Morocco Tour MCT2602
Welcome to Málaga! Today, Norman and Domenico had some time to explore the city before our official welcome briefing. The city was buzzing with tourists and full of energy. After reaching the heart of the town, we headed towards Muelle Uno to admire the luxury yachts and enjoy the beautiful promenade by the sea. Our walk continued past the famous Malagueta beach, and then we visited the historic Plaza de Toros (bullring). For the best views, we had to sweat a bit climbing up to Gibralfaro to look down over the city and, on the way down, we visited the stunning Alcazaba fortress with its beautiful gardens. Of course, we couldn't miss a traditional lunch in the center—Paella for us! We ended our sightseeing at the massive, imposing Cathedral before heading back to the hotel just in time for our briefing. Tomorrow, the real adventure begins: we hit the road on our bikes, destination Africa!
We started the day with a highway run to Algeciras, in the very south of Spain, to make sure we didn't miss our ferry. The crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean (once considered the end of the world), took us to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Africa. After a quick ride through Ceuta, we reached the border, where we needed a good dose of patience! Entering Morocco with a large group of motorcycles takes time, but after about two hours, we were officially in the Kingdom. Our first Moroccan stop was by the sea in M'diq, where we withdrew our first Dirhams and tasted our first authentic Moroccan tea! Then, after navigating the busy traffic of Tetouan, we finally arrived in Chefchaouen, the famous "Blue City." Since we’ll be returning here toward the end of the tour, tonight is all about relaxing and soaking in the atmosphere. To top it all off, we also had a birthday to celebrate!
Our journey south continues! We enjoyed a quick coffee in Ouazzane before heading towards Volubilis. We spent some time exploring the impressive ruins of this ancient Roman city while the local restaurant prepared our lunch. In the end, we still had to wait a bit for our food, but it was absolutely delicious! Back on the bikes after lunch, we had to navigate the busy streets of Meknes and, before reaching our hotel in Azrou, we passed through Ifrane. What an incredible contrast! With its alpine-style houses and clean streets, it feels almost "Swiss"—a total surprise compared to the other Moroccan cities we’ve seen so far. Now, it's time to rest in the heart of the Middle Atlas.
Today we continue south in Morocco. But we have our first highlight right this morning: We're driving into the Moroccan cedar forest, where a special experience awaits us. And luck is on our side: We encounter some very beautiful Barbary macaques. Many young ones happily accept peanuts. A few souvenirs are purchased here as well. Our journey continues, making it hard to believe we're in Africa, or even in Morocco. The colors are so vibrant, and the landscape is breathtaking. We have a fantastic lunch in Khénifa. Now we're off to our accommodation for the night, which is our second highlight. A stunning blue lake awaits us at the Bin-el-Ouidane reservoir, and we'll be spending the night overlooking it. All our guests had another wonderful day. So we end the day with a relaxing dinner. See you again tomorrow.
What a spectacular ride! We followed a beautiful, winding road all the way to the stunning Ouzoud Falls, where we enjoyed a pleasant coffee stop while admiring this little wonder of Nature. We then stopped for lunch in Demnate before making our final push toward Marrakech. As we descended toward the plains, we could feel the temperature rising with every kilometer! Now that we’ve arrived, we are ready to settle in: we will spend two nights here in Marrakech, giving us plenty of time tomorrow to explore this fascinating city. Stay tuned for our urban adventures!
Our first rest day of the tour led us into the vibrant heart of Marrakech, the legendary "Red City". Following a lavish breakfast at our five-star hotel, we set out at 9:30 AM with our local guide and friend, Jalil, to explore the historic Medina. The Friday morning air was unusually calm, allowing us a peaceful stroll as Jalil shared fascinating insights into Moroccan heritage. We wandered through the historic Kasbah and the Jewish quarter, visiting its ancient synagogue before losing ourselves in the aromatic maze of the souks. This labyrinth of alleys, hidden workshops, and ornate gateways is a place where your imagination can truly run wild. After stopping at a traditional herbalist to pick up some authentic natural souvenirs, we reached the iconic Jemaa el-Fnaa square just as it began to buzz with midday energy. While some of the group headed back to the hotel for a restorative massage or a dip in the pool, others opted for a traditional Moroccan lunch at a terrace restaurant overlooking the square. To escape the afternoon heat, we enjoyed some leisure time at the hotel before reuniting for the ultimate Marrakech experience: sunset at Jemaa el-Fnaa. As night falls, the square transforms into a magnificent open-air circus, providing the perfect backdrop for a final dinner on the terrace. It was the perfect blend of relaxation and cultural immersion.
