Morocco Multisport
- Pedal through an exotic landscape more accustomed to camels than cyclists
- Marrakech's D'jemâa el Fna, a marketplace brimming with snake charmers, soothsayers, herbalists and musicians
- Hike to a remote Berber village in the Atlas Mountains to see traditional life
- Twilight camel ride on Essaouira's beach
- Luxuriate at Heure Bleue Palais with spectacular ocean views
Unveiling the Magic of Marrakech, the High Atlas & Essaouira
Everything about our Moroccan adventure is intriguing, exotic and exciting - kind of like riding a camel. In Morocco you'll savor tagines and sugary mint tea, and be mesmerized by Berber music. You'll haggle with local merchants in Marrakech. Hike to a rustic village accessible only by foot in the Atlas Mountains. Spin past sun-splashed olive groves to the sea. And yes, ride a camel in seaside Essaouira. Chances are that on other vacations you've beached, skied, swum, hiked, maybe you've even biked with us before. But come to Morocco and your non-camel vacations just won't compare.
Day
1 Pedal through an exotic landscape more accustomed to camels than cyclists 
A local expert introduces us to the 16th-century hamlet of Tamesloht and its zaouia (holy site) Stroll through the rose gardens or dip in the pool at our mountain hideaway.
Day
2 In the High Atlas Mountains, hike to a village accessible only by foot and experience traditional life Share mint tea, fresh bread and olive oil with a welcoming Berber family Trek through the verdant Imlil Valley, surrounded by rugged peaks Enjoy a lively performance of singing, drumming and dancing before our feast of Moroccan specialties.
Day
3 The luxurious Heure Bleue Palais with spectacular ocean views Goats climbing trees? Look for them in the argan trees as you ride through an undulating terrain past sun-kissed olive groves toward the Atlantic Explore the narrow winding streets of Essaouira, an artsy whitewashed port town and World Heritage site.
Day
4 Camel ride through coastal dunes Spin to the sleepy surfing village of Moulay Bouzerqtoune, where dramatic hills tumble to the coast Wash away your cares in a traditional hammam Cinnamon, turmeric, cumin and anise dance on your tongue during a lavish Moroccan dinner.
Days
5-6 Explore Marrakech's bustling medina on a guided walk and discover the architectural wonders of Dar Si Said Palace on a private tour Leave the comfort of our very own kasbah to bike or hike in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This is my second Backroads trip, and I definitely look forward to more. We experienced so many things that we never would have been able to do on our own, for example, the hike into the Berber village and tea at a home there. Local guides added much to our knowledge, helping us understand the Moroccan/Muslim culture. I have tried to determine my favorite part of the trip, but I just can't single out a specific part. Each day was a new adventure, and they all blended together to make this one of my most memorable trips. Thank you so much.- Stillwater, MN
This trip was in celebration of my 50th birthday. It was everything I hoped for and more - and I had very high expectations, so that is saying something! Backroads made travelling to an exotic country user-friendly and exciting. We felt that we were able to see and do things that we could never have organized on our own. It is clear that Backroads has done an exceptional job of cultivating local relationships so that they can offer unique and meaningful experiences to their guests.- New York, NY
We've been on 16 trips with Backroads, so naturally have high standards but each trip exceeds my expectations!- Los Angeles, CA
Premiere & Casual Inns*
Domaine de la Roseraie
Ouirgane (2 nights) Tucked away in the Atlas Mountains, a welcoming retreat with rose gardens, citrus groves and horse stables. (pool, spa, tennis)
Heure Bleue Palais
Essaouira (2 nights) A traditional Moroccan riad, "built around a magnificent lantern-lit patio and courtyard garden planted with palm and banana trees," said Andrew Harper. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Kasbah Agafay
Marrakech (1 night) A converted hilltop fort - a haven of tranquility - with views over olive groves to the Atlas Mountains. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa, tennis)
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Classic:
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Biking | 11* | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||||||
| Biking | 15* | 0 | |||||||||
| Other | Tamesloht village and riad guided tour (1.5 hours) | ||||||||||
| 2 | Walking | 4.0 | 0 | 8.0 | 0 | ||||||
| 3 | Biking | 20* | 0 | 34* | 0 | 41* | 0 | ||||
| Other | Essaouira guided walk (1 hour) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Biking | 13* | 0 | 28* | 0 | 44* | 0 | ||||
| Walking | 3.7 | 0 | |||||||||
| Other | Camel ride (1.5 hours) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Walking | 6.0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 6 | Biking | 13 | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Guided palace tour (1 hour) | ||||||||||
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 15% dirt and 85% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
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For 34 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Morocco tour experts. See our award-winning Africa multisport tours, Africa biking tours and Africa walking and hiking tours.
