Marrakesh City Bike Tour

Experience Marrakesh through a local lens

This city tour affords you a glimpse into the real Marrakesh as you follow in the tyre tracks of a local young person. Your guide will have been trained to lead guided tours by the Pikala Foundation, an initiative that provides opportunities for training and employment to local youth through bike tours. You'll ride through various neighborhoods of Marrakesh, including the historical city center, Medina, and the modern town of Gueliz. Your day tour will stop at a public bakery and a traditional bathhouse, before rounding off with a visit to a place of pilgrimage for many Moroccans, the sacred Zaouia de Sidi Bel Abbès.

The first neighborhood you'll explore on your ride is Medina, the historic city center of Marrakesh. Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of the city. It dates back to the 11th century and was the capital of the Almoravid Dynasty. Medina is known for its narrow streets, souks, and traditional architecture. You will see iconic landmarks such as the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakesh, and the Kasbah, a fortified area of the city replete with royal palaces. You'll also pass the vast, lush Agdal Gardens on the edge of the old city, first established by the Almoravid Dynasty in 1070.

Cycling on, you'll arrive in the neighborhood of Gueliz, which was built by the French during the colonial period. Gueliz is known for its art deco buildings, wide streets, and trendy shops and restaurants. Throughout this bicycle tour, your guide will discuss topics such as growing up in Morocco, the importance of family, and how to reconcile religion and modernization. As you ride through the streets, squares and gardens of Marrakesh, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how locals experience life in this city, and the wealth of culture and history that lies just beyond the access of the regular tourist who travels the city without a local's insight.

During the tour, you'll also get to experience some of the local culture first hand by visiting a public bakery and a traditional bathhouse. Public bakeries are an essential part of Moroccan daily life, where families bring their dough to be baked into bread in communal ovens. The bath house you’ll visit, also known as a hammam, is a centuries old ritual of steam baths used to cleanse the body and relax. Another highlight of the tour is the enormous second-hand market, where you can find everything from vintage clothing to antiques and handicrafts. It's a great place to find souvenirs to take home, and your guide can give you tips on haggling effectively - considered good manners for any transaction in Moroccan culture!

This day tour ends with a visit to Zaouia de Sidi Bel Abbès, one of the seven Saints of Marrakesh. This religious site is a place of pilgrimage for thousands of Moroccans every year. You'll finish your ride with a restful stop at this impressive mosque, known for its beautiful green tilework and tranquil atmosphere. At the very end of your sightseeing, you'll enjoy a cup of Moroccan tea at the Pikala Bicycle Café, a cross-cultural space promoting cycling in the city.