ROAD CYCLING MOROCCO ATLAS TO ATLANTIC
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Morocco, is one of the most beautiful destinations for road cycling! Exotic and authentic, Morocco offers an unexpected mosaic of cultures and an astonishing variety of mountain ranges with breathtaking scenery. With an expanding network of freshly tarmacked new through the Atlas Mountains and the Great South, it's time for cycling fans to come and roll them! Throughout this trip, we will cross the Western High Atlas, the mountain of the Anti-Atlas, the Maritime High Atlas before finishing smoothly along the Atlantic coasts!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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Itinerary:
Day 1 : Marrakech.
Welcome to Marrakech airport by your guide and short transfer to the city.
Overnight at the Charming Riad,
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Day 2: Marrakech - Kik Plateau - Ouad N'Fiss.
Meet with your guide and minibus for a short transfer to reach the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains.
After the grip of the bike and the last adjustments, we start the first rounds of wheels on a beautiful plateau with the summit of Toubkal in the background. Crossing some villages before a nice descent that will take us to Asni. From now on, we ride in a hilly landscape of red lands with a beautiful forest of Marigha until Ouirgan. After the dam, we start climbing gently with a beautiful river below. End of stage in the village of Ait Hssayn,
Dinner and overnight at the Berber House.
Transfer by Car: 50 km / Bike distance: 65 km
Altitude gain, loss: + 1060 m, -970m / Max Altitude: 1330m, Min Altitude: 640 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 3 N'Fiss - Tizi n'Test - Ouled Berhil.
We continue to go up the beautiful valley of Nfiss, the road follows the mountainsides and dominates the beautiful Berber villages and the green terraces with the river below. Arriving at Tinmel, we will mark a historic visit stop of its beautiful mosque witness a glorious past. We take our bikes to climb the highest point of the day, the neck of Tizi n'Test culminating at 2100m. From the pass, we enjoy a superb view of the plain of Souss and the massif of Anti-Atlas before starting the long descent to Ouled Berhil.
Overnight at a charming House.
Cycling distance: 85km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1230m, - 1700m
Max Altitude: 2100m, Min Altitude: 540m / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 4 Ouled Berhil - Tafraout
We start the day with a transfer by our van about 1 hour to avoid a part loaded with traffic. Arrival at Ait Abdellah, we take our bikes and we start our stage on the foothills south of the Anti-Atlas. Our course is gradually gaining altitude with a long passage on the flank overlooking the valleys. We cross high plateaus with a superb "Agadir" collective granary typical of this region, before beginning the descent on the Ameln valley dominated by the impressive cliffs of Djebel Likest. At the end of the day, we reach our hotel in the heart of the charming city of Tafraout.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Cycling distance: 90km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1245m, -1330 / Max Altitude: 11660m, Min Altitude: 600m / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 5: Tafraout - Tafraout
Promising day in the effort as in grandiose landscapes. By bike, we leave Tafraout and we drive south through magnificent granite chaos before gaining height on a serious climb that will solicit our calves! From the top of the pass, a superb view is offered before us and descent will engage us in sublime canyons with oasis and villages that defy the aridity of the rock. A nice route along the palm groves until the exit of the parades where the landscapes will be even more arid and we will imagine the desert nearby. The second beautiful climb of the day will take us to another pass with an extensive view of the desert plateaus. The rest of the day will be downhill and will take us back to our starting point.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Distance by road bike: 100km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1980m, -1860m / Max Altitude: 1600m, Min Altitude: 890 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 6: Tafraout - Agadir
Today we leave the Anti-Atlas by traversing its western part. We follow the valley of Ameln and its beautiful villages backed by cliffs of ocher granite before attacking the first beautiful climbs on the western flanks of the imposing Djebel Likest. The "Land of Almonds" is aptly named and the beautiful terraces of almonds and barley crops provide an unequaled charm to this region. Past Tanalt and its old Mederssa the plain of Souss will extend before us and it is by a beautiful descent in laced that we reach the endpoint of the day. We store our bikes on the Van and transfer to avoid the ride on a section that knows a lot of traffic. We reach our hotel in Agadir at the end of the day for a night by the Atlantic.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Cycling distance: 98km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1080m, -1900m / Max Altitude: 1480m, Min Altitude: 160
Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲ / Transfer : 95km.
