Cycle Morocco: 8-Day Adventure from Atlas Mountains to Sahara Desert

We begin our journey through Morocco in the Red City.

Marrakech captures the spirit of Morocco with its dusty rooftops, winding streets, and lively markets.

Make your way to the Medina and enjoy some people-watching while sipping mint tea at Jemaa el-Fna, the main square, or take a stroll to the nearby Jardin Majorelle, which is just a short distance from our hotel.

As an alternative, you could unwind at the hotel’s rooftop pool before we embark on our adventure.

There are no scheduled activities for today, so you can come at your convenience.

To arrange an airport transfer, please ensure you arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), located approximately 20 minutes away from our hotel.

Our tour guide will greet you at the hotel reception at 6 PM for a welcome meeting, followed by an optional dinner.

If you arrive late, they will bring you up to speed as quickly as they can.

This morning, we will head into the centre of the Atlas Mountains.

Our three-hour trip will lead us across the Tizi n’Tichka pass in the High Atlas, reaching an elevation of 2,260 meters (7,415 feet).

We will pause at the Kasbah Telouet, which is situated along the historic caravan path that connects the Sahara to Marrakech.

Close to this location, we will exchange our bus for bicycles and spend some time getting familiar with them before we start riding.

Our initial leg of cycling takes us to the fortified town of Ait Ben Haddou, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Regarded as one of the most visually stunning locations in Morocco, the city is well-known for its clay towers with crenellations and its kasbah, which you may recognize from movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and the series Game of Thrones.

This evening, we’ll be staying just a short stroll from Ait Ben Haddou, allowing us to check into our hotel and refresh ourselves before exploring the site after the crowds have left.

Today, we cycled a total distance of 38 miles, with an elevation gain of 370 meters (1214 feet) and a descent of 340 meters (1116 feet).

Today, we will leave Ait Ben Haddou by bus and travel through the breathtaking Tizi n’Tinififft mountain pass, which reaches an elevation of 1800 meters (5906 feet) within the otherworldly terrain of the Anti-Atlas.

We will proceed to explore one of Morocco’s breathtaking natural treasures – the Draa Valley.

The Draa Valley, sprinkled with kasbahs and ksour (fortified villages), offers a stunning experience for cyclists.

We will hop on our bikes and make our way to the quaint town of Nkob, travelling south as we go down through beautiful oases before returning to our bus.

We will halt for the night in Nkob, which is about an hour’s drive from here.

Today, we cycled a total distance of 42 miles, with an elevation gain of 460 meters (1509 feet) and a descent of 340 meters (1116 feet).

This morning, we will set out along the southern slopes of the Jebel Sahro Mountain range heading towards the Hammada Desert, an isolated area in Morocco.

We will make a stop in Rissani, where we will have the opportunity to discover the Tuesday markets and visit the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, who is the great-grandson of the Alaouite Dynasty’s founder.

On the edges of Rissani, we’ll get on our bikes and ride along the desert road heading to the Erg Chebbi dunes.

When we arrive at the golden plains, we’ll trade our bikes for camels and journey into the barren terrain.

Erg Chebbi boasts the largest sand area in Morocco, featuring dunes that rise up to 150 meters (492 feet) in height.

Only about one-fifth of the Sahara is filled with landscapes like this; the remainder consists of rocky and gravelly plains.

Our camel caravan will guide us to our campsite for the night, situated on the sands of Erg Chebbi.

We will enjoy the peace of the desert while staying at a Berber camp.

Our camp is simple yet cosy. The twin-share tents come fully outfitted with single beds, complete with mattresses, blankets, and pillows, as well as charging stations for phones and cameras.

The campsite is located at the border of the stunning sand dunes. After enjoying a cool glass of mint tea, you might want to take a walk through the dunes to experience the sunset over the Sahara Desert. The evening light creates shadows on the dunes, making it a perfect opportunity for photographers.

Dinner is enjoyed beneath the stars, after which we gather around a campfire.

Please be aware that the camp provides shared bathroom facilities. The showers are basic, and there is no assurance of hot water or sufficient water pressure.

Today, we cycled a total distance of 37 kilometers (23 miles), with an elevation gain of 80 meters (262 feet) and a descent of 80 meters (262 feet).

Rising early, we will observe the desert sunrise creating shadows over the undulating dunes before having breakfast.

Next, we’ll head back to Merzouga on camels, where we’ll gather the necessary supplies for the day.

Here, we’ll hop back on our bikes and ride to Erfoud.

Today’s journey takes us through the Rissani region, renowned as the birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty, which ruled the area for three centuries.

As we ride our bikes through the wide-open terrain, we’ll see residents engaging in their daily routines, tending to goats and camels.

Today, we covered a total cycling distance of 54 miles, with an elevation gain of 450 meters (1,476 feet) and a drop of 20 meters (66 feet).

Today, we cycled a total distance of 34 miles, gaining 170 meters (558 feet) in elevation and descending 1,570 meters (5,151 feet).

Please be aware that this cycling route may need to be changed in the event of bad weather.

Today, we will depart by bus heading to the Dades Valley located at the base of the Atlas Mountains.

We will take a break to visit the ancient ‘foggara’ underground irrigation system and discover how this historic system supplied water to the nearby villages.

After two hours of driving, we will get on our bikes for a revitalizing ride through a vibrant oasis filled with date palms, olive groves, and fruit orchards, leading us to the Dades Valley.

Upon reaching Tinerhir, we will ascend to the viewpoint and then coast down to the Todra Gorge, which is known as one of the most breathtaking canyons in the area.

We’ll have the opportunity to hike through the narrow mountain gaps before we board our bus to head to the entrance of the Dades Valley.

We’ll be staying at a hotel that provides stunning views of the beautiful Dades Valley.

Today, we cycled a total distance of 43 miles, with an elevation gain of 880 meters (2887 feet) and a descent of 20 meters (66 feet).

Following an early breakfast, we will travel by car into the High Atlas Mountains to the Tizi n’Fedrhate Pass, which is approximately two hours away, along the historic caravan path to El Kelaa des M Gouna.

Referred to as the “town of roses,” El Kelaa des M Gouna is covered in fragrant flowers every spring.

Every May, these are collected during the Festival of the Roses and then transformed into rosewater, which is subsequently marketed across the Islamic world.

From the high pass, we will begin our descent into the northern foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

In the quiet of the mountain valleys, we will encounter local Berber communities tending to their farms, where they cultivate olives, figs, and wheat.

We will eventually reach our bus, where we will get on for the two-hour journey back to Marrakech.

Our journey through Morocco concludes at our hotel in Marrakech.

There are no scheduled activities for today, so you can leave whenever you wish.

If your flight leaves later in the day, you can use the luggage storage services at our hotel.

To arrange an airport transfer, you must leave from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK).