2600km gravel avdventure
between Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal

An incredible journey in the footsteps of the most legendary Saharan route: mountains, gorges, deserts and coasts to the ultimate African destination

Intense and spectacular gravel trip from Marrakech to Dakar in the footsteps of the historic rally, through mountains, gorges, deserts and coasts: about 2,600 km and 14,000m positive elevation gain in 23 incredible days pedaled between Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, along an original track tested with stages to be defined in detail day by day.

An unforgettable experience in which adventure, hard work and excitement combine in an out-of- the-ordinary venture, discovering the incredible landscapes and cultures and traditions of these three countries in the most sincere and authentic way and at the ideal pace, that of the bicycle; following a predetermined track, but deciding kilometers and elevation gain from day to day in an exciting and unique journey, travel in its truest essence.

CALENDAR IN BRIEF

December 30/31, 2024 | meeting in Marrakech
January 1, 2025 | official departure Marrakech-Dakar 2025
January 23, 2025 | arrival in Dakar
January 25, 2025 | flight from Dakar
January 26, 2025 | return to Europe

FROM MARRAKECH TO DAKAR ON AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY

Marrakech-Dakar is much more than a bike adventure: it is an exceptional journey, three totalizing weeks to be lived completely immersed in a dimension of authentic exploration.

A long journey where adaptability, managing and overcoming fatigue, encountering different cultures, breathtaking landscapes and discovering unspoiled nature intertwine and give rise to deep and unforgettable emotions, conquering every day the wonder of a sunrise in the desert, an unexpected and boundless panorama at the end of a hard climb or the indescribable splendor of the brightest starry sky imaginable.

CALENDAR IN BRIEF

December 30/31, 2024
meeting in Marrakech

January 1, 2025
official departure Marrakech-Dakar 2025

January 23, 2025/strong>
arrival in Dakar

January 25, 2025/strong>
flight from Dakar

January 26, 2025/strong>
return to Europe

FROM MARRAKECH TO DAKAR ON AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY

Marrakech-Dakar is much more than a bike adventure: it is an exceptional journey, three totalizing weeks to be lived completely immersed in a dimension of authentic exploration.
A long journey where adaptability, managing and overcoming fatigue, encountering different cultures, breathtaking landscapes and discovering unspoiled nature intertwine and give rise to deep and unforgettable emotions, conquering every day the wonder of a sunrise in the desert, an unexpected and boundless panorama at the end of a hard climb or the indescribable splendor of the brightest starry sky imaginable.

The route

Mountains, canyons, deserts, boundless plains dotted with timeless Berber villages and nomadic encampments, unspoiled nature, the ocean, and more-all in an extraordinary biking experience.

You will cross incredible landscapes encountering very different conditions of terrain and climate; the roads will be sometimes perfect, sometimes dirt and rough.

At first it will be Morocco. Leaving Marrakech we will be greeted by the Atlas, with its rough beauty of rocks, boundless plateaus and spectacular gorges; then the first expanses of sand, dunes and oases of the Sahara Desert, with the significant temperature swings between the high daytime temperatures and the frigid nighttime temperatures, and the lashing storm winds making at times each pedal ride an almost nothing conquest. Arriving in El Ayun, a transfer will take you to the border.

As soon as you enter Mauritania, you will have the extraordinary experience of a night on the surreal “Iron Train,” an incredible 500 km journey from Nouadhibou to Choum camped with bicycles in the timeless carriages of the world’s longest freight train, a 3-km convoy connecting mines to Atlantic cities.

From Choum we will again continue among the sandy tracks in the exhilarating tracks of the legendary rally, traverse the beautiful wilderness of the protected area of the Arguin Bank National Park, and flank the ocean coast again, pedaling on the sands of the boundless Mauritanian beaches among golden dunes and very long waves.

Passing the capital Nouakchott we will reach Senegal, crossing the river of the same name, greeted by a culture that is still as different and fascinating as the others known along the journey. The landscape around will change again, in the shadow of the majestic Baobab trees nature will again become more lush and settlements more dense, until we reach Dakar at the conclusion of this epic crossing.

How you will travel

The stages will be determined day by day by the Tour leaders.
The expedition will be followed along the entire route by a 4×4 support vehicle for transporting participants’ materials and setting up the overnight area, as well as preparing dinners and breakfasts.
Overnight stays will almost always be in tents, with some exceptions; when possible, sincere hospitality encountered along the way will be enjoyed. Good adaptability to group dynamics will also be essential; adaptation and management of physical and emotional fatigue will be key, and in this sense the group will be a valuable resource in the true spirit of this trip.

PROGRAM

Travel info at a glance

  • Start from: Marrakech, Morocco
  • Arrival in: Dakar, Senegal

  • Countries crossed: Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal
  • Pre raid briefing: November 30
  • Period: 31 December 2024 – 26 January 2025

  • Start: 1 January

  • End of raid: 23 January
  • Return home/end of trip: 26 January
  • Cycling days: 23
  • Total days: 27
  • Total distance: 2600km
  • Total positive elevation gain: 14000m D+
  • Bike type: gravel

  • Travelling modes: bikepacking supported
  • Accomodation:
    19 nights in tent;
    1 night on the Iron Train;
    6 nights in facilities (1 night in Lalla Takerkoust (Marrakech), 3 nights along the route (Assa, Nouadhibou and Nouakchott) and 2 nights in Dakar

