Biking Adventure Across Morocco's Terrain
break away from the ordinary with Jen Rose Smith's style of adventure: human-powered travel, like bikepacking. For Jen, this means bicycle touring, particularly the less trodden paths using dirt roads and trails over pavement.
Known as bikepacking, this unique style of travel has gained a following on BIKEPACKING.com, where like-minded individuals share their wild journeys. Jen discovered the Route of Caravans, a 520-mile route traversing all of Morocco, and took on the northern half. The route runs from the high Atlas Mountains in Morocco to the city of Tangier, on the edge of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Jen shared her experiences with the BBC's website, revealing that her latest bikepacking journey allowed her to explore places that are in between the tourist attractions, which she longed to do during her previous visit to Morocco. In a small village near the high Atlas Mountains, she even lined up with women from the village to fill their water bottles at a central tap, an experience that showcased the hospitality of the community, even though they don't speak the same languages.
Jen acknowledges that many travelers are now evaluating the negative impact they'll have on the communities they visit, and she wonders if bikepacking is the absolute solution. However, she believes that getting out on remote backroads and trails makes for a more sustainable way to see a place, serving as a lighter, more respectful guest to the communities visited.
One unforgettable memory for Jen was camping under cedar trees and sharing the area with an endangered monkey family. This experience demonstrated how bikepacking can provide a deep connection with nature.
Bikepacking in Morocco offers numerous benefits:
- Immersive Cultural Experience: Bikepacking enables travelers to access remote areas of Morocco, encountering diverse landscapes, historic medinas, and various communities beyond tourist routes[1][5].
- Physical and Mental Well-being: Engaging in mountain biking and bikepacking promotes physical fitness, mental health and fosters a bond with nature[1].
- Flexibility and Self-Reliance: With specialized bikepacking equipment, riders can travel independently and adapt their routes dynamically, allowing for a more personalized adventure[4].
The sustainability aspects of bikepacking include:
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: By traveling via bike, the carbon emissions are significantly lower than those associated with conventional travel methods like cars, buses, or planes, making bikepacking an eco-friendly choice[2].
- Minimal Environmental Disturbance: Bikepacking ensures less damage to the environment, particularly in fragile ecosystems and rural areas, preserving Morocco’s natural resources[1].
- Support of Sustainable Tourism: Bikepacking trips promote economic benefits that align with sustainability principles, helping maintain traditional livelihoods and fostering environmental awareness[5].
- Learning and Promoting Sustainability Skills: Bikepacking participants often gain knowledge about sustainable resource management, such as water, food, and animal care practices observed on local farms or villages encountered along the way[5].
Embrace human-powered travel for a unique adventure, deep cultural connections, and an eco-friendly approach to seeing the world!
[1] Sustainable Travel International (n.d.). Benefits of Sustainable Tourism
[2] Outdoor Industries Association (2019). The Outdoor Recreation Economy. Retrieved July 8, 2021, from https://outdoorindustry.org/sites/default/files/media-resources/folder/final_oor_2019-economic-impact-report.pdf
[3] International Mountain Biking Association (n.d.). Benefits of Mountain Biking
[4] Bikepacking.com (n.d.). What is Bikepacking?
[5] Adventure Cycling Association (n.d.). Sustainable Tourism
Bikepacking's lifestyle, with its focus on human-powered travel, offers an adventure-travel experience that allows individuals to immerse themselves in the unique culture, diverse landscapes, and communities of Morocco, going beyond tourist routes. For Jen Rose Smith, each bikepacking journey presents a chance to explore and connect with both nature and local communities, fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment and promoting a sustainable approach to travel.
