Epic Atlas & Desert Gravel Bike tour

This gravel bike adventure takes place in the South of Morocco, drive from the vibrant city of Marrakech. The High Atlas Mountains are a spectacular setting for a mountain biking trip with hundreds of miles of dusty off road just waiting to be explored. With many years of experience guiding in the region, your local hosts can help you explore this region’s hidden riding potential.

The south of Morocco offers you a multitude of breath-taking landscapes. Besides the panorama of wild mountains in the Atlas mountain range, you will discover the expanse of the Sahara with its Bedouin villages and admire the incomparable starry sky. Palm groves and avenues of almond trees line the road. For sure you won’t miss the mysterious atmosphere of the 1001 nights in Marrakech and the Bedouin towns… This gravel bike tour has many surprises in store for you!

You will be collected from your accommodation in Marrakech at 09:00.

You will be transferred back to Marrakech for around 17:00 at the end of your adventure.

Day 1: Marrakech
We will be waiting for you at the airport in Marrakech. We then transfer you to the hotel/Riad in the heart of the Medina.

Day 2: Marrakech – Kasbah Ait Benhedou :
After breakfast, we load up and shuttle out of Marrakech and up to the 2300m Col Tichka, where our 2-wheeled adventure begins. The 1400m, 24km descent from the Col will have a grin pasted across your face that will remain for the week. We’ll stop for lunch in Telouet, home to the stunning Kasbah Telouet, built in 1860 for the Pasha of Marrakech or ‘Lord of the Atlas.’ After a tour of the Kasbah, we continue our journey down the dramatic Ounila Valley, passing numerous kasbahs and ruins before arriving at the beautiful Riad.

Day 3: Ouarzazate
Departing the Riad, we ride south, stopping at Aït Benhaddou, the most famous of all Moroccan kasbahs. Think ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and you’ll likely picture Ben Haddou. The short walk through the ancient walled city to the summit lookout is truly an experience you’ll always remember. From Ben Haddou, we continue south into the broad Draa Valley and on to Ouarzazate, a bustling trade hub and home to the world’s largest solar plant, providing power to over 1 million people. We’ll spend the night experiencing the memorable hospitality Riad.

Day 4: Ouarzazate to Agdz
Today’s 75km ride sees us departing Ouarzazate for the oasis village of Agdz, but not before we climb up to the dramatic Tizi’n-Tinififft col, with its sweeping views of the Draa Valley. After another swooping descent, we ride into Agdz, winding through lush date palm groves to our river-side destination, Enjoy the afternoon wandering the river, exploring the groves, or enjoying refreshments atop the rooftop.

Day 5: Agdz to Zagora
Our longest ride of the tour is characterized by ‘oasis hopping’ as we ride through numerous oases and the ancient walled villages that depend upon them for survival. With ochre- coloured mountains lining both sides of the valley, you’ll think you’re riding on the surface of Mars, only to turn a corner to have a verdant green grove of palms stretch out before you. After a captivating 90 km ride, sweet mint tea and snacks will be waiting as we arrive at Hotel in Zagora.

Day 6: Sahara Desert
Today’s adventure takes us into the heart of the mighty Sahara desert. After a leisurely breakfast, we take a short shuttle through the town Tamergroute, a village famous for its unique green pottery, before hopping on our bikes for the 70km ride along the Route de la Ktawa, a remote and beautiful road through bordering a sandstone massif that separates Morocco from neighbouring Algeria. Arriving at M’Hamid, the final outpost of civilization on the edge of the Sahara, we leave the bikes behind and load into 4wd vehicles for the overland journey to the mighty Erg Chegaga sand dunes, and our tent camp, a collection of beautifully appointed berber tents nestled amid the towering dunes. After a peaceful sunset camel trek, we’ll dine under the vast blanket of stars, enjoying a traditional Moroccan feast – a fitting end to an incredible journey!

Day 7: Ouarzazate – Marrakech
Biking from oasis to oasis through the Draa Valley Today the last bike stage and another scenic highlight are on the program. We bike under thousands of palm trees in the Draa valley from Oasis village to Oasis village. The Draa River flows from the Dades Valley through the reservoir in Ouarzazate to south-west Morocco over a length of over 1100 kilometres into the Atlantic Ocean. In spring, vegetables are grown in the fertile Wadi Draa. In autumn we nibble on the various sweet and ripe dates. After lunch, a transfer takes us back to Marrakech via Ouarzazate.

Day 8: Transfer to the Airport
Breakfast in the Riad, if you have spare time before the transfer to the airport, you can finish your visit to the city or going shopping in the souk, then transfer to the airport of Marrakech.
Transfers Time by car: 15mn