Alice Morrison’s Journey Morocco to Timbuktu

It began with a whisper of adventure — a race across the Sahara, six marathons in six days under a sky that shimmered with heat and promise. Alice Morrison wasn’t a runner, not really. But she had something more enduring than speed: an appetite for challenge, and a heart tuned to the rhythms of wild places. That decision to say “yes” to the Marathon des Sables not only broke her toes — it broke open her life.

Now living in a tiny Berber village in the Atlas Mountains, Alice — a Scottish-born, Arabic-speaking adventurer — has made a life woven with endurance, story, and the deep red soil of North Africa. From cycling 12,500km across Africa to dodging charging elephants and navigating geopolitical tensions en route to Timbuktu, hers is a tale not just of where the body goes, but where the soul chooses to stay.

In this episode, we sit down with Alice amidst her life in Morocco — the scent of tajine in the air, donkeys braying in the distance — and talk about the journeys that shape us. The literal ones, yes. But also the emotional detours, the cultural immersions, the quiet daily acts of resilience. As Alice says, “you are good enough to do it now.”

Her stories carry the dust of ancient tanneries and the clarity of desert nights. But more than anything, they remind us that adventure is as much about listening — to the land, to strangers, to the voice inside that says go.

Watch To The Episode With Alice Morrison

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Listen To The Episode With Alice Morrison

Key Episode Takeaways

• Adventure isn’t about speed — it’s about persistence – Alice completed the Marathon des Sables not with athleticism, but with sheer mental grit.
• Immersion changes perspective – Living in a Berber community reshaped her sense of pride, worth, and cultural understanding.
• Language is a door – Learning Arabic opened up landscapes, relationships, and identities she might never have known.
• Charity is personal – Alice supports Salve Uganda, helping street children find family and education.

Memorable Quotes

• “You are good enough to do it now.” – Alice on adventure and overcoming doubt.
• “Be careful of spreading your pity around. People are probably proud of what they do.” – On humility and judgment.
• “Once you’ve tasted mama Africa, you always come back.” – On the pull of the continent.
• “When Al-Qaeda invaded Timbuktu, they banned music and dancing in a city that breathes music.” – On cultural suppression and resilience.

Facts

• Marathon des Sables – 250km across the Sahara Desert over six days.
• Tour d’Afrique – The world’s longest bike race: Cairo to Cape Town, 12,500km in 120 days.
• Timbuktu Access – Entry required a UN aid flight due to security threats from Al-Qaeda occupation.
• Salve Uganda – Supports street children’s rehabilitation and education for £30/month per child.

Ideas

• Don’t wait to be ready – Adventure starts now, not after more fitness, time, or money.
• Storytelling is survival – In Morocco, tales carry culture, history, and hope. In Scotland too.
• Expedition planning is a political act – Navigating Saudi Arabia, for example, involves bureaucracy, permissions, and deep cultural respect.

Call to Adventure

Your challenge from Alice: That little dream that keeps whispering at you? Climb it. Walk it. Cycle to it. Whatever it is — don’t wait for perfect conditions. Just do it. You are good enough to do it now.

Pay It Forward

Alice’s chosen cause: Salve Uganda — Helping street children in Uganda get back into school and family life. Run by local Ugandans. £30/month changes a child’s future.

References & Recommendations

• alicemorrison.co.uk – Alice’s official site.
• Timbuktu – A historic trading city in Mali.
• Marathon des Sables – The “toughest footrace on Earth.”
• Arabian Adventures: The Secrets of the Nabataeans – Alice’s upcoming BBC series.
• @aliceoutthere1 – Follow Alice on Instagram.

Before You Go

If this story stirred something in you — a memory, a longing, a new edge of courage — don’t let it pass. Share it. Leave a review. And maybe, finally, answer that call of your own. Adventure begins with a single step.