Winter in the Draa Valley and Jebel Sahro

The lush Atlas Mountains that run South West through Morocco is in stark contrast to the desert fringe in the south and east of the country. The ancient city of Marrakech, where we start this adventure, with its labyrinthine streets boasts some of the most intriguing souqs (markets) in Morocco.

From Marrakech our route heads south towards the northern fringes of the Sahara Desert and the town of Zagora. The lushness of the Draa Valley belies the desolate sea of sand that lies beyond, stretching to the horizon in line after line of dunes. The fascinating area of the Jebel Sahro is situated north of Zagora and we cycle this wild landscape before exploring the Dades Gorge and the southern flanks of the main High Atlas chain, before returning to Marrakech.

We explore snow-capped peaks but the average daily temperature is still 20ºC. Cycling in Morocco, this beautiful and remote region of the country is very varied with superb dirt track descents and challenging climbs.

Cycling in Morocco we encounter the ‘real’ Morocco, share mint tea with local people in small villages and also travel through the spectacular Todra and Dades gorges.