  • Type of support:
    4×4 support vehicle for all the route with bags/materials transport, mechanical assistance, dinner/ breakfast preparation
  • Dakar-Europe Flight
  • Baggage medical insurance
  • Transfers to and from Marrakech and Dakar
  • 4×4 car support with luggage transport /officina/ kitchen for the whole trip
  • transfer El Ayun – Mauritania border
  • Customs passage support
  • Dinners and breakfasts prepared by staff throughout the trip
  • Berber dinner at the end of the year
  • 1 night accommodation in Lalla Takerkoust (Marrakech) with half board
  • 1 night in Assa in a half-board accommodation
  • 1 night in Nouadhibou in accommodation with half board
  • 1 night in Nouakchott in accommodation with half board
  • 2 nights in Dakar in accommodation with half board
  • Final party in Dakar
  • Exclusive original tracks
  • Experienced Tour Leaders
  • Mechanical service, support
  • Official Duffel bag of the shipment (to be used compulsorily for logistical issues)
  • Official shipping slopline shirt and sweatshirt
  • Personalized bike setup consultation
  • List of materials needed
  • Dedicated WhatsApp group
  • Pre-raid gathering on 30/Dec. 1 with dinner/camping/aperitif
  • Europe-Marrakech Flight
  • Lunches
  • Extra drinks
  • Snacks during the trip
  • Customs fees (estimated about 150 euros per person)
  • Cancellation insurance
  • Expenses for possible early return
  • Bike rental Cinelli Hobootleg Geo equipped for the Delivery directly to Marrakech | Euro 500

REGISTRATION

Price per person: 3490 €

> Registration: 490 €
> Deposit:1500 € within 01/11/2024
> Balance: 1500 € by 10/12/2024

Application/Information Form

Application/Information Form

“Atonga Travel srls” Viale Galilei, 41 POSTAL CODE 48121 Ravenna (RA) Italy VAT 02756250391

SHORT VERSION
CALENDAR IN BRIEF

30/31 december 2024
meeting in Marrakech

January 1, 2025
official departure Marrkech-Dakar

January 09, 2025
arrival in El Ayoun

January 10, 2025
transfer to Marrakech

January 11, 2025
return to Europe

SHORT VERSION
CALENDAR IN BRIEF

30/31 december 2024
meeting in Marrakech

January 1, 2025
official departure Marrkech-Dakar

January 09, 2025
arrival in El Ayoun

January 10, 2025
transfer to Marrakech

January 11, 2025
return to Europe

SHORT VERSION PROGRAM

TRAVEL INFO AT A GLANCE

  • Start from: Marrakech, Morocco

  • Arrival in: El Ayoun (Layoune), Morocco

  • Countries crossed: Morocco

  • Pre raid briefing : november 30 / december 1

  • Period: december 31, 2024 – january 11, 2025

  • Start: 1st january

  • End of raid: 09 january

  • Return home/end of trip: 11 january

  • Cycling days: 9

  • Total days: 12

  • Total distance: 1000km

  • Total positive elev. gain: 7000m D+

  • Type of bike: gravel

  • Travel mode: bikepacking supported

  • Accommodation:
    4 nights in facilities
    7 nights in tent

  • Type of support:
    4×4 support vehicle for all the route with bags/materials transport, mechanical assistance, dinner/ breakfast preparation

  • Marrakech-Italy Flight
  • Baggage medical insurance
  • Transfers to and from Marrakech airport
  • 4×4 car support with luggage transport /officina/ kitchen for the whole trip
  • Transfer El Ayun – Marrakech
  • Dinners and breakfasts prepared by staff throughout the trip
  • Berber dinner at the end of the year
  • 1 night accommodation in Lalla Takerkoust (Marrakech) with half board
  • 1 night in Assa in a half-board accommodation
  • 2 nights in Marrakech in Ryad with half board accomodation
  • Exclusive original tracks
  • Experienced Tour Leaders
  • Mechanical service, support
  • Official Duffel bag of the shipment (to be used compulsorily for logistical issues)
  • Official shipping slopline shirt and sweatshirt
  • Personalized bike setup consultation
  • List of materials needed
  • Dedicated WhatsApp group
  • Pre-raid gathering on Nov.30/Dec.1 with dinner/camping/aperitif
  • Europe-Marrakech Flight
  • Lunches
  • Extra drinks
  • Snacks during the trip
  • Cancellation insurance
  • Expenses for possible early return
  • Anything not specified in the “what is included” section
  • Bike rental Cinelli Hobootleg Geo equipped for the trip
    Delivery directly to Marrakech | 300 euros

SHORT VERSION REGISTRATION

Price per person: 2800 euros

TO REGISTER:

> 800 euros at the time of registration
> Balance 2000 euros by november 25, 2024

INFOS/ REGISTRATIONS

> Address: Bkeadventures Borgomanero (NO) Via Matteotti 52, CAP 28021 Borgomanero (NO)
> Email: info@bikeadventures.it
> Telephone: +39 347 106 2162 NICO VALSESIA

Application/Information Form

Application/Information Form

“Atonga Travel srls” Viale Galilei, 41 POSTAL CODE 48121 Ravenna (RA) Italy VAT 02756250391

Partners MARRAKECH-DAKAR

Marrakech – Dakar Copyright 2024© | All Rights Reserved – Tutti i diritti sono riservati | Privacy e Cookie Policy
Bike Adventures A.s.d. | Via G. Matteotti n. 52 – 28021 | BORGOMANERO (NO) | P.I. e C.F. 01921260038

Partners MARRAKECH-DAKAR

Marrakech – Dakar Copyright 2024© | All Rights Reserved – Tutti i diritti sono riservati | Privacy e Cookie Policy
Bike Adventures A.s.d. | Via G. Matteotti n. 52 – 28021 | BORGOMANERO (NO) | P.I. e C.F. 01921260038