Welcome to Morocco. Marrakech is a feast for the senses - be enticed by the alluring colours of the spice markets, the taste of delectable foods, and the scent of perfumed gardens. Your adventure begins today with a welcome meeting at 6pm – double check with reception for the time and place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. Please have your insurance details and next of kin information on hand for collection at this meeting. After the welcome meeting, head out to the city’s unique Djemaa el-Fna, a square that transforms into a hive of activity at night. Enjoy a dinner together (included) while snake-charmers, henna-painters ...

Fuel up with breakfast this morning, and then get fitted for your bike – your transport and best buddy for the next 13 days. Take a short test ride to make sure everything’s working properly, then begin a cycling tour in and around the city (approximately 3 hours covering 15 kilometres). As the frenetic daily life of Marrakech buzzes around you, take your bike along main avenues and into quieter backstreets. You’ll ride to well-known sites like Koutoubia mosque and its famous 12th-century minaret, the royal olive groves of Menara gardens, and pass by the Marrakech Medina. Return to the legendary Djemaa el-Fna to dine al fresco, snacking your way around the crowded stalls. Try a Moroccan pastry with a glass of fresh orange juice. There’ll be ample time in the afternoon to get cleaned up before taking a late evening (approxim...

Where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find the city of Tangier. Often seen as the gateway to Africa, the city has a long and fascinating history peppered with artists, spies, and millionaires. Arrive at approximately 8am and check into your hotel, then meet up with your support crew and vehicle. Saddle up for a 30-kilometre ride, beginning with the Grottes d'Hercules (Caves of Hercules). Legend says Hercules stayed in this cave before doing his eleventh labour – collecting the golden apples from the Hesperides Garden. It has been used quite differently in modern times, ranging from a brothel to a concert venue for Def Leppard. Jump back on the bike to explore Cap Spartel, known to the Romans and Greeks as the “Cape of the Vines”. Stop by the 19th century lighthouse and, if you're lucky, climb up to th...

Leave Tangier and drive 85 kilometres through the arid inland towards the east coast and the seaside town of Tetouan. This town is the start of today’s ride. Follow the winding coastal road south to the small fishing town of Oued Laou (approximately 45 kilometres). This is a stunning ride, with the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean on your left, steep mountains on your right, and small coves dotted with beautiful beaches in-between. Stop by one of the beaches for the perfect relaxing picnic lunch. After today’s ride, it’s best to leave the saddle behind and let the support vehicle do the hard work of climbing the steep hills all the way up to the ‘Blue City’ of Chefchaouen (approximately 60 kilometres). Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, it’s one of the prettiest pl...

Today is a free day to explore Chefchaouen. Ease into the relaxed pace of life in this rural retreat with a wander though the medina, or head to a café in the Plaza Uta el-Hammam to sample the delicious local goat cheese. Admire the architecture of the 15th-century Grand Mosque (closed to non-Muslims), or browse the shops selling woven goods and small sweets in the square. Also within the plaza is the walled fortress of the Kasbah. You might prefer to head out of town and keep the energy levels up with a bike ride or hike in the Rif mountains. In the evening, tuck into a tagine at a local restaurant or visit a hammam, a traditional Moroccan spa. Riding distance: none

Avoid the hard mountain roads this morning, with the support vehicle taking you 80 kilometres south from Chefchaouen to Tabouda. Then get the legs pumping on the undulated road that flanks the majestic turquoise waters of the El Wahda Dam. The journey takes you to the small town of Ourtzagh, which sits on the banks of the Ouerrha river (approximately 50 kilometres). As the roads get busier and the day heats up, retreat to the comfort of the support vehicle and leave the quiet of the Rif Mountains behind you. Drive the remaining 95 kilometres to Fes, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. It’s vibrant, noisy, fascinating and almost overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses. Take the remainder of the day to relax before really getting into this amazing city that’s home to a huge, well-preserved medieval ol...

Leave your bike behind today and dive into the heart of the Medina. Take a guided walk through the secret shortcuts and twisting alleyways of Fes. Pass donkeys piled high with goods and step back into the Middle Ages in the labyrinth of the Medina. Look out for the recently restored Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city's most beautiful buildings, and enjoy the iconic view across the dye pits of the famous tannery. The rest of the day is free to explore. Watching the sunset over the Medina while a dozen prayer calls vie for attention is an experience not to be missed. Notes: Today’s experience will include shopping in carefully selected places. As the receipt of commissions or kickbacks in exchange for recommending particular shops, services or activities is ingrained in the culture of the Moroccan tourism industry, Intrepid ha...