After a well-deserved rest day, it was time to get back in the saddle. Our priority was beating the heat and escaping the chaotic morning traffic of Marrakech. About an hour into our ride along the N9, we took our first break as we approached the legendary Tizi’nTichka pass. Standing at an impressive 2,260 meters, Tizi’nTichka is the highest mountain pass in Morocco and undoubtedly the star of today's journey. As we crossed the High Atlas mountain range, the landscape shifted dramatically from the fertile plains surrounding Marrakech to the arid gateway of the Sahara Desert. The climb to the summit was pure motorcycling bliss, offering a perfect mix of thrilling technical riding and breathtaking panoramic views around every bend. At the summit, we took a moment to capture some photos and browse for local souvenirs before beginning our descent toward the Ounila River valley (Oued Ounila). This stretch of road is stunning, winding through charming, unspoiled Berber villages nestled between the deep red rocks of the Atlas Mountains and lush green palm groves. In the heart of this valley lies a hidden gem: the Kasbah of Telouet. Once the opulent residence of Prince Glaoui and his family, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the region's history. We stopped for lunch in Telouet, ensuring we had plenty of time to reach our final destination. We arrived early at the "Ksar" of Ait Ben Haddou, a magnificent fortified village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This cinematic location has served as the backdrop for iconic productions like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Sodom & Gomorra. After exploring the ancient walls of the Kasbah, our return to the hotel provided one final, unforgettable surprise: a traditional Berber-style wedding celebration. It was the perfect ending to a truly remarkable day.
After a restful night’s sleep in our beautiful hotel in Ait Benhaddou and a delicious breakfast, we were ready to hit the road again. The desert is getting closer and closer—we can certainly feel it in the temperature! Our first stop was Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, the "Hollywood of Morocco," where we got a glimpse of the incredible work that goes into a film. Many famous movies were filmed here, with Gladiator being perhaps the most iconic. Back in the saddle, we admired the Noor Power Station from up close. It’s the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world, featuring a massive, shining tower where the light from thousands of mirrors is focused. Morocco can be very modern indeed! Boumalne Dades lies at the entrance of the stunning Dades Gorges, a highlight we couldn't miss—especially with a delicious picnic waiting for us there. Thank you, Alberto! After lunch, we had free time to explore the gorges, each at our own pace. What a marvel of nature!
Before heading into the Sahara today, we'll make another detour into the Atlas Mountains. The Todra Gorge elicits gasps of awe, but it's quite different from yesterday's Dadès Gorge. The steep, narrow red cliffs are truly impressive. Afterward, we continue over two smaller mountain passes. For lunch, Domenico awaits us somewhere in the middle of nowhere with another picnic. A lovely, shady spot allows us to enjoy our picnic. Children from a distant village watch us curiously. They are delighted to receive a Coke. Now we continue through long, sweeping valleys until we reach our destination for the day: Merzouga, with the mighty sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. For some in the group, it's time to pack the essentials for the night, as we'll be riding our "ships of the desert" (camels) to our Bedouin tents. Let's enjoy this special adventure! After a beautiful sunset, we enjoyed a delicious dinner, and with typical live music and a clear, starry sky, we fell asleep exhausted but happy in our tents. What a day! Tomorrow we can rest, as it's our rest day.
Today we had the whole day to relax, explore the area around the hotel, and buy some souvenirs. Before dinner, some of us went for a quad and motorcycle ride in the dunes—it was a blast! Now we are ready to face the longest riding day of the entire tour. Tomorrow, we head north to Fes!
The day of the longest ride has finally arrived: nearly 500 kilometers to reach Fes! We left the hotel without rushing, as the days are long and there is usually very little traffic. Our first stop was the Ziz Valley, where we admired the long strip of green palms (a major area for date production) surrounded by arid mountains. We are still in the desert, after all! We also stopped at the Legionnaires' Tunnel, which will soon be 100 years old, followed by a very good lunch in Midelt. The landscape slowly began to change; after crossing the Atlas Mountains, more and more cultivated fields appeared, with fruit trees and colorful villages everywhere. With so many kilometers ahead of us, we didn't have much time to stop, but we reached Fes in time for a well-deserved "Boot beer" before dinner! Tomorrow we are going to explore this fantastic city!
A medina is the historic center of a Muslim city, and Fes has the largest medina in the world, so we couldn't miss a guided tour of this fascinating city! We first visited a fortification overlooking the whole city and then a ceramics factory, before finally entering the fortified old city. It is an unbelievable labyrinth of tiny streets where it would be incredibly easy to get lost without a local guide. These alleys are filled with all kinds of shops, from butchers to artisans. We had a delicious lunch on the rooftop of an old building and then visited a Madrasa (an ancient Quranic school) and the famous tanneries, before finally returning to the hotel. What an interesting day!
We left Fes under a grey, slightly threatening sky, even though no rain was in the forecast. We started on minor backroads through the countryside, where it was clear the winter had been quite wet, as parts of the road had been partially washed away. During our coffee break, a rain shower prompted us to switch back to the main road—more traffic, but certainly safer! After a tasty lunch, we covered the final kilometers to Chefchaouen in one go, giving us plenty of time to explore this picturesque town and pick up some final souvenirs. We have officially closed our loop in Morocco, and tonight we enjoy our last dinner in this beautiful country!
We woke up in a foggy Chefchaouen, but fortunately, the weather cleared up! It was time to head back to Europe and cross the Strait of Gibraltar once again. First, however, we had to cross the border, which proved to be a real challenge today. Perhaps because of the weekend, there was a very long line of vehicles waiting to cross. Luckily, the Moroccan officers were very kind; once we explained that we had a ferry to catch, they let us through quite quickly. We made it! Back on the "Old Continent," we took the highway to Malaga and got ready for our farewell dinner. Thank you, guys, this Morocco tour was a blast! We hope to see you all again soon on another Edelweiss tour! Michaela, Alberto and Domenico