Atlas Mountains 7 days Cycling Tour
Overview
If you are considering a world-class mountain biking holiday, think of Morocco—one of the world’s finest destinations for off-road exploration. Exotic, alluring, and rugged, Morocco offers an unexpected mosaic of cultures and an amazing variety of mountain ranges with breathtaking landscapes that will leave you inspired.
Embark on an exhilarating 7-day mountain biking adventure in the heart of the High Atlas. This tour is masterfully designed for riders with a reasonable level of fitness who seek a profound connection with nature and culture. You will navigate hundreds of miles of dusty singletrack, share ancient trails with mule caravans, and witness the characteristic stone houses of Berber villages clinging picturesquely to steep hillsides. From snow-capped peaks to lush irrigated valleys, this journey captures the raw, indomitable spirit of Morocco’s mountain wilderness.
Trip facts:
Trip length : 7-day / 6 nights
Group size : Min 2, max 12 persons
Location
This bike adventure takes place in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, just a short drive from the vibrant city of Marrakech. The High Atlas Mountains are a spectacular setting for a mountain biking trip with hundreds of miles of dusty single-track just waiting to be explored. With many years of experience guiding in the region, your local hosts can help you explore this region’s hidden riding potential.
The scenery makes for an impressive backdrop to your journey. The rugged and remote terrain has resisted the pressured of the modern world and feels like a window into a bygone era. Dramatic valleys offer vivid contrasts with the lush green irrigated fields along the valley bottom set against the barren rocky scree slopes that lead up to the snow-capped peaks.
The area is dotted with the villages and towns of the Berber people; their characteristic stone houses nestled picturesquely into steep hillsides. This region of Morocco remained isolated until the early 20th century and for a long time the fiercely independent local people resisted French colonisation. To this day the Berber people retain a strong sense of their unique identity and operate in many ways independently of the Moroccan government. The regions rich cultural heritage makes it the perfect destination for an adventure.
The Odyssey Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech Welcome – Airport arrival and transfer to your historic Riad in the heart of the city.
Day 2: Ourika Valley & Tadmamt – Warm up through the emerald Ourika Valley before tackling the 2100m Tizi Tadmamt pass. Ride through a series of remote Berber villages toward Imsker.
Day 3: Imenane to Tacheddirt – Follow a high mountain stream on a steady climb to the iconic high Berber village of Tacheddirt, surrounded by rugged peaks and terraced fields.
Day 4: The High Pass (2280m) – Conquer the zig-zag climb to Tizi Tamatert. Enjoy iconic views over the valley before descending into the mountain hub of Imlil.
Day 5: Azzaden Valley Traverse – A mule-supported trek to Tizi Mezzik (2280m) followed by a difficult, steep singletrack descent through the beautiful Red Valley of Ouazzaden.
Day 6: Kik Plateau to Marrakech – Ride the limestone “Natural Velodromes” of the Kik Plateau. Visit the holy village of Moulay Brahim before a final descent to Amizmiz and return to Marrakech.
Day 7: Departure – Final breakfast and boutique transfer to Marrakech Airport for your flight home.
What’s Included
- Professional English-Speaking MTB Specialist Guide
- Full Support 4WD Vehicle & Mechanic Assistance
- 6 Nights Accommodation (Riads & Traditional Berber Gites)
- Mule Support for high-altitude bike transport
- All meals and trail side refreshments
- Airport Transfers & Private Ground Transport
Does not Include
- Travel Insurance
- Tips
- Any Private Expenses
- Drinks and Items of personal nature
- Bike hire (Full Suspension) + Helmet (available to rent from our bike shop)
Essential Equipment*
- Normal daily clothes
- Padded cycling shorts and gloves
- Breathable top or cycling jersey
- Sunglasses/eye protection
- Stiff-soled shoes suitable for cycling
- Waterproofs
- Long cycling trousers
- Warmer layers for earlier departures
- Sun cream
- Water bottle or Camelback
- Energy gels/Energy bars
*we recommend packing the following items
Energy cycling gels offer a quick form of crabs replenishment. Most contain the simple crab 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.
Accommodation
During this bike adventure, you will be staying in a Guest house in the Berber village, but we can also update the accommodation suits your needs.