MOROCCO: FROM THE ATLAS TO THE DESERT

22-30 April 2023

OVERVIEW

Exotic and near at the same time. Normally, if you want to embark in an exotic trip with a different culture, 10 hour planes are usually involved. Not in Morocco. Take a plane anywhere in Europe, and in 2 or 3 hours you will be in Marrakech, ready to head down to the desert where a completely 19th century lifestyle still exists. Sandy (but rideable) gravel roads, clay huts and smiling kids awaits for you on every small village, and for some unforgettable days you will be riding in a different world…

And there’s no better way to see Morocco than by bicycle!

We´ll arrive at Marrakech, were we will visit the famous square of Yamma el Fna, the Zoco… and enjoy our stay in a impressive riad.

Our journey will start by making a transfer to the top of the Atlas: the Tizi n Tichka pass. From there, we´ll test our bicycles riding to the Ait Ben Hadou Kasbah, an incredible place many time used as the scene of popular movies…

And there is where the true adventure begins. We´ll cross the Anti-Atlas, one of the least visited places in Morocco: a desolate world of rocky outcrops and lunar landscapes where the contrasts are extreme. We´ll arrive to the small village of N´Kob, where we´ll enjoy a well-deserved rest.

The second stage will take us from N´Kob to Tazzarine through perfect gravel paths.

And our last stage will carry us to the beginning of the desert at Zagora. That night we´ll sleep under the stars in a real Berber Camp, close to the sand dunes in some confortable bereber tents.

We will return to Marrakech, were we will enjoy the last night back in the riad and a wonderfull dinner in an special moroccan restaurant.

During our three days on the bikes, we will only see a few cars, we´ll enjoy the quite desert riding through some nice surface roads and amazing dirt tracks and we´ll be delighted with delicious food and accommodation.

You can also rent a gravel bike or e-bike with us and it will be waiting for you at the beginning of the trip, so you can travel light and without worrying about the bike transportation.

Cancellation policy

Refund and cancellation

Where, for whatever reason, one person is obliged to withdraw, the person must give written notice to Project Adventure Cycling.

Refund will be calculated with this penalty:

– Within 45 days from date of departure the penalty fare is 10% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 30 days from departure the penalty fare is 30% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 21 days from departure the penalty fare is 50% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 14 days from departure the penalty fare is 75 % of the total cost of the trip.
– After this date no refund will be given.

There will be no refunds for those who do not show up at the start of the trip or withdraw during the course of the tour.
There will be no refunds for those who are unable to start or complete the tour due to a lack or inaccuracy of personal travel documents (i.e Visa or Passport).

The traveller understands that some destinations pose more of a risk than other destinations due to weather conditions, socio-political situations and the geography of the region. The traveller acknowledges that factors such as, but not limited to, weather conditions, landslides, floods, flight cancellations or delays, strikes, labour issues, power failures, restrictive governmental laws or regulations, riots, insurrection, war or other (hereinafter called “Force Majeure Event”) are not the fault of Project Adventure Cycling and may hinder, delay or even prevent the Traveller’s ability to make or complete the trip. The traveller acknowledges that the Project Adventure Cycling shall not be liable to the traveller for any delay or cancellation of the trip due to a Force Majeure Event. The traveler is neither entitled to a refund nor any other payment for damages from the Project Adventure Cycling in the event that the trip is cancelled or delayed due to a Force Majeure Event. Please note that we are never responsible for any airfare ticket expenses.

COVID 19

In the event that you are unable to fly due to COVID 19 restrictions because of a declared state of emergency, PA Cycling, SL, guarantees:

RETURN OF QUOTE* (Except for expenses incurred up to the time of cancellation of the trip)

QUOTA FREEZE UNTIL NEXT DEPARTURE*.

FEE FREEZE UNTIL THE DEPARTURE OF ANY OTHER TRIP ORGANISED BY PA-CYCLING, SL*.

* The above conditions ARE NOT VALID in the case of a positive individual.

Included + Not Included

THE PRICE INCLUDE

Two PA-Cyclism guides riding with the group.
Small groups of maximum 10 riders.
Great, authentic 3/4-star hotels. Not super-luxury chain hotels but little owner-operated gems.
Breakfast and dinner plus non-alcholic drinks.
Luggages transportation.
Group travel insurance.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Arrival airport transfer.
Departure airport transfer.
3T Exploro Rental.
Flight ticket and overbaggage.
Extra services and activities.
Alcoholic beverages.
Everything not present in “The price include”.

Processed with RNI Films. Preset 'Agfacolor 40's'

THE TRACK

THE STAGES

13 Nov – Day 1 – Arrival at the city of Marrakech

We will arrive at the riad, where we´ll mount and prepare our bikes.

We´ll visit the city and have a nice dinner close to the square of Yamma el Fna.

14 Nov –Day 02 – STAGE 01

Tizi n Tichka – Ait Ben Hadou Kasbah

We´ll test our byciclyes by riding them from the Tizi n Tichka pass to the Kasbah.

We´ll have a visit to the impressive Kasbah and a beautiful dinner.

15 Nov –Day 03 – STAGE 02

82 km – 1.330 m – Ait Ben Hadou – N´Kob

On our first contact with the Anti-Atlas, we will ride 82 kilometres and climb 1.330 meters.

It´s going to be the hardest stage, but also the most impressive: we´ll ride through volcanic materials, cross some little rivers and meet our first camels…

16 Nov –Day 04

STAGE 03 – 64 km – 400 m – N´Kob – Tazzarine

The second stage is the easiest. We´ll enjoy some perfect gravel paths and visit the Petroglyphs of Aït Ouazik, a set of 5.000-8.000 years old graved rocks.

We will finish our day at the little town of Tazzarine, were we will rest at the hotel´s swimming pool (if the weather is nice).

17 Nov –Day 05 – STAGE 04

62 km – 620 m – Tazzarine – Berber Camp (Zagora)

Our final stage is the longest one, but the first 10 and the last 20 kilometers runs enterirely by paved road.

We will leave behind the Anti-Atlas and head south, down to Zagora and the beginning of the desert…

That night, we will have our dinner under a sea of stars and sleep into palatial tents at the berber desert camp.

18 Nov – Day 6 – Trasfer back to Marrakech

We will travel back to the city, where we´ll visit the Souk Market and have a wonderful dinner at the Jmaa El Fna square.

YOUR GUIDE

Willy Mulonia

Founder & President

Willy Mulonia, expert lonely traveler and cyclist for more than 30 years. He made several solo expeditions, but the most important is without a doubt the 28,640 bike trip from Ushuaia (Patagonia) to Prudhoe Bay (Alaska). He raced in the Crocodile Trophy (Australia) in ’98 and the famous Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI) in Alaska in 1999, 2000, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2022 as well as many other mountain bike stage races all over the world. In 2003 he founded the bike travel agency Progetto Avventura, now renamed Projecting Adventure Cyclism. In 2010, with the help of all the team of PA-Cyclism he created the Mongolia Bike Challenge, one of the most important MTB stage race in the world. Today you can find him guiding most the tour offered by Projecting Adventure Cyclism.

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