Tour overview
Can’t choose between hiking and cycling? This 8-day tour gives you both. You spend two full days walking in the Ait Bouguemez, the ‘Happy Valley’, below M’Goun (4,071 m), the second-highest mountain in Morocco. Then you ride for three days through the M’Goun Geopark to Bin El Ouidane lake and the Ouzoud waterfalls.
The walking is easy, the riding is moderate, and the 4×4 is always close by. It’s a good choice for couples and groups with mixed fitness.
- Tour name
- Morocco Hike and Bike Tour
- Recommended age
- 16 to 65
- Accommodation
- Hotels, a camp and guesthouses (gîtes)
Highlights
- Explore the old medina of Marrakech
- Hike and bike in the Atlas Mountains
- A night by Bin El Ouidane lake
- See the Ouzoud waterfalls
- Walk through the Happy Valley
Route map
The line shows the approximate route. Tap a day in the itinerary to zoom in on it.
- Marrakech
- Tabant
- Ait Imi
- Zaouit Oulmzi
- Assamar
- Bin El Ouidane lake
- Marrakech
Itinerary
Day1Arrival in Marrakech
We meet you at Marrakech Menara Airport and drive you to your hotel, 15 minutes away. Later you meet your guide for a briefing about the tour. If you have time, visit the old town, Bahia Palace and Jemaa el-Fna square.
Day2Marrakech to the Ait Bouguemez Valley1 hour
A five-hour drive takes us into the mountains, with a stop at the natural bridge of Imi n’Ifri and lunch in the village of Ait Bouali. In the Happy Valley we meet the muleteers and walk for an hour to our guesthouse.
Day3Tizi n'Ait Imi and the Sidi Moussa granary5 hours
A 4–5 hour walk takes us through the heart of the valley. We climb up to Sidi Moussa, an old hilltop granary where families kept their grain in small rooms. In the afternoon we walk up the valley from village to village to our guesthouse in Ait Imi.
Day4Ait Imi to Zaouit Oulmzi5 hours
We walk through the village of Ibaqalliwn to see dinosaur footprints left in the rock millions of years ago. Then we continue to Adazen for a great view of the valley. After lunch we go down to Zaouit Oulmzi for the night.
Day5Ait Bouguemez to Assamar60 km
Breakfast on the terrace comes with a view of M’Goun (4,071 m). Then we get on the bikes. The first 8 km are easy, through potato fields and apple orchards. Then comes the hardest climb of the day, up to the Tizi n’Tirghist pass, with a big view of the Atlas range. After lunch a more technical stretch takes us up and down to our camp at Assamar.
Day6Assamar to Bin El Ouidane lake50 km
Today’s ride winds up and down through a long, quiet thuya forest on good gravel. It’s a demanding but very rewarding day. We finish at the lake with a glass of mint tea at our hotel.
Day7Bin El Ouidane to Ouzoud and Marrakech50 km1 hour
After a short transfer to Azilal, the last ride is mostly downhill through oak forests and olive groves, with a few short climbs. We reach the Ouzoud waterfalls in the early afternoon and have lunch with a view of the falls. Then we drive back to Marrakech, where the medina is at its liveliest in the evening.
Day8Departure
Transfer to Menara Airport for your flight. Check-out is at 11:30. We hope to see you again soon – ma’a salama!
What’s included
Included
- Meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners, plus mineral water
- All meals during the tour except dinner on day 1 and day 7 in Marrakech
- Accommodation: 3 nights in hotels, 3 nights in guesthouses and 1 night in a camp
- Rooms are twin share; a single room is available for a supplement of 395 EUR
- Transport by comfortable van or Toyota Land Cruiser (4×4), including airport transfers on day 1 and day 8
- A 4×4 support vehicle with the riders every day
- 3 days of guided cycling and 2 days of guided hiking
- Visit of Jemaa el-Fna square and the old medina of Marrakech
- Visit of the Ouzoud waterfalls and Bin El Ouidane lake
Not included
- Flights and visas
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Tips
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry and souvenirs
- Personal travel insurance
- Bike hire (mountain bike, gravel bike or e-bike). You can bring your own bike or rent one from us.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is this hike and bike tour?
The tour is graded easy to moderate. The walks in the Happy Valley are easy, about 5 hours a day, and the three bike days are moderate, at 50 to 60 km a day. A 4×4 support vehicle is with the riders every day, so it suits couples and groups with mixed fitness.
How many kilometres do you ride in total?
About 160 km over 3 cycling days (60 km, 50 km and 50 km), with around 1,650 m of total climbing. The last day to the Ouzoud waterfalls is mostly downhill.
What is the Happy Valley?
The Happy Valley is the local name for the Ait Bouguemez valley in the Central High Atlas, below M’Goun (4,071 m), the second-highest mountain in Morocco. On this tour you walk through its villages, visit the Sidi Moussa granary and see dinosaur footprints near Ibaqalliwn.
What kind of bike do I need?
You can ride a gravel bike, a mountain bike or an e-bike. Bring your own or rent one from us. Bike hire is not included in the tour price.
How much does the tour cost and what is included?
The tour costs from 1,050 € per person. The price includes 7 nights (3 in hotels, 3 in guesthouses, 1 in a camp), most meals, transport with airport transfers, a 4×4 support vehicle, and guided hiking and cycling. A single room costs a 395 € supplement. Flights, insurance, tips and bike hire are not included.
When is the best time to do this tour?
The best time is from March to November.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The tour starts and finishes in Marrakech, with pick-up and drop-off at Marrakech Menara Airport. Groups are 2 to 16 people, and the recommended age is 16 to 65.
Planning your trip? Read our complete guide to gravel biking in Morocco.
Related guides
Book this tour or ask us anything
Send us your dates on WhatsApp or by email. Our team in Marrakech replies within 24 hours and can adapt the tour to your group, level and dates.
Can’t choose between hiking and cycling? This 8-day tour gives you both. You spend two full days walking in the Ait Bouguemez, the ‘Happy Valley’, below M’Goun (4,071 m), the second-highest mountain in Morocco. Then you ride for three days through the M’Goun Geopark to Bin El Ouidane lake and the Ouzoud waterfalls.
The walking is easy, the riding is moderate, and the 4×4 is always close by. It’s a good choice for couples and groups with mixed fitness.
Trip details
- Tour name: Morocco Hike and Bike Tour
- Duration: 8 days: 2 days hiking and 3 days cycling
- Grade: Easy to moderate
- Best time to visit: March to November
- Bike: Gravel bike, mountain bike or e-bike
- Group size: 2 to 16 people
- Recommended age: 16 to 65
- Start / finish: Marrakech
- Accommodation: Hotels, a camp and guesthouses (gîtes)
Highlights
- Explore the old medina of Marrakech
- Hike and bike in the Atlas Mountains
- A night by Bin El Ouidane lake
- See the Ouzoud waterfalls
- Walk through the Happy Valley
