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.
Trip Highlights
- 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
Premiere & Casual Inns
Domaine de la Roseraie (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 (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 (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)
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
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 10/6-11 Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1340 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/20-25 Price: $4298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1340 for sgl. occ.)
- 11/3-8 Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1340 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
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
Our Backroads Morocco trip was simply amazing, from start to finish. What a way to explore a new country with different customs and way of living! We were treated like royalty by our leaders, and all our needs were met or exceeded. I felt privileged to share a peek into the real culture of such a fascinating country.- Stillwater, MN
This was a great trip. The places we traveled to and stayed in were fantastic and the pace and "extra" activities were done perfectly from a time management and interest and relevance perspective.- New York, NY
This was our ninth Backroads trip and they seem to get better every time. The experience of the Morocco trip was something totally different then we have ever experienced before, and it was fantastic!- Orland Park, IL
We experienced Morocco in a way that I am sure few people do. I am still amazed by the fact that we climbed a mountain and at the top had tea with a local family in their home. I could write for pages on the things that have left an impression on me - from seeing the local women carrying home loads of firewood or water on their backs to sipping mint tea and bargaining in carpet stores. This was not my first Backroads trip and it certainly won't be my last.- Falls Church, VA