Gravel Morocco
High Atlas Mountain Traversée
An epic 8-day stage gravel adventure crossing the heart of the Atlas mountains in MoroccoRef CG46
There's no doubt that the Atlas mountains in Morocco are a dream come true for all ambitious Gravel cyclists: plenty of dirt roads, little tarmac and awe-inspiring scenery everywhere... Starting in Marrakech, our route takes us in 6 stages twice across the mountain range twice, first heading south to the mineral plains between Ouarzazate and Tinghir, then north to the Al habid lake. Each day brings its own variety: we ride through breathtaking canyons, on dirt tracks along rivers and across fords, climb major but unkown cols, discover mineral tablelands, admire high mountain ridges, and meet locals in remote historic villages... there's definitely no monotony on this trip. Ochres, greens and carmine are the colours of this trip, in all their shades. Each pass reveals a new atmosphere, each gorge a new pass or valley. A simply amazing trip with riding at altitudes of between 2,000m and 3,000m a.s.l.!
Highlights
- Morocco, land of gravel and dirt roads par excellence
- The wide variety of landscapes between the northern and southern foothills of the Moroccan Atlas
- The many warm encounters with the local population
- The rejuvenating tajines!
Description
See photos and videos of this trip
Make sure to check our France Bike Trips media gallery in order to get a feel for this trip and this destination.
After your trip with us, you also have the opportunity to create your own album with your impressions. We would be happy to do the work for you - all you have to do is send us your photos.
Don't miss new albums in our online gallery with our email notifications! As soon as a new photo or video album is published, you will receive a short e-mail from us. To subscribe, click on "Be notified of new albums" in the media gallery.
Dates and price
Dates
| From 20/09/2026 to 27/09/2026 | 8 days | 1445 € | Confirmed |
| From 11/10/2026 to 18/10/2026 | 8 days | 1445 € | Confirmed |
Costs and services
The price includes:
- 7 nights accommodation in hotels in double rooms with en-suite facilities (Marrakech, 2x) as well as in guest houses and mountain huts in dormitories (during the trip, 5x)
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 picnic lunches
- 5 dinners (dinners in Marrakech not included)
- English-speaking Moroccan guide
- Local team (driver and cook) in 4x4 support vehicle
- Ground transfers necessary for the normal course of the trip (including airport pick-up and drop-off)
- Daily luggage transfers
- Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book (digital format) and GPS tracks in .gpx format.
- Mineral water
- A group pharmacy
What is not included:
- International flights
- Lunch and dinner in Marrakech
- Gravel bike rental
- All services mentioned in extensions
- Insurance, assistance
- Drinks at the accommodations
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites
- Additional travel related to changes in the programme due to bad weather
- All personal expenses
- Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".
Extra services
| Single room accommodation for two nights in Marrakech | 70 € /  |
| Extra night in Marrakech in 3* hotel, double room, including breakfast | 42 € / |
| Extra night in Marrakech in 3* hotel, single room, including breakfast | 70 € / |
| Gravel bike rental Carbon or aluminium frame (Several brands and models: Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2, Bergamont Grandurance 6, Cube or equivalent, subject to availability) |
350 € / |
You will receive your chosen model from the our team on the first day of your tour. He will carry out an inventory of the bike with you, as well as a second inventory at the end of the tour. Bike “consumables" (tyres, tubes, brake pads, cables) are included in the rental price. Only parts and components that are broken due to a crash and/or misuse will be charged.
| Vélorizons cycling jersey (shipping not included) |
75 € / |
See below for details.
Vélorizons cycling jersey
A cycling jersey to our taste.
A timeless road cycling jersey produced in France, inspired by our team and our road cycling trips. High quality, made in France by a Savoy company and with a feel-good character for long days in the saddle. Offered at a great price.
Features
- High-quality SIRTECH + LYCRA textiles
- 3 pockets, one with a central zip + 1 side pocket
- Full front zip
- Half-high cycling collar
- Short raglan sleeves in Lycra with seamless ends
- Gripper at the hem
Available sizes (EU sizing): XXS bis XL
Cut: Slim fit, unisex
Price: see above
Order and further information by e-Mail or ask our leaders while on tour.
Private groups & custom tours
You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.
- If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
- If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.
For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435 or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.
Travel insurance
It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.
You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:
- I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.
Recommendation: |
Booking procedure & cancellation policy
How to book
In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.
