Cycling Holiday Morocco

Arrival and transfer to hotel in Marrakech. Like many North African towns, Marrakech has two distinct parts, the Gueliz (or the modern French-built city) and the Medina (the Old City). It has always been a meeting place for the mountain Berbers and the desert people of the south. The celebrated Djemme-el-Fna is a spectacle not to be missed where scenes from “Arabian Night” seem to be acted out everyday with its story-tellers, snake-charmers, letterwriters, water-sellers and jugglers!

Overnight Standard Hotel

After time this morning to visit the souks and sites of Marrakech Old City we make a dramatic drive over the High Atlas pass of Tizi n’ Tichka (2260m) to the garrison town of Ouarzazate, gateway to the great Sahara. Before reaching Ourzazate, we plan to visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, dramatically located on a hillside and one of Morocco’s most famous sites. Once an important strategic lcation on the caravan route linking Ouarzazate and Marrakech in the 16th century, the old buildings remailn in good condition and are intricately decorated

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We leave Ouarzazate by bus and drive over the Tizi n’Tinififft mountain pass dramatically situated at 1,660m in the lunar landscape of the Anti-Atlas. After enjoying the views, we continue down into one of the most stunning natural wonders of Morocco – the Draa Valley. Littered with kasbahs and ksours, the Draa Valley is the largest date palm oasis in Morocco. We begin cycling in the small town of Agdz and head south through the oasis for as long as we like before continuing by vehicle to our overnight stop at Tazzarine. (Approx. 45km cycling, downhill or on the flat)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We leave our hotel on bikes and cycle along the southern foothills of the Jebel Sahro mountain range with the Amalou n’Mansour peak as the stunning backdrop (2,712m). This is a very remote part of Morocco and few cars ever pass through here. It is here we receive a vivid impression of the vastness of the hammada stone desert. Later we drive to Merzouga and will be at close reach to one of the biggest natural wonders of Morocco – the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. In Merzouga we meet the camel handlers for our spectacular ride across the dramatic dunes of Erg Chebbi. The word ‘Erg’ is Arabic for ‘great sand dune area’ and although many people imagine the Sahara as an endless sea of rolling golden sand dunes, they actually cover only about one-fifth of its surface. The camel ride is for about 1 hour and if you prefer, it is possible to walk instead. The campsite is basic and a perfect setting to enjoy a night under the stars in the Sahara. Choose your sand dune to take in a memorable sunset. (Approx. 50km cycling with a 200m ascent)

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We recommend an early wake up to view the rising sun as it casts shadows across the rolling dunes. After breakfast we return to Merzouga by camel. We then drive towards Rissani before our cycle around the palmeries, ksours and mausoleum in the Rissani area and take a short time to visit this local town. Rissani is set at the end of the vegetation belt before the sea of dunes begins. We will then continue our cycle to Erfoud where we stay overnight. (Approx 35kms cycling)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We set off on our bikes this morning to visit Tinerhir passing alongside the ancient, subterranean irrigation system called ‘Fogaras’. We may have time for a walk through the palmeries and fields in this area and take in the local village houses and agriculture. We continue the journey by vehicle into the gorge of Todra, sometimes described as Morocco’s Grand Canyon. Ochre-coloured cliffs rise vertically to leave just a narrow pass through which the track and river struggle for right of way. We have time for a stroll in this unique setting before continuing by vehicle to our hotel in El Kelaa Mgouna also known as the ‘town of the roses’, at the confluence of the Mgoun and Dades river. Roses are planted as hedges around the fields in the Dades valley. In spring women collect its flowers which are taken to the local factory where the roses are used to produce rose oil, rose cream and rose water used in cooking. (Approx. 40km cycling with a 200m ascent)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

After early breakfast we transfer by bus up into the High Atlas until we reach the Tizi n’Fedrhate pass at 2,150m. From here we start cycling (weather permitting) down into the northern foothills of the Atlas Mountains through some of the most dramatic scenery of this entire trip. Amid the silence of the mountain valleys, the hardy Berbers cultivate fields of barley, wheat, olives, figs, beans, peas and almond groves. Their tiny villages are a mass of flat-roofed, stone and mudcement houses painted with colours that soon fade. Tradition is strong and social organisation remains uncompromisingly tribal. Lifestyles vary widely with each region, but all groups share a common language and culture. Later we switch back into our bus returning to Marrakech late in the afternoon. (Approx. 49km cycling with a 250m ascent)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The tour ends in Marrakech this morning after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast