Winter in the Draa Valley and Jebel Sahro – Cycling in Morocco

Day 1: Arrive Marrakech
Arrive in Marrakech. Transfer to hotel, where once you have had a shower and time to relax a bit, your tour leader will brief you about the tour together with our local guide. Then we will have to see if we can find a great restaurant.

Day 2: In Marrakech
The first day is spent exploring the fascinating city of Marrakech. This ancient walled city has a souq surpassed by none in Morocco. Snake charmers, storytellers, wondrous food stalls and bustling streets make it a great way to start our adventure. In the evening we put the bikes together so we are ready to head out of town in the morning. We then we head to the Jmaa el Fnaa Square for our evening meal.

Day 3: Ride to Ait Benhaddou
We start early and head south into the High Atlas Mountains. The two-hour drive takes us out of the bustling city to the top of the spectacular Tizi-n-Tichka pass at 2100m. We begin our cycle on a small tarmac road descending the southern slopes of the High Atlas after the little village of Telouet. After a short lunch break and a mint tea, we continue on tracks and dirt roads through the spectacular Asif Ounila valley towards the incredible Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. The tracks are fast and fun with some great descents. We spend the night in a small gîte near a ruined kasbah used in the filming of the movie Gladiator.
Cycling distance: 43km

Day 4: Ride to Agdz
We begin the day with a transfer (approx. 60 minutes) to the Tizi-n-Tinnififft, altitude 1700m. This is the start point for the cycling, beginning with an 8km tarmac descent! The views are magnificent, though just after we hit the piste (unsealed tracks) there is a very rough section for approximately 3km, which might require some walking. Thereafter, we hit a fantastic smooth and fast piste (unsealed tracks) that takes us through palmeries and isolated villages – an excellent introduction to the remote Berber lifestyle. Just before we arrive at the hotel in Agdz it is possible to ride up to the viewpoint to look across Jebel Kissane (1,531m) and the Draa Valley.
Cycling distance: 45km

Day 5: Ride to Zagora
We ride straight from the front door of the hotel, covering the first few kilometres on tarmac before taking to an undulating track that leads through the valley’s shady palmeraies. All along the valley, kasbahs rise from the fertile ground and the green of the gardens contrasts dramatically with the brown of the near-vertical valley walls. After a 45km ride we transfer the last 60km by road, following the river into the desert gateway town of Zagora – the very fit might like to ride some of this section on road. You are now 52 days by camel from Timbuktu!
Cycling distance: 45km

Day 6: In Sahara
Today we can visit the real Sahara Desert by Landrover, or you are free to relax by the pool or in and around Zagora. The drive to Mhamid, where the sand dunes start and the road ends takes about an hour and a half. Once there, there will be plenty of time to walk in the dunes or try your luck on the back of a camel (optional – clients pay locally) before taking our picnic in the shady grounds of a kasbah. Anyone who feels they simply have to keep cycling can explore the Jebel Zagora and around the palmeraies at their pace.

Day 7: Ride N’kob
Today’s route takes us into the heart of the Jebel Sahro. After a 15km scenic drive back through the Draa Valley we take to our bikes and follow the piste as it rolls along the valley floor. The scenery gradually changes, becoming drier and rockier as we follow the escarpment wall. Many Berber villages – we will have lunch and Berber mint tea in one of these – and kasbahs line the route and there are a number of exciting river crossings along the way – during the winter months nomads can also be seen tending their flocks among the hills. The ride offers up to 65km off-road after which we will load the bikes onto the Landrovers and transfer the last 40km to the small town of N’kob, where we stay in Berber tents in the grounds of a spectacularly converted traditional kasbah.
Cycling distance: 65km

Day 8: Ride to Boumalne Dades
This is the hardest day of the trip, but the effort is well rewarded, with stunning views, an excellent descent and a visit to the amazing rock formations at Bab n’ Ali. For those who really want to work there is also an optional 15km hill climb! The fit can start in N’kob, though this makes the day’s ride a tough 96km door-to-door. Those preferring a more leisurely day can start after an hour’s transfer to the Bab n’Ali. The Bab n’Ali are two spectacular rock pillars set in the heart of the wild and rugged Jebel Sahro, from here there is a tough and unrelenting 15km climb to the top of the 2,200m Tizi n’ Tazzazert. This climb is of course also optional, though the reward in terms of both the views and the achievement is well worthwhile. Those transferring to the top of the climb are still left with 43km of piste, which is mostly downhill, meaning there is plenty of riding for all. At the end of the piste 11km of road brings us to our hotel in Boumalne Dades at the head of the amazing Dades Gorge.
Cycling distance: 96km

Day 9: Back to Marrakech
From the front door of the hotel we ride into town and then turn off down a bumpy piste to begin the last day’s exploration of this extraordinary region. After an undulating ride to the village of Bou Thrar, there is a last 5km (400m) climb to a 2,000m pass from where it is possible to overlook both the High Atlas to the north and the Jebel Sahro to the south. A last 20km blast downhill and across the plains will build up an appetite for a final tajine (Moroccan stew) in the village of Qualaa’t Mgouna, from here we transfer back to Marrakech for well-earned cold beers and hot showers. We pack up the bikes then head out for dinner…and that bar.
Cycling distance: 41km

Day 10: Farewell
A final morning to do the last shopping and practice telling tall tales of the great ride we have just done and then we are off to the airport. Where your tour leader will say goodbye there and see you again!