Glorious Gravel – Off Road Adventures in Cycling

Off:Roader Morocco

FOUR stages | 375km

Nights

5

Stages

4.5

Difficulty

5/5

PRICE FROM

£1699

Nights

5

Stages

4.5

Difficulty

5/5

PRICE FROM

£1699

OVERVIEW

HIGHLIGHTS

ACCOMMODATION

GETTING THERE

PACKING LIST

FAQs

OVERVIEW

An epic journey from the outskirts of Marrakesh to the surf beaches of Taghazout via the glorious gravel roads of the Atlas Mountains.

 

Just 3.5hrs from the UK, southern Morocco is an ideal place to ride in late October – early November with temperatures in the high 20s. 

 

This ride packs in an amazing amount of variety over 5 days. We start outside Marrakesh and head into the mountains to Imlil with views over Mt Toukbal – the highest peak in North Africa.

 

From here we head up a classic mountain climb – Tizi n’Test and spend the night at the top of the mountain at over 2,000m.

Over the next two days we head down to the coast staying in the ancient town of Taroudant and finishing on the beach at Taghazout. 

 

This is a wild, tough and beautiful ride getting out to see parts of the country few tourists get to experience. You will be supported by our UK team and expert local guides for this unforgettable trip.

Included in Ride Package

Accommodation

5 nights in a range of local and small hotels. Choose private single, shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) rooms.

Airport Transfers

Fly into Marrakesh (RAK), and fly out from Agadir (AGA), where our team will be on hand to collect you & drop you back off on departure day.

4 Epic Stages

Fully supported rides with guides leading small groups, van support & regular feed stops with a warm up ride on arrival day.

Meals

Bring some money for drinks but our package includes 5 dinners, 4 lunches & 5 breakfasts.

Regular Stops

Regular feed stops approx every 30km with lunch stops in beautiful locations.

Luggage

We move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: Flights, Insurance (mandatory), Drinks with lunch & evening meals

REAL RIDER REVIEWS

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Arrival in Morocco, transfer to Lac Lalla Takerkoust (transfer takes approx. 45 min). Warm up evening ride of 9km to make sure legs & bike are in good condition for bigger rides to come.

DAY 2

Stage One: Lac Lalla Takerkoust to Imlil - 50km, 1565m elevation, 52% off road

DAY 3

Stage Two: Imlil to Tizi n'Test - 115km, 2479m elevation, 55% off road

DAY 4

Stage Three: Tizi n'Test to Taroudant - 107km, 496m elevation, 55% off road

DAY 5

Stage Four: Taroudant to Taghazout - 70km, 2119m elevation, 55% off road

DAY 6

Departure day. We have a surf lesson in the morning & transfer back to Agadir airport from Taghazout in the afternoon (transfer takes approx. 1 hour)

RIDE HIGHLIGHTS

Africa on your doorstep

Leave skyscrapers behind and immerse yourself in the African culture after a short 3h30 flight from th UK.

Moroccan Cuisine

Moroccan food is a delightful blend of cultural influences, rich flavors and aromatic spices.

Atlas Mountains

Wake up at the top of Tizi n'Test (2093m), to amazing views of the sun rising on the Sahara dunes.

5 nights of huge variety

Starting just outside bustling Marrekesh, this ride takes you up to the high mountains in Imlil, through remote villages of the Anti Atlas, into the ancient city of Taroudant with it's medieval walls & souk before finishing at the cool surf beach at Taghazout.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Accommodation

We’ll stay in a mixture of hotels and local riads. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our accommodation is hand picked and we have selected some really special places. It will be a complete Moroccan experience, including sleeping in the desert, at the top of a remote mountain, as well as staying in hotels and riads.

Please note that our hotel on night three at the top of Tizi n’Test is basic with firm beds, few amenities and shared bathrooms. The hospitality and views more than make up for this.

Bike & Tyre Choice

The route is suitable for gravel bikes equipped with 45-50mm tyres minimum, for a more comfortable ride on the tough terrain. We highly recommend you run tubeless to allow you to run lower tyre pressures and help reduce punctures on the rougher surfaces.

Food

Moroccan cuisine is one of the highlights of the trip containing a mix of Arabic, Mediterranean, Berber and Andalousian cuisines. Tagine and couscous dishes will be on the menu, with meat and vegetable options available, as well as other local specialities.

weather

We choose time of year for our trips to coincide with the best riding weather. Temperatures should be in the mid to high 20s during the day with cooler evenings and at the top of Tizi n'Test. Make sure you pack a windproof jacket for early morning and descending.

Terrain

Expect a bit of everything on this trip. There is some smooth tarmac but a lot of the paved back roads are quite heavy with potholes, ruts etc.

