Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Starting the ride one morning atop a cold mountain in a small village surrounded by local women and children in an area where people make their living like centuries back, herding sheep and goats, tending orchards...and sharing some chocolate with the delighted ladies.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Reese, our leader, could not have been better, was seemingly everywhere, circling back on the road on his bike checking on all of us, coordinating the two vans, meals, hotels and full of knowledge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Plan to dress in layers as days begin cold often but warm up a lot by mid day. Bring a gel pad for you bike seat. Plan to have a great time.

Suggestions

I'm looking for my next Exodus trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Feeling like the tiniest speck cycling through the most enormous stunning landscape. Some of the most amazing picnic/snack spots ever!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our two cycling guides were enthusiastic and always happy to help with any problems-cycle or otherwise.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate the hills - they are big!!! And plentiful!! Have warm clothes ready for the pass lunch stop and descent! Take soap/shower gel.

Suggestions

November was a lovely time to visit but prepare for some cold in the shade in the early morning and up high. You will eat lots of white bread and bread products!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the pass in the rain - not exactly inspirational but a big challenge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

They were a couple of good guys, defiantly cyclist turned into leaders, one perhaps a bit to intense on the cycling, but overall good. The local crew were excellent, and the whole trip went virtually like `clockwork`

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take shower gel, or similar, nothing in the hotels, (one night extremely basic) make sure you have basic medications with you.Also take a variety of clothing..Two nights out in tee shirts and shorts, other nights in multi layers to keep warm up in the mountains.

Suggestions

A good trip, bikes good, but I would like to have seen front suspension, some of tarmac is hard going. I think a trip for the keener cyclist.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most moving sights and sounds of the villagers praying on top of the hills on the day of Eid to celebrate the end of Ramadan. It was like the Sermon on the Mount - quite surreal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Said was the most perfect guide. He was so patient and kind, he seemed pleased & proud to be able to answer all our questions about the history, geography customs and culture of Morocco which enriched our experience. He worked hard always with a smile. Hussein was a good calm driver and also very kind. We were all sad to say goodbye.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The challenges are to be taken seriously or get back on the bus.

Suggestions

Sights sounds & smells to stir the soul!

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling in the Atlas and Anti Atlas Mountains - scenery superb.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Radu was very good - enthusiastic, helpful, knowledgeable etc.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware there are few flat roads on this trip. On several days you climb 700 / 900 / 1100m. Longest descent is 1400m, all in one section, which is superb - if you like that sort of thing. Some sections of road have been washed out so there are issues of poor surfaces and loose gravel but generally you are warned in advance and with careful riding we had no problems. Roads are generally very quiet.

Suggestions

This is a cycling trip so there is little time for sight-seeing. If you have not been to Marrakesh before then an extra day there, including the services of a tour guide for part of the day, would be worth it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Achieving some of the climbs was a personal challenge. However the local people throughout the country were beautiful and welcoming. Seemed so happy to see these crazy people on bikes!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Radu was superb. Informative, professional, sociable and with a sense of humour and such patience! He managed the whole group so well and we were all looked after.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip was at the beginning of Feb and it was a lot colder than aniticipated, even in the accommodation so do ensure you take enough warm layers. I would also suggest £100 is not enough for the week and £200 is a more accurate figure.

Suggestions

I absolutely loved this trip and cannot recommend it highly enough. Challenging cycling in stunning landscapes but achieveable due to breaks and pacing. To finish cycling in Essaouira was the perfect end to this trip - a beautiful coastal town.

Most Inspirational Moment

Day 7 from Imouzzer towards Essaouira, with a dangerous descent behind us and the road following a palm-fringed river amongst traditional villages. Glorious.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tug was an affable fellow, but unfortunately didn't have much common language with the local 'guides' who did all the driving, lunch preparation and (through their company) the hotel bookings. It did seem a bit odd to have a Brit in charge when the Moroccans were doing all the work.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There are numerous long ascents, but these can easily be tackled by dropping into a low gear and twiddling - none are insurmountable to the moderately fit! I don't normally cycle with a helmet, but was glad I took mine, as some the descents are pretty hairy - made more so by the frequent road works and quantities of gravel on the roads. As a vegetarian I endured some memorably awful meals, surviving on omelettes (the last of which provided a memorable post-holiday bonus).

Suggestions

Some of the group struggled to obtain hot water in their rooms - and frankly, some of the hotels were basic, rather than 'standard'. 'No frills' might be the fairest description, although the new group hotel in Marrakech was great. Insufficiently frequent doses of Berber Whisky, with or without sugar!

Most Inspirational Moment

Coming down from the tops of various mountains... amazing & beautiful views, and lots of speed! :-) .

Thoughts on Group Leader

Really thoughtful, considerate and hard working! thanks

Advice for Potential Travellers

Any women out there.. you do need to cover your shoulders ALL the time (short sleeved t shirt is okay). Wash your hands and be careful where you eat.. almost our whole group all got food poisoning at the end of our trip! This trip was a bit too much cycling for me personally - roughly 9am - 5pm at least almost every day, some days finishing at 6.30 (one day was 4.30 but our trip leader said we'd finished an hour ahead of other groups he'd led) - and it meant there was less time to look around the places we were staying and not much interaction with anyone except in our group. This was a considerable difference in time in the saddle in comparison with my last trip which was only one grade down (3), and also the uphills were much more frequent and harder (although fun!). I missed having a bit more time to look around the places we were staying and just relax. It's is my own fault as, with hindsight, an extra 20kms a day does equate to an extra 2 hours so if i had thought about it beforehand I would have known, but just in case you're like me - be prepared! This trip involves a long time in the saddle, especially if its true that our group was a quick one. But that's a good thing if you want that - the cycling is great, the views are outstanding and the uphills and downhills are well balanced with one another, if you like hills.

Most Inspirational Moment

Not Inspirational but on day 6 when you have cycled your final BIG hill (not the last hill) there is a long flat road at the top of the mountain, followed by an incredible long descent. This was a great chance to really see and appreciate where you are and what you are doing - really fantastic last cycle day.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Female travelers should know that you need to wear long shorts and have your shoulders covered at all times. This isn't in the trip notes but worth knowing when deciding what to pack.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the 21km climb and then sailing down the 30km descent the other side!  And meeting some great people in the group

Thoughts on Group Leader

Unfortunately I probably gave him my stomach bug - he was certainly unwell for a few days - so coped admirably in the circumstances.  Good to have a second person on hand as a safety net.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Build a good bit of cycle fitness if you've not been in the saddle for years.  Realise that there are quite a few transfers involved in this trip - and there's not much space in the back of the vehicles!  Also that there are no toilet facilities for 90% of the time whilst you're out on the road - just in case you're squeamish about that sort of thing.  The support vehicle is your safety net - I got in it the first day when I was feeling really poorly.  So with that guarantee, I'd say go for it!