Last minute booking
All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.
Expert advice
- Unsure which tour to book?
- Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
- Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?
A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.
Tour confirmation
In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.
Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.
In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.
Balance payment
Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.
Cancellation
In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:
- More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
Full details of our sales conditions are available here
Group size & tour lead (open group departures only)
Maximum group size to guarantee safety and conviviality: 14 riders
The local team on your trip
Our driver in the 4x4 support vehicle will handle your luggage and be your personal contact throughout your stay. Each morning, he’ll advise you on departure times, set meeting points, and make sure you have plenty of water. In the evening, take a moment to discuss the next day’s plans with him. With his deep knowledge of the terrain, you can rely completely on him to guide you through your itinerary.
Your driver is fully at your service and can adjust the schedule to suit your preferences. Just let him know if you’d like him to stay with you throughout the ride, meet you at junctions, wait every few kilometers, or anything else you need.
A cook travels with your group, preparing local dishes for you each day (see the "Food" section). Both the drivers and cooks are attentive and highly skilled, with a commitment to respecting the environment and fostering good relations with local communities.
The typical daily schedule
During riding you carry only your day pack. All your luggage is transported each day by the support vehicle.
After breakfast, the support vehicle driver will pack your luggage in the van, distribute cereal/energy bars, and announce the time slot for lunch. The driver can also hand out picnics to any participants who do not wish to stop at the designated picnic lunch stop.
Once all the participants have passed the picnic stop, the driver transports your luggage directly to the following nights accommodation, before returning to wait at the foot of the last climb of the day. He is then available to help any members of the group in difficulty or who encounter a mechanical problem. You'll usually meet the van driver several times during the day, offering the opportunity to fill up with water, change clothing, etc.
Each participant is free to ride at his or her own pace, using the road book and GPS route to navigate during the day. However, the driver is equipped with a mobile phone, and can be reached at any time during the day if a particpant encounters a problem. The driver is also available throughout the trip to provide information and advice.
Your navigation
You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:
Our dedicated smartphone app
Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.
►See the mobile app presentation video
To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.
| Operating system | Android | Apple | Windows Phone | Blackberry |
| Compatibility | Version 8.0 minimum | iOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equipped | Non compatible | Non compatible |
A detailed Road Book
Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:
- Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
- Step-by-step route description,
- Route profiles
GPS tracks
Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.
How to get to the meeting point
By plane
Marrakesh airport, airport transfers included in the programme
Accommodation on this trip
We favour locally run, comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality.
- In Marrakech, four-star hotel (local standards), very recent, air conditioning, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, spa. Conveniently located in Guéliz (modern Marrakech), with easy access to the city's main attractions (Djema el-Fnaa square, medina, Majorelle gardens, etc.). Double room with en-suite facilities.
- During the tour: mountain hut or rustique guest house (shared bedroom or dormitory, adventure-style: please bring a sleeping bag liner, covers available)
Food on this trip
In Marrakesh and in towns:
At the restaurant (lunch and dinner not included in Marrakech)
During the trip:
- Meals prepared by the cook or host using local produce. For information only:
Morning: hearty breakfast, coffee, tea, chocolate, jam, butter, bread
Lunch: cold meal, usually a mixed salad, bread, tea
Evening: soup, main course (tajine, couscous, rice, etc.), dessert, tea - During the day, we provide sufficient quantities of “local energy food": dates, almonds, peanuts, pralines, dried figs, cookies... However, in this assortment, you won't find “the” energy bar you're used to; if you really need it, and only then, we advise you to take some with you.
- At stage finish: tea and cookies
- Mint tea is served in the morning, at midday, at the end of each stage and in the evening.
- Drinking water: as a precaution, it is preferable to treat water in Morocco. Bottled mineral water is not supplied, but is available in all villages
Health
We advise you to keep up to date with all standard vaccinations (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, typhoid), as well as the hepatitis A vaccine.
Before you leave, we strongly recommend having a check-up before your holiday.
Transfers during the trip
Transfers and overland travel in vehicles reserved for the group (4x4).
These 4x4s are equipped with a gallery with a special bicycle attachment (the front wheel of the bicycle is removed to attach the fork to the gallery). Please specify the diameter of your front wheel axle on your registration form.
.Formalities
For EU and Swiss citizens: a passport valid for at least 3 months after the return date of your trip; for other nationalities, please contact the Moroccan consular authorities in your country.
