Essential Information - Morocco

 Before booking your holiday with us, please check the status of your chosen tour. We strongly advise against booking any flights or making other travel arrangements until the tour is marked as Guaranteed. 

To confirm your place, simply pay the deposit. This deposit can be refunded at any time until the tour status changes to "Guaranteed". Your final balance will be due 56 days before the tour start date. 

When you book, you are agreeing to our booking conditions – please take a moment to read them in full. 

Each tour requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead. As bookings come in, the status will update from Available, to 2 More to Guarantee, and finally to Guaranteed once the minimum is met. You can always check the current status on the ‘Dates and Prices’ section of the tour page. 

Tour status definitions: 

✅ Guaranteed – The tour is confirmed and open for booking. 

 ✅ Guaranteed – Limited – Confirmed to run, but only a few spaces left. 

⏳ Available – 2 More to Guarantee – Tour is open but needs just 2 more bookings to confirm. 

🟢 Available – Open for booking but not yet confirmed to run. 

📩 Contact – Please get in touch if you're interested in this tour. 

 ❌ Fully Booked – This tour is no longer available. 

Once a tour is marked Guaranteed, you can confidently go ahead with booking your flights and making travel plans. We don’t cancel trips once they reach guaranteed status, except in very rare and exceptional circumstances. 

🚐 Support Vehicle – Full vehicle support throughout the tour

🏨 Accommodation – Comfortable local stays each night

🍽️ Meals – Most meals included (see Trip Notes for details)

🚰 Snacks & Water – Refreshments provided during cycling days

✈️ Airport Transfers – Provided on the first and last day of the tour

🧑‍🏫 Local Guides – Experienced, English-speaking professional guides

✈️ International flights

🍷 Alcoholic drinks

🍽️ Meals not listed in the itinerary

🛂 Visa fees (if applicable)

🛡️ Travel insurance (mandatory for all participants)

🛏️ Single room supplement (available on request)

💰 Tips for guides, support staff, and restaurant service

🚴 Bike hire (available for an additional charge)

🪖 Cycle helmet (you must bring your own)

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch — we’re happy to assist!

📍 Tour Start Point: Marrakech
🗓 Arrival: You will need to arrive in Marrakech on Day 1 of the itinerary.
🛫 Departure: Please book your return flight from Marrakech for the final date of the itinerary.

🌍 We welcome travellers from all over the world. Whatever time you arrive at the airport on Day 1, you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining hotel.

🕓 Early Arrivals:
If you arrive before midday, your room may not be immediately available. You may need to wait until standard check-in time.

🏨 Extra Nights:
If you plan to arrive early or stay on after the tour, we can assist you with extra accommodation and airport transfers at an additional cost. Please contact us to arrange this in advance.

🚫 International Flights Not Included
Our tour price does not include international flights. You are responsible for arranging your own air travel to and from Marrakech.

Check out www.kayak.com or www.opodo.co.uk for an idea of times and prices.

The official currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). All purchases—whether in cities or rural towns—must be made in dirhams. Foreign currencies are not accepted in shops or restaurants.

What to Bring

Bring a Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card for ATMs 

Travellers from the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand: bring USD, GBP, or EUR for exchange. Bring clean, undamaged notes—worn or torn currency may not be accepted.

Cash is essential, particularly in smaller towns and local markets

Where to Exchange

 At Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) or Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN) (depending on your arrival):

Currency exchange desks and ATMs are available in the Arrivals area

 ✅ Exchange a small amount (e.g. 500–1,000 MAD / £40–£80) on arrival to cover early expenses

❌ Airport exchange rates are slightly lower—better rates can be found at banks and exchange bureaus in the city

✔ Your redspokes guide will help you find reliable ATMs and currency exchange services throughout the tour

💸 Spending Money

We recommend budgeting around £300 / $400 to cover personal expenses such as snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and optional extras during the trip.

🧭 Helpful Tips

Cash is essential in smaller towns, markets, and rural areas

Let your bank know about your travel dates to avoid card blocks

Bring small change for markets and tips

Not all ATMs accept foreign cards—your guide will help locate reliable ones

Note: Alcohol is not widely available in rural areas; when available, it’s often more expensive

💁‍♂️ Staff Tipping

Tipping is customary in Morocco and a valued way to thank your guides and support crew.

