Marocco

(Marrakech loop)

In October 2026, I cycled the Atlas Mountains, starting and finishing in Marrakech. The total days of riding were 6, plus a couple of days before and after cycling.

Overall, I was very happy with the trip, especially the cycling. Good condition for cycling in October. I definitely wouldn't recommend doing it earlier, but rather later; it is probably doable also in November. It is probably unfeasible from May on. In October, temperatures were still around 30° during the hottest hours of the day (my personal limit to actually enjoy riding). Even considering the high mountains and the mountain passes, I was never near being cold during the day, except the first hundreds of meters of a 1000 m descent from 2400 m altitude (easily manageable with a puff packable jacket). Another note: the sun hits differently, even more than in Italy; essential to pack sun cream even this late in the year.

I cycled mostly on paved roads, and the conditions of the tarmac were always very good, especially for Italian standards. Sometimes I met unpaved sections, either gravel or just road sections that were yet to be paved. Never met closed or inaccessible roads, even though there were a few roadworks, and the road could be closed for a short time (30+ mins, I understood the workers were having lunch).

Drivers are rather respectful. Again, having cycled in Italy, I cannot complain, plus the roads are generally wide, so that helps.

Food and drinks might have to be planned for the day; it is easy in certain places not to see a shop, a bar, or a gas station for 30 km or more (even considering I never went too far away from large tourist areas). In remote villages, once I asked some people on the street for water, I was then brought a bottle from a house/closed shop. A little French goes a long way.

In some villages, the availability of the hotel/airbnb is not great, and one might end up in interesting places... It is part of the experience.

Few stats from the trip: