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Southern Morocco

Tour Organiser: Martin Jamieson

Monday 03rd to Sunday 16th November 2025

Tiznit is similar in latitude to the Canary Islands, and the quiet roads through beautiful countryside to the local villages have been renewed just for us to go cycling there. It might be a culture shock to us Brits leaving cold wet busy roads behind in the UK. Morocco is not in the EU so those who are at the limit for days in the EU can come safely. We are staying in a lovely small Riad (small hotel) in the walled city of Tiznit, with cycling in beautiful countryside, along the Atlantic coastline, and a day trip to the Anti Atlas mountains. Bikexplore very rarely repeats a tour, but we think that this location combined with the weather is far nicer than Majorca and people might come year after year.
You can bring your own bike or hire in Agadir.
  • Number of days cycling: 13

  • Average daily distance:

    • Normal Route: 84.0 km

    • Alternate Route: 84.9 km

  • Average daily ascent:

    • Normal Route: 822 m

    • Alternate Route: 856 m

Monday 03rd November 2025 Arrive in Morocco

Arrive in Agadir Airport and there is one transfer provided to Tiznit

Flights from London Gatwick arrive at 19.20 in Agadir airport, and it is approximately 100km to Tiznit. We have a coach and also a truck for the bikes. Sit by the pool and enjoy a light supper.

  • No cycling
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (D)

Tuesday 04th November 2025 Aglou Plage

We will have breakfast and assemble our bikes, then cycle out to Aglou Plage to see the Atlantic

Breakfast is usually outside at tables beside the swimming pool. The Riad has just 10 rooms, and is shaped like a U around the pool, with a nice garden area. We will reassemble our bikes before setting out for the coast. Starting along the city wall and following the ancien route which is west of the main road. Fully tarmaced and complete (unlike google suggests) it's a quiet cycle ride with little traffic and you will descend most of the way.

Just before Aglou Plage head right for the port area. After a kilometre there are buildings on the left where there is a basic and good cafe. From here you can walk down to the small port and small wooden fishing boats.

Returning to the main road, head right and descend further into Aglou itself. There is a wide promenade at the sea front and 5 cafes (all owned by the same person) You can walk the promenade or explore the beach. We return by the same route.

  • Cycling Distance: 41.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 366m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Wednesday 05th November 2025 Barrage circular ride

Barrage Youssef Ibn Tachfin - a huge reservoir with a lovely cycle along the valley

This was a favourite day on previous tours. We cycle east from Tiznit on the road to Tafraout before turning north and along to the top of the dam where we have panoramic views. Here we will regroup, have a snack and take a few photos. The return cycle follows the river valley and is more fertile. We saw nomads and their camels on this stretch last time.

  • Cycling Distance: 79.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 997m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Thursday 06th November 2025 Panoramic route along the Atlantic coast

Lovely cycle along quiet roads before turning west and down to the coast.

Heading to the south west of Tiznit this route takes an inland route parallel to the coast along a good road.

The first part has a steep climb through switchbacks followed by 2 smaller climbs but it does afford good views all around. You will pass the small town of Souk El Arba Du Sahal where there are shops and basic cafe should you want to stop. Heading towards the coast is mostly downhill as you descend to Gourizm. Now for the Atlantic Coast. This is a lovely ride with hills falling to the sea on the right and the sight and sound of breakers on the left. The coast road finishes at Aglou, and lunch will be taken at a suitable point along the coast. Into Aglou where you skirt the northern edge before returning to Tiznit along the Ancien Route.

  • Cycling Distance: 82.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 876m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Friday 07th November 2025 Walking tour of the historic walled town of Tiznit

Our host will lead us on a guided tour of the town.

Our host is of Moroccan descent and is very knowledgeable and proud of his home. He guides us round the town and enthusiastically explains the culture and heritage. Within a wall with five historic gates there is a Palace, Grand Mosque and of course a market that specialises in silver

  • No cycling
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Saturday 08th November 2025 Toumanar

This area is very isolated but the new and quiet roads make for great cycling

Morocco has been building new roads into remote villages to help retain the population and support economic development. At present the roads have been made but the area is still to develop and I think it has changed very little so far. We did a variation of this ride in 2024 and only saw about 3 cars on the new roads to the villages. There would occasionally be someone in the middle of nowhere, sitting in the shade under a tree, waiting for one of these cars as a taxi.

  • Cycling Distance: 79.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 840m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Sunday 09th November 2025 The Oasis at Massa

Cycle towards the coast at Aglou and then north to Massa

This ride takes us north to the town of Massa which is situated in an oasis. Depending on how people feel when we get to Massa we might extend the ride further north along the flat river valley.

  • Cycling Distance: 96.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 805m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Extended ride to Lakhas

This is a longer and more hilly option

  • Cycling Distance: 104.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 1115m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Monday 10th November 2025 East to Ouiijjane, Illirh, and Tighmi

Cycling out to Toumanar this ride has some hills and lovely sections along the river valley

Cycling east towards the hills around the hamlet of Toumanar and on to Illirh. Here we cross the river (that feeds the reservoir on day 3's ride).