💷 Recommended: £60–£80 per person
💵 Or $80–$100 equivalent

Tips are usually pooled at the end of the tour and distributed fairly by your guide.
While tipping is voluntary, it’s always appreciated when service has been exceptional. redspokes ensures all local staff are paid fairly—tips are personal tokens of appreciation.

🚴‍♂️ Bike Hire
Don’t have your own bike?
We offer bike hire for most tours – you can request this at the time of booking or by adding this later.

🚪 Single Room Supplement
Prefer a room to yourself? Single room options are available on most tours for an additional fee.

🏨 Extra Accommodation & Transfers
If you are arriving before the trip starts or staying on after the tour ends, we can help arrange:

🛏️ Additional hotel nights

🚖 Extra airport transfers

Just let us know your travel plans and we’ll be happy to assist.

For this tour we have Cube mountain bikes along with Scott eRide 920 e-bikes for hire.

🔧 Our support vehicle carries a complete toolkit, spare parts, and a track pump to handle any issues along the way.

⚙️ Customise Your Ride - All bikes come with standard flat pedals. If you prefer using SPD or clip-in pedals, feel free to bring your own. Similarly, if you have a personal saddle you’d like to use, you're welcome to bring it along. Our guide will be on hand to fit your pedals and saddle to your hire bike.

🪖 Helmet Policy - Please note that cycle helmets are not included in the bike hire.

🛑 You must bring your own helmet — helmet hire or purchase cannot be guaranteed on location.

✅ Wearing a helmet is mandatory while cycling. Failure to do so is at your own risk and may impact the validity of your travel insurance.
E-bikes are ideal for a cycle tour of Morocco, providing ease on challenging terrains and making long distances more manageable. They allow riders to comfortably explore diverse landscapes, including the Atlas Mountains and desert regions, without excessive physical strain. E-bikes enable cyclists to enjoy the scenic beauty and cultural richness of Morocco with enhanced mobility and convenience.


CUBE Aim EX
 

E-bike: Scott eRide 920

You will have the full support of a back-up vehicle throughout the tour, providing peace of mind as you ride. The support vehicle will:

🚐 Transport your main luggage between overnight stops

🪑 Offer a lift if you need a break from cycling

🛠️ Stop roughly every 12 miles (20 km) to offer assistance and refreshments

Our tour leaders carry a comprehensive tool kit and will assist with common bike issues. All you will need to carry is a small daypack for essentials like a camera, snacks, or a light jacket.

If you are bringing your own bike, please make sure it is in good working condition before the tour. We strongly recommend a full service by a professional bike shop prior to travel, as we cannot guarantee we will have the parts or tools for repairs to your particular bike.

Your comfort and safety on the road are our priority — whether you're riding or taking a breather in the van.

For this trip bikes need to be tough as they will take a bit of a battering. 

A gravel or mountain bike are reccommended. Full suspension is fine, but may be hard work on the tarmac stretches. 

We strongly recommend that you have your bike fully serviced before going on the tour. Ensure that wheel spokes are adjusted, bearings are greased, gear and brake cables checked, all nuts and bolts tightened.  Also check chain, quick release clamp and tyres. Put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims are not worn.

We recommend that you bring the following items with you.

• Multi tool
• Tyre levers
• Pump
• Spare inner tubes
• Spare spokes
• Disc/ brake pads
• A few links for your chain
• Spares for any unique bike kit e.g. fluid or bleed kit.

Your bike must be carried as part of your luggage allowance. The weight of a bike in cardboard box is about 15-20kg, so please bear this in mind when packing for the trip and you may have to pay for excess luggage.

Please note:   Please ensure that your bike and bike box are adequately insured for the entirety of the tour, including all  transfers, as redspokes are not liable for any damage that might be caused to your equipment. If you are taking a flexible bike-bag or a collapsible bike-box, depending on the group size and available space,  it will be transported as passenger luggage on the support vehicle. In all other circumstances, your guide will arrange for your box to be sent to the end destination.

🍽️ Meals & Dietary Requirements
✅ Most meals are included in your trip price, with the exception of some non-cycling days and selected meals as noted in the itinerary.
📅 Please refer to the daily itinerary for full meal details  (B,L, D)

🥗 Special Dietary Requests
If you have specific dietary needs, please advise us at the time of booking. Most dietary requirements can be catered for, but we do need advance notice to make necessary arrangements.

