Pikala Bikes

Pikala Bikes is a social enterprise that uses cycling to create skills and jobs for young people in Marrakech. It was founded by the Dutch cycling enthusiast Cantal Bakker, who first visited the city in 2014, shipped second-hand bicycles from the Netherlands in early 2016 and began by teaching road safety to local children. Sponsorship during the COP22 climate conference in Marrakech later that year helped it grow into a self-sustaining organisation.

Today Pikala operates from an old garage near Riad Laarous in the medina, a few minutes from El Fenn. Its guided bike tours are led by young local people who have been trained through the programme, and they take visitors through parts of the city that few tourists reach on foot. The base also includes a café and a repair workshop, where people can have bikes fixed or learn to repair them.

Cycling is a practical and enjoyable way to cover more ground than on foot, and the tours give a real sense of everyday life away from the souks. They suit active couples, families with older children and solo travellers, and the guides adapt the pace for the group. Because profits go back into training and employment, booking a tour directly supports the local community.

Traffic in Marrakech can be intense, with cars, scooters and carts sharing the road, so a guided tour is a safer way to ride than setting out alone. Wear comfortable clothes, bring water and sun protection, and ask about helmets and bike sizes when you book. Morning and late-afternoon tours avoid the worst of the heat in summer.

Book through the official website, where tours and current options are listed. The base near Riad Laarous is in the western medina, about ten minutes' walk from the Koutoubia and Jemaa el-Fnaa. After your ride, the café is a good place to rest, and the Mouassine quarter and Dar El Bacha are within easy walking distance. Pikala has also expanded beyond Marrakech, with operations in Agadir, so the same approach can be found elsewhere in Morocco. Group and private tours can usually be arranged for families or friends travelling together, and booking a few days ahead gives the best choice of times.