Morocco: Hike & Bike

SUMMARY

Travel along ancient caravan routes towards the Sahara on this nine-day cycling and hiking adventure through Morocco. Explore by foot, bike and even camel to get a totally immersive feel for this country. Cycle across mountain passes and through Amazigh villages. Hike through lush oases and towering gorges. Spend nights off the beaten path in a traditional Amazigh gite and at a desert campsite under dark skies bursting with millions of stars. This journey strikes the perfect balance of breathtaking adventure and cultural discovery.

Please note: This trip is currently being rerouted to avoid the Atlas Mountains. The effected areas will be replaced with equivalent experiences or destinations. For more information, visit intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts

TOTAL DURATION : 9 Days

GROUP SIZE : MIN 1 MAX 16

TOUR ITINERARY AND DATES

START : Marrakech

END : Marrakech

COUNTRIES VISITED : Morocco

Validity : 01 JAN 2023 To 31 DEC 2024

Day :1

Location : Marrakech

Welcome to Marrakech! You, your group and your leader will gather tonight for a welcome meeting at the hotel at 6 pm. After getting acquainted, head out together for an optional dinner in Djemaa el-Fna, a market square in Marrakesh’s medina quarter. Tour the food stalls and choose from a range of grilled foods, seafood, ginger tea and more.

Day :2

Location : Atlas Mountains Cycle & Hike

Fuel up on breakfast before heading about an hour outside of Marrakech for a day of cycling and hiking in the Atlas Mountains. After a quick safety briefing with your leader, pop on your helmet, hop on your bike and hit the road. The ride starts on a smooth road before veering off the beaten path on a challenging but adventurous ride through Amazigh villages. Tap into your adrenaline reserves as you climb steeper and rockier trails. At the end of the ride, pile back into your private transfer to Imlil, a peaceful village perched in the mountains. Stretch your legs on a leisurely walk by the lake. This afternoon, hit the road for another hour to the village of Imlil where we’ll hike for approximately 50 minutes to the village of Aroumd, passing through walnut and apple groves and past houses and farms. Then onwards to tonight’s accommodation in a traditional gite – an Amazigh-style mud-brick building. When you arrive, feast on a well-deserved locally made Amazigh dinner.

Day :3

Location : Atlas Mountains Hike

You can’t have a meal in Morocco without a loaf of bread, so take matters into your own hands this morning and learn how to bake your own Amazigh
bread for breakfast. Your host family will share their recipe and the secrets behind this beloved bread, incorporating flour, oil, warm water, elbow grease and a lot of laughter. Tuck in and enjoy your creation on the gite’s terrace overlooking the Atlas Mountains. After breakfast, lace up your hiking shoes and set out on another hiking adventure. Alongside an experienced mountain guide, explore captivating Amazigh villages and hike along twisting mule tracks over a mountain pass above sheer cliffs before descending back down Tizian Valley to the village of Aroumd. This evening, back at the gite, you’ll have the option of joining a hammam experience in the village.

Day :4

Location : Ait Benhaddou

Start your day with a drive on a twisty road over the High Atlas Mountains across Tizi n`Tichka, the highest mountain pass in Morocco and down 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 movies and shows like The Mummy, Gladiator and Game of Thrones. After settling into your hotel, head out on a walking tour in the sleepy fortified village of Ait Benhaddou. Stop for break with fresh herbal tea and Moroccan pastries in Tawesna, a cosy Amazigh tea house overlooking Ksar Ait Benhaddou. This non-profit provides opportunities for more than thirty local women to improve their livelihood.

Day :5

Location : Agdez Cycling

This morning, head off to Agdez for another cycle tour. This little oasis town is nested along the edge of the Draa River. Agdez was once an important resting place along the caravan route between Marrakech and Timbuktu. This hidden gem of a town 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 backed by Mt Kissane. You’ll have some free time to explore further this afternoon. Perhaps head off for a walk in nearby Ziz Valley and explore the ancient kasbahs close by.

Day :6

Location : Desert Camp, camel safari and night walk

Today you continue your journey 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 metres tall, which makes for incredible views and lots of opportunity for adventure. Walk to your 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 extraordinary surroundings and enjoy a traditional feast. Head out on an evening desert walk with the group. Keep your eyes turned upwards for a truly spectacular night sky. Back at camp, enjoy live Gnaoua music around an open fire before snuggling into your rustic tent accommodation for the night.

Day :7

Location : Todra Gorge

Enjoy a camp breakfast before heading back to Merzouga this morning and then onwards to Tinghir. You’ll check into your hotel for the night before heading off to connect with your local guide who will lead the group on a hike through a palmerie. 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, opt to go Rock climbing in Todra Gorge.

Day :8

Location : Todra Gorge Hike & Marrakech

This morning, hike with your leader through the deep-sided Todgha gorges or wadi, breathtaking red-hued limestone cliffs towering over the meandering Todra River. The canyon walls stretch up to 400 metres in some places, and narrow to as little as 10 metres wide, if you keep going. Then it’s time to head back to the vibrant city of Marrakech where you’ll have the option of joining a guided medina tasting tour in the evening.

Day :9

Location : Marrakech

Your adventure comes to an end today after breakfast. You may like to stay on for a few extra days to make the most of your visit here. We’ll be happy to assist in booking accommodation (subject to availability).