holiday and I'm so glad I signed up. Our guide, Mohammed and his team were so friendly and always wanted to make sure you had a good time. The picnic lunches were excellent and just what I needed after cycling over the pass! You will eat so much on this holiday and love it!

There is some driving each day to get to the start of the rides but, as mentioned in previous reviews, it meant that each day the riding was varied and interesting and we got to skip the long straight, busy roads. It was a good mix of road and off road terrain and but it wasn't too difficult and Mohammed always made it clear you could go at your own pace and not feel rushed. The scenery is also so beautiful that you will want to take lots of pictures! There is a fair amount of climbing but the support vehicle is always there if you need more water or want a lift up. It does also mean there are some great downhills.

Mohammed had clearly planned each day carefully and included additional excursions (I won't ruin the surprises) which added an extra dimension to the holiday and I really enjoyed it. Our group was great, all with different cycling strengths and very supportive.

If you are reading this and considering booking then my advice would be to go for it and fall in love with Morocco. It's also great for budgeting spend as so much is already included so my daily spend was normally about £5-£10 on drinks and tips.

My tips would be:

1. Build your fitness before the holiday. The heat, terrain and climbing means you will benefit from being physically fit
2. When you change money at the airport don't get the travel card. Outside of Marrakesh most hotels and shops only accepted cash. Even 200 dirham notes can be hard to change
3. At the airport most people are waiting outside the doors. There are a few in the arrivals hall but don't worry if you don't see the MBA sign - go outside.

Finally, have an amazing time!

I would really recommend this trip! Overall the cycling was great, a nice mix of road and off-road, it was a great way to see Morocco! The scenery is breathtaking, the food (incl picnic lunches) is great and you stay in some lovely authentic places and the locals are very friendly. And the mint tea is great! Definitely bring cycle gloves to prevent blisters, bring layers (long sleeve tops) as the weather can get very warm during the day and the sun is very strong. There were some additional cultural activities thrown in including Kasbah visits which were nice additions to the cycling. You drive most days to get to the best locations for cycling but this just means the cycling routes are well thought out. Overall I think this was a great way to see Morocco, and we had a great group to enjoy it with!

A really enjoyable trip - a fair amount of driving involved but worth it because all the cycling was well thought out with a nice mix of routes, terrain, road surface (the bikes were absolutely fine for the rough stuff), stunning landscapes to marvel at and with some moderately challenging climbs. All of which is, if anything, undersold a bit by the itinerary! Mohammad and team ensured all the logistics (and lovely picnic lunches) were all taken care of

What a wonderful week spent in Morocco! There truly is no better way to see a country than by bike and Morocco is mind blowing in it's immense landscapes and welcoming people. The weather was pleasant (mid October). I was happily surprised with the lack of traffic on the roads and the conscientious drivers, allowing us to roll along enjoying the views. The full suspension bikes came into their own on the off road sections and although there are some long climbs in parts, take it as a challenge, you are never far from an incredible vista, a snack break of dates, fresh oranges and of course mint tea! The itinerary is spot on: you've come to ride your bike, but added in were visits to a kasbah, a morning siteseeing walk and a hint of culture mixed in for good measure. We were never bored and yet we never felt rushed. It was the perfect active holiday and I didn't think about work for even a second! If you've been thinking of Morocco as a holiday, this trip is a great one.

A stunning journey through Morocco which mixes together the most breathtaking scenery and a great opportunity to explore some of the region’s history. A great variety of locations were explored and whilst it was definitely challenging at times it was a great experience I would recommend in a heartbeat and I’m proud to have done