Day 7 Agadir - Imouzzer.
We turn our backs to the ocean to discover by bike the massive Atlas Maritime. A little known massif but which conceals landscapes of all beauty. After a first beautiful climb, the road follows the flanks of the ridge which will allow us while riding to enjoy the landscapes below and the Atlantic on the horizon. A short descent will lead us to the entrance of the "Paradise Valley", a superb route up the bed of the wadi which has dug impressive canyons punctuated oasis and natural pools. After 5 km "quiet" along the valley, the road avoids the gorges and climbs in tight-laced to gain height and dominate these magnificent canyons from the pass. The end of our day will end at Imouzzer in a charming little hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Cycling distance: 55km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1680m, -640m / Max Altitude: 1600m, Min Altitude: 110 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 8 Imouzzer - Essaouira.
A beautiful morning downhill will lead us to the amazing waterfalls Imouzzer and the beautiful valley of Tagant. A few pedal strokes to climb small climbs and our beautiful course continues in a landscape well eroded land white before reaching an artificial lake. We drive full west and the sea air begins to be more present. A nice downhill toboggan to reach Imesouan small village at the edge of the Atlantic which marks the end of our raid. For those who wish, a small swim to celebrate the end of our journey by the time our team gives the bikes on the Van. In the afternoon a transfer of 1:30 to reach Essaouira "Princess of the Atlantic". Arrival in town, we settle in a typical Riad in the medina before making a walking tour of the souks and ramparts,
Overnight at the Riad in the Medina.
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Cycling distance: 70km / Altitude gain, loss: + 900m, - 2030m / Max Altitude: 1110m, Min Altitude: 10 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲ / Transfer: 96km
Day 9 : Essaouira - Marrakech.
Free time in the morning to stroll the Medina of Essaouira and enjoy your own lunch, afternoon transfer to Marrakech.
Overnight at the Riad in the Medina.
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Day10: Marrakech.
Transfer to Marrakech airport to catch your return flight.
Day 1 : Marrakech.
Welcome to Marrakech airport by your guide and short transfer to the city.
Overnight at the Charming Riad,
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Day 2: Marrakech - Kik Plateau - Ouad N'Fiss.
Meet with your guide and minibus for a short transfer to reach the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains.
After the grip of the bike and the last adjustments, we start the first rounds of wheels on a beautiful plateau with the summit of Toubkal in the background. Crossing some villages before a nice descent that will take us to Asni. From now on, we ride in a hilly landscape of red lands with a beautiful forest of Marigha until Ouirgan. After the dam, we start climbing gently with a beautiful river below. End of stage in the village of Ait Hssayn,
Dinner and overnight at the Berber House.
Transfer by Car: 50 km / Bike distance: 65 km
Altitude gain, loss: + 1060 m, -970m / Max Altitude: 1330m, Min Altitude: 640 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 3 N'Fiss - Tizi n'Test - Ouled Berhil.
We continue to go up the beautiful valley of Nfiss, the road follows the mountainsides and dominates the beautiful Berber villages and the green terraces with the river below. Arriving at Tinmel, we will mark a historic visit stop of its beautiful mosque witness a glorious past. We take our bikes to climb the highest point of the day, the neck of Tizi n'Test culminating at 2100m. From the pass, we enjoy a superb view of the plain of Souss and the massif of Anti-Atlas before starting the long descent to Ouled Berhil.
Overnight at a charming House.
