Cycle the Backroads of Morocco
Pedal from the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains to the vast dunes of the Sahara Desert
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with local, professional, English-speaking guides and bike mechanicsAll accommodation
4 nights in local guesthouses, 2 night in a riad, 1 in a Berber desert campMeals
All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinnersTransfers
Airport transfers and everything in between, including a support vehicle to carry your kit or hop into if your legs need a restEquipment
Scott Genius 750 bikes and all your desert camping equipmentSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Cycle through the Valley of the Roses, pausing at the ancient UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
Take on the infamous Tizi n’Tazazert Pass (2220m) for panoramic views of the lunar-esque Jbel Saghro mountains
Bed down in a traditional Berber camp nestled among the dunes underneath a Saharan sky
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to Marrakech
Arrive at the colourful city of Marrakech and head to your traditional riad in the historic medina. Spend the day exploring the souk and Jemaa el-Fnaa, the unforgettable main square – a place that’s been beguiling and entertaining travellers for centuries. Finish the day meeting your crew over dinner to hear all about the adventure ahead.
Day 2
Time to hit the road
Driving
Cycling
Up bright and early for a 4-wheel drive to the east of the country. You'll cruise over the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass (2260m) all the way to Telouet where you'll get set up on your bikes. Today's ride undulates and passes through small Berber villages and the red rock Ounila Valley. You'll arrive at the famous UNESCO site of Ait Ben Haddou in time for mint tea and sunset on the terrace.
Day 3
Get your Throne Game on
Driving
Cycling
Ait Ben Haddou is a ksar, or fortified city, at the foot of the High Atlas, mostly famous for being a UNESCO site and one of Morocco's oldest settlements, but more recently known as the backdrop in a Game of Thrones and The Gladiator. You'll have a bit of time to explore and hear more about the ksar's fascinating history before heading to Ghassate where you'll start your ride. Watch the scenery change as you cycle through the palm groves and oases of Skoura.
Day 4
Gorge Hunting
Driving
Cycling
Leaving the palm oases of Skoura via the beautiful Taslmante Valley, you'll cycle to an ancient troglodyte settlement - many nomadic Berbers still live in the caves handed down through generations of families. It's likely you'll stop to chat to a family and of course, enjoy some more mint tea. You'll cycle through the Valley of the Roses, home to a huge rose-growing community and the main source of rose water. You'll overnight in the striking Dades Gorge, a haven for rock climbers who come to scale the 500m+ walls.
Day 5
To the moon
Driving
Cycling
Time for the big push. The Dades Valley lies between the High Atlas Mountains and the Jbel Saghro Mountains. You'll weave your way through both mountain ranges on a slow and steady ascent of the Tizi n’Tazazert pass (2200m). Cruise the switchbacks all the way to the top for panoramic views of the lunar-like landscape before rolling downhill to spend the night at the lush Berber oasis town of N’kob.
Day 6
The Sahara
Driving
Cycling
You'll ride on gravel tracks today as you follow the river, past watermelon fields and honey farms, with some peaceful shaded spots to pause for lunch. Pushing on you'll get to the small provincial capital of Zagora for a coffee stop in the main square. Zagora used to be the starting point for 'camel caravans', an essential means of trade as the camels crossed the Sahara to Timbuktu in 52 days. You'll finish riding on the sand tracks of the Sahara and hop into a jeep for a short bumpy ride to your desert camp. Dinner is served in one of the open tents, the vastness and silence of the desert providing a dramatic backdrop.
Day 7
Back to the city
Cycling
Driving
Back to Marrakech today, this time via Ouarzazate, an ancient city famed for featuring in the 1962 film 'Lawrence of Arabia'. You'll ride from oasis to oasis through the Draa Valley. In spring, vegetables are grown in the fertile Wadi Draa and will feature in your last picnic lunch. After lunch, a transfer takes you back to Marrakech for a final group dinner and a celebration of your week crossing Morocco by bike.
