Highlights of Othello

Atlas Mountains | Sahara | Andalusia | Alentejo

Cycling out of the souks of Marrakesh we head first to our luxury desert camp, an essential Moroccan experience. Then to the Atlas Mountains and over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, descending to spectacular UNESCO listed Ait Benhaddou. Then basing ourselves at two amazing hotels we ride the historic caravan route into the Sahara then the Dades Valley and the Todgha Gorge.

To continue our Odyssey into Europe, we cross (by plane for comfort!) over the Mediterranean. We land in Andalusia and from Granada and its amazing Alhambra we ride the Sierra Nevada and the white washed villages which dot the mountain slopes. We roll to Cordoba for exceptional history and Moorish architecture in La Mezquita and finish with our idyllic Portuguese leg in Alentejo. A region full of castles, monasteries, palaces, Roman and medieval ruins, with its rolling topography and views.

Our 2027 Highlights of Othello format is simple:

• 7 nights in Morocco capturing the best of this amazing country from 3 carefully chosen locations.
• Then fly to Europe and spend 10 nights in 4 carefully chosen locations in Spain and Portugal through Andalusia and Alentejo.
• Daily multiple cycling options for easier and more challenging routes, making this accessible to all rider levels.

Tour highlights

• Mesmerising Marrakesh! A royal city of Morocco with so much to experience
• A magic 5* luxury Desert Camp in the Agafay Desert - a unique Moroccan experience
• Spectacular UNESCO gem Ait Benhaddou which rises out of the desert
• The Berber villages and stunning Atlas Mountains - perfect riding and exploration
• The Tizi-n-Tichka (2,260m) - an awe-inspiring switchback-filled pass into the High Atlas
• The Sahara desert, a unique ride from the Atlas into the dunes - an unforgettable day on the bike
• The souks (markets) in every town and village including Jemaa el-Fnaa - the heart of Marrakesh
• Both the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge. Very few are lucky enough to ride one of these - we ride both in two genuinely unforgettable days on the bike. This is adventure road riding at its very best.
• The exceptional cuisine! Subtle spices and intriguing flavour combinations make Moroccan food one of the best cuisines in the world
• The exceptional stays - Riads, luxury desert camps and 5* hotels in the rugged Atlas - exotic, luxurious and historic! For example the gorgeous Eden Boutique Hotel or Berber Palace, where actors stayed while filming Gladiator and the more recent The Odyssey!
• The best of Andalusia - from Granada to Cordoba, as well as one of the regions most intriguing attractions is the notion of duende, the elusive spirit that douses much of Spanish art, especially Flamenco. It translates as a moment of heightened emotion that takes you out of yourself, and we will find this on and off the bike in this special region.
• Moorish Heritage in Spain - including the spectacular hilltop fortress of the Alhambra in Granada with its beautiful backdrop of the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the Great Mosque of Córdoba - built in 784!
• Spectacular cycling in the Sierra Nevada (also Cadel Evan's training grounds) with the beautiful white washed villages of the Alpujarras - Capileira, Bubión, Lanjaron and more.
• Tapas Bars and live Flamenco...after all Andalusia is where Flamenco was born!
• The Alentejo region - rolling vine-clad hills, white washed villages, magnificent medieval and Roman villages. The best cycling territory in the country of Portugal.
• Beautiful Evora, a UNESCO Heritage site and one of Portugal’s best preserved medieval towns which also contains some of the country's best Roman ruins, notably the spectacular Temple of Diana.
• Magnificent Monsaraz, the focus of one of our best rides in Europe and a charming hilltop fortress now surrounded by vines which make some of Portugal's best wine.
• The food and wine of Alentejo. It produces half the countries wine and serves its most renowned dishes.