Bicycle Africa
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Bicycle Africa |
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Unique Programs To Special Places For Memories Of A Lifetime!
If you would enjoy the efficiency of Europe, the cultural richness of the Andalusia, the uniqueness of Africa, and a mix of simulating activities, the International Bicycle Fund's two-week, people-to-people, Morocco bike programs may be right for you. First and foremost, through discussion and activities, Morocco will help you understand that the Islamic faith and Islamic extremism are NOT synonymous -- in fact, close to opposites. Morocco is a complex mélange of a modern infrastructure and traditional culture and values. This program provides a good look at how mainstream communities practice Islam. But far beyond that, Morocco has layer upon layer of cultural heritage and history (as demonstrated by its World Heritage Sites from Roman, Berber and Arab origins), the people are friendly, well educated and good natured, the architecture reflect a millennium of traditions from around the Mediterranean, the markets are colorful and filled with wonderful produce, spices and goods, the crafts, decorative arts and carpets are stunning, the accommodations are comfortable and unique, the environmental and geographical diversity awes participants, the food is delicious, the April climate is delightful and the countryside is beautiful. These program is satisfying intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually. Did we remember to say Morocco is a wonderful venue for a bike tour?
Each itinerary is unique -- do them individually or combined. Each new day in this captivating country offers new insights, surprises and experiences. You will have the opportunity to meet rural villagers, skilled craftsmen, educators and officials; to learn about the day-to-day life and the changing role of women; to shop in local markets; to visit Jewish communities and mosques: and to wander in an Roman archeological sites dating back to the 2nd century BC. Everywhere you will enjoy the extraordinary friendliness of the people and inspirational beauty of the land. Charming, enchanting, delightful, irresistible, attractive, and fascinating are some on the words that are frequently used to describe Morocco. Though famous for tourism, much of rural Morocco is a virtually undiscovered treasure for Westerners. Give it a look!
Schedule: April (see full
schedule and status)
Program Price (lodging, two meals/day, guide, museum fees and more):US$1890
(less than six people add $100) (airfare is not included). Average out of pocket expenses per program $200 plus or minus $100.
Description: Day 1-2: Explore fascinating medina and souk of Marrakesh (a
World
Heritage Site). Day 3-6: Cross the High Atlas and continue to the edge of
the Sahara. Day: 7-8: Parallel the Atlas, going from oasis to oasis, and pass
Kasbah
and ksours. Day 9-12: Work our way through the valleys and hills of the Haute
and Moyen Atlas, visiting Berber villages. Day 13-14: Emerge on the plains of
the Oum Er Rbia River.
Features: Small group, visits to the people of the diverse cultures and lifestyles
of central Morocco; beautiful landscapes of oasis, desert &
mountain zones.
Starting/Ending Point: Marrakesh, Morocco / Kasbah Kadla, Morocco. Note: The
program starts in Marrakesh. There are international flights from Europe to
Marrakesh, but because the program ends in Kasbah Kadla, people may find it
logistically better to fly to Casablanca at least the day before the tour, store
extra stuff in the hotel there, and then take the bus to Marrakesh on the morning
of the first day of the tour. We will help you to work through these
options, if
you want to go by this route.
Skill Level: Suitable for people who can handle the distances, long
climbs and
3000m (10,000ft) elevations. Some urban cycling.
Mileage Daily / Total: 50-105 kilometers / 30-65 miles per day, starts
with lower mileage. 800km, 500 miles total.
Cycling Conditions: 90% paved roads / 10% dirt-gravel, mostly gentle grades up and down, a couple of
long climbs. Elevations from 400m to 3000m, 1300 ft to 10000 ft.
Accommodations: Small hotels and pensions, some in converted heritage
building where traditional twin hotel arrangements may not be available. No tent camping.
Van Support: None. Local transport is generally available when it needs
to be called upon, except on one mountain crossing.
Meals Included: Two meals per day, generally breakfast (several types of
bread and pastry, juice, coffee, and sometimes eggs and fruit) and dinner
(traditional cuisine; couscous, tagine (stew), soups,
salad, bread, beans, potatoes, beef, chicken, lamb, eggs). Pragmatic
vegetarians and people with special diets usually manage OK. Very strict
vegetarians will be challenged.
Other Activities: Walking
Bike: We recommend a bike suitable for road touring, bearing in mind a
section of road is dirt.
Bike Rental: not available
Registration Information
Schedule: April (see full
schedule and status)
Program Price (lodging, two meals/day, guide, museum fees and more):US$1890
(less than six people add $100) (airfare is not included). Average out of pocket expenses per program $200 plus or minus $100.
Description: Day 1-2: Explore fascinating medina and souk of Fes (a
World
Heritage Site). Day 3-4: Travel to the eastern border of Morocco. Day: 5-9: Parallel the
scenic coast, going from town to village, to wild lands, to village, to town (a
World Heritage Site). Day 10-11:
Work our way through the valleys and hills of the Rif Mountains, visiting Berber villages. Day 12-14:
Cross the plains to Volubilis (a World Heritage Site),
picturesque Middle Atlas villages and return to Fes.
Features: Small group, visits to the people of the Berber and Andalusia cultures and lifestyles
of northern Morocco; beautiful landscapes of sand beaches, rocky coasts &
mountain zones.
Starting/Ending Point: Fes, Morocco. Note: The
program starts in Fes. There are international flights from Europe to
Fes, but some people may find it
logistically better to fly to Rabat at least the day before the tour, store
extra stuff in the hotel there, and then take the bus to Fes on the morning
of the first day of the tour. We will help you to work through these
options, if
you want to go by this route.
Skill Level: Suitable for people who can handle the distances and
elevation. Some urban cycling.
Mileage Daily / Total: 50-105 kilometers / 30-65 miles per day, starts
with lower mileage. 800km, 500 miles total.
Cycling Conditions: paved roads, mostly gentle grades up and down, a couple of
long climbs. Elevations from 10m to 500m, 30 ft to 1600 ft.
Accommodations: Small hotels and pensions, some in converted heritage
building where traditional twin hotel arrangements may not be available. No tent camping.
Van Support: None. Local transport is generally available when it needs
to be called upon.
Meals Included: Two meals per day, generally breakfast (several types of
bread and pastry, juice, coffee, and sometimes eggs and fruit) and dinner
(traditional cuisine; couscous, tagine (stew), soups,
salad, bread, beans, potatoes, beef, chicken, lamb, eggs). Pragmatic
vegetarians and people with special diets usually manage OK. Very strict
vegetarians will be challenged.
Other Activities: Walking
Bike: We recommend a bike suitable for road touring.
Bike Rental: not available
Registration Information
Schedule: April (see full
schedule and status)
Program Price (lodging, two meals/day, guide, museum fees and more):US$1890
(less than six people add $100) (airfare is not included). Average out of pocket expenses per program $200 plus or minus $100.
Description: Day 1: Explore fascinating the medina and souk of Rabat (a
World Heritage Site).
Day 2-4: Ride farmland and forests to Meknes (a
World Heritage Site), the picturesque villages
Moulay Idriss and
Volubilis (a World Heritage Site). Day
5: Explore fascinating medina and souk of Fes (a
World
Heritage Site). 6-8: Work our way back through the farmlands and foothills
of the Atlas Mountains. Day 9-12: Cycle through the coastal region, explore
renown medina (a World Heritage Site)
and ports (World Heritage Site).
Day 13-14: Explore fascinating Marrakesh (a
World
Heritage Site).
Features: Small group, visits with a variety of citizens and an extraordinary
archeological, cultural and religious sites, life-styles ranging from fascinatingly traditional to ultra modern and magnificently
scenic countryside.
Starting/Ending Point: Rabat, Morocco / Marrakesh, Morocco. Note:
The program ends in the south which put you in an excellent position to stay on
for a few days to see other things, or you can return immediately to Rabat and
leave.
Skill Level: Suitable for people who can handle the distances. Some urban
cycling.
Mileage Daily / Total: 65km-120km, 40-75 miles per day. 900km, 560 miles total
Cycling Conditions: Paved roads, mostly flat and rolling, most of the
elevation are under 500m, going to sea level, with one mountain at 900m
Accommodations: Small hotels and pensions, some in converted heritage
building where traditional twin hotel arrangements may not be available. No tent camping.
Van Support: None. Local transport is generally available when it needs to
be called upon.
Meals Included: Two meals per day, generally breakfast (several types of
bread and pastry, juice, coffee, and sometimes eggs and fruit) and dinner
(traditional cuisine; couscous, tagine (stew), soups,
salad, bread, beans, potatoes, beef, chicken, lamb, eggs). Pragmatic
vegetarians and people with special diets usually manage OK. Very strict
vegetarians will be challenged.
Other Activities: Walking
Bike: We recommend a bike suitable for road touring.
Bike Rental: not available
Registration Information
Schedule: April (see full
schedule and status)
Program Price (lodging, two meals/day, guide, museum fees and more):US$1890
(less than six people add $100) (airfare is not included). Average out of pocket expenses per program $200 plus or minus $100.
Description: Day 1-2: Explore fascinating medina and souk of Marrakesh (a
World
Heritage Site). Day 3-8: Parallel the High Atlas through oasis and pass
Kasbah
and ksours. Day 9-11: Work our way through the valleys and hills of the Middle
Atlas, visiting Berber villages. Day 12-14: Explore fascinating Sefrou and Fez
(both World Heritage Site).
Features: Small group, visits to the people of the diverse cultures and lifestyles
of central Morocco; beautiful landscapes of oasis, desert &
mountain zones.
Starting/Ending Point: Marrakesh, Morocco / Fes, Morocco. Note: The
program starts in Marrakesh. There are international flights from Europe to
Marrakesh, but because the program ends in Fes, most people find it
logistically better to fly to Rabat or Casablanca at least the day before the tour, store
extra stuff in the hotel there, and then take the bus to Marrakesh on the morning
of the first day of the tour. We will help you to work through these
options, if
you want to go by this route.
Skill Level: Suitable for people who can handle the distances and
elevation. Some urban cycling.
Mileage Daily / Total: 30-100 kilometers / 20-60 miles per day, starts with lower mileage
/ 900km, 560 miles total
Cycling Conditions: Paved roads, mostly flat and rolling, a couple of
long hills. Elevations from 400m to 2200m, 1300ft to 7300 ft.
Accommodations: Small hotels and pensions, some in converted heritage
building where traditional twin hotel arrangements may not be available. No tent camping.
Van Support: None. Local transport is generally available when it needs
to be called upon.
Meals Included: Two meals per day, generally breakfast (several types of
bread and pastry, juice, coffee, and sometimes eggs and fruit) and dinner
(traditional cuisine; couscous, tagine (stew), soups,
salad, bread, beans, potatoes, beef, chicken, lamb, eggs). Pragmatic
vegetarians and people with special diets usually manage OK. Very strict
vegetarians will be challenged.
Other Activities: Walking
Bike: We recommend a bike suitable for road touring.
Bike Rental: not available
Registration Information
Unique Programs To Special Places For Memories Of A Lifetime!
Please
write if you have questions, suggestions and comments about our program or want to be
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