Morocco lies in an abundant region of the globe that proffers glorious mountain backdrops, vibrant forest centerpieces, heavenly oasis fortresses and indescribable desert landscapes. One of the best ways to immerse yourself in Morocco is on two wheels. That is, biking in Morocco affords you the chance to witness firsthand the authentic culture and landscapes this region provides visitors each year.
Morocco Biking Trails
If you’re looking for off-road routes, there are three principal biking trails through Morocco. These trails take riders on adventures through valleys, gorges and the majestic Atlas Mountain range. You’ll ride through quaint Berber villages that have yet to be touched by modern or even western civilization.
Here, day-to-day life is carried out in authentic Moroccan tradition. It is advisable for visitors to travel these Moroccan bike trails with the assistance of an experienced Morocco Tour Operator. These individuals are well acquainted with the area and speak the native languages–French and Arabic.
Biking Morocco: The Kasbah Trail
This trail takes riders on a journey back into the days of biblical times. Daily life plays out before stunning natural surroundings. Children scamper about in the various Berber villages without a seeming care in the world. “Stylo” “Pen” they call out to passerby.
This bike ride begins with a brisk ride through the Draa valley. It continues on from here through a route paved with a business trade lifestyle. Here merchants make their daily income selling items to passersby and other merchant customers.
At this point in the ride, riders head towards Timbuktu and Jbel Sahara Plateau. Riders need to muster up a healthy dose of energy for this section of the route. Though days are needed to ride certain sections, but you can fit it all in within a couple weeks.
The next leg descends into the High Altas Mountains. Inside the mountain range riders will be treated to two of the most beautiful gorges in Morocco as the mountain portion of the ride comes through the Valley of the thousand Kasbahs.
Finally, this amazing bike trail adventure comes to a close in the Valley of the Roses. Although the easiest sections of the Moroccan bike trail, you should listen to the guide as truck traffic passes occasionally.
Morocco Biking: Skill or Not to Skill
It is advisable for riders to maintain a moderate mountain biking skill level. The path into the mountain and down the valleys will be an exuberant challenge for any level of skilled bike rider. 90% of the Kasbah trail is off road, while we offer other road bike tours to boot. Guided tours generally cover an average of 25 to 45 miles per day. It can take varying days to bike the entire trail or road routes.
Biking Morocco: The Nomad Trail
This trail imparts bike riders with a taste of the wilder side of Morocco. A major portion of the pathway takes bikers through the High Atlas Mountain Range. While a challenging course to follow, it also provides some of the most breathtaking scenery in all of Morocco.
The journey begins in the Jbel Sarhro and takes riders through the Draa valley. At this point riders find themselves in a mixture of vibrant contrasting landscapes. To the north is the snowcapped High Atlas Mountains and to the south is the steamy Sahara desert. From here, the biking adventure turns towards quaint villages with mud baked housing and open fields blanketed with livestock.
Nomads and herders and shepherds alike frequent this area herding flocks of sheep and goats along the way. Bright colored homes showcase ancient Moroccan architecture. It is these lifestyle representations that give the bike trail its name of the Nomad Trail. Life along this trail is unlike anything one will find in other portions of the region.
The journey starts to wind down with the presence of an unforgettable sunset at Erg Chebbi once you got out into the desert by camel. This is the highest sand dune in the entire Sahara desert. Winding upwards through the Ziz valley the bike trail finishes in the foothills of the majestic canyon of Todra.
The Nomad Trail is 90% off-road and a majority of the guided trip will cover 30 miles of trail pathway during the two to three day trail.
Biking Morocco: The Tuareg Trail
The Anti Atlas Mountains provide the setting for this adventure in the South West portion of Morocco. It is the perfect place for a Morocco biking trip 2009 during the winter months. Quaint villages provide weary riders home cooked authentic Moroccan meals.
Some may consider this to be a show of hospitality. Actually it is nothing more than traditional Berber living. Along this trail riders discover hidden treasures around every corner. Undiscovered gems include palm tree with oasis after oasis and remote canyons just waiting to be explored.
This trail path offers a little bit of everything in terms of road conditions. 70% of the trail is off road with the remaining 30% transpiring over paved roadways. This trail can be completed in one day as it is only approximately 35 miles in length.
Morocco Biking
Morocco is a region of natural beauty that offers adventure alongside vibrant scenic views. There is so much to love about Moroccan life that one really should consider a biking tour as a way to get lost in the true sense of all the rich beauty and cultural history Morocco has to offer.
by Sam Mitchell
