Mines & Dunes is the evolution of the original Morocco-BikeAdventure from Tangier to Sidi Ifni, a route that once ended in Essaouira but has now transformed into an even more immersive journey across Moroccoâs most dramatic terrains. This new adventure retains the spirit of the originalâlong distances, harsh landscapes, and complete autonomyâwhile unveiling a route that is more remote, more historical, and more visually striking than ever.
The adventure begins at the northern gateway of Tangier, where the Atlantic breeze and modern skyline quickly disappear behind you. As the route climbs into the Rif Mountains, riders are immediately plunged into rugged terrain, twisting tracks, and forgotten valleys that feel far removed from the world above. The sense of remoteness sets in early, and it never truly fades.
From the Rif, the course advances toward the Middle Atlas, a region of cedar forests, cold nights, and long gradients that demand patience and strength. The challenges intensify in the High Atlas, where passes above 2,600 meters expose riders to thin air, rocky pistes, and traditional Amazigh villages on the edge of desolation. Here, time seems to stand still. The mountains are vast, unforgiving, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Among the most haunting landmarks on the route is the abandoned Ahouli Minesâa colossal industrial labyrinth carved into the mountainsides. Once a hub of activity, now silent and crumbling, it stands as a dramatic reminder of Moroccoâs mineral past and the harsh realities that shaped the regionâs history. Passing through these ghostly structures is an experience that stays long after the journey is over.
After the final mountain ranges, the landscape opens into the Sahara Desert, where heat and wind become constant companions. Riders traverse dry riverbeds, rolling plateaus, and sand-swept tracks that stretch to the horizon. This final section is physically difficult but spiritually rewarding: the silence is vast, the light is surreal, and the desert night sky reveals a spectacle of stars few places on Earth can match.
Scattered through this barren beauty are monumental land-art installations such as La CitÊ dâOrion, The Golden Spiral, and Stairway to Heaven, created by German artist HannsjÃļrg Voth. These towering geometric forms rise unexpectedly from the desert floor, offering surreal moments of awe before the final push to the Saharan basecamp.
Riders can choose between two formats:
Piste Route: a demanding mix of gravel, dirt roads, rocky pistes, and remote tracks.
Road Route: a fully paved version that follows quieter tarmac and smoother lines through equally stunning landscapes.
The event is designed to take around a week, butâtrue to the philosophy of the seriesâthere is no time limit. Ride fast, ride slow, rest where you want, sleep under the stars, or push through the night. Mines & Dunes invites each rider to shape their own journey through some of the most extraordinary landscapes Morocco has to offer.
Mines & Dunes â mountains, mines, and the endless desert. A bikepacking odyssey across Moroccoâs wildest frontiers.