Moroccan Cuisine
🍛 Flavourful & Diverse
Moroccan food is known for its rich flavours and aromatic spices. Expect delicious and hearty meals throughout your tour, featuring:

🫕 Tagine – slow-cooked stews with meat or vegetables

🍚 Couscous – often served with vegetables and meat

🍢 Kebabs – grilled meats with spice blends

🫒 Olives, preserved lemons, and fresh vegetables

🍯 Baklava and other traditional sweets

🌿 Mint tea – Morocco’s famous sweet green tea

🥤 Drinks in Morocco
🍵 Mint Tea – the national drink, served throughout the day

☕ Arabic Coffee – strong and aromatic

🍊 Fresh Juices – orange, pomegranate, and seasonal fruits

🥛 Almond Milk – refreshing and mildly sweet

🧉 Spiced Beverages – often made with herbs or ginger

Travel insurance is mandatory for all redspokes tours. Your policy must cover the entire duration of your trip and should include the following:

🚑 Personal injury and medical expenses

⚰️ Death and repatriation

🚁 Helicopter or aircraft rescue

🎒 Loss of luggage or equipment

❌ Trip cancellation or curtailment (including COVID-19 or other unforeseen medical events)

✅ All activities included in your tour (e.g. cycling, mountain biking)

✅ No exclusion clauses that could invalidate coverage during adventure travel

📌 Any claims must be made directly through your insurance provider.

⏳ When to Buy: We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking to ensure you are protected in the event of flight or tour cancellations.

🔗 A lot of our customers use Snowcard Insurance Services
Experts in adventure sports travel insurance, including mountain biking holidays.

At redspokes, we select accommodation based on comfort, character, and local charm, rather than luxury.

👥 Shared Rooms
Our prices are based on twin-share accommodation. If you're travelling solo, we’ll pair you with a same-gender roommate.

🛌 Single Supplement
Prefer your own space? A single supplement is available if you'd like a private room.
📅 See the Dates & Prices tab for costs and availability.

🏡 Where You'll Stay
During the tour, you'll enjoy a variety of traditional and comfortable Moroccan stays, including:

🏘️ Riads – beautiful traditional homes built around central courtyards

🏰 Historic Kasbahs – old fortified houses, rich in culture

🏨 Comfortable Hotels – modern conveniences in local style

🏠 Guesthouses – friendly, cozy places with local character

🏔️ Mountain Lodge – one night in a unique high-altitude retreat

🛁 Some rooms come with en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning, though facilities may vary between locations.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Who You'll Travel With
We welcome a wide mix of cyclists on our tours – from couples and friends to solo travellers.

🛏️ Accommodation
Our tour prices are based on twin-shared accommodation. If you are travelling solo, we will pair you with another traveller of the same gender in the group.

👤 Prefer your own space?
Single room options are available on most tours for an additional fee.

Let us know your preference during booking!

You must hold a valid passport in order to travel.  Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your return from any overseas destination. 

Visa and entry requirements for most countries can and do change from time to time and so we strongly recommend that you consult the government travel website for where your passport was issued.

For UK nationals, please visit the gov.uk website for up to date information about entry requirements for Morocco.  The website also provides vaccination advice as well as the option to sign up for Alerts so that you are aware if requirements have changed. 

Vaccination requirements can change and as we are not medically qualified to answer questions regarding immunisations, we strongly recommend that you contact your health professional or local Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks before departing for your trip for advice on the correct vaccinations required. You can also refer to current advice from National Travel Health Network and Centre. 

Morocco enjoys diverse climates, from Mediterranean along the coast to arid in the interior and Saharan in the south. Our trips are scheduled during the most favorable seasons, typically in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when temperatures are mild, making for comfortable travel and exploration.

Staying Hydrated on Hot Rides – 6 Tips for Cyclists
As a cycling company, we know how important proper hydration is—especially when you're out riding in hot conditions. Below are some general hydration tips that riders find helpful for staying fuelled and feeling strong on the bike.Please note:  We are not medical professionals  and this information should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare provider. Each cyclist is different, so if you have specific health concerns or conditions,  it is always best to consult your doctorand adhere to their advice.

 1. Prioritize Gut Health

Why it matters: A healthy gut = better absorption of water and nutrients.

