MOROCCO: FROM THE ATLAS TO THE DESERT

26 October – 1 November 2020

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.

Remember that with 3Travel, you do not need to carry all your gear on the bike (only what you need for the day) and exact route & accommodations may change based on availability and other circumstances.

You can also rent a 3T Exploro 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 Projecting Adventure Cyclism.
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 60% 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.

No refunds for those who will not show at the start or withdraw during the course of the tour. No refunds for those who could not make the tour due to lack or inaccuracy of the personal travel documents (i.e Visa or Passport).

Traveler understands that some destinations pose more risk than other destinations due to weather conditions, political conditions and the geography of the region. Traveler acknowledges that factors such as, but not limited to, weather conditions, landslides, floods, flight cancelations or delays, strikes, labor troubles, failure of power, restrictive governmental laws or regulations, riots, insurrection, war or other reason of a like nature not the fault of Projecting Adventure Cyclism (hereinafter “Force Majeure Event”) can hinder, delay or even prevent the Traveler’s ability to make or complete the trip. Traveler acknowledges that the Projecting Adventure Cyclism shall not be liable to Traveler for any delay or cancelation of the trip due to a Force Majeure Event. Traveler shall not be entitled to a refund or any other payment for damages from the Projecting Adventure Cyclism 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.

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

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.

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.

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…

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).

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.

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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 IditaBike (Alaska) in 1999, 2000, 2018, 2019 & 2020 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.

MOROCCO: FROM THE ATLAS TO THE DESERT