Your state of mind
- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.
- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.
Bike and plane / train
If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any high-speed trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.
Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.
Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.
Your equipment
Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage
All your luggage must be distributed in two bags: a backpack and a travel bag:
1/ Backpack (or saddlebag)
This is the bag or saddlebag (saddle or handelbar) you use every day while cycling, if you choose to take a picnic lunch (see paragraph "Food"). This bag should not be too large (up to 20 litres).
It will contain: a picnic for lunch, snack food, camera, waterproof and extra clothing and sunglasses, ...
2/ Travel bag
This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It will contain all the belongings you will not use during the day. You will find it at the accommodation in the evening (or sometimes for lunch).
List of equipment to pack:
For your head
- A cap or other head protection against the sun
- A hat or sweat band
- A bike helmet
For your upper body
- Two cycling jerseys or technical t-shirts (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
- A warm shirt or sweatshirt
- A fleece
- A waterproof jacket
For your legs
- Two good quality cycling shorts with chamois (avoid triathlon shorts)
- A pair of warm cycling tights or leg warmers
- Trousers
- Casual short
For your feet
- A pair of biking shoes (we recommend mtb shoes in which you can walk or hike-a-bike short steeper sections)
- A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
- Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
- Sport socks.
For your gavel bike
- A gear ratio suitable for gravel and steep climbs (2-speed subcompact front, e.g. 30/46 or 28/44 and a 11/34 cassette or 1-speed, e.g. 42 chainring and an 11/42 cassette). We warmly recommend a gear ratio of less than 1 between small chainring and large sprocket. If in doubt, consult your local bike shop.
- Gravel tyres with a minimum width of 40 mm (unless otherwise stated in the tour description): The volume is decisive, a more aggressive profile on the flanks and rear tyre is desirable on loose ground (e.g. model WTB Riddler or Schwalbe G-One).
- 2 spare tubes and if possible a spare tire
- Puncture repair kit
- Spare brake pads (except if you start with new pads)
- A rear derailleur cable
- Chain lube
- A pump
- A multitool
Other
- A pair of bike specific gloves
- A bike lock
- A headlamp with batteries
- A pair of spare laces
- A toiletry kit and towel
- A swimsuit
- 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
- A pocket knife
- A few plastic bags to protect your belonging
- A needle and thread
- A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin (Compeed); Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.
Costs and services self-guided tour
Price per person for a group of
The price includes:
- 7 nights accommodation in hotels in double rooms with en-suite facilities (Marrakech, 2x) as well as in guest houses and mountain huts in dormitories (during the trip, 5x)
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 picnic lunches
- 5 dinners (dinners in Marrakech not included)
- Local team (driver and cook) in 4x4 support vehicle
- Ground transfers necessary for the normal course of the trip (including airport pick-up and drop-off)
- Daily luggage transfers
- Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book (digital format) and GPS tracks in .gpx format.
- Mineral water
- A group pharmacy
What is not included:
- International flights
- Lunch and dinner in Marrakech
- Gravel bike rental
- All services mentioned in extensions
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at the accommodation
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites
- Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
- All personal expenses
- Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".
Self-guided trips: what you should know
Pick a date of your choice and book for as few as 2 people. We take care of the reservation of your accommodation (with breakfast and dinners), the transport of your luggage for each stage and provide you with detailed travel documents (reservation list, detailed road book with highlighted maps, our navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks).
Our promise
An adventure with support.
- perfect on-site logistics,
- a carefully planned route,
- ride on the most beautiful routes of a region without missing the highlights
Requirements
- Self-guided navigation with the help of our navigation tools (roadbook, navigation app and/or GPS tracks)
- Consideration of weather conditions and of the group's capacity with regard to the tour programme
- Arrival at the accommodation in due time
- Basic knowledge of equipment and bicycle technology for possible repairs
- First aid and emergency management
With our travel documents, our advice and a thorough travel preparation on your part, nothing should stand in the way of a wonderful, trouble-free cycling trip.
Note: On our self-guided tours you ride on your own and without a cycling guide. The tours are specifically aimed at people who want to be independent and have experience in navigation. We cannot be held liable for navigation errors, personal misconduct, carelessness, insufficient timing or misjudgement of weather conditions or emergency situations. Any change of itinerary on your part is your own responsibility.
Average tour rating:
