Cycle the Backroads of Morocco

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!

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