Cycle the Backroads of Morocco

It's no secret that we love cycling and many of us at HQ think it's the best way to see a country, however, we realise that organising your own trip can be a total faff. On our cycling trips, we’ve found a local guide who has put together a perfect route and will navigate for you all the way. We also send a van that transports your overnight luggage and provide high-quality bikes and delicious snacks to keep you going. Faff eliminated!

All you have to do is turn up, pedal and take in the amazing landscape with your fellow tourers. You will cycle at your own pace, with regular stops to regroup so that no-one gets left behind.

You'll be riding a Cube Stereo ONE55 C:62 – a road and trailworthy carbon frame, full suspension mountain bike. Before your trip, your host will ask for your height to ensure the correct frame size is provided. Each bike is equipped with a water bottle cage, standard flat pedals, and male/standard saddles. If you prefer to use your own saddle and pedals (including SPDs), feel free to bring them, and they’ll be fitted for you.

Can I bring my own bike? Bringing your own bike is discouraged. This is due to a lack of storage for bike boxes/bags, and also, the support trailers are tailored to fit the bikes the host provides, which means safe carriage of your personal bike cannot be guaranteed. In addition, your own bike may require special parts for maintenance which may not be locally available, nor possible for the support vehicle mechanics to repair, so the use of the bikes provided by your host is recommended.

Yes, you will cycle point to point during the trip. Each day, you'll travel from one location to the next, cycling through remote valleys, gorges and farmland from the Atlas foothills to the Valley of Roses.

The ratio of guides to cyclists on this trip is 1:14. Throughout, you will also be accompanied by a support vehicle driven by a bike mechanic.

In the event of poor weather such as heavy rain, strong winds and/or storms, it is possible that conditions may become unsafe to complete the planned rides on this trip. Your guide will assess the conditions and weather forecasts and make a decision with your safety in mind. If it becomes necessary to make a change to the planned itinerary, an alternative route or activity will be offered.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Moroccan cuisine reflects a blend of Berber, Arab and Mediterranean influences, shaped by trade routes and a varied climate, resulting in aromatic, slow-cooked dishes built around spices, grains, pulses and seasonal produce. Meals are often communal, with tagines, couscous and bread forming the core. Travellers with dietary requirements can usually find suitable options, particularly for vegetarian or dairy-free diets, though dishes can be meat-led and ingredients are not always clearly listed. With a guide on hand, communication is easier, but it helps to plan ahead and be clear about needs, especially in smaller towns.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian
Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan
Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Kosher
Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal
Halal diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten-free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below)
Gluten-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Lactose-free
Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking, to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Tap water in Morocco is not safe to drink for travellers. The support vehicle will carry multiple 5L bottles of water, from which you can fill your personal reusable water bottles. Your guide will endeavour to recycle or reuse these 5L bottles wherever possible. You may also wish to bring a water filter, purification tablets, or a UV steriliser to give more flexibility around where you can get water from.

E-bike upgrades are not available for this trip; you’ll be riding mountain bikes as listed in the trip inclusions. Keeping everyone on the same bike type helps maintain a comfortable group pace, simplifies logistics and ensures a more inclusive experience. We do, however, have a growing collection of e-bike adventures which you can explore.

Yes, you need to bring your own cycle helmet on this adventure. It should meet recognised safety standards, display a relevant certification mark, and be in good condition. It is mandatory for all riders to wear a helmet whenever cycling.

Please make sure your helmet is:

• A purpose-built cycling helmet that meets a recognised safety standard and displays a relevant certification mark, including (but not limited to):

  • CE/EN 1078 (UK & Europe)
  • CPSC or Snell B90/B95 (USA)
  • AS/NZS 2063 (Australia & New Zealand)

• In good condition:

  • ideally no more than five years old
  • not involved in a crash
  • no visible cracks/dents, compressed foam, or damaged straps

• A good fit:

  • sits level (not tipped back)
  • snug, secure and stable when fastened (doesn't rock or slide)
  • retention system and straps work properly

If your helmet isn’t suitable on arrival:

• you may need to rent or buy a suitable helmet locally (availability varies by destination)
• if a suitable helmet can't be sourced, you may be unable to join some or all cycling activities on safety grounds, in line with your booking conditions

Need help choosing or fitting a helmet?
For advice see British Cycling’s guidance.

Cycle Safety Please see our cycling safety guidance for further information.

Ramadan is an Islamic festival during which the religious do not eat or drink during daylight hours. This can be a fascinating time to travel, particularly to witness the evening celebrations when the fast is broken. However, you can expect some business hours to be shortened, alcohol not to be served during daylight hours, and some restaurants to be closed during this period. Daytime activities for local people are often limited, while the nights are very lively in cities, with a wide variety of foods being sold and enjoyed. Ramadan will not affect the inclusions on your trip, although you should be aware that dinners will be served after locals break their fast in the evenings.

As Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, the dates change from year to year. We recommend checking whether your chosen trip dates fall during this period.

The rose harvest in the Valley of Roses typically takes place between mid-April and mid-May, though the exact timing varies depending on weather conditions each year. The late April and early May departures are usually the best window to ride through the valley when the Damascus roses are in bloom and local rose-picking activity is in full swing. That said, the Valley of Roses is enjoyable riding at any time of year, and the terraced fields, kasbahs and remote tracks are just as rewarding outside of harvest season.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

This trip takes place in southern Morocco, moving through the Atlas foothills, desert landscapes and the Valley of Roses. The region has a dry, continental climate that varies considerably by season, so what you can expect depends on when you travel. Rain is rare across this region but not unheard of in spring.

Spring departures (March, April, May) and autumn departures (September, November) offer the most comfortable conditions for cycling, with daytime temperatures typically between 18°C (64°F) and 25°C (77°F). Nights can be cool, dropping to around 5°C (41°F).

Winter departures (December, January) bring cooler days and cold nights. Daytime temperatures are mild and pleasant, averaging around 15-18°C (59–64°F) on clear days, with nights dropping to around 5°C (41°F).