Day 8
Time to go home
Relax over your last Moroccan breakfast, explore the town some more if you have time, then transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Marrakech Airport (RAK)
Arrive any time on Day 1
Ends
Marrakech Airport (RAK) or Marrakech Centre
Depart any time on Day 8
Transfers
Private transfers between the airport and your riad are included for any time (and day) you choose to arrive or depart.
Travel options
There are daily flights to Marrakech from major airports across the UK and Europe.
Please note that mobile boarding passes are not accepted at Marrakech airport. You will need to present a printed boarding pass on departure.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Moroccan food is a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Local specialities include tajines (a stew cooked in an earthenware pot), couscous and pastilles (flaky pastries stuffed with meat and dusted with cinnamon and sugar). Food is often spiced with cumin, turmeric and ginger. Breakfast will usually feature bread, jam, eggs, fruit, juice, coffee and milk. Lunchtime picnics consist of fresh salad, lentils, pasta, rice, fish, bread and fresh fruit. Dinner will usually include soup, a classic Moroccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts and fruit.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request it on your passenger information form.
What is the accommodation like?
Marrakech
You'll stay in a beautiful riad - a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden or courtyard. The exact riad will be confirmed nearer the time based on availability and group size, however, all are chosen for their excellent reputation, location, beautiful decor and welcoming service. You will likely stay in Riad Nakhla or Riad Maktoub or one of a similar standard. Rooms are twin-share by default.
Ait Benhaddou
You'll stay at either Riad La Rose du Sable or Riad Maktoub, both of which have a swimming pool. Rooms are ensuite and have air conditioning.
Skoura
You'll stay at the Kasbah Mahdaoui near Skoura village, which is on the banks of the Dades River and is surrounded by palm trees. Breakfast is usually served on the rooftop terrace, near the pool, which has panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains.
Dades Valley
You'll stay in Dar Essiyaha, which is a traditional guesthouse set on a hill overlooking Dades Gorge. There are two terraces which have mountain views and rooms have air conditioning and a private bathroom.
Nkob
You'll stay at either Auberge Bassou or Kasbah Ennakhile, both decorated in traditional Berber style and offer ensuite rooms.
Sahara Desert Camp
You'll spend one night in a desert camp in the dunes of the Sahara, usually at the Tizi Desert Camp. This is definitely more glamping than camping; each tent has raised beds and an en-suite as standard. There's plenty of space to enjoy the peace of the desert and to have a chat around the fire at night.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. This is available for all nights apart from the Sahara camp night. Please request this at the time of booking as this is subject to availability.
This trip has been rated as Moderate
The terrain might be undulating and astonishing, but this trip is designed for cyclists of average fitness able to cover around 45km (average) per day on back-to-back days. There are sections of smooth tarmac on deserted roads that are a joy to ride but also some prime gravel tracks that carve through the majestic desert. It would be useful to have some experience riding on tracks/away from tarmac but it's not really needed - this is not a mountain biking trip so no single track is included.
No technical skill is required, just some strong legs and a sense of adventure! Crossing the Tizi n’Tazazert Pass on Day 5 can be tough with over 1000m of climbing, however, there is no rush at all and the incline is steady. It is a fantastic challenge for those that want it and for those not interested you can always jump into the overnight truck for a lift to the top.
The cycling terrain is approximately 60% on gravel/dirt tracks and about 40% on roads. There is also a mixture of gradients, including undulating rides, flats, downhill and uphill sections.
Morocco has a sub-tropical climate with temperatures between 18C and 28C, although they can soar to 35C in the summer and fall to as low as 5C in the winter. However, the weather varies from region to region due to the country's geographical setting. The eastern and southern parts are very dry and hot all year round as they are surrounded by the scorching Sahara Desert, while the Atlas Mountains, which snake from south to north and divide the country in half, make the climate in the centre more extreme with unforgiving heat in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter. The best times to visit are from March to May and from September to November, when the weather is generally dry and warm - you can expect daytime temperatures of mid 20°C and nighttime can drop to as low as 5°C in the desert.
If you like riding in new places it doesn't get any better than this
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.
Fantastic trip. Amazing guide Mohammed!
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
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!