MOUNTAIN BIKING MOROCCOChallenging Singletrack
in High Atlas Mountains
Difficulty
Medium
Min Age
14 +
Duration
6 Days
This is the Atlas MTB route we built specifically for the trails Berbers wouldn’t give up. Narrow, vertiginous mule paths, still used daily to move people and livestock, that happen to be some of the best singletrack in Morocco. Six days building toward what our guides call the “Mega Day”, a finale so technical and so much fun you’ll forget your legs are supposed to be tired.
On day three, your bike gets carried over the Tizi Mezzik pass by mule while you hike the same route on foot, then you’re back in the saddle for a rough, rewarding descent through the Azzaden Valley. Day four ends even better: a local hammam, dinner, and a rooftop where you can see Marrakech’s lights to the north and the snow-capped Atlas to the south, before your final special day on this Atlas MTB Route.
Starting Point / Ending Point: Marrakech
Includes & Excludes
✔️ Private Transportation From Marrakech and back to Marrakech
✔️ Assistance Transport Minivan to pick us some times from place to place ( for big group )
✔️ Accommodations in Guest houses in Atlas Mountains
✔️ All Meals during this Trip & Mineral Water
✔️ Full suspensions Mountain Bike with Helmet
❌ Travel Inssurance
❌ Drinks
❌ Accommodation in Marrakech
Essential Equipment
We recommend packing the following items:
– Normal daily clothes
– Padded cycling shorts and gloves
– Breathable top or cycling jersey
– Sunglasses/eye protection
– Stiff-soled shoes suitable for cycling
– Waterproofs and long cycling trousers
– For the earlier departures you may need some warmer layers
– Sun cream
– Energy cycling gels offer a quick form of carbs replenishment. Most contain the simple carb sugar, which is the fastest form of energy to replace glycogen. It’s suggested that people who cycle at a moderate intensity for more than 90 minutes, need to replace between 30g and 65g of carbohydrates per hour and we would thoroughly recommend bringing some of these with you, as well as some energy bars
FROM
1300€
Tour
Itinerary
Depart
Day 1
Airport-Transfer to Hotel or Riad in Marrakech
Meet by ourselves on your arrival in Morocco at Marrakech airport and transfer to evening accommodation. If you brought your bike with you, we will take you to our shop to mount it and keep your box until the end of trip. And then travel through the millennia-old city wall into Medina and the pulsating heart of Marrakech. The tranquillity we meet inside the Riad contrast with the alarm outside- this really is an oasis of peace, and in general Marrakech will surprise you with the lack of hustle-bustle (within the old town at least). We have a short briefing before taking a short trip through the Souks (market streets), cruising between the snake charmers and fortune-tellers in the unforgettable Djemma el Fnaa and eating dinner together at a restaurant that lets the atmosphere of North Africa sweep us away.
Day 2
Marrakech 1 Hour Transfer to Imlil Valley
In the morning we drive towards the atlas foothills and the small village of Imlil Situated in the heart of the Toubkal National Park, Imlil is the principal trailhead village for biking peaks in North Africa. The village offers good infrastructure for people wanting a pleasant mountain base for a few days, but is also an excellent place to start and/or finish longer, more linear, hikes. Its accessibility to Marrakech (under an hour and a half by road) makes it an excellent choice to get a good feel for how rural Moroccans live their lives, and much of the surrounding area is home to a landscape of snow-capped mountains (in season), verdant valleys and earth-brick villages where life has changed little in centuries.
When everyone is ready and all our kit is loaded we start the first (optional but recommended) climb of the day. The support vehicle goes ahead to prepare lunch at the top of the Tamatert pass (2300m). This is an early lunch as the climb is short but very useful for checking everything with the bikes is and working correctly ready for the singletrack. After lunch the fun really begins! We follow the singletrack above the Imenane River. The route takes us through a number of narrow villages, all linked by singletrack, as we descend (with a few short climbs) all the way into Imlil and the lodge for the night (1720) Mountain biking approx 39 km.
Day 3
Imlil – Ouirgane valley short walk + mountain biking)
Today’s journey takes us over the Tizi Mezzik Pass, standing at an elevation of 2,280 meters. To reach the pass, our bikes will be transported by mule as we embark on a scenic hike to the summit. Once at the top, we will resume our adventure on two wheels.