Cycling distance: 85km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1230m, - 1700m
Max Altitude: 2100m, Min Altitude: 540m / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 4 Ouled Berhil - Tafraout
We start the day with a transfer by our van about 1 hour to avoid a part loaded with traffic. Arrival at Ait Abdellah, we take our bikes and we start our stage on the foothills south of the Anti-Atlas. Our course is gradually gaining altitude with a long passage on the flank overlooking the valleys. We cross high plateaus with a superb "Agadir" collective granary typical of this region, before beginning the descent on the Ameln valley dominated by the impressive cliffs of Djebel Likest. At the end of the day, we reach our hotel in the heart of the charming city of Tafraout.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Cycling distance: 90km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1245m, -1330 / Max Altitude: 11660m, Min Altitude: 600m / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 5: Tafraout - Tafraout
Promising day in the effort as in grandiose landscapes. By bike, we leave Tafraout and we drive south through magnificent granite chaos before gaining height on a serious climb that will solicit our calves! From the top of the pass, a superb view is offered before us and descent will engage us in sublime canyons with oasis and villages that defy the aridity of the rock. A nice route along the palm groves until the exit of the parades where the landscapes will be even more arid and we will imagine the desert nearby. The second beautiful climb of the day will take us to another pass with an extensive view of the desert plateaus. The rest of the day will be downhill and will take us back to our starting point.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Distance by road bike: 100km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1980m, -1860m / Max Altitude: 1600m, Min Altitude: 890 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 6: Tafraout - Agadir
Today we leave the Anti-Atlas by traversing its western part. We follow the valley of Ameln and its beautiful villages backed by cliffs of ocher granite before attacking the first beautiful climbs on the western flanks of the imposing Djebel Likest. The "Land of Almonds" is aptly named and the beautiful terraces of almonds and barley crops provide an unequaled charm to this region. Past Tanalt and its old Mederssa the plain of Souss will extend before us and it is by a beautiful descent in laced that we reach the endpoint of the day. We store our bikes on the Van and transfer to avoid the ride on a section that knows a lot of traffic. We reach our hotel in Agadir at the end of the day for a night by the Atlantic.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Cycling distance: 98km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1080m, -1900m / Max Altitude: 1480m, Min Altitude: 160
Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲ / Transfer : 95km.
Day 7 Agadir - Imouzzer.
We turn our backs to the ocean to discover by bike the massive Atlas Maritime. A little known massif but which conceals landscapes of all beauty. After a first beautiful climb, the road follows the flanks of the ridge which will allow us while riding to enjoy the landscapes below and the Atlantic on the horizon. A short descent will lead us to the entrance of the "Paradise Valley", a superb route up the bed of the wadi which has dug impressive canyons punctuated oasis and natural pools. After 5 km "quiet" along the valley, the road avoids the gorges and climbs in tight-laced to gain height and dominate these magnificent canyons from the pass. The end of our day will end at Imouzzer in a charming little hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Cycling distance: 55km / Altitude gain, loss: + 1680m, -640m / Max Altitude: 1600m, Min Altitude: 110 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲
Day 8 Imouzzer - Essaouira.
A beautiful morning downhill will lead us to the amazing waterfalls Imouzzer and the beautiful valley of Tagant. A few pedal strokes to climb small climbs and our beautiful course continues in a landscape well eroded land white before reaching an artificial lake. We drive full west and the sea air begins to be more present. A nice downhill toboggan to reach Imesouan small village at the edge of the Atlantic which marks the end of our raid. For those who wish, a small swim to celebrate the end of our journey by the time our team gives the bikes on the Van. In the afternoon a transfer of 1:30 to reach Essaouira "Princess of the Atlantic". Arrival in town, we settle in a typical Riad in the medina before making a walking tour of the souks and ramparts,
Overnight at the Riad in the Medina.
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Cycling distance: 70km / Altitude gain, loss: + 900m, - 2030m / Max Altitude: 1110m, Min Altitude: 10 / Difficulty: ▲▲▲▲▲ / Transfer: 96km
Day 9 : Essaouira - Marrakech.
Free time in the morning to stroll the Medina of Essaouira and enjoy your own lunch, afternoon transfer to Marrakech.
Overnight at the Riad in the Medina.
Dinner By your own arrangement in the Medina.
Day10: Marrakech.
Transfer to Marrakech airport to catch your return flight.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS
SERVICES INCLUDED
- DURATION: .......................10 days / 9 nights.
- PERIOD:............................ All year
- GRADE:............................. Sportive.
- PICK UP DETAILS:.............Pick up at 8:00am (from your hotel in Marrakech / Agadir / Meeting point)
- DROP OFF DETAILS:.........7-8pm at the hotel (day 7)
- ACCOMMODATION:.........Camp & Riads / Hotel .
- FOOD & DRINKS:...............Fresh Salade & Hot meals Moroccan tagines will be provided.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- English speaking guide.
- Meals during the tour as per itinerary.
- Bottled water.
- Transfer from & to Marrakech with private car & safe driver.
- Asisstance 4x4 to carry the lugagge and help the riders.
- 9 nights accommodation (a mix of Riads and the Berber house experience)
- Soft drinks.
- Tipping.
- Equipment hire.
