Cycling holiday in Morocco
| country: | Morocco |
| location: | Atlas Mountains |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 15 Feb, 15 Mar, 5 Apr, 18 Oct, 8 Nov, 20 Dec, 27 Dec |
| price: | From £775 - £835 (8 days) including flights from the UK, from £505 excluding flights. Local payment MAD1750 (approx £110), single room option £65. |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Crossing over the High Atlas by bikes is an unforgettable adventure and offers possibilities for off-road cycling.
Southern Morocco is a land of extreme contrasts - from the commanding kasbahs and lush oases of the Draa Valley, to the high peaks and hidden valleys of the Atlas Mountains or the sand dunes of Erfoud. It is also a wonderful region for an exotic cycling holiday - traffic is minimal, road surfaces good and the winter climate is ideal!
Our Tour Leader/guide cycles with the group each day. A support vehicle/bus accompanies the tour in full, providing transfers between cycling points and carrying luggage.
Gateway to the Sahara: From Ouarzazate our first ride takes us down into perhaps the lushest oasis south of the Atlas - the Draa Valley. Millions of date palms, ancient kasbahs and ksours (fortified villages) line the way, with the breathtaking mountains of the Jebel Sahro as a backdrop. After a night in the small town Tazzarine we arrive in Rissani, where there's time to cycle or visit Erfoud, to enjoy the local market. In the afternoon a short jeep ride (optional) takes us to the huge sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi. A walk across them at sunset is an unforgettable experience when light and colours are changing every minute. Here one gets the first impression of what the real Sahara is like.
Todra Gorge and freewheeling in the High Atlas: Next we cycle towards Tinerhir and, completing the journey by vehicle, enter the dramatic Todra gorge - one of the most impressive rock formations in the region. On the following day it's on by bus through the scenic “Valley of the 1000 Kasbahs”. Then, driving into the High Atlas, we slowly ascend the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m). This impressive road cuts right through the heart of the Atlas, allowing us an opportunity to ride downhill through some of North Africa's most spectacular mountain scenery - from fortified kasbahs to lush valleys and snow-capped peaks.
Marrakesh - A Feast for the Senses: Leaving the majestic Atlas mountains behind, we reach Marrakesh, the 'Red City'. There will be time to enjoy the maze of alleyways in the souks and the celebrated 'circus' of Djemma-el-Fna Square. Crammed with story-tellers, musicians, jugglers, snake-charmers, peddlers and kebab stalls, it is a scene straight from the Arabian Nights. An optional guided walking tour can be organised for anyone interested.
Southern Morocco is a land of extreme contrasts - from the commanding kasbahs and lush oases of the Draa Valley, to the high peaks and hidden valleys of the Atlas Mountains or the sand dunes of Erfoud. It is also a wonderful region for an exotic cycling holiday - traffic is minimal, road surfaces good and the winter climate is ideal!
Our Tour Leader/guide cycles with the group each day. A support vehicle/bus accompanies the tour in full, providing transfers between cycling points and carrying luggage.
Gateway to the Sahara: From Ouarzazate our first ride takes us down into perhaps the lushest oasis south of the Atlas - the Draa Valley. Millions of date palms, ancient kasbahs and ksours (fortified villages) line the way, with the breathtaking mountains of the Jebel Sahro as a backdrop. After a night in the small town Tazzarine we arrive in Rissani, where there's time to cycle or visit Erfoud, to enjoy the local market. In the afternoon a short jeep ride (optional) takes us to the huge sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi. A walk across them at sunset is an unforgettable experience when light and colours are changing every minute. Here one gets the first impression of what the real Sahara is like.
Todra Gorge and freewheeling in the High Atlas: Next we cycle towards Tinerhir and, completing the journey by vehicle, enter the dramatic Todra gorge - one of the most impressive rock formations in the region. On the following day it's on by bus through the scenic “Valley of the 1000 Kasbahs”. Then, driving into the High Atlas, we slowly ascend the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m). This impressive road cuts right through the heart of the Atlas, allowing us an opportunity to ride downhill through some of North Africa's most spectacular mountain scenery - from fortified kasbahs to lush valleys and snow-capped peaks.
Marrakesh - A Feast for the Senses: Leaving the majestic Atlas mountains behind, we reach Marrakesh, the 'Red City'. There will be time to enjoy the maze of alleyways in the souks and the celebrated 'circus' of Djemma-el-Fna Square. Crammed with story-tellers, musicians, jugglers, snake-charmers, peddlers and kebab stalls, it is a scene straight from the Arabian Nights. An optional guided walking tour can be organised for anyone interested.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Ouarzazate; transfer to hotel |
| Day 2: | Drive and cycle through the Draa Valley to Tazzarine. |
| Day 3: | Drive and cycle south of the Jebel Sahro to Rissani. |
| Day 4: | In Rissani, optional cycle ride or visit Erfoud oasis; afternoon optional jeep drive to Erg Chebbi sand dunes at Merzouga for desert sunset. |
| Day 5: | Cycle and drive to Tinerhir and Todra gorge. |
| Day 6: | Transfer into High Atlas to Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m); dramatic descent by bike towards Ait-Ourir and Marrakech (weather permitting); drive into Marrakech. |
| Day 7: | At leisure in Marrakech; optional guided city walk. |
| Day 8: | Fly London. |
travellers' tales
I enjoyed the cycling through Morocco the most. Some of the scenery was stunning in the anti Atlas. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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Cycling; low impact on the environment and good for the health! Furthermore we enjoy the thrill of mountain biking whilst keeping our impact to a minimum as most of our cycling is on existing paths rather than off road.
An interesting dimension to the tour is the gite accommodation we use. A gite is a village house converted to accommodation for visitors and the revenue earned is shared between all the villagers. Staying in and travelling through small villages along our journey, we are able to buy pottery and village crafted goods to support those local communities. It is also an ideal way to meet the local people more readily. Being on bikes, we can be quite versatile and are able to visit places that are not as easily accessible by other means of transport and can explore the high passes of the Central High Atlas. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |