Rihab Gouaied was the Content Creator on the 2026 Morocco: Kingdom of the West Cycling Adventure.

It was our last day, from El Jadida to Casablanca. We called it an easy day: short, a small reward after 2,500 km across the Kingdom of the West and a stack of climbs. But rain flooded sections of the road and created one last challenging ride. When the finish line finally came into view, the relief was quiet but deeply felt. Morocco is fascinating. It’s not only a country of constantly changing landscapes, but also a place full of experiences beyond the bike.

Rest days offered plenty to explore: sunrise hot air balloon rides above the desert, visits to the famous Atlas Studios where major films and series were shot, and wandering through the colourful and artistic ANIMA Garden near Marrakech. Over the weeks on tour, we tried new things whenever the route and the clock gave us room.

In Aït Ben Haddou, Pascale took a traditional Moroccan hammam, a communal steam bath and cleansing ritual. The hammam was simple and social: a woman handed her a bucket, ran hot water, mixed in cold from the tap until it felt right, and passed over a ‘kees’, a coarse exfoliating mitt, over the body to remove dead skin –  feeling at the same time like a deep clean and a relaxing massage. There were tiled rooms, steam, low voices, and unhurried care. For someone from Canada, the ritual was new but clear: plain tools, a communal room, and you walk out lighter.

Brice’s dish

Later that day, she and Brice joined a cooking class where they learned to build a tagine and make Moroccan sweets; chopping, spicing, and tasting under local guidance before eating what they had cooked together.

Kent mentioned a detail that will stay with him: if he made a photo book of Morocco, he would fill it with football – on streets and beaches, at schools and on the edge of hillside villages. Children found a flat patch, put two rocks down for goals, and started a game. It struck him how easy it is to play here, and how often, at home, people wait for the perfect surface before they begin.

We had impressive encounters during every part of the tour, but one especially sticks in our memory. Over lunch near the snowy peaks of the Atlas Mountains, we met some nomadic shepherds heading into the mountains for weeks with their sheep. They explained how they walk long distances on foot and stay high in the mountains for the season while the animals graze. What surprised us most was how little they carried: just small bags with a few basic tools and food, no tents or mattresses, simply roughing it out in the mountains.

Birgit navigates a construction zone

In the High Atlas, mornings began wrapped in cloud: cool air, damp gloves, the road vanishing into mist. Rivers braided through valleys while stone and mud-brick villages climbed the hillsides. Switchbacks opened views that made the work feel honest. Then the easy lines disappeared: long construction stretches, single-lane cuts, fresh gravel, convoy trucks, crews waving us through. In areas hit by the 2023 earthquake, repairs were still in progress.

Keith was struck by both the poverty and the kindness of people in the area. During a walk through a quake-struck village, a family invited him and Birgit in for a meal – an act more than any headline could convey.

Staying healthy on the road was equally important. Stomach bugs circled, knees needed care, and small problems could quickly grow. When that happened, we ate plain food, hydrated, added electrolytes, and sometimes took a lift before a niggle became a full stop, so we could start the next day able to ride again.

Dag chased long climbs and quiet roads, but was still surprised by the beauty of the desert sections, “On the one day when we went through the really flat barren desert, it was a very special sort of meditative experience.”

Fabrizio watches the skies

Fabrizio watched the skies and hedges through his binoculars. “They say Morocco has around 430 bird species,” he told us. He counted around 70 during the tour and pointed out birds in the Atlas Mountains that we hadn’t seen in the north. Everyone has their own adventure from time to time. Pascale missed a turn, rode an hour in the wrong direction, laughed, and turned back. Dag’s GPS died near Dades; he rode past the camp and ended up 20 km too far before realizing something was off, with people back at camp wondering where he had gone. At Mountain View, one of our bush camps, bees found Fergal’s tent – especially funny as he had just been jokingly trying to send them towards Rolf earlier. He ended up sprinting out of his tent, swatting and laughing while the camp howled.

Pascale cycling amongst the clouds

In the end, the distances mattered less than the days we shared on the road. We finished with names, places, and simple moments that stayed with us: evenings at bush camps where the crew surprised riders with cold drinks after hard stages, time spent kicking a ball around, and quiet, undistracted reading after long days on the bike. Patrick said it best, “Be very open to what you’re going to experience.” Come for the riding, expect change, adjust, share – and when a short final day turns wet and slow, ride it through.

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Morocco: Kingdom of the West

Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco – The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques...

Rihab Gouaied is the Content Creator on the 2026 Morocco: Kingdom of the West Cycling Adventure.

We rolled into Merzouga with the sand whispering through our chains and a dry heat on our shoulders, as a small camel caravan crossed – soft pads near-silent, heads nodding, shadows sliding over our wheels.

It feels a world away from the sea air that pushed us out of Casablanca. Fourteen riders, one route – yet cycling in Morocco keeps remaking itself under our wheels. The country changes at the table and in the street, on the horizon and in the weather. Here’s how we see it now, halfway in.

Along the Atlantic

The beginning was windy – Atlantic gusts lifting flags and moods as we left Casablanca. Near Tangier, we stood where the ocean hands off to the Mediterranean, watching the water turn from wavy and rough to steady and blue. Camels moved along the shore beside the blue water – the desert meeting the sea in one frame, a first glimpse of Morocco’s diversity.

Then Tangier turned us inland and the road pitched up. The pace and traffic of the cities thinned into Rif villages where offers of water arrived before we’d even unclip. We watched bread slide into clay ovens, a single round big enough to feed ten people. Women sold it on the street and worked tending sheep, farming and carrying goods on donkeys. Their strength is visible in the daily load they carry and the way whole communities lean on them.

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen’s blues felt like a cool breath between climbs. Terraces sewn with olives pulled us skyward; pine and oak gave short spells of shade. The days are long – sunset near eight p.m. – and the heat builds early.

Paul: “I was walking in the medina of Chefchaouen and I met a gentleman called Mohamed. We spent two hours walking up the hill together. He’s from Chefchaouen and shared stories about the area. It was a nice, spontaneous way to see the town with a local.”

Dag on the road

“Chefchaouen to Wahda Dam was a very tough day,” Dag said, “96 km, 2036m of climbing in 34 degrees during a heat wave.” We wild camped by the dam – the fourth biggest in Africa – and watched the sky fade.

From Wahda to Fes, the beauty didn’t let up. After the blessed rains, spring burst open: terraces quilted with wildflowers – poppies, daisies and tiny blues – fields laid out like a bright carpet. Bees worked every verge; I got stung, sad for a moment but happy that I got to see such a green spring.

Birgit meets a camel

Donkeys still do a lot of the work here and the road rolls without much rest. “This place is all but flat,” Dag laughed, “but the views make it worth it.” In Fes we took it easy – some to hammams and massages – because tomorrow promised another 1900m of climbing. Inside the medina: tanners in honeycomb pits, copper ringing through alleyways, calls to prayer stitching morning to night. Birgit said the first days were tough – some excited kids threw stones and tried to stop her bike – but the further inland we rode, the quieter it became. Big climbs, yes, but rides to savour. She was here twenty‑five years ago and noticed how modern the big cities feel now.

South again, and the worlds kept changing. Azrou to Aït Oufella brought holm oak with cedar; above 2000m we touched the High Atlas, snow still visible, a nomadic summer camp on a high meadow. Cold settled at dawn, steam rose from coffee. On plateaus the wind pressed our shoulders; we tucked in and rode as a peloton. Some riders are camping for the first time – first tents, first bush camps, trying new things and finding out how much you can carry – and leave behind. Rest days in hotels feel rich after two or three nights under canvas.

Riffian woman in her traditional outfit

Then the Ziz valley opened like a green ribbon. From the Gorges du Ziz to Merzouga, a tailwind finally helped. “160km through the Sahara,” Dag said, shaking his head, “mind‑blowing to experience the desert on two wheels with only leg power.” In Amazigh and Tuareg areas, the clothing changed: men in indigo‑dyed robes and headscarves, women in black with colourful embroidery.

With time, our group is understanding each other. Some ride in a peloton and find that sharing makes the ride mean more; others prefer a solo rhythm. Around the soup pot at camp we trade stories – the day’s climbs, the best coffee shop – and laugh until we are called to the rider meeting. Camping connects us; hotels reset us. “Every three days it’s different,” Dag shrugged. “You never get bored. Now it’s three days in desert—I think it’s enough.” Birgit looked at the dunes: “Morocco is beautiful, but this is my favourite landscape. It reminds me of my road trip in the southern desert of the USA.”

