Into the wilderness of Anti-atlas

Our adventure began at the foot of the Anti-Atlas mountains, near Ouarzazate. From there, we set off on a nine-day gravel expedition covering over 700 kilometers. We traversed vast stretches of the country, soaking in its epic landscapes, experiencing the genuine hospitality of the locals, and reaching places still rarely visited by tourists. And although the route took us through the wildest corners, we didn’t have to worry about luggage, water, or food — the support of a driver in a technical vehicle made such concerns simply disappear.

The first days brought our first delights — even though Morocco greeted us with heavy, gray skies. We savored the views and the food, until the daily tagine grew more tiresome than we would have liked. And we faced our first challenges. During the first two days, it wasn’t the climbs but the wind that was our greatest adversary, blowing mercilessly from the wrong direction. Fortunately, it soon calmed down, and we were able to enjoy riding in perfect, almost summer-like temperatures.

After four days of riding, we reached Agdz for a well-deserved rest day. The descent into Agdz during the golden hour was an experience to remember — one of the absolute highlights of the entire camp. Perfect gravel, dozens of turns, and the surrounding mountains ablaze in the orange light of the setting sun.

Rested after our day off, we set out on the most challenging stage of the entire trip — a long climb to over 2,000 meters above sea level along the main ridge of the Anti-Atlas. With every kilometer, the landscape shifted like scenes in a slowly unfolding film: the semi-desert gave way to a rugged canyon, which we climbed higher and higher until we finally reached its crest. From there, we spent hours traversing a vast, surprisingly green plateau stretching to the horizon — wild, peaceful, and completely unexpected. And the best was still to come: the next day brought another incredible descent during the golden hour, with rocks bathed in orange light, an epic play of shadows, and the High Atlas mountains on the horizon, their peaks soaring above 4,000 meters.

After a long descent, we left the rugged Anti-Atlas behind and headed into the last two days of riding — this time along the edges of the High Atlas, through the famous Valley of Roses. The temperature dropped, and the landscape transformed with every kilometer: we rode ever deeper into truly high mountains, though without aiming for their passes. We traced a westerly line along the massive range, emerging repeatedly from deep valleys. And ahead, the terrain began to open up again, drawing us closer to Ouarzazate — inexorably, yet with the promise of the journey’s end.

But we didn’t come here just for the gravel — once the cycling part was over, we headed to Marrakech for two more days of rest, refueling, and simply soaking up the warmth. It was a beautiful adventure: demanding, full of challenges, yet rewarding a hundredfold for every bit of effort, creating unforgettable memories. Morocco once again amazed us and filled us with sunshine before returning to the chill of the Polish pre-winter. We’ll miss it. Shukran, Morocco!