The off road riding is a fusion of smooth, rolling gravel trails mixed in with some rockier terrain and a few short, sandy sections. Some of the descents are on narrow trails with steep drop offs so this is definitely aimed at experienced riders (who aren't afraid of heights!)

The Route

Most of the days are tough with plenty of climbing. Stages one, two and four have a number of both road & off road climbs and even stage three, which is easier on paper, is challenging due to the terrain.

This is a four stage ride aimed at more experienced riders who are comfortable on long climbs and long, technical descents.

7 UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS IN MOROCCO

NUMBER One

Tizi n’Test - an Alpine climb in the Atlas Mountains

At the end of stage two - the Queen Stage, is the 27km climb of Tizi n’Test, arguably the best climb in Morocco.

Starting in the valley, this epic climb was built while the French were here in the 1920s and has the feel of an alpine climb with hairpins twisting up the mountain to the summit at over 2,000m. There are no steep sections (avg gradient is just 3%) but expect to spend 1.5 to 2.5hrs getting up to the summit, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the stunning views.

NUMBER TWO

The Ancient City of Taroudant

Stage three finishes in Taroudant after two days in the remote Atlas Mountains.

We stay in a delightful hotel in town and after some time to freshen up, we head into the old town and explore the market with a local guide before a delicious dinner.

number three

Remote riding in rural Morocco

Straight from arrival, the ride takes us into remote gravel roads to discover real, rural Moroccan life.

The riding is a mix of mostly gentle climbing and flat sections with lots of opportunity to sit in & ride with mates new and old.

Number Four

Delightful local food

This is a great country for food with excellent couscous, bbq and lots & lots of tagines!

Breakfasts are at the hotel with lots of tasty bread & eggs. Lunch is on the road mostly with picnics by the trails and dinner is generally at our accommodation.

Number five

Sun, sand & surf in Taghazout

The ride finishes on the beautiful sandy beaches of Taghazout, famous around the world for its surf breaks.

After the final ride, we head straight into the ocean for a swim before watching the sunset. On the final morning, before getting transfers back to Agadir, we have a surf lesson in the smaller waves.

Number six

Quiet villages & Berber culture

Along the route we pass many small, traditional Berber villages that rarely see tourists.

Particularly on stage three, we ride through villages that were devastated by the earthquake in 2023 and through the ride we see how people live in the mountains, on the plains and by the coast.

Number seven

Tea!

A huge part of the riding ritual in Morocco is to drink tea before, during and after each stage.

The tea here is minty and incredibly sweet, you don't even want to know how much sugar goes into each small cup. But, nothing quite hits like a local cuppa and this is an essential part of breakfast & warming up when the sun sets and we are high in the mountains.

STAGE DETAILS

Route Summary:

A short but challenging first stage. Starting on the shores of Lalla Takarkoust, the first 13km is off road giving you some time to get used to the terrain & temperature.

Over the next 17km (off road), we climb 700m but all gradually until Asni and then join the road for the last 18km up to Imlil. 

The roads here can be quite heavy and much more suited to gravel bikes than road bikes so a lot of the paved sections can still be slower going.

Ride Distance: 50km   Ride Elevation: 1565m   % Off Road: 52%   Difficulty: 5/5

Route Summary:

The Queen Stage!

Starting in Imlil, we roll down the valley before tackling the first of two main climbs for the day. First up is the 10km gravel climb (avg 6%) to Tizi n’Test with glorious views.

We then descend for over 20km (off road) to the river & after lunch. After 15km of flat by the river, we finish with the road / broken road climb of Tizi n’Test – 27km at 3% and one of the classic climbs in the country.

Ride Distance: 115km   Ride Elevation: 2479m   % Off Road: 55%   Difficulty: 5/5

Route Summary:

We wake up at 2,000m for a glorious sunrise over the mountains and then start the descent off the mountain.

The first 7km is on the road and then we turn onto gravel for 20km more descending before working our way south and west along a mix of gravel trail & broken road to the ancient town of Taroudant.

Ride Distance: 107km   Ride Elevation: 496m   % Off Road: 55%   Difficulty: 4/5

Route Summary:

Our final day starts with a 50 min transfer in the van and then we start in Amskroud.

This is a challenging day with a higher concentration of climbing than the other days with almost all of the day in the mountains by the coast. From the start we have a 5km climb at 5% followed by a 4.5km climb at 7% (both off road).

After three shorter climbs & descents (on gravel & broken roads), we have one last road climb (6km at 7%) before descending into Taghazout and heading straight into the ocean before sunset!