Start the day early to avoid the traffic and heat, leaving frenetic Fes behind to drive deep into the Middle Atlas mountain range to Ifrane (65 kilometres). High-altitude, French-built Ifrane is often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Morocco’. The mountain location, pitched red-roofed houses and green surroundings offer a welcome contrast to the recent dry and hot climate. After a quick break, climb by bike on a sinuous road through the wooded hills of Ifrane National Park. Soon the road levels out and you’ll enjoy a unique Middle Atlas mountains view. Coast gently downhill through the tiny town of Timahdte, where your ride ends. Drive up to Aguelmame Sidi Ali lake, a placid clear blue lake and wetland sanctuary where you’ll enjoy a well-earned lunch. For the energetic, you can also cycle the gentle uphill 23-kilometre la...

Swap white-dappled mountains for the mighty Sahara desert today, travelling mostly downhill through dry hills and plains. Midelt to Merzouga is a long journey (270 kilometres), so two separate rides, with a vehicle transfer filling the gaps, will make it more enjoyable and manageable. Head 30 kilometres uphill to the day’s highest point, then get your wheels moving on a gentle downhill section to the miniscule farming village of Tassalaht (approximately 30 kilometres). You won’t have to pedal for most of this ride – a welcome reward for the all the uphill you’ve done so far! Reboard the vehicle and drive through frontier towns like Erfoud. This desert town has an almost Martian-like appearance, which is why it had staring roles in movies ‘The Mummy’ and James Bond’s ‘Spectre’. A spectacular drive past the harsh but ind...

Experience the incredible scenery of Morocco with a drive through transformational landscapes to Tinghir (approximately 3-4 hours over 200 kilometres). Tinghir is your entry point to the remarkable Todra Gorge, a massive trench with sheer rock walls that rise over 300 metres to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. From Tinghir you’ll get on your bike and workout your legs after the long drive. A 14 kilometres stretch takes you along the route of the Todgha River as it snakes into the canyon itself. The limestone stacks make this area best discovered on foot though, so you’ll take a short walk through surrounding farmland and a ruined village. To fully enjoy the walk, you need good walking boots or sturdy trainers, sunglasses, sun cream and plenty of water. After the walk, the rest of the da...

From the red canyon drive to the green-fringed Dades Valley, cutting through by the serpentine Dades River (approximately 85 kilometres). This valley follows the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and is dotted with mud-brick villages perched on hillsides. This is one of the best sections of road in Morocco and a memorable cycle along the fabulous hairpins of the Dades Gorge. Leaving the greenery behind, cycle deep into the desolate Mgoun Valley near Bou Tharar (approximately 50 kilometres). On the way, stop by a local nomad family and share traditional cup of tea with your hosts. This is a genuine opportunity for local interaction with a family who spend their lives travelling this remote land. Your leader will be there at all times to help you communicate and understand their fascinating lives. Later in the afternoon, bid farew...

A drive through arid surroundings brings you to the dramatic Lake El Mansour (approximately 100 kilometres), which sits among in the sandy rocks surrounding Ouarzazate. Get the bikes out and begin a 50-kilometre ride to mythical Ait Benhaddou, passing ancient kasbah ruins, former colonial military outposts, and austere mountains. Pause for lunch in Ouarzazate, where ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Black Hawk Down’ were filmed. Time permitting, tour Atlas Movie Studios. Make a short visit to Horizon Association for People With Disabilities, an organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation, health and empowerment of people with disabilities. They provide essential services like prosthetic limbs, physio and social therapy, as well as training in skills like pottery or metal work. It’s a project the Intrepid Foundation is very proud ...

To help you avoid a serious amount of climbing, start the first part of today’s journey in the support vehicle, leaving the Sahara behind and driving 50 kilometres uphill to the Kasbah town of Telouet. Here, high in the Atlas (1,800 metres), you’ll cycle in the true mountains. This is a short ride of 25 kilometres, with the last 13 kilometres climbing up to the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka Pass. At 2,260 metres above sea level, this is the highest major mountain pass in North Africa. This is a real climb, but it’s well worth it for the bragging rights alone! After a brief break for refreshment, re-join the support vehicle and descend from the High Atlas all the way back to Marrakech, some 100 kilometres away. If you feel like doing more riding, then you can take on the epic 30 downhill kilometres to Zerkten (1,260m asl, 1,000m ...

This cycling adventure through Morocco comes to an end today. There are no activities planned and you are free to leave at any time. Riding distance: none