Morocco

Mountain Biking Tour from $2,280 NZD

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10 Days
  • 2012
  • Best time to travel: March - May / September - November
  • Availability Guide:
  • Current date selected
  • Plenty
  • Limited
  • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

Bike on top of the world in the High Atlas Mountains on jeep tracks and single trails. Enjoy challenging climbs and wild descents.

The variety of landscapes is staggering — from stark mountains, fertile valleys and rocky gorges, to waterfalls, rivers, pines and windswept plateaux. On the other extreme — the sensory overload of Marrakech, its medina and souks.

You'll visit the verdant Ait Bougmez valley and villages. You'll have fresh baked bread and olive oil with a Berber family, and a barbeque on the wild Telmet plateau.

Marrakech to Marrakech

Marrakech
  • Mountain biking
  • Grade
  • Tour price subject to minimum numbers
  • USD250 bike hire
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morocco

Morocco Fitness and Preparation

Nights are spent in basic gîte accommodation, with one night camping in the wilderness and one in a family home. Other highlights include the challenge of a 100 km 'century ride' on the last day.

Lunches are normally picnic style with mint tea included, and in the evenings, sample Morocco's renowned cuisine.

Hard Tours

Hard tours are designed for the more experienced participant wishing to push themselves and experience new highs of achievement. Routes will include longer climbs and more technical skills.

Fitness required

A good level of fitness is required. You will need to be exercising 3–4 times a week prior to the tour.

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival Day: Marrakech

No biking

Welcome to Marrakech! Your guide can meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in central Marrakech. You will have a chance to assemble your bikes, with the help of local staff, if required. This evening there'll be a pre-trip briefing. Then, head out for some dinner, and explore Marrakech.

Meals:

DAY 2

Marrakech to Ouzoud Falls to Ait Bougmez to Imelghas

Biking: 30 km

Today we drive 4 hours to the Ait Bougmez valley in the Central High Atlas mountains. We stop en route at Morocco’s most impressive waterfall – the Cascades d’Ouzoud. We'll admire the view from a café with a cup of mint tea. Then, into the Atlas Mountains for a picnic lunch. Next: our first cycling: a 30 km (largely downhill) ride into the Ait Bougmez valley, with its orchards, barley, and pastures criss-crossed by streams. We pass the main village of Tabant to picturesque Imelghas, 1860 m above sea level. We may have time to climb to a hilltop marabout shrine. Dinner is at our gîte.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3

Ait Bougmez to Imelghas

Biking: approx. 28 km

After a leisurely breakfast, a day’s ride around the valley along single track trails and wider jeep tracks. There's a gentle gradient — a warm-up before we take to the mountains in earnest. The first stop: Tabant village, where we’ll drop in on the friendly Sunday market (souk), and have mint tea. The souk provides vital weekly supplies for the isolated village and nomads. Next, it's west along mule paths through meadows and wildflowers. We’re sure to be invited into Berber homes for tea and bread with olive oil. After a picnic lunch we continue through fields or the sealed road to Imelghas.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

Imelghas to Telmest

Biking: approx. 53 km

Today is the 1st of 5 days riding from the North's verdant valleys to the South's rugged canyons. We follow jeep tracks on a gradual ascent past adobe villages. Then, an 8 km climb to a pass (2600 m a.s.l) into stark, wild mountains. You'll see stone shelters (azibs) used by nomads migrating with flocks to the cooler north in summer. You may see Bonelli’s Eagles and ospreys. After a fast descent, lunch in a valley where a weekly souk is held. Then, another 6 km climb (2700 m a.s.l), and a glorious downhill to Telmest village in a remote valley. We'll camp on a grassy plateau.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5

Telmest to La Catedrale

Biking: approx. 22 km

After a hearty camp breakfast, we take time to enjoy the valley after yesterday's tough ride. In spring there are wildflowers, corn and barley, and it’s lovely to watch the locals in the fields. It's a half day ride today, with free time this afternoon. After some rolling pistes, a precipitous climb to a viewpoint (some walking required!). We then descend for 15 km through pine forests, past beehives, to the huge limestone monolith, La Catedrale. We'll have lunch by a river. You could go on a half-day hike, or we could drive you to the top of another big climb for you to bike down.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