Ride Distance: 70km   Ride Elevation: 2119m   % Off Road: 55%   Difficulty: 5/5

ACCOMMODATION

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PACKING LIST

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GETTING THERE

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Flights

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Transfers

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Outbound

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Your Guides

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Rental Bikes

getting to MOROCCO

Fly Into: Marrakesh airport (RAK) 

 

Fly Out: Agadir airport (AGA) 

 

Flights From: There are regular direct flights operated by British Airways, Ryanair and Easyjet to Marrakesh and Agadir airports. 

 

Transfer Times: Set transfer times will be available in the upcoming weeks, as soon as airlines release their Winter 2025 schedules.

 

Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip.

 

If you want to arrive earlier and stay in Marrakesh for the weekend, we will have a private transfer service taking you to your hotel & your bike box straight to the first hotel of the trip. Contact us for more information on this.

Accommodation & Meals

The hotels in Slovenia are a good standard. We stay in a mix of superior 3* and 4* hotels. Choose between a single, shared twin or double room. You can add your preferred room mate in the booking notes.

 

In Kranjska Gora & Bohinj the hotels overlook the mountains & lake. Our hotel in Lipica is world famous for it’s white horses and we finish overlooking the Adriatic. Luggage is transferred from hotel to hotel & bike boxes are transferred from Bled to Portoroz on the first afternoon.

 

Evening meals are buffets with pasta, salads, meat & vegetables. Lunches at feed stops are local restaurants as we try some of the local delicacies. Vegan, gluten free and other dietary options are available.

packing list

Cycling Kit

Bibs/shorts | Jerseys/tops (consider LS t-shirts for cooler temperatures)

Gilet | Waterproof jacket | Arm and leg warmers

Cycling shoes | Socks | Mitts

Helmet | Sunglasses

2 bottles | Chamois cream | Sun cream

GPS device with handle bar mount

Bike Spares

2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre

Spare tyre | Tyre levers

1 x puncture repair kit (if running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant)

Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain | Lube | Brake pads 

Spare rear mech hanger for your bike

Small pump | Rear light | 2 Bottle cages

Spare batteries/charging cables for lights

 

Personal Medical Kit

1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing

Small set of scissors | Tweezers | Pain Killers (paracetamol) | Imodium

Steri-Strips | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes)

Assorted plasters | Rubber gloves | Prescribed medication

 

Must Pack Items

Power bank | Head torch | Flip flops | Swimming kit | Shower gel | Hydration & Personal energy bars

Hotels & Meals

Accommodation: We’ll stay in a mixture of hotels and local riads. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds) or shared double (1 bed) room. All of our accommodation is hand picked and we have selected some really special places. 

PLEASE NOTE: due to the nature of this route, one night is in very basic accommodation at the top of Tizi n’Test. It’s an amazing location with the friendliest staff however rooms are basic and bathrooms are shared.

 

We stay at:

Lac Lalla TakerkoustLe Petit Hôtel du Flouka

Imlil – Riad Jnane 

Tizi N’Test – Hotel Cafe La Belle Vue

Taroudant – Dar Tourkia

Taghazout – Hilton

 

Meals – 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches on the road, 5 dinners are included in the package. Drinks with lunch & dinner are excluded.

 

DATES & PRICES

START

FINISH

SINGLE ROOM

TWIN/

DOUBLE ROOM

DEPOSIT

£1999

£1699pp

£399pp

£1999

£1699pp

£399pp

DATES & PRICES

Single

£1999

Twin

£1699pp

Deposit

£399pp

Single

£1999

Twin

£1699pp

Deposit

£399pp

FAQs

This is a very challenging route with plenty of climbing, long off road descents & some technical sections so it is suited to experienced off road riders.

 

The route is extremely remote heading out on small gravel roads so riders need to be self-sufficient.

 

Finally, please note the accommodation on night 3 at the top of Tizi n’Test is very basic, with shared, more traditional bathrooms.

 

There are regular direct flights operated by British Airways, Ryanair and Easyjet to Marrakesh and Agadir airports. 

Set transfer times will be available in the upcoming weeks, as soon as airlines release their Winter 2025 schedules.

Note: transfer times are subject to change should flight times change. Final times will be confirmed and sent to you a month before your trip.

We ride in various different parts of Morocco, up high mountains, across deserts, to the coast. We expect temperatures in the mid to high 20s, with cooler temperatures in the evenings, and up Tizi n’Test.

British citizens do not require a visa to enter Morocco.

 

Travel insurance is compulsory for our trips, and you are required to provide us with your policy information before departing.

 

Your insurance should include adequate cover for cycling abroad, any emergency medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and your bike. We also recommend it includes cancellation insurance, should you be unable to join the trip for specific reasons such as illness.

 

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