Cyclist with a Touareg man

By the time the sand rose, our idea of Morocco had shifted. The coast felt outward‑looking; the Rif felt vertical – green and in bloom; Fes layered craft and time; the Sahara pared it down. Tastes changed with the map – tagines and salads changed from place to place. Preferences split too: some live for green climbs, some for tailwinds across a flat road with only the horizon for company. We didn’t come for a single Morocco, and we haven’t found one. We’ve found many – stitched together by tea glasses, roadside smiles and the thin line of tar that keeps disappearing under our tyres.

On the next stretch we aim for Aït Ben Haddou, Marrakech and Essaouira. We’re curious about more surprising discoveries in Morocco, and about what we can do. For now, the dunes are a pause – a chance to rinse sand from the cassettes, to enjoy a glass of tea, to watch camels pass, and to note the lesson so far: distance is only one measure. Elevation, wind and welcome redraw a day, and how you see a place depends on how you move through it.

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Morocco: Kingdom of the West

Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco – The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques...

Britney Charme, who will be the Tour Leader on the 2025 North American Epic and the 2026 Morocco: Kingdom of the West tours looks back at her time in Morocco in 2024.

Loualidia, Morocco

It is early afternoon in Morocco’s coastal mountains and I find myself in a small village that consists of Argan trees, a teahouse and a mosque. Our expedition chef, Nicole, has made a detour to a larger village for fresh fruit and the rest of the TDA crew is at lunch, feeding our group of hungry cyclists. While I wait for Nicole, I head into the teahouse to indulge in a cup of tea and to relish in the slowness of the moment. Instead of the usual fresh mint tea, I am treated to thyme tea with local honey, as well as homemade baked treats. I sit back and admire the colourful Safi ceramic mug the tea has arrived in. My mind wanders, and I am reflective. The tour is a day away from the finish line and I am already nostalgic for this journey. In the attempt to savour the moment, I flip through my travel journal and relive some of my favourite stages from this gem of a tour.

The following excerpts are some of the musings and memories that I jotted down while working as the Tour Leader on the 2024 Morocco Kingdom of the West Cycling Expedition.

Stage 5 – Azla to Chefchaouen

The tour is in full swing and we have been winding our way along the Morocco’s Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Stage 5 saw the tour depart from the sea and travel into the Rif mountain range. This stage of the tour has taken on a mythical quality in my mind. The geographic complexity of Morocco begins to reveal itself, alongside the cultural and historical layers of the country. The first part of the day brought us to a beautiful lunch spot in the Laou River Canyon. After lunch, the cyclists rode alongside wild herbs and flowers and we began to see the ubiquitous clay bread ovens that are famous in this part of Morocco. I was very content to enjoy fresh baked bread at our coke stop in Al Oued. We continued through the Rif mountains. The villages we pass through are brimming with energy and the craggy peaks are tantalizing. This is a curious, exciting place and I make a mental note to return to these mountains someday.

Stage 14 – Todra Gorge to Dades Gorge

This stage goes down as one of the toughest and most memorable of the tour. Every cycling trip needs a day (or a few) with equal parts adventure and challenge. Stage 14 fit that bill. We began the ride in the Berber village of Tamtetoucht, at the foot of the High Atlas mountains. Tamtetoucht is one of the most secluded and remote villages that we stay at during the tour. Upon leaving our traditional Berber guesthouse, or Auberge Amazigh, the cyclists gradually climb an empty paved road that leads deep into the Atlas mountain range. After 30 kilometres, we veer off that road and embark on a 20 kilometre stretch of gravel that will connect us to the Dades Gorge. Now 20km of dirt might not sound like much, but that gravel road packs a punch! On cue, the wind picks up, the climb steepens, and the cyclists are working in overdrive. It takes a serious amount of grit for the cyclists to arrive at the other side of the pass.

