Morocco Bike + Adventure Tour

Welcome to the Kingdom of Morocco, a country rich in history, culture, and beauty. Your guides will meet you at your pre-night hotel in Marrakech or at the airport. Our day begins with a transfer into the valley of Ourika, where we’re welcomed with traditional mint tea in an inviting garden setting. After a bike fitting and safety briefing, head out on our first ride towards the Kik Plateau, a limestone outcropping in the High Atlas Mountains. This fertile region is crisscrossed with trails that connect Berber villages, and we’re sure to encounter shepherds, villagers, and school children about their daily business. After a sumptuous Moroccan tajine lunch, share the road with donkeys on a rolling climb to Asni and stop to admire panoramic views of the lush and abundant valley below. Feel the breeze on the descent to our home for the next two nights, a luxurious kasbah with idyllic gardens and sweeping views of the snow-dusted Atlas Mountain. This evening, toast to a fantastic week ahead over dinner prepared from the hotel’s organic garden.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Ourika, Asni
Accomplished: 25 miles / 40 km, elevation gain: 2,585 feet / 788 meters
Accommodations: Kasbah Tamadot

Leaving the bikes behind, we’ll take a short drive into the foothills of Morocco’s famous Toubkal Mountain. At 4,167 meters, majestic Toubkal is the highest peak in North Africa and a popular destination for mountain climbers. We won’t be trying to summit, but today’s four-hour hike is a treat regardless: follow a meandering river trail to the mountain’s base, then enjoy a picnic lunch before we make our way back to Imlil. The markets in this village are overflowing with hand-crafted tapestries, linens, leather, and pottery—a wonderful place to practice your shopping before we hit the medina in Marrakech later this week. Back at the hotel, wind down with stroll through the fragrant gardens and pre-dinner drink in hand.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Imlil, Toubkal
Accomplished: 9 miles / 14 km hiking
Accommodations: Kasbah Tamadot

Sample new and unusual fruits for breakfast before we set off on today’s ride. The route is peppered with almond, cherry, and olive trees, and in certain seasons families (and their donkeys) work to cull the harvest from these orchards. Continue riding through Moulay Brahim, a town named for a Moroccan Sufi saint, and arrive in the town of Lalla Takerkoust for lunch. Then, we’ll transfer approximately three hours to the whitewashed port of Essaouira, with a stop at a local co-op farm to learn about Morocco’s precious nectar: argan oil. Once we arrive at our exotic 19th-century hotel, you may be tempted by the rooftop pool or a cool drink in the romantic courtyard. Tonight’s dinner takes place in a favorite restaurant, serving fresh-caught grilled fish and local seafood with a side of stunning bay views.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Moulay Brahim, Lalla Takerkoust Lake, Essaouira
Accomplished: 27 miles / 44 km, elevation gain: 1,804 feet / 550 meters
Accommodations: Heure Bleue Palais

After a peaceful breakfast on the seaside terrace, we’ll bike south along the coast, watching surfers brave the waves in the bohemian town of Sidi Kaouki. Our very last climb of the trip takes us into Smimou. After lunch, choose to tackle the final stretch back to the hotel, or hop in the van and transfer to Essouira for some extra time to stroll this port city. As dusk falls, we’ll explore Essaouira’s 18th-century ramparts before an evening on your own; your guides are glad to recommend some favorite restaurants, or simply lose yourself in the streets and follow your nose to simmering spices.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Sidi Kaouki, Smimou, Essaouira
Accomplished: 30 miles / 48 km, elevation gain: 1,995 feet / 608 meters
Longer Option: 55 miles / 90 km, elevation gain: 2,804 feet / 854 meters
Accommodations: Heure Bleue Palais

It’s time for the big adventure in vibrant Marrakech. After a three-hour transfer we meet our friend Mohamed, the best and most beloved guide in the business. Together we’ll visit all the must-sees of Marrakech, beginning at Yves St. Laurent’s colorful Majorelle Gardens—a glorious marriage of Deco and Moorish influence. Share a family-style lunch at Mohamed’s riad, then head for the sensory experience of the medina, where Mohamed helps us navigate the souks filled with everything imaginable. Our next stop is Bahia Palace, a masterpiece of Islamic and Moroccan architecture. The grand finale (and a wonderful final meal to cap off the week) is tonight’s lavish Moroccan dinner at our hotel, the essential La Mamounia. It won’t take long to understand why intellectuals and rock stars alike have chosen this property to retreat to—much like Winston Churchill and the Rolling Stones, you’ll find the entire experience downright intoxicating.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Marrakech
Accomplished: Walking tour of Marrakech
Accommodations: La Mamounia

After one final lovely breakfast and a stroll around the beautiful hotel grounds, your guides will transfer you to the Marrakech airport, beginning your journey home.

Meals: Breakfast