Embark on the definitive Moroccan mountain biking odyssey: the 9-Day Atlas to Sahara Expedition. This journey is a symphony of diverse terrains, taking you from the snow-capped 1,000-year-old peaks of the High Atlas, through the prehistoric lushness of the Draa Valley, and finally into the silent majesty of the Sahara Desert.
Traverse rugged mountain passes, navigate ancient mule tracks, and “oasis hop” through verdant date palm groves. You will explore UNESCO World Heritage sites like Aït Benhaddou, visit the historic Lord of the Atlas at Kasbah Telouet, and stay in remote Berber villages untouched by time. With full support vehicles and expert guidance, this tour offers a profound immersion into the rugged beauty and legendary hospitality of Morocco’s deep south.
Trip length : 9-day / 8 nights
Group size : Min 2, max 12 persons
This 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 mountains 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 bike tour has many surprises in store for you!
Day 1: Marrakech Welcome – Airport greeting and transfer to a traditional Riad in the heart of the historic Medina.
Day 2: High Atlas to Ounila Valley – Shuttle to the 2300m Col Tichka for a massive 24km mountain descent. Explore Kasbah Telouet before riding through the dramatic ruins of the Ounila Valley.
Day 3: Ait Benhaddou & Ouarzazate – Visit the world-famous UNESCO Kasbah before riding south into the broad Draa Valley toward the bustling trade hub of Ouarzazate.
Day 4: Tizi’n-Tinififft & Agdz – Conquer the dramatic Tinififft pass with sweeping views of the Draa Valley. Descent through lush palm groves to our river-side destination in Agdz.
Day 5: Oasis Hopping to Zagora – Navigate “Martian-red” mountains and emerald palm groves on a captivating journey through ancient walled villages to Zagora.
Day 6: Deep Sahara & Dunes – Ride the remote Route de la Ktawa through a sandstone massif. Transfer by 4WD to the towering Erg Chegaga dunes for a sunset camel trek and a night under the stars.
Day 7: The Great Palm Grove Ride – Cycle the “Oasis Village” stage through thousands of palm trees along the Draa River before our return transfer toward Marrakech.
Day 8: Explore Marrakech – A bike-free day to discover the Koutoubia Mosque, Saadien Tombs, and the vibrant energy of Jemaa el-Fna square and the Souks.
Day 9: Departure – Final breakfast and private transfer to Marrakech Airport for your flight home.
Essential Equipment*
*we recommend packing the following items
Energy cycling gels offer a quick form of crabs replenishment. Most contain the simple crab sugar, which is the fastest form of energy to replace glycogen. It’s suggested that people who cycle at a moderate intensity for more than 90 minutes, need to replace between 30g and 65g of carbohydrates per hour and we would thoroughly recommend bringing some of these with you, as well as some energy bars.
During this bike adventure, you will be staying in hotels & riads, but we can also update the accommodation suits your needs.