  • Cycling Distance: 93.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 159m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Tuesday 11th November 2025 Souk and Cook

Starting with shopping in the market and then preparing our own tajines

Walking around the market and experiencing the northern African souk is an experience in itself. We help pick up a wide selection of ingredients then return to the Riad. Here the staff help with the food preparation and we construct our own Tajines. This might be the highlight of the holidays for foodies.

  • No cycling
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Wednesday 12th November 2025 Mountains - yes the most hilly ride of the tour

Starting by riding out to Bounaamane then west and into the hills.

The start of the ride takes you through the bustling heart of Tiznit, heading out via the suburbs rather than the main road. Arriving at the main road you head south with wide views all around towards Bounnamane. This runs along a wide valley and although you are climbing it hardly feels like it.

If you fancy a break you can divert via the town (the route takes you that way) where there are shops and several cafes all serving tea and coffee.

Returning to the road the cycling gets steeper passing water wells and cacti to reveal an amazing view across the plain below; stop a while to admire this. A switch-backed descent takes you onto the plain. Another climb (look back for great views) , followed by a swift descent that levels a bit for an extensive easy run towards Souk El Arba Du Sahel where there are a few shops and basic tearooms before the final section back to Tiznit.

  • Cycling Distance: 94.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 1255m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Thursday 13th November 2025 Lakhssas and the Souss-Massa

This ride south takes us through the Souss-Massa, and finishes with a gradual descent and long flat ride back to Tiznit

This ride goes south down a wide valley towards Bounaamane then has a loop round through the hills, before finishing with a gradual descent and a long flat ride back to Tiznit. Today's ride links up with the last day of cycling when we will use transport to take us to Lakhssas, and then ride from there.

  • Cycling Distance: 104.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 1115m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Friday 14th November 2025 Anti Atlas Mountains - Tafraout and the Ait Mansour Canyon and Oasis

Day trip by coach into the Anti Atlas mountains

This is a long full day to the Anti Atlas mountains. We hope to visit the famous Painted Rocks, a small traditional house, and the market town of Tafraout. For me the highlight is the Ait Mansour Canyon and Oasis. It is beautiful and made me think of the rocks in Arizona.

  • No cycling
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Saturday 15th November 2025 Sidi Ifni and the Atlantic coast

We use transport to get to Lakhssas and then cycle to Sidi Ifni and the Atlantic coast.

We transfer by coach to Lakhsass where the ride starts at 921m. The road has been recently tarmaced and is predominantly downhill, a lovely ride. There is a steeper descent with great views before arriving in the small town of Tioughza, where there are several small cafes. Continuing onwards the road continues to descend with a final climb over the ridge and into the coastal town of Sidi Ifni, an old town built by the Spanish. Then, we continue north following the coastline towards Lagzira for a late lunch.

Once we have explored Sidi Ifni, a transfer takes you and your bike back to Tiznit.

On return to the Riad we will need to pack away our bikes ready for the journey home tomorrow.

  • Cycling Distance: 88.0km
  • Altitude Gain: 983m
  • Accommodation: Riad
  • Meals: (B, D)

Sunday 16th November 2025 Airport transfer

Breakfast and then transfer to Agadir Airport

After a leisurely breakfast we have an airport transfer to Agadir planned to suit people travelling with Easyjet on the flight at 13.55 (arriving London Gatwick at 16.45).

  • No cycling
  • Accommodation: none
  • Meals: (B)

Cost

Land Only - £1950

Payment Schedule

A deposit of £400 per person is payable upon booking, with a final balance of £1,550 to be paid by 29th August 2025.

Price includes:

  • Accomodation for 13 nights on a shared room basis (2 per room)
  • Breakfasts and dinner each day
  • English speaking cycling guide
  • One airport transfer from Agadir and one to Agadir, including bike boxes
  • Day trip to Anti Atlas mountains
  • Walking tour of the walled town of Tiznit

Price does not include:

  • Lunch - although snacks will be available
  • Drinks - alcohol is not widely available, but you can buy some to consume in the hotel

Cancellations

Written Notice Received:

Cancellation Charge:

by email before 29th August 2025

deposit of £400

after 29th August

full cost of tour £1,950

How to make a booking

https://form.jotform.com/223097390481358/prefill/677ee7d83566612eb8920440ac50

The price of £1950 (land only) is based on a minimum number of 8 people taking part in the holiday and is calculated at a rate of Euros (for hotel bill) 1.16 to £1 Sterling (based on exchange rates published Post Office on Wednesday 15th January 2025; please note Booking Conditions). If there are insufficient bookings by Saturday 31st May 2025, we will contact you and return all monies paid.

