Ride a colourful tour of a lifetime from Marrakech into the High Atlas Mountains and on to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. Start in the Agafay desert and ride to the town of Ouirgane. Follow the river south and climb the Tizi n’Test pass high in the Atlas mountains. Journey west towards the coast and then strike a course north up the coast through the surf town of Imsouane and on to a grand finale to Essaouira.
This is a challenging ride with great accommodation en route to rest & recharge ahead of the next day.
Rated 3 out of 4 our Advanced tours are designed for people who ride regularly and want back to back challenging days on the bike. Riders should be confident riding in a small group, comfortable on extended climbs (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents. E-bikes are available on all of our tours.
We’ll collect the group from our meeting point in Marrakech and take a short transfer south to the Agafay desert where our adventure begins. We’ll get set up on the bikes and head out for a rolling warm-up ride to ensure bikes & body are ready for the week ahead.
The adventure begins with a ride south following the path of the Oued N’Fis river. The big challenge of the day is the 7 km gravel climb to the Tizi Oula. After the summit the trail heads join the paved road for the final kms to Ouirgane.
After breakfast we’ll take a short transfer to our ride start point in the town of Ijoukak. The 39 km Tizi n’Test pass is the main challenge of the day. The road climbs to 2,100 m, with an average gradient of 2.5% it’s a long steady grind to the top. Soak up the views at the top and enjoy the reward – a 100 km descent to our hotel in the town of Taroudant.
Today’s ride brings a welcome break from uphill km’s. Instead enjoy a flat and fast route west to Agadir, a town on the Atlantic coast. Enjoy an evening by the ocean!
The road heads north hugging the coast all the way to the surf town of Imsouane. Ride through the Tamri National Park and soak up the sea views. The fist 60 kms are rolling and it’s wise to save some energy for the big climbs at the end of the day. Relax after the ride in the lively surf hotspot of Imsouane.
Our last ride is a packed full of gravel as we continue north to finish our journey in Essaouria. There are two big challenges – the climb out of Imsouane and a 9 km climb after the halfway point. On arrival soak up the cosmopolitan culture in this fantastic city, enjoy the beach and explore the world-renowned medina.
Spend more time in Essaouria or we can arrange transfers back to Marrakech
FULL SUPPORT
Enjoy full ride support from our professional guide team & support vehicle.
The ride support vehicle is stocked with natural ride nutrition, electrolytes and water, as well as a full set of tools to resolve any mechanicals. On selected days the support crew will serve a delicious picnic lunch in a scenic location en route. Enjoy local foods chosen to keep you feeling energized and healthy.
Eat Sleep Cycle guides are experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of cycling who’ll help to keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime.
All guests will receive access to our digital Road Book and routes, giving everyone the flexibility to ride at their own pace.
Hotels shown are examples and are subject to change
Start the adventure at Agafay desert to the south of Marrakech at our luxury desert camp. Enjoy a night in comfort under the stars!
Located at 1,000 m Domaine La Roserie offers a welcome sanctuary at the end of the ride. Relax by the pool, stroll through the gardens and enjoy well-designed large rooms.
A wonderful Riad that embraces traditional Moroccan style, Le Moulin is a comfortable retreat in the ‘mini Marrakech’ of Taroudant. Enjoy a cocktail from the bar and cool off in the outdoor pool.
Located by the ocean in Imsouane this is hotel designed for surfers. Enjoy comfy rooms and everything you need to enjoy a good night of sleep!
Located 10 mins from the city centre of Essaouira, this fabulous 5* hotel is located on the empty beach. Enjoy great service, fantastic rooms and all the facilities to recover from the ride in style!
Bike hire is not included in the tour. Add bike rental to the trip from €60 per day.Bikes shown here are examples and are subject to availabilty at the time of booking. We'll let you know the available options in your size when you book with us.
The Pearl Gravel SL is a carbon adventure gravel bike designed for rugged riding. With 47 mm tyre clearance, disc brakes & a Shimano GRX 600 groupset this is a bike that promises a reliable ride on tough terrain.
Laura is a guide, professional cycling coach and endurance cyclist who has completed some of the coolest ultradistance gravel events (which she absolutely loved!). Laura loves guiding as she really enjoys empowering people to ride their bikes and discover new places, help their cycling adventures come true, and share unforgettable moments together.
Josep is from a small city in Catalunya called Reus. He loves cycling and has a passion for sharing cycling experiences with others. He’s a guide for Eat Sleep Cycle all over Europe & leads our Morocco tours.
Morocco's High Atlas Mountains offer one of the most exciting cyclist's playgrounds in the world. Unmissable adventures, incredible terrain and breath-taking views through green valleys and across snow-capped peaks... Ride the old Spice Caravan road to the Onila valley, discover the volcanic Anti-Atlas (Low Atlas) region and climb the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the gateway to the Sahara Desert. The warm Mediterranean climate makes Morocco ideal for spring and autumn riding.
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