The descent is a challenging yet rewarding singletrack trail, featuring rough terrain and steep slopes that wind through the stunning Azadene Valley. The breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys along the route provide ample opportunities to pause and appreciate the natural beauty of the region.
Activity Summary:
- Hiking: Approximately 1.5 hours
- Mountain biking: Approximately 35 km
Day 4
Ouirgane – Ait Zitoun (35m / +850 m / -750m)
Today we begin a 2-day long mission into the back country and overnight in a simple gueste house in the village of Ait Zitoun (of course we will transport your overnight kit bag here for you). We roll down to the dam of Ouirgane and soon begin a trail that runs all the way above an impressive gorge. The first section is substantially exposed and soon heads steeply upward- so be prepared for a little hike-a-bike the first half hour and wear appropriate rubber soled biking shoes. From the crest and there awaits an epic 10 km stretch, mostly downhill, along the river gorge, with awesome views throughout. The path is reasonably wide and not too technical, but there are steep sides and some risk so concentration must be on top. In the bottom of the ravine we turn along the mountainside west onto more undulating paths to the village of Imi n’Tal’at where a hearty lunch waiting for us. The rest of the day sees us tackle a mix of riverbeds, gravel roads and classic singletrack trails around the area of Air Zitoun. Here we have some flexibility and can lengthen or shorten the route based on the group’s wishes. At our finishing point there awaits a local hammam (steam room), dinner and after darkness has fallen, a roof terrace, from where we can see the city lights from Marrakech to the north, the snowy Atlas mountains to the south and thousands of stars above- paradise. Mountain biking approx 35 km
Day 5
Ait zitoun-Imi Ntala.
We start with a singletrack Ridgeline ascent. The grip is good but you need to pick a good line and save your energy for the tricky bits which are thrown in there just to spice it up! From the top of this challenge we have a traverse and singletrack descent back into a riverbed on the other side of the valley for another, very technical ascent. This one is rockier (but not loose) and good trials skills will be an enormous advantage. A real lung buster, but you’ll be amazed at the level of grip that drives you forward and makes it a really good section. From the top here there is a fantastic singletrack descent for your reward before another, shorter, smooth, steady singletrack traverse which pops us onto a dirt track road which takes us to the head of another fast, smooth singletrack descent and the van for lunch which is just 1km down the road. After lunch we have a short, steady traverse through several rustic villages to Ait Ahmad where the Gite or the guest house for the night is. An earlier finish, usually around 4.30pm will help you recover for the next singletrack ‘Mega Day’ tomorrow. This is a great village to explore with its incredible landscape, scenery and caves. (1483m Mountain biking approx. 35 km.
Day 6
Imi Ntala – Imidle—Marrakech
This is the last day on the bike and the best. A real singletrack ‘Mega Day’ which will challenge your fitness and technical ability, but only because the trails are so good you just ‘have’ to keep going! We start with a gentle traverse and climb to the top of the pass which takes 45 minutes and includes a 20 minute hike-a-bike, but the rewards at the top are incomprehensible! If you enjoy single track, this is your heaven! This is fast and flowing to start and as it drops in height the trail becomes more technical into the riverbed. All easy to ride, One of the sections of single track runs through a dry riverbed. It’s smooth with rocks lining the twisting route so if you come off-line you get punished. The twisting route makes you throw the bike around as you shift your weight from one pedal to the next to find the grip out of the slide and into the next bend. Almost like slalom. Big gear, flat out. Mountain biking approx. 38 km. +1h and half by car to Marrakech
TREKKING
OUR TRIPADVISOR LINK
BIKING
LOCATION & HOURS
+212 670 855 815
+212 670 957 930 contact@bikinginmorocco.com
Douar Aroumd, Imlil, Asni, Al Haouz, Marrakech
Biking in Morocco is a locally owned tour company offering authentic cycling and trekking adventures across Morocco. Led by experienced local guides Abderrahim and Lahcen Idmansour, we share our knowledge, culture, and passion for Morocco to create memorable experiences for travelers from around the world.
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