La Catedrale to Anergui Plateau

Biking: approx. 51 km

It's tough riding today — mostly climbing. First, 35 km on a rough riverside track, with a gradual ascent through a gorge lined with incredible cacti. The river has great swimming. This is a remote route where the track is sometimes washed out, with support vehicles forced to meet us at the other side. In these cases, we stock up well on food and water. Our lunch stop is near Anergui village. This afternoon, our toughest climb: a 12 km (tarmac) haul to a plateau (2500 m a.s.l). That's 1000 m of climbing, before a short downhill takes us to our remote stream-side campsite.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

Anergui to Agoudal

Biking: 42 km

Today we tackle several small passes, with superb descents through classic Central Atlas scenery. After a gradual warm-up climb, there’s a rough exciting descent with single trails used by villagers and their mules. Spare a thought for our support vehicles as they struggle to find a path. We cross a river through a gorge before climbing again to a plateau dotted with farmhouses. After lunch, a winding tarmac descent. Then we'll drive an hour and a half. En route is the village of Imilchil, known for its brides' festival. We continue on dirt roads to our overnight stop of Agoudal.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

Agoudal to Dadès Gorge

Biking: approx. 100 km

Today, a huge and challenging ride takes us to the start of Morocco's tougher, harsher south. We'll set off early and keep a steady pace. First, a gradual but taxing climb up a rough track to the highest pass at 3000 m a.s.l. After this, a fantastic 20 km descent across an immense barren landscape. We travel, mainly downhill, through villages before a 35 km tarmac road to the spectacular Dadès Gorge. There's one last sting in the tail: a very steep 1 km climb at the end! Remember there's a beer waiting for you, and that the support vehicle is there if you need it.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

Dadès Gorge to Marrakech

No biking

We'll explore the Dadès Valley, then drive back to Marrakech. If there's time we'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou — an 11th century desert kasbah. Then, we take the Tichka pass over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. See the labyrynthine Medina (old town), another UNESCO site. Perhaps visit the palaces, the museum, the Majorelle Gardens, or the famous souks (markets). Tonight we'll see the main square (Jemaa el Fna) transformed into a theatrical open air restaurant with white-coated waiters serving everything imaginable. Later, a farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10

Departure Day: Marrakech

No biking

After your final breakfast in Morocco we'll transfer you to the airport for a homeward flight. Most flights depart in the afternoon, so there’s time to explore the city and pick up a few last minute souvenirs.

Meals: Breakfast

Talk to me about your biking tour in Morocco!

Sandy

+64 3 982 9933

Email: reservations@globaladventureguide.com

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

Tour Includes:

  • Accommodation: Hotels , Guesthouses, Family houses, camping
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Support vehicle
  • Experienced English speaking guide
  • Airport transfers on days 1 and 10 only

Tour Excludes:

  • Bike rental available on this tour (please see information below)
  • Single Supplement (for single travelers)
  • Drinks & favourite snack bars (except bottled water provided while riding and mint tea)
  • Travel Insurance and personal expenses
  • Guide and local tips
  • Travel visa (to be obtained in advance where required)

Bike Hire

The standard hire bike is a Giant XTC 4.5s with the following specifications:

  • FRAME Aluxx aluminium, Fluid Formed
  • FORK Rock Shox Dart 2 100mm travel, TurnKey lock out
  • HANDLEBAR GIANT A5 aluminium riser
  • SHIFTERS Shimano Deore 27 speed RapidFire Plus
  • FRONT MECH Shimano Deore
  • REAR MECH Shimano LX top normal
  • BRAKES GIANT MPH Root hydraulic disc, 160mm
  • CASSETTE SRAM PG950 11-34
  • CRANKS TruVativ ISOFlow 3.0 22/32/44
  • RIMS Alex DP-17

There are also a few Giant MCMs available: This is a lighter carbon fiber framed bike, but has V-breaks instead of disk breaks. Please not that the rental bikes are about 5 years old and the group sets, rims, front suspension, seats and brakes are different to the rental bike. The frame is a very lightweight carbon frame and a good choice for climbing and riding on gravel roads (it was designed for XC racing, so will satisfy sporty riders as well!)

Giant XTC 4.4s Giant MCM