This subalpine desert road is a point along the migration route for the indigenous Berber nomads. In the springtime, nomadic families begin their journey from the Sahara Desert where they winter amongst the palms and head into the High Atlas where they spend their summers. The riders pedalled amongst the nomads, some of whom were herding livestock and camels, and some of whom had set up temporary camps to rest before continuing north. Traveling alongside these ancient people made an impression on me. We were granted a brief yet intimate window into a way of life that is wildly different than our own. That night, after dinner and clean up, I took a walk into the gorge with Idriss, the owner of the camp we are staying at. Idriss points out constellations while I tell him about the day’s ride. It is a connecting moment and I reflect that days like this are the essence of what TDA tours are all about.

Stage 24 – Imsouane to Essaouira + Essaouira Rest Day

The day of a tour leader on a TDA expedition is sometimes quite different than that of a tour rider. The cyclists will remember this stage for the stunning coastal views and the relentless headwind. I will remember it for the not so small feat of moving 50 duffel bags from the TDA vans to our riad (guesthouse), located in the heart of Essaouira’s ancient Medina. The Medina is maze-like with narrow pathways and market stalls overflowing with carpets, antiques, spices and local crafts. Vehicles are strictly prohibited inside the Medina walls, thus presenting the logistical challenge of how to transport the group’s luggage to the riad. I pulled up to the Medina gates, and hopped out of the van, hoping to come up with a solution before the police told me to move on.

At this point in the tour, I had come to know and deeply appreciate the resourcefulness of the Moroccan people. Within minutes of arriving at the Medina gates, I had a cup of tea thrust into my hands and a crew of locals with wooden carts loading up our bags. The duffels were promptly wheeled to our riad and a verbal agreement, along with a handshake, ensured that the same group would arrive in two days time to transport the bags back to the vans. The duffel shuffle was well worth it. Going to sleep and waking up inside the walled Medina was unlike anything I have experienced. I was transported into a world that I had imagined only existed in history books. We spent the next day exploring markets, wandering through endless corridors, eating freshly caught seafood, buying (way too many) spices and soaking in the timelessness of the place.

Loualidia, Morocco

My phone buzzes and it’s Nicole, letting me know she is ready to head to camp – fresh fruit has been procured and the riders will start the final morning of the tour with their ritual of bananas and fruit salad. I finish my last few sips of tea and head to the van, grateful for the time I had to reflect. Morocco is a treasure trove of adventure. Every curve of the road, contour in the mountains, crumbling Kasbah and mile of the Sahara Desert begs to be explored. We have yet to reach Casablanca and I am already planning a return to this wonder of a country, two wheels in tow.

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TOUR

Morocco: Kingdom of the West

Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco – The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques...

Although TDA Global Cycling runs more than 20 tours through over 80 countries around the world, our staff tend have their own favourites, adventures that appeal to them for a particular reason, be it scenery, culture or history. One of those, a ride that is definitely on own personal bucket list, is Morocco: Kingdom of the West.

In just under a year, a group of lucky riders will gather in Casablanca and set off on a 5 week, 2550 km journey through one of the most hospitable, fascinating and remarkable countries on the planet – The Kingdom of Morocco. Maybe, just maybe, one of our office staff will also be there to welcome the cyclists and fulfill one of their own travel dreams!

Let’s take a quick look at some of the highlights of the previous Morocco: Kingdom of the West tours.

A Day In The Life

Wondering what a day on the Morocco: Kingdom of the West tour is like? Look no further… (Read more)

Hollywood, Cycling The Atlas Mountains & The Route To Marrakesh

TDA Founder Henry Gold weaves together the history of Hollywood movie stars and some of Morocco’s most beautiful sights. (Read more)

The Pirate Haven Of Essaouira

In 2024, Content Creator Mats Fredrix dove into the history of the atmospheric Moroccan seaside city of Essaouira. “Shiver me timbers, matey!” (Read more)

The TDA Global Cycling ‘Marrakesh Express’ Has Arrived

The noted travel author, Tahir Shah, wrote, “I believe that Marrakech ought to be earned as a destination. The journey is the preparation for the experience. Reaching it too fast derides it, makes it a little less easy to understand.” We couldn’t have said it better! (Read more)

What Did The Riders Think About Morocco: Kingdom Of The West?

“All-consuming for 35 days. Joyful, challenging, satisfying and thrilling.” (Read more)

We hope you can join us in 2026!!

