Spring 2018
Mallorca Ride
Spend six days cycling through Southern California’s beautiful desert landscapes
About the Ride
Discover off-the-beaten track roads & sample the best of Mallorca’s culture & cuisine
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Marrakech, Morocco
This hotel trip captures the essence of Mallorquin history and culture. Enjoy perfect cycling conditions – smooth, quiet roads & a warm climate.
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
Ride a colorful tour from Marrakech into the High Atlas Mountains. Climb the Tizi n’Tichka pass, enjoy lunch with a view of UNESCO world heritage site Ait Benhaddou, ride across the Agafay desert, and camp in the heart of the Atlas mountains. This tour offers an authentic experience for guests open to discovering the unique blend of Arab, Berber & European cultures that shape the heart of Morocco. Enjoy learning from your local guides, and taste delicious Moroccan food of slow-cooked tagines, fresh juices & bottomless pots of tea. Get off the beaten tourist track into rural Morocco & get ready for the ride of a lifetime!
This is a special Climate Ride Funders Trip and the proceeds directly support Climate Ride’s work (no beneficiary selection for this event). Your fundraising will benefit the programs and efforts of Climate Ride including helping to underwrite the Green Fondo events, our community scholarships for young sustainability leaders, and our Environmental Justice Action Grants. You are helping us grow the organization to become an advocacy powerhouse that engages people in the world of active environmental philanthropy and sustainable solutions.
We have daily cycling mileages (including short options) to suit all types of cyclists. This is a fully-supported ride which means you can focus on pedaling and making connections with your new friends while we take care of everything from overnight details, meals, snacks, luggage transport, and more. This ride requires gravel bikes (these can be rented through our outfitter).
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change, your Ride Guide will include full details.
Arrival Day Optional Walking Tour of Marrakech
Welcome to Morocco! Today is all about settling in to our new environment, getting our bikes set up, and taking time to discover the city center of Marrakech.
Bike 104 km | Elevation Gain: 2500 mt
Today we ride from Ait Ourir to Telouet. Highlights include meeting farmers and shepherds in Tassourte, mint tea in the Zat Valley, climbing the Tizi n/Tichka Pass, and visiting the Kasbah du Pacha in Telouet.
Bike 88 km | Elevation Gain: 1030 mt
Today we ride from Telouet to Boutazoulte vai Ait Benhaddou. Highlights include riding the old Spice Caravan road to the Onila Valley. We’ll have lunch at the UNESCO world heritage site, Ait Benhaddou. Tonight, we’ll camp under the stars. Our guides will prepare a camp in the mountains and hot water will be provided.
Bike 88 km | Elevation Gain: 1100 mt
Today is a point to point ride from Boutazoult to Azgrouz via the Amsouzart valley. We’ll discover the volcanic Anti-Atlas (Low Atlas) region and stay with a local family in the valley and get a taste of rural Berber life. You have an option to add a 14.5 km, 600m climb to the village (or hop in the support vehicle).
Bike 108 km | Elevation Gain: 2300 mt
Today is a big day to ride from Azgrouz to Ijoukak and then to Imlil. The highlights include riding the Ijoukak valley into the heart of the High Atlas and taking an old caravan route to Imlil.
Bike 110 km | Elevation Gain: 1400 mt
Our final ride is from Imlil to back to Marrakesh. We’ll travel gravel roads across the Agafay desert, Lalla Takerkoust, and back to Marrakech! We will transfer the last 40 mins by vehicle.
Departure Day
The tour finishes in Marrakech. We will provide you with a transfer to Marrakech airport on departure day. Our transfer will arrive at the airport at 10:00, suitable for flights out after 12 noon.
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FAQs and More Info
Arriving & Departing (Important Information)
Arriving
We will pick up riders at Marrakech airport at 12pm on Day 1. From there, we will transfer to our first hotel in Ghiat. If you have rented a bike, it will be waiting for you at the hotel.
Departing
The tour finishes in Marrakech. We will provide you with a transfer to Marrakech airport on departure day. Our transfer will arrive at the airport at 10:00, suitable for flights out after 12 noon.
Accommodations & Meals
This trip has a mix of accommodations including a hotel, guesthouses, a riad, and a prepared campsite in the Atlas Mountains.
A single supplement is available if you prefer your own room and there is availability at the hotels (the single supplement fee will be available soon). Otherwise, we will try to pair with another cyclist in our group. However, we cannot guarantee that we can pair you with another cyclist.
All of your breakfast, lunch, and dinners are included. Breakfast and dinners will be at the hotel each day and for lunch, we will stop at cafes along the route or enjoy an al fresco picnic. In addition, snacks and ride fuel will be provided. The ride fuel will be natural and there are no specific bars/gels packed in our support van–please bring your own if you require it. Note that alcoholic drinks are not available – guests are invited to drink Berber whisky (fresh mint tea) instead.
The ride support vehicle is stocked with natural ride nutrition and water. Our team will serve a roadside lunch – a time-efficient pit stop with the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, fruit & veg to keep you energized and feeling healthy all week.
What is included? Not included?
Included:
Accommodations and meals
Expert guides and route support
Not Included:
All air tickets with airport taxes
Bike. You can bring your own bike or you can rent a bike:
–Gravel Bike (you can rent from our local outfitter). Price listed soon.
–E-Bike, helmet. There is limited availability.
Alcoholic drinks and other beverages during meals outside tour inclusion
Any optional tour
Tips for guide, driver, hotels’ porters (in your ride guide we will indicate recommended tips)
What are the travel documents/passports required for traveling to Morocco?
You will need a valid U.S. or E.U.passport (valid for at least 3 months or you can be denied entry). If you are a passport holder from another country please check your country’s regulations.
Please check your ride guide and any emails that we send you regarding Covid protocols for entering and exiting Morocco.
Is my U.S. medical insurance valid while traveling outside the U.S.? Can I get travel insurance?
Many domestic health insurance companies do not provide coverage outside of the United States, and, before leaving for the event travelers should speak with their healthcare providers to determine if they will be covered. Several private insurance companies offer short-term Travel/Medical insurance. Check out Allianz Travel Insurance, World Nomads, or other comparable companies.
We highly recommend travel insurance. Remember, travel insurance can only cover expenses you have paid for (flights, additional hotels, etc). It cannot cover your fundraising. Be sure to read the fine print on the travel insurance that you buy. Some companies are not covering Covid related issues.
Here are useful links from one travel insurance provider.
World Nomads policies on Coronavirus: https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/help/insurance/recent-events/coronavirus-faqs
World Nomads ‘what is covered’ with Travel insurance: https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/travel-insurance/whats-covered/cancellation
Can I use my U.S. debit or credit card?
Yes, credit cards and debit cards are accepted in towns and tourist areas. But don’t expect to use your credit card everywhere. When we are in smaller villages you may want local currency to purchase incidentals.
Fundraising Beneficiaries
This is a special Climate Ride Funders Trip and the proceeds directly support Climate Ride’s work. Your fundraising will benefit the programs and efforts of Climate Ride including helping to underwrite the Green Fondo events, our community scholarships for young sustainability leaders, and our Environmental Justice Action Grants. You are helping us grow the organization to become an advocacy powerhouse that engages people in the world of active environmental philanthropy and sustainable solutions. Because of this, you cannot change your beneficiary selection after registering. All donations are tax-deductible.
Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
$500 to be raised by: 2/20/2024
$2,250 to be raised by: 4/19/2024
Transfer Deadline: 5/13/2024
$4,500 to be raise by 5/23/2024
Transfer Deadline: There are no transfers for this event. Donations are non-refundable.
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!