Morocco Atlas Mountains Centre Based Singletrack

Introduction:

In search of year-round riding with epic views, world-class trails and something “just a little bit different” the Biking in Turkey team packed their bags and headed trans-continental to Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains. What we discovered was little short of a revelation. We knew of a long-standing singletrack reputation, solidly developed trail infrastructure and friendly, welcoming local people, but we weren’t expecting it to be quite so FUN…

So much more than the “big mountain” trail environments that we had heard of, we discovered a brand new tour with routes that stretch from the high peak of Toubkal right down to the foothills of Ouirgane and the plains of Marrakech. We wanted to make a different tour from the many “gite-to-gite” singletrack tours already out there, being familiar with that “rustic” edge and rather liking the idea of a pool and a cold drink at the end of the day. Plus decent wifi as well (sorry!). This centre based singletrack itinerary is the result of a lot of hard riding, and we are very happy with it! If you want to ride the very best singletrack trails of the Atlas, but stay in good hotels with excellent quality facilities then you have come to the right place…

TOUR DETAILS:

Launching directly into the beguiling, medieval madness that is Marrakech, we propel you through a million different vistas, enchanting villages and some of the best trail mountain biking known to man. Morocco’s trail network is still used by the Berber people and their trusty mules and donkeys help to keep the paths relatively clean, grippy and fast-flowing. That said, there are plenty of challenges for advanced riders here, with long (often rocky) descents, scree and sections with exposure. You should have a good technical ability and experience riding red (and preferably black) trail centre grades to get the most out of this tour. In Marrakech (first and last nights) we stay at a top class, extremely inviting “riad”- a classic, Berber mansion house with cool, shady courtyard and rooftop terrace.

This hint of unpretentious refinement continues throughout the week, and for 4 nights we stay at a very nice quality, family-ran lodge in Ouirgane. This hotel is one of the trip highlights… Set in beautiful gardens, with luxury swimming pool, good wifi, a licensed and well-stocked bar and excellent French/Moroccan food, you will also enjoy the alpine mountain lodge decor and cosy atmosphere. Most days function on a similar routine. We normally make use of a morning transfer and uplift to get us started into a full day of biking, returning us back to our hotel base. We often meet our 4×4 support team at midday, and enjoy the most awesome, hand prepared camp lunches trailside in some fantastically beautiful locations.

On one of the rides we actually load our bikes onto mules and trek up to a 2200m pass, from where the unfolding downhill trails will put a smile on anyone’s face! Another ride is a 2-day loop, and on that night we stay in a wonderful local gite (village house), complete with hamam/Turkish bath. This tour is only moderately challenging on a physical level, but good bike handling skills, concentration and the right attitude to sensibly assess risks at short notice will reward you with oodles of enjoyment as well as a safe ride . We strongly recommend a full suspension mid or long travel trail/enduro bike with wide, tough tyres. As a minimum, soft-shell knee pads, long finger gloves and a decent helmet are required. Our Moroccan partner are the regional distributor for Giant Bikes, so we can obtain good quality trail bikes when you are not able to bring your own.

About the Area:

Morocco makes a whole lot of sense as a singletrack destination. Not only are the trails still in use by villages and generally in excellent order, but most of this route is passable throughout the winter months. The atmosphere here is totally different to anywhere we’ve ridden in Europe or the Middle East. Morocco feels exotic- incredibly culturally diverse, colourful, and rich in so many ways. You can feel a connection to the great African continent here, and the sights, sounds, smells along the way make this much more than a regular trail biking journey.

WHY?

We wanted to find an outgoing destination that would appeal to riders who love Cappadocia, and like the idea of going somewhere just that little bit more exotic, as we did…

WHEN?

Avoiding the summer months of June to September, where the heat is just too much (particularly on the lower plains), this tour is possible year round.

HOW?

Marrakech is blessed with a wide range of scheduled and charter flights from Europe, and good international connections further afield. You can join one of our scheduled group departures or arrange a made-to-measure programme on bespoke dates to suit your club or group.