Overview

2 day/s
Beginner
Mountain Bike
Imlil, Atlas Mountains

2 days mountain biking tour Atlas Mountains from Marrakech. Ride along trails and dirt roads to take in views of the valley landscape, and pass by Berber villages.

This two-day Atlas Mountains cycling tour adventure explores the remote Berber valleys of the Atlas Mountains, just an hour and a half drive from Marrakech. Your experienced local guide will show your Morocco’s hidden single-track gems winding through picturesque Berber villages, lush valleys and dramatic mountain passes.

Adventurous mountain bikers looking to explore the High Atlas Mountains. Beginner with a reasonable level of fitness will enjoy this adventurous ride as much as experienced riders.

Trip facts:
Trip length : 2 days / 1 night
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.

Start point

You will be collected from your accommodation in Marrakech at 09:00.

Finish point

You will be transferred back to Marrakech for around 17:00 at the end of your adventure.

What to Expect

Day 1: Biking Imlil to Imi Oughlad
Your adventure starts in the vibrant Moroccan city of Marrakech. From there, an hour and half transfer gets you to the small village of Imlil, high up in the Atlas Mountains, and the start of the mountain biking.
Your expert local guides are the key to unlocking the region’s fantastic riding potential. The ride starts with a climb to get the legs going. After a pause for mint tea at the top, it’s onto some great singletrack passing through local villages.
A pleasant riverbed makes for a great lunch spot before the dusty Moroccan single track continues. A last short climb gets you to the final descent of the day heading into the village of Imi Oughelad where you will find your gite for the night.
4-5 hours biking

Day 2: Biking Imi Oughlad to Ouirgane
Rising to the fresh mountain air of the High Atlas, take a moment to admire your magnificent surroundings. After breakfast, it’s time to hop back in the saddle for another day of adventuring on the bike.
Day 2 starts with a steady zigzagging ascent up a dirt road. You’ll get fantastic views of the Maizane Valley where vivid green fields contrast against rocky slopes leading to snow-capped summits. At the Tachet pass, there is a pause for a well-earned drink.
From there, the singletrack drops through the atmospheric Azzaden valley passing several small villages with their characteristic stone houses. Your journey ends at the scenic town of Ouirgane. After some lunch, it’s time to transfer back to Marrakech.
4-5 hours biking

Note: This itinerary and the duration of the activities are subject to change due to group abilities and preferences, and weather conditions and forecasts.

What Includes

, Private Transport from/to Marrakech, English Tour Guide, Bike hire + Helmet, All meals during the trip

Does not Include

, Travel Insurance, Tips, Any Private Expenses, Drinks and Items of personal nature

Bookable Extras

, Umbrella, Sunscreen, Entrance Fees

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
  • Water bottle or Camelback

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.

Book this Tour