Morocco: A New Destination with Umberto Cena

Morocco is a unique destination for a bicycle vacation. And Ciclismo Classico is one of the first to offer special departures this year on its Bike Across Morocco.

Ciclismo Classico veteran guide Umberto Cena designed and led the trip across this exotic country. As a Top Guide Tour, it was a fantastic experience for everyone involved.

We sat down with Umberto to get the inside scoop on this special destination:

How long have you been guiding with Ciclismo Classico?

10 years. I began working for Ciclismo Classico while I was living in Austria. Working as a mechanic in a bike shop, I was also in charge of bicycle distribution and eventually became the local shop manager.

Ciclismo Classico contacted me 10 years ago through the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) Ivrea section. I applied and was accepted as a guide. Then in 2014, I accepted a role as the European Logistic Coordinator in Tuscany for Ciclismo Classico.

It was at that same time I left Austria and dedicated myself to bicycle tourism.

How many Top Guide tours have you organized?

This was my first one.

How did it feel to run the first-ever Ciclismo Classico trip in North Africa?

It was an amazing experience. I was a bit scared at first because it was a great personal challenge for me.

Being responsible for all these people who come out to have fun with us is an enormous responsibility.

You are in charge of their safety and enjoyment. It’s not like running a trip in Germany, where things run according to plan. It was a big test and we had a great time.

What made you decide to lead a tour in Morocco?

I once did a self-supported bike trip in 2011 with a good friend of mine from home. We rode through the north of Morocco, around Tangier, in the mountains surrounding Rif on mountain bikes equipped with slicks.

Primarily, we slept in guesthouses and hostels, but I always kept an eye on the more luxurious hotels in the area. Most of the time we were hosted by lovely locals who let us into their homes and fed us.

At the beginning of the trip, we discovered there was a festival (called “Cordero”) in a little town, and everything was closed. It was similar to an Easter festival, celebrating life and conviviality. So we had the pleasure of discovering how hospitable the locals were. It remains a wonderful memory.

What is the most interesting aspect of this bicycle tour in Morocco?

The coastal road between Tangier and Fnideq is exceptional.

First, you start along the Mediterranean coast and slowly make your way to the sea. It is an amazing stretch of rolling road and the sensation of riding along one of the major seas makes you realize how big the world is, and how small we are.

The blue city of Chefchaouen is inspiring. It is the meeting point between the Spanish and the North African cultures, high up on a mountain. Legend says the blue comes from the Jewish diaspora from Spain in the 1930s. Blue cities are rare, and rare is beautiful.

Tell us about the food and wine.

Well, the wine is produced mainly in the area toward the lower Atlantic coast, near the Atlas Mountains.

There is great dry white sauvignon and chardonnay, much different than you would have in America or on mainland Europe. They are crisp and sharp on a hot afternoon.

The Reds are dynamic Cabernet Sauvignon, just light enough to beat the heat.

We eat plenty of fish along the coast; imagine the tapas you would have in Spain but with a lot of varying types of seafood. The tagine you have in Morocco is unbeatable: variations of lamb, veal, and fish. Large terracotta dishes that hold all kinds of surprises.

Plus, add to these delicacies all of the almonds, dates, apricots, and ripe plums and you have a feast.

What are the rides like? How are the roads?

Lots of roads are near the sea. You can imagine rolling itineraries with spectacular views of the sea at every turn.

Then we ride into Capo Negro, a small calm road, flat for the most part before a little lunch with seabass, octopus, and anchovies. Then we arrive near the Rif mountains through a cork forest. Fresh springs surge from the mountains and the temperatures up in the hills are cool and delightful in the evening.

In Ouazzane we cross a natural reserve. We have an amazing descent into town and then shuttle everyone to Fez. Fez is the biggest imperial city in Marocco, all of the Farsi people come from here. The medina is amazing and the city market is not to miss.

How are the hotels?

Banyan Tree in Fnideq is one of those hotels you’ll tell your friends about. What if I were to tell you that each hotel room had its private villa with an interior garden? It was one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen.

Dar Yasmin in Chefchaouen is incredible. An old house that has 9 rooms in all, but all the rooms overlook the city. Each room has its theme dedicated to a continent or an art style. And we have an amazing dinner in the evening, again overlooking the city in the dusk.

How do people get to / leave from the morocco trip?

The best way to get to the start of our trip is to fly into Tangier. There is an international airport and many flights arrive there from continental Europe.

Leaving, you can do Fez to Casablanca by train. A few nights in Casablanca is worth it. Then you can leave directly out of the Casablanca airport for Madrid or Lisbon.

Tell me more about the cultural immersion you experience on the trip.

Every day is a cultural immersion.

It is so different from any western culture that every kilometer you ride is a new experience. The signs are different, the people, the buildings, the weather is hot and steamy now in October. We have musicians playing for us at the beginning of the trip and then in Chefchaouen we go to see a carpet maker who gave us an inside look at this ancient tradition.

What’s next? Are there departures for next year?

We already have one on the calendar, but it appears we have more people interested. And that’s a good thing. We need to explore these cultures more to better understand them. And Morocco is a gem at the mouth of the Mediterranean.

Ready to test your exotic side? Contact us for our 2020 dates and departures to Morocco today!