How to do it: Fuel your microbiome with probiotics (like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut) and prebiotics (like garlic, onions, and bananas) to keep your digestion and hydration on point.

 2. Time Your Hydration

Why it matters: When you drink can be just as important as how much.

How to do it: Start your day with a big glass of water—add a splash of lemon or a pinch of sea salt for extra hydration power.

 3. Hydrate Beyond Water

Why it matters: Water isn’t the only way to hydrate.
How to do it: Mix in coconut water, bone broth, or other nutrient-rich drinks to stay hydrated and replenish lost electrolytes—especially during long rides or after sweating.

 4. Don’t Forget the Minerals

Why it matters: Minerals like sodium, calcium, and magnesium help your body retain water.
How to do it: Eat mineral-rich foods like salted nuts, seeds, and dairy—or consider a quality mineral supplement if needed.

 5. Absorb Water Better

Why it matters: Guzzling water too quickly can flush out nutrients and be poorly absorbed.
How to do it: Sip consistently throughout the day. Add a pinch of sea salt to your bottle, and include water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and pineapple.

 6. Keep Your Electrolytes in Check

Why it matters: Electrolytes help regulate fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions.
How to do it: Eat foods high in potassium and magnesium like bananas, avocados, and leafy greens. Add electrolyte tablets or a pinch of sea salt to your water, especially after intense sweat sessions.

Morocco’s weather can be changeable, especially when crossing mountain passes — expect warm days, cool evenings, and occasional wind or rain. Below is a suggested packing list for tours in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November).  This is by no means definitive and should be adapted to your personal preference:

👕 Cycling Clothing
👚 Lightweight, breathable cycling jerseys / base layers

🩳 Padded cycling shorts

🧤 Cycling gloves

🧥 Windproof/waterproof jacket

🧦 Cycling socks and shoes

🪖 Helmet & Eyewear
🪖 Helmet – mandatory and must be worn while cycling

🕶️ Sunglasses – with UV protection to block sun and wind

🧴 Accessories & Essentials
🚰 Water bottles

🌞 Sunscreen – high SPF

💄 Lip balm with SPF

🩹 Small first aid kit – include antiseptic wipes, plasters, stomach and general pain relief

🧳 Off-Bike Clothing
👕 Comfortable casual clothes

👟 Lightweight hiking shoes or sandals

🩱 Swimwear (some accommodations may have pools)

🧾 Miscellaneous
🎒 Small daypack or saddlebag for ride essentials

🛂 Travel documents – passport, visa (if required)

💳 Money – local currency + credit/debit card

🧼 Basic toiletries

➕ Optional Extras
📱 Mobile phone – for navigation, communication, and photos

🗺️ GPS device or smartphone with offline maps

📸 Camera or action cam for capturing memories

🔋 Portable charger or power bank

🔌 Universal adapter plug

Country Profile: Morocco

Location: Located in North Africa, Morocco is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to the west and north, Algeria to the east, and Western Sahara to the south.

Capital: Rabat

Population: Approximately 37 million people (2024 estimate)

Languages: Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight), French (widely spoken in business and government)

Religion: Predominantly Islam (Sunni Muslims)

Government: Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system

Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

Economy: Morocco has a diverse economy with agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and tourism as key sectors. It's one of Africa's largest exporters of phosphates and has a growing automotive and aerospace industry.

Climate: Varied climates include Mediterranean along the coast, arid in the interior, and Saharan in the south. Summers are hot and dry, while winters can be mild to cold depending on the region.

Tourism: Known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and diverse landscapes, Morocco attracts millions of tourists annually. Popular destinations include Marrakech (with its bustling souks and historic medina), Fes (known for its ancient universities and labyrinthine streets), and the Atlas Mountains (offering trekking and Berber culture).

Cultural Heritage: Morocco boasts a blend of Arab, Berber, and European influences seen in its architecture, cuisine, music, and arts. Traditional practices such as mint tea ceremonies and hammam baths are integral to Moroccan culture.

Challenges: Morocco faces challenges such as economic inequality, youth unemployment, and periodic droughts affecting agriculture.

International Relations: Active in regional diplomacy and a member of several international organizations, Morocco maintains close ties with European countries, the United States, and other African nations.

Conclusion: Morocco's rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and strategic location make it a compelling destination for travelers and a key player in North African geopolitics.