Road of Moorish Kings

For over 700 years the Moorish Kings ruled large parts of Spain from their bases in the Moroccan cities of Fez and Marrakesh. This ride explores the areas that fell under their domain, from the souks of Marrakesh and the medina of Fez to Ronda's Casa del Rey Moro, the Alhambra in Granada and the Arab Baths in Mallorca, tracing Moorish influence through the region's cuisine, architecture, language and culture.

Starting in Casablanca on the Atlantic coast, riders cross the towering High Atlas Mountains and experience Moroccan hospitality before crossing into Spain. There they take in Moorish-era architecture, celebrated Spanish cuisine and some of the best cycling roads in Europe, from sparkling Mediterranean coastline to the rolling Spanish countryside and Mallorca's famous cycling byways. The tour finishes in Palma de Mallorca, closing out this two-country journey through the legacy of the Moorish Kings.

Highlights

• Explore the souks of Marrakesh and the medina of Fez
• Climb through Morocco's High Atlas Mountains
• Visit the blue-washed town of Chefchaouen
• See Ronda's Casa del Rey Moro and the Alhambra in Granada
• Finish with the famous cycling byways of Mallorca, including the Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs)
• Two-country journey tracing Moorish heritage across Morocco and Spain

Surface and terrain:

1–5% unpaved roads; a touring or gravel bike with 35–40c tyres is recommended. Route crosses the High Atlas Mountains, so expect sustained climbing as well as long flatter stretches. Tour is e-bike friendly.

Suitable for:

Experienced tourers comfortable with long daily distances (averaging over 90km on riding days) and mountain climbing. Rated Adventure category with a 3.5/5 difficulty score.