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TOUR

Morocco: Kingdom of the West

Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco – The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques...

This is part three of our 3-part video series that followed the crew and participants on the 2024 Morocco: Kingdom of the West cycling tour. Click here to see part one and part two.

In this video we follow the riders through the second half of the tour. Britney makes her sales pitch for Morocco – a place she’d spent the previous months preparing for and eventually overseeing the successful running of the Morocco: Kingdom of the West tour. “I would encourage anyone to come to Morocco…walk around.. just go out and see it.”

One of the insightful riders, Marnie, points out how, “You go through a door and…there’s little hidden secrets all over the place.” The tour itself is an experience of going through a door and having new experiences in a new places day after day. Miles talks about how one of the great joys of our tours is the desire for exploration that everyone is here to experience.

Kody, with his unique perspective as a fly on the wall, shared that, “While there was a wide range of experience levels in Morocco, everyone came together as one, supporting each other from start to finish. It was beautiful to see and beautiful to capture.” When I asked him what he would say to someone considering this tour in the future he said, “There will always be a reason not to do something – fear, money, anxiety, doubt, etc, but the reason to do something most often vastly outweigh the reasons not to. You’ll experience growth in ways that you simply cannot anywhere else. And it’s just an absolute blast.”

“Be brave enough to make the move and to trust the TDA experience will be there for you to support you through it,” Deborah said and finished with a statement that I think resonates with many of our tour participants… “and do it while you can.”

Britney’s parting statement of appreciation for Morocco was that, “In some tiny little way, now were a part of this place to.”

A special thanks to all the riders and staff who spoke so thoughtfully to Kody about their experiences. A big thanks to Kody for drawing out their interesting commentary and for producing this great series. You can find more of his work here.

RELATED
TOUR

Morocco: Kingdom of the West

Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco – The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques...

This is part two of our 3-part video series that followed the crew and participants on the 2024 Morocco: Kingdom of the West cycling tour. Click here for part one.

Part two of this series gives us some insight into how the riders experienced Morocco and what it felt like to travel through the country. Kody, from behind his camera, witnessed simple acts of kindness from the Moroccan people all along the route – “whether it was offering help, sharing mint tea, or giving up their seat, even if it was just a cushion on the ground, all out of the generosity of their hearts.”

Britney, the leader of the crew, is seen keeping the group motivated and reminding them of the achievements they’ve made along the way. One rider, Maggie encapsulates the joy found in the balance between risk and reward that you experience while traveling by bike. She explained how their ride through a gorge was “one of my all time best rides ever” but it was quickly followed by wind and rain that tested her.

A special thanks to all the riders and staff who spoke so thoughtfully to Kody about their experiences. A big thanks to Kody for drawing out their interesting commentary and for producing this great series. You can find more of his work here .

RELATED
TOUR

Morocco: Kingdom of the West

Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco – The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques...

This is part one of our 3-part video series that followed the crew and participants on the 2024 Morocco: Kingdom of the West cycling tour.

Kody Block was the Content Creator for this tour and he managed to capture a beautiful piece of Morocco, its people and our group of cyclists. The resulting videos are a really meaningful series that makes us reflect on why we travel and how we can continue to be open to new experiences as we grow older.

When I asked him what his idea was behind this series, he said: “I wanted to bring Morocco – and the experience of what it is like to cycle across this country – to life. There’s so much that goes into organizing these trips, and so much that TDA represents, so I thought it would be an interesting angle to capture the perspectives of the cyclists and the staff. I believe that pushing yourself into challenging and uncomfortable situations, especially across new cultures, is a beautiful opportunity to bring the world together, and I wanted to spark that curiosity in my viewers.”

In this first video we get a preview of the cycling adventure, Morocco: Kingdom of the West,  and Kody allows us to peek behind the curtain to hear from the crew running the tour and people who run TDA (including founder Henry Gold) about what makes these tours possible and, more importantly, what makes them fun.

A special thanks to all the riders and staff who spoke so thoughtfully about their experiences. A big thanks to Kody for drawing out their interesting commentary and for producing this great series. You can find more of his work here.

RELATED
TOUR

Morocco: Kingdom of the West

Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco – The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques...