Atlas to Sahara Grand Tour

Overview

Our flagship expedition. Twelve days linking the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the earthen kasbahs of the Ounila Valley, the Anti-Atlas and the palm groves that bleed into the Sahara near Merzouga. A journey across three worlds — alpine, oasis and desert — on the kind of remote gravel that made us start this company.

Why ride this tour

• Cross the full Atlas-to-Sahara gradient in a single trip — alpine passes to sand.
• Ride the Ounila Valley’s ochre piste past Telouet and Ait Benhaddou, rarely trafficked.
• Finish on the Erg Chebbi dunes with a desert camp night under a sky that has no light pollution.

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Marrakech — Arrival at Marrakesh Menara Airport; transfer to a 3-star hotel on bed & breakfast basis. Briefing and bike build.
2. Day 2: Marrakech → Ait Benhaddou — Transfer to 2,200 m, then climb the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,268 m). Visit the Glaoui Kasbah at Telouet, lunch, then ride the Ounila Valley piste to the UNESCO village of Ait Benhaddou. Overnight in a riad.
3. Day 3: Ait Benhaddou → Agdz — Ride past Ouarzazate and the Jebel Sahro, over the Tizi n’Ouado (1,550 m) and Tizi n’Tinififft (1,660 m) passes, descending to the Draa oasis town of Agdz near Kasbah Tamnougalt.
4. Day 4: Agdz → Zagora — Cycle the Upper Draa Valley on a quiet backroad through palm groves, terraces and old kasbahs along the historic caravan route to Zagora.
5. Day 5: Zagora → Desert — Head east toward Tizi N’Tafilalt across a stone desert plateau to Tisserdmine, then 4×4 into the Ait Atta lands and a desert-village riad for the night.
6. Day 6: Desert → Merzouga — Ride toward the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga; sunset camel walk and a fixed desert camp.
7. Day 7: Merzouga rest day — Optional dune ride or rest in the desert.
8. Day 8: Merzouga → Dades — Transfer and ride toward the Dades Gorge through the Valley of Roses.
9. Day 9: Dades → Central High Atlas — Climb into the Central High Atlas canyons on remote gravel.
10. Day 10: Central High Atlas — A full gravel day in the central range’s canyons and valleys.
11. Day 11: Central High Atlas → Marrakech foothills — Descend west toward the Marrakech foothills.
12. Day 12: Return to Marrakech — Final ride and transfer back to Marrakech; farewell dinner.

Inclusions

• All accommodation
• Support vehicle and guide team
• Most meals
• Airport transfers from Marrakech
• Mechanical support