Morocco: Hike & Bike

Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your adventure begins in thriving Marrakech with a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm. After getting acquainted with your local leader and fellow travellers, head out for an optional dinner in Djemaa el-Fna – a huge public market square in the medina. When night falls it transforms into a hive of activity. Henna painters, performers, and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar packed with stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies. Wander around the food stalls and choose from various grilled foods, seafood, ginger and mint teas and more.

Fuel up on breakfast before heading out of the city for a day of cycling and hiking in the Atlas Mountains. After a quick safety briefing with your leader, you’ll hit the road. The ride starts on a smooth road before veering onto smaller roads on a challenging but adventurous ride up through rocky terrain and Amazigh villages. Tap into your adrenaline reserves as you climb steeper and rockier trails. At the end of the ride, drive to Imlil – a small, peaceful village in the mountains. Stretch your legs on a leisurely walk by the lake, then hike to the village of Aroumd, passing through walnut and apple groves, local houses and farms. Tonight’s accommodation is a traditional gite (an Amazigh-style mud-brick building). When you arrive, sit down to feast on a traditional dinner prepared by your hosts.

You can’t have a meal in Morocco without bread, so this morning, you’ll take matters into your own hands and learn how to bake your own Amazigh bread for breakfast. Your host family will share their recipe and the secrets behind this beloved staple. Tuck in and enjoy your creation on the gite’s terrace overlooking the Atlas Mountains. After breakfast, lace up your shoes and take another hike alongside an experienced mountain guide. Explore the mountain trail, twisting mule tracks and a mountain pass above a sheer cliff. After, descend into Mizam Valley back to Aroumd. This evening, back at the gite, you’ll have the option of joining a hammam (Moroccan baths) experience in the village to soak your tired muscles.

Start your day with a walk from Aroumd village to Imlil then drive over the High Atlas Mountains across Tizi n`Tichka – the highest mountain pass in Morocco - and enjoy some incredible scenic views along the way. You’ll head to a remaining piece of the 11th century kasbah, Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage site was a strategically important site along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh and one of the few routes across the Atlas Mountains. You may also recognise it from its long list of film and TV credits, like The Mummy, Gladiator and Game of Thrones. After settling into your hotel, head out on a walking tour around the fortified village, stopping for some fresh herbal tea and Moroccan pastries in Tawesna – a cosy Amazigh tea house overlooking the ksar. This non-profit provides opportunities for more than thirty local women to support their and their family’s livelihood. On the way back drop into a local rug cooperative to see first hand how the famous Moroccan rugs are made.

This morning, head off to Agdz for today’s cycle. This little oasis town sits along the edge of the Draa River and was once an important resting place along the caravan route between Marrakech and Timbuktu. This hidden gem is tucked away among palm trees and crimson Kasbahs but is often skipped by tourists. Head off on a bike ride around town, between houses, past farmers' fields and backdropped by Mt Kissane. You’ll have some free time to explore the town further this afternoon. Maybe head off for a walk in the nearby Ziz Valley and explore the ancient kasbahs close by.

Today, continue your journey on a drive south as the rocky desert plateaus give way to a sea of sandy hills at Erg Chebbi. These golden dunes are constantly shifting under North African winds and can reach up to 180 m tall, which makes for incredible views and lots of opportunity for adventure. Arrive at your desert campsite for the night, where you’ll be greeted with hot mint tea. Hop on your camel for a ride during sunset and watch the sun go down over the dunes. Tonight, embrace your surroundings while you tuck into a traditional feast prepared by your hosts. Head out on an evening desert walk with the group and keep your eyes up for a truly spectacular night sky. Back at camp, enjoy live Gnaoua music around an open fire before snuggling in for the night.

Have breakfast at camp before heading back to Merzouga this morning and continue to Tinghir. You’ll check into your hotel for the night before heading off to meet with your local guide who will lead the group on a hike through a palmery. These lush and fertile palm groves tap into natural waterways and serve as communal agricultural lands. You’ll walk among date palms, fruit and vegetable crops and past mud-brick houses and farms while learning about local agriculture. The late afternoon is free – maybe opt to go rock climbing in Todra Gorge if you’re still feeling active.