Cycle Morocco's Great South

• Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 riad), 1 Simple night (auberge)
• Six days cycling with full vehicle support
• Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Second leader added for groups above 7. Minimum age: 16

Moroccan food is excellent, though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread, and jam with tea or coffee. Lunches are a mixture of packed lunches or eating in a local restaurant. They are generally a mixture of bread, pasta, rice, vegetables, cheese, fish, ham and fruit. Where meals are not included budget for the following approximate prices. Lunches: 60 to 100 Dirham (US$6-10) Dinners: In cities 80 to 200 Dirham (US$8-19) and in small towns villages 60 – 100 Dirham (US$6-10) Soft drinks in restaurants : 10 to 20 Dirham (US$1-1.90) Alcohol: Beer 30 to 50 Dirham (US$2.85-5)– Wine 150 Dirham (US$14) and more Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform the Exodus Office prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (e.g. coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home.

Mountains can make their own weather, so we may occasionally be forced to amend the itinerary for part of the trip. On the plains, the days are usually warm to hot (above 25C/77F) but the nights are cooler. In the higher areas and the mountains, days should be warm or even hot in October and April, with clear skies, but the nights are often cold (sometimes around 7C/45F). On the high ridges of the High Atlas there can be snow, but not normally enough to affect the areas in which we cycle; if a road is closed, we will arrange a suitable alternative ride. Rainfall in the areas we visit is relatively low though there is a chance of rain, particularly on trips in December, January and February. Although unusual, there is also the possibility of much colder weather during these months and into the beginning of March.

This tour is classified Road and Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more information on our trips gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Terrain and route: 90 percent paved, 10 percent unsurfaced road with an average daily distance of 42mi (68km).

Fitness: A good level of fitness is required for this trip as there are some climbs, with 13mi (21km) as the longest.

Rides: Mostly undulating with several optional long climbs and fast descents. There is ongoing road development in Morocco and the quality of the surface improves every year. However, there may be some sections on rough or dirt tracks and for that reason we don’t currently recommend the use of drop bar road bikes on this trip.

Journeys: Morocco is stunning but large and the cities and country areas are spread out. This means there are sometimes long journeys when we are not cycling but this is the only way to see all the country offers. We are not confined to our vehicle though, as there are plenty of photo stops and opportunities to stretch your legs. The approximate drive times are noted on the daily itinerary.

Climate: The temperatures in Morocco are hot in the summer months but we try to make the most of the coolest parts of the day. It is usually milder in the south. Morocco can get cold in the winter months though usually daytime temperatures are mild. It is advisable to pack winter clothes for November through to March when nighttime temperatures especially in the desert and the mountains can drop considerably. During these months there can also be rain throughout the country and snow in the mountains. As Morocco is generally mild to hot it is not set up for colder temperatures and so there may not be heaters available. Please pack winter clothes and nightwear to ensure you are comfortable. Of course you can also ask for more blankets from the hotels. Please be prepared for the colder months.