Road Tour of Toubkal

• Classic road biking holiday from the Atlas to the Moroccan Sahara
• Spring and autumn riding in the sun
• Exploring the vibrant souks of Marrakech
• Cycling through the Draa Valley to the oasis town of Zagora
• Bike the Tizi n`Tichka and Tizi n`Test, Morocco`s highest roads

Early and late in the year, Morocco is the perfect destination for a road cycling holiday, with predictably good weather and a growing number of low-cost flight options into Marrakech. South of this magical, 'Arabian Nights' city, our ground-breaking new cycling holiday follows generally good tarmac roads, biking across the Atlas Mountains by way of the Tizi n'Tichka (2260m) to the desert frontier town of Zagora and then returns via an alternative, exciting and little-used road over the Tizi n'Test (2092m). En route, we will stay in simple hotels and gites and will have an experienced KE biking leader, as well as a local guide accompanying the group in the support vehicle. The whole range of Moroccan experiences awaits us - the colourful street vendors and Berber acrobats of Marrakech's central Djema el-Fna square, the exquisite flavours of the local cuisine, spectacular views of the rugged Atlas peaks and the stunning landscape of kasbahs and palm trees in the Draa Valley, as we cycle across the Jebel Sahro to the edge of the Sahara. Making a bike circuit around Mount Toubkal (4167m), North Africa's highest peak, and involving some superb days of climbing and descending on sinuous mountain roads, this is a classic long distance cycling holiday.

Is this holiday for you?

If you are looking for a road cycling holiday with a difference, early or late in the season and in a part of the world that see few road cyclists, this is one to consider. We ride a mix of main and minor roads, with only short sections of these roads seeing any weight of traffic. This is a trip for regular weekend road cyclists who will enjoy the challenge of biking around North Africa's highest peak. We have chosen to run the trip either side of the hot summer period, when the temperatures should be ideal for the ride - warm, but not too warm. This is totally supported riding - at the start of the day, when the group sets off biking, your kit bag will be loaded into the support vehicle and transported to the next overnight halt. Apart from a fixed rendezvous for lunch and regular water stops, you are free to cycle at your own pace, with the support vehicle never far away. This holiday has 7 days of fairly continuous riding, with a daily average of 100 kilometres and close to 1000 metres of ascent and descent. There are 2 short vehicle transfers, the first to avoid a section of potentially busy road and the second to avoid a stretch of unmade road. Accommodation is in a mix of simple hotels, with 1 night in a basic but charming gite. Stunning scenery, atmospheric overnight accommodation and a magnificent point-to-point route make this an unforgettable experience. EXCELLENT BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE LOCALLY.

AT A GLANCE

8 nights hotels and gites / 7 days biking / 680 kilometres (425 miles) / 100% road / 100% vehicle supported / Max. altitude 2260 metres / Join in Marrakech / MEAL PLAN: All meals included / Max group size: 12