Some trips make the bike a challenge. Others simply make it the best way to travel. Zagoride belongs to the second kind.
It all started in Morocco for Exoride. In the late 2000s, a bike trip in the Atlas, the welcome of Berber families and the simplicity of their villages made me want to share these landscapes. Zagoride is the most open version of that story: five days of riding from Ouarzazate to Zagora, in the footsteps of the old caravans, all the way to the gateway to the desert. No technical sections to dread, no stopwatch, no competitive spirit. Just the adventure, at your own pace, whether you come solo or with the people you love.
A real adventure, no technical skills needed
On the Exoride level scale, Zagoride is rated 1.5/4 for technique. In practice: wide, rolling tracks, panoramic tracks with a view, and a few rocky sections in the Jebel Saghro that you take at your own pace. If you can ride a dirt road, you have the level.
The effort is real but gentle: 2.5/4 for fitness, five stages of 50 to 65 km, 285 km over the week. The climbs are steady, never steep. Above all, the support car follows the group at all times. A tired moment, a knee that aches, the wish to watch the scenery go by from the passenger seat: you hop in, your bike goes on the roof, and you get back on the track whenever you like. Nobody will look at you sideways.
That is what makes Zagoride so different: you live the adventure of a real crossing, with a 2'000 m pass, oases and a night in a kasbah, without having to be a skilled rider.
MTB, E-Bike or gravel: pick your ride
Zagoride is ridden on the bike that suits you.
- On an MTB, there is no need for an enduro bike. An MTB with 100 to 150 mm of travel is plenty, with tyres of at least 2.0 inches, ideally tubeless.
- On an E-Bike, the trip becomes open to every pair of legs. It is the right choice if you want to save energy to enjoy the scenery, or if you travel with people fitter than you. You can rent an E-Bike on site for 390 CHF for the week, or bring your own: the battery cannot travel in the hold, we explain how to handle it.
- On a gravel bike, yes, it works. The tracks of southern Morocco are its natural playground: long, rolling, as far as the eye can see. Everything can be ridden without putting a foot down: just fit slightly wider tyres for the sandy surface of the palm grove.
Bringing your own bike? Our guide to flying with your bike tells you how to pack it.
Five riding days, a landscape that changes every day
The trip starts in Marrakech, the red city. The next day, you cross over the Atlas to reach the Imeghrane valley and its earthen villages.
On day three, kasbahs and panoramic tracks lead towards the Dadès valley, between red cliffs and irrigated gardens. Day four is the high point of the journey: the crossing of the Jebel Saghro over a 2'000 m pass, in nomad country, among towers of rock.
Then the landscape softens. Nomad camps, oases, and a long 1'300 m descent to the Draa valley. On day six, you ride in the shade of the palm grove, between fortified ksour, all the way to the famous "Timbuktu 52 days" sign. In the evening, a night in a kasbah and dinner under the stars. On day seven, from Zagora, the gateway to the desert and the last town before the dunes, you head back to Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
Here, the bike is a way to travel, not an end in itself. You stop for tea, take time for photos, and watch the country change colour, from the mountains to the stone desert and then to the palm trees.
Solo, with friends, family or colleagues
Zagoride is a trip you live as a group, even when you don't share the same level, and even when you arrive without knowing anyone.
- Solo, it is the simplest way to join a group adventure. You book a departure and meet riders in Marrakech who, like you, have come to travel by bike. No need to match anyone's level or to talk friends into coming: the group comes together on site, and by dinner everyone knows each other.
- With friends, it is the week that brings together the one who rides every weekend and the one who dusted off their bike in spring. The E-Bike and the support car smooth out the differences: everyone reaches the guesthouse in the evening with the same stories to tell.
- With family, it is a trip you still talk about years later: the palm grove, the Timbuktu sign, the tea poured from high up, the night in a kasbah. There is no minimum age: everyone just needs to be at ease on their bike.
- With colleagues, it is a different take on the team retreat: a week away from the office, helping each other on the track and putting the world to rights over a tagine. From six people, we organise Zagoride on your dates, with a programme tailored to the group.
The group is limited to ten riders, with a Swiss Cycling certified guide. Enough for a great atmosphere, few enough to keep the spirit of the journey.
Zero logistics, 100% riding
All you have to do is pedal. We take care of the rest:
- the welcome at Marrakech airport and all transfers;
- the guide, Swiss Cycling certified, riding in Morocco since 2010;
- the support car that follows the group and carries your luggage: you ride with just your day pack;
- mechanical support and riding tips;
- the nights: comfortable guesthouses, a night in a kasbah at the ksar of Tissergate, hotels in Marrakech, and depending on the stage a pool or a hammam;
- all meals except on the last day in Marrakech, and mineral water;
- souvenir photos and videos.
All for 1'890 CHF, flights not included. Bike rental and a single room are options you choose when you book. Bring a light sleeping bag or a sleeping bag liner, and clothes for the week: there is no laundry along the way.
For your travel, land in Marrakech on Saturday before 10 am. If your flight arrives later, come the day before: we book your hotel and pick you up on Saturday morning.
Winter in Morocco, the right time
When the Alps are under snow, southern Morocco offers mild, dry and sunny days. Zagoride rides between 800 and 1'500 m, with a single pass at 2'000 m: mornings and evenings are cool, a good jacket is enough.
The next departures:
- 28 November to 5 December 2026, guaranteed departure
- 6 to 13 February 2027
- 20 to 27 November 2027, guaranteed departure
Prefer another date? From six riders, we organise Zagoride on the date of your choice, from October to April. And if you are torn between Zagoride and our more demanding trip in the High Atlas, our Endu'Rock or Zagoride comparison will help you choose. All our trips are on the Morocco page.
Frequently asked questions
I have never done a bike trip. Is Zagoride for me?
Yes, if you sometimes ride a few hours on dirt roads. No technical skills are needed, and the support car is there every day. To arrive in shape, follow our tips to prepare for your trip.
I am travelling solo. Will I fit in?
Yes. Our departures are open: they bring together riders who come solo, as a couple or with friends, ten at most. Everyone rides at their own pace, we regroup at the breaks, and the atmosphere is always friendly.
We don't all have the same level in our group. Is that a problem?
No, that is the whole idea. The most confident ride an MTB, the others take an E-Bike, and the support car remains an option for everyone. To check your level, take our level quiz.
Can I come with my gravel bike?
Yes, and everything can be ridden. Just fit slightly wider tyres for the sandy ground of the palm grove.
Can my children come?
Yes, there is no age limit, as long as they are at ease on their bike. Write to us to talk it over, and we will help you judge whether the trip suits them.
Do I need to bring my own bike?
No. You can rent a bike on site, regular or electric. If you prefer your own, here is how to prepare it for the flight.
What is the weather like in winter?
Mild and dry during the day, cool in the morning and evening. A good jacket is enough.
See you on the tracks of the south, all the way to the gateway to the desert.
Chris
