Cycle the Sahara to Marrakech
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Butterfield & Robinson to bring you a cyclist’s dream: a chance to pedal your way through Morocco.
Photo courtesy of Butterfield & Robinson
We love working with Butterfield & Robinson to bring meticulously planned trips to our beloved Poe Travel clients, and their cycling journeys are truly next-level. What we especially love is that these journeys give you the chance to sweat it out with plenty of physical activity while also enjoying the best of the best modern luxuries in your destination.
While they offer both bespoke and group departures all over the world, we really took a shine to this itinerary, which gives you a deep dive into Morocco over eight days and seven nights. Morocco is actually the country which originally inspired them with the idea of a “B&R expedition,” so it’s only fitting that we share this one with you!
Let’s take a look at the day-by-day itinerary of this group departure to give you an idea of what’s in store, which is all the best Morocco has to offer: magical Marrakech, Berber villages, stunning oases, fabulous food, a kasbah hotel, the High Atlas Mountains, and an unforgettable night in the desert under the stars.
Day 1
Skoura & the Almond Valley
Meet this morning in Ouarzazate, a former Foreign Legion outpost and gateway to the Sahara. You may also recognize it as the location of the 1962 film classic, Lawrence of Arabia. Your guides will meet you at your hotel for the journey into the pre-Sahara and the palmeraie of Skoura, where your bike fleet awaits.
After a quick snack and safety talk, begin your journey along the outskirts of Skoura, located at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. The journey is flat until the village of Toundout, where the road turns to rolling terrain. Enjoy a spectacular picnic lunch.
In the afternoon, enjoy the views and chat with locals along the way. If you prefer, head to the dreamy Dar Ahlam hotel to spend the rest of the day by the pool or indulge in a massage. After a cocktail on the rooftop terrace of the kasbah, enjoy your first proper tagine at a private dinner for the group.
Meals included: L, D
Accommodations: Dar Ahlam
Photo courtesy of Butterfield & Robinson
Day 2
An Evening in the Desert
Rise early for a three-hour drive to the starting point of today’s ride. Just beyond the Berber region of Taznaht, you’ll bike along the road of the Oasis of Foumzguid, a quiet route through groves of palms and golden desert landscapes. Enjoy a picnic lunch en-route.
Freshen up and then embark on a two-hour off-road adventure to a spot in the Sahara on the now-empty Iriqi Lake. Here, meet the camels who will take you across the dunes to your luxurious camp. 4x4s, bikes, and camels—it's quite the journey!
Ride on your camel’s back into the desert for an unforgettable night of dancing and feasting beneath the stars at your private Berber camp.
Meals included: B, L, D
Accommodations: Dar Ahlam Nomad Dune Camp
Day 3
Back to the Oasis
Enjoy breakfast while watching the sun rise over the dunes—there's nothing quite like it.
Afterwards, make your way back to the oasis of Skoura using the off-road way you came in as you make your way back to your bikes to ride back via the Anti Atlas Mountains. Your journey will be broken up with stops at local villages. It’ll take around five hours to reach Dar Ahlam.
Back at the hotel, enjoy a delicious late lunch in the garden of the kasbah. Following this sumptuous meal, relax by the pool, indulge in a spa treatment, or head out to explore the palm groves or ruins of other kasbahs that once dominated the landscape.
Later, choose to join your guides on a walk through the desert oasis of Skoura to learn about life in this part of Morocco, if you’d like. Dinner will be served in the various salons at Dar Ahlam, allowing for some time to yourself.
Meals included: B, L, D
Accommodations: Dar Ahlam
Day 4
The High Atlas Mountains
Embark on a modern-day caravan over the High Atlas Mountains after an early breakfast. Follow the same route that, centuries ago, Africans carrying gold, silver, and salt to the Atlantic would have traversed. The landscape changes dramatically en-route: desert plains and palm trees are soon replaced by rich red soil, towering pines, and snowy mountain peaks.
After the morning drive, arrive at the exquisite Kasbah Tamadot, where you’ll stay for the next two nights. Enjoy lunch upon arrival. In the afternoon, you can choose to take part in a beautiful ride along the flattest part of the Tizi’n’Test road, taking in gorgeous views of the Ouirgane Lake.
Dinner will be at the Tamadot, said to be home to one of the best tables in the kingdom.
Meals included: B, L, D
Accommodations: Kasbah Tamadot
Day 5
Exploring the High Atlas Mountains
After breakfast, set out on a challenging hike to the remote Berber village of Aroumd, perched high above the Imlil Valley. The journey offers you a glimpse into daily mountain life as you visit a few homes in the village before enjoying a meal prepared by the locals.
If this all sounds a bit much, there are also shorter, flatter walking options for today to give yourself a bit of a break!
Photo courtesy of Butterfield & Robinson
The afternoon is full of options. Keep hiking over the pass, relax by the pool, or take advantage of the hotel’s lovely spa facilities. This is the perfect time to try a traditional Moroccan hammam (a steam bath and scrub).
During the evening cocktail hour, your guides will keep you entertained with a surprise event! Dinner tonight will be in an exclusive location at the Kasbah Tamadot.
Meals included: B, L, D
Accommodations: Kasbah Tamadot
Day 6
Plateau du Kik, Marrakech
You have two options this morning, both of which allow you to explore the spectacular Plateau du Kik on the way to Marrakech. You can decide to bike from the door of the Kasbah Tamadot for a challenging ride to the holy city of Moulay Brahim, or you can avoid the climb and start directly from the top. Either way, the landscape is stunning. A newly paved road leads through unspoiled corners, where Berbers settled down centuries ago. The plateau offers a kaleidoscope of colors ranging from white-and-pink almond and cherry trees in the spring to golden crops of wheat a month later.
After the plateau, ride downhill toward the lake of Lalla Takerkoust for lunch at a local restaurant.
Next, drive inland for about an hour to the magical city of Marrakech. Your home for the next two nights is the fabulous Riad Farnatchi, located in the heart of the old walled city. Enjoy some time at leisure in the afternoon by the pool with a book, in the spa for a l’exotique chaud massage, or meandering around town.
Dinner is at your leisure this evening, to take advantage of the many wonderful dining spots the city has to offer. Your guides will have all the best suggestions!
Meals: B, L
Accommodations: Riad Farnatchi
Photo courtesy of Zakariae Daoui on Unsplash
Day 7
The Lavish Museums of Marrakech
On your second day in Marrakech, a fantastic and very special local guide (one whose client list includes TWO American presidents) will show you around. He will whisk you away to the exquisite Bahia Palace or the Museum of Art of Marrakech before leading you through the incredible gardens of Jacques Majorelle and the YSL Museum. He will also welcome you into his riad (a private palace nestled in the walls of the old city) to share stories of Marrakech over lunch.
Later in the afternoon, relax back in a quiet nook of Riad Farnatchi, or—if you’re feeling energetic—wander through the labyrinthine ancient medina, its maze of alleyways teeming with artisans, carpet-sellers, vegetable vendors, and overloaded donkeys.
Tonight, sip cocktails with a view of the marvelous nightlife of the Imperial City, followed by a special farewell dinner at the hotel.
Meals included: B, L, D
Accommodations: Riad Farnatchi
Day 8
Farewell
Part ways with your guides this morning after breakfast at the hotel, as you begin to make your way home.
Meals included: B
If you would like to Go Away to on this Moroccan cycling journey, contact us. We will take care of all the finer details to set you on your way.