Watch the landscape change before your eyes on this Southern Moroccan cycling adventure
You will spend 6 days cycling through the exotic countryside of southern Morocco, crossing the High Atlas Mountains around the towering M’Goun massif, through the colourful Valley of Roses into the spectacular Draa River Gorge, passing the landscape dotted with ancient Kasbahs, then onto the Saghro Mountain plateau. You will then pass oases, rivers, palmeries, villages of mudbrick houses, and ancient Kasbahs as you head towards Agdez.
This tour will take you through some must-see destinations in Southern Morocco, whilst passing through some lesser-known sites, giving you a real taste of Southern Moroccan life. This trip guarantees an unforgettable adrenaline-filled two-wheeled adventure, exposing you to the variety of landscape and cultures Morocco has to offer. ITINERARY DAY 01 : Marrakech We will meet and greet you in Marrakech, and take you to your wonderful riad in the ancient medina where you will spend the night. We will find the best bike for you, and take you on a short test tour around the vibrant city. Evening activities will be up to you, as you will be free to explore the winding streets of the old city, and watch the sunset at the famous Jma El Fnaa square. DAY 02 : Marrakech - Skoura Palmery - Souk El Had After breakfast, we will pick you up by minibus or taxi and transfer you to the oasis town of Skoura, with it's stunning palmery which seems impossible in the surrounding desert landscape. We will begin the cycling adventure, with a gentle 2.5hours of biking through the lush oasis landscape. Night in guesthouse in Souk El Had. Total driving time 5hours. 2.5hours of cycling/ 20km. DAY 03 : Souk El Had - Boutaghrar (1600 m) Today we will leave the flatlands, and head up towards the mountain plateau towards Telat n'Alemdoune. It's a steady uphill, but we will stop along the way to enjoy tea and lunch at the local villages. The view as you get higher and higher is worth the effort! Camp at Boutaghar. 5hours of cycling/ 45kms. DAY 04 : Boutaghrar - Valley of Roses - Dades Gorge - Tiaalouite Mountain Pass - Tagdilte (1600m) Today you will be treated with even more stunning views, as we cycle through less visiting but breathtaking Valley of Roses. The contrast of the orange rock with green vegetation, with a backdrop of bright blue sky is one-of-a kind. As we leave the valley, we will enter the next; the more famous Dades Gorge, where the sheer vertile rock walls will provide some shade from the midday sun. Heading up towards the mountain pass of Tiaalouite, we will pass through Tassouite and Khemiss villages, until we reach Tagilte, where we will spend the night in a homestay of friendly locals, giving you a change to immerse yourself in the southern Moroccan culture. 5hours of cycling/ 50kms. DAY 05 : Tagdilt - Mines Tiouit - Tazazert Mountain Pass (2270 m) - night at Bab'n Ali (1400m) A shorter distance but a greater climb awaits you today. Leaving the homestay after a filling breakfast, we start the uphill through a beautiful, quite road until we reach the mines of Tiouit, where you will have some time to explore by foot. After lunch here, we will continue uphill to the Tazazert Mountain Pass; the highest point of your journey. Here, views spreading in all directions await you. An exhilierating downhill awaits you, as we curve through the mountainside of rocks and resilient green plants, down into the valley of Ousdidene. We will then arrive at Bab'n Ali, where we will camp for the night. 5hours of cycling/ 36kms. DAY 06 : Bab'n Ali - valley Ousdidene - Nkob - Tissemoumine Zaouiat Taftechna - camp A longer distance with less elevation gain today, giving you an opportunity for a casual cruise through the country. We will start the day by snaking through the remote and stunning Ousdidene valley, making our way towards the ancient village of Nkob. We'll have lunch here, and you'll have some time to check out the beautiful, mudbrick kasbahs which dominate the village architecture, framed by palmtrees, birds and flowers. We will continue on an asphalt road through the village of Tissemoumine Zaouiat until we reach the oasis of Taftechna, where you will have some time to explore while we set up camp for the night. 6hours of cycling/ 70kms (30kms on asphalt road) DAY 07 : Taftechna - Touna'n Iaaraben - Beni zouli - Agdez Our final day on the two wheels! Today will be a gentle cycle for a few hours, through the oases that dot the desert landscape: Touna'n Iaaraben, to Beni zouli until we finally reach the larger town of Agdez. Here we will have lunch in the mudbrick town centre, afterwhich we will pack up our stuff to the minivan and procede on our 4hr journey back to Marrakech, where you can continue watching the landscape from the comfort of the airconditioned car. Accommodation at the same riad. 3hours of cycling/ 4hours of driving. DAY 08 : Transfer - end of trip After a filling breakfast, the trip ends. We can drop you off at the airport, or your next destination in Marrakech. Or perhaps you will want to join us on another tour! |
HIGHLIGHTS
April - October offers the best conditions for the most enjoyable trip HOW LONG? The trip will last 8 days from Marrakech-Marrkech, with 6 days of cycling. You will cycle 260kms, around 5hours per day |