The tour is based in the historic walled town of Tiznit which is quite far south in Morocco. It is 350km south of Marrakesh and is similar latitude to the Canary Islands. The area surrounding is very quiet and the government has built new roads to open access to remote villages. These make for fantastic cycling.

This tour is land only, so you are responsible for booking your own travel to Morocco. There will be one airport transfer from Agadir airport, arranged to meet the Easyjet flight from Gatwick, but of course you can come early or use other airlines.

There will be a bus for passenger transfers and a truck to transfer bikes. We will also make a stop if people have arranged to hire bikes.

Potentially a tour may be cancelled (e.g. if it does not attract the minimum numbers) so please do not commit to any travel arrangements until you have received confirmation that the tour will go ahead. In the event of cancellation Bikexplore will only be responsible for refunding you the cost of the tour itself.

Prior to the tour communication will be by email, but shortly before the tour we will set up a WhatsApp group. During the tour we will use WhatsApp to communicate details like café stops, meal arrangements, places of interest and any emergencies on route. Ideally everyone will bring a smart phone and be happy to be included in the group. In 2024 we found that most people only used What'sApp with a wifi connection, but this still allowed us to share photos etc. Each evening after dinner there will be a short briefing to discuss arrangements for the next day.

We will stay in a lovely Riad (small hotel) that we have used before. All rooms have en-suite facilities.

Prices are based on two people sharing a room. When booking with a partner to share please specify twin or double beds. There are a small number of single occupancy rooms available for a £500 supplement.

Breakfast and Dinner each day are included. We will pay for our own lunches, café stops and beverages. Most of the tour is in sparsely populated areas so there may be few options for procuring lunch and these could be closed on the day we need them. We will provide a limited range of snacks and additional water but please do bring any favourite snacks with you. Breakfast can be very filling so you may be happy with a more modest lunch.

Most places are happy to accept credit cards but please carry some cash just in case.

Please advise the tour organizer of any dietary requirements in your Booking application, and do remember to pack any medications that you need. Can you also remind the tour organizer of any dietary requirements and health issues at the start of the tour.

TYPE OF BIKE

Most types of bike would be suitable for this holiday, and I took my road bike in 2024. However, packing and ability to obtain spare parts may influence your choice. There are also bikes available for hire from Agadir. These were mid-range gravel bikes, although mountain bikes were more widely available.

MAINTENANCE

You should ensure your cycle is well maintained, paying particular attention to wheels, tyres and brakes. A low bottom gear (eg. small chainring the same size or smaller than the largest cog on your rear wheel) is recommended. Lights are recommended in the very unlikely event of arriving back late and useful if walking outdoors at night. A bell is advised and bring a bike lock for security. Water bottles are required to ensure you are hydrated at all times. You must carry sufficient spares and tools to deal with punctures and minor repairs, including two inner tubes, spare gear and brake cable, split link and spare brake pads. There is a very small bike shop next door but they do not have specialist parts.

Please bring a bike lock suitable to your attitude towards the risk of theft. The bikes are kept within the walled Riad at night.

This is a cycling holiday for 14 days typically with up to 3 days of cycling followed by a non-cycling day. You can of course do more or less cycling as you wish.

Some of the days involves a section on main roads to depart from Tiznit, and the majority of the cycling is on minor roads. The main roads have less traffic than the UK and the minor roads are exceptionally quiet. People tend to cycle in small groups, and meet up with the rest of the group at view points and cafes. The tour should be manageable for someone who cycles regularly and has reasonable fitness. There are some longer days and some days with a lot of ascent, as well as shorter and easier days. Please train for the tour and ride some hilly 80km day trips in preparation. Please keep well hydrated!

People may want to stop for photographs, look at the view or explore some local point of interest and this is encouraged. You are on holiday. If you wish to go further from the group and do your own thing then please do advise the tour organizer.

On average the day time temperature can be 18 to 24 degrees, but cooler in the early mornings and later evenings. In November there may be 3.5 days with at least 1mm of precipitation.

The culture is very tolerant and we all felt safe in Tiznit. You can wear what you like, but out of respect for the local culture ladies may chose to wear loose sleeved clothing on non-cycling days.

Please carry and use sun screen.

Helmets are optional, but are recommended.

The tour organizer will email a link to Plotaroute with all of the planned rides for the tour. These can be downloaded to your Garmin, or other cycle computer , or phone. A lot of the roads are quite new and may not be shown on any printed maps or even google maps.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking (if not before).

There are no compulsory health-related requirements for UK residents although it is strongly recommended that you are vaccinated against hepatitis A, typhoid, polio and tetanus protection has not expired. You should contact your doctor at least 3 months

prior to travel to obtain these vaccinations and the latest advice for travellers. Please refer to https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco.

Please also obtain a Global Health Insurance Card

UK citizens must hold a passport that is still valid for at least six months at the end of the tour.

Holders of non-UK passports are advised to check whether they require a visa.

Morocco has a closed currency, so it is best to bring Euros to exchange once you arrive.

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