FROM THE ATLAS TO Sahara desert SD10
Very nice mountain bike route in southern Morocco with 2 days 100% desert, the superb Presahara track between the Draa Valley and the dunes of Merzouga. Sublime and always different landscapes! On the return from the mountain: the red runs of the mythical valleys (Todra, Dadès and Roses) and the foothills.
THE STRONG POINTS
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DETAILS· ACCOMPANIMENT: Mountain bike guide
· ACCOMMODATION: guest-house, homestay and hotel · BAGGAGE TRANSPORT: Only your business for the day; a vehicle transports your luggage from one accommodation to another. · NEXT DEPARTURES: See dates |
DESCRIPTION
Ref SD10
The two days of discovery of the desert by mountain bike, on a route with constantly changing landscapes, make this raid exceptional.
More accessible and very interesting too, the mythical valleys of the High Atlas (Ounila, Todra, Dadès and Roses) -with red lands and numerous villages grouped around kasbahs- that we travel through at the beginning and end of the raid.
Nice passage in altitude to the tizi (pass) Zegzaoune when the weather allows it. In the middle of winter the track is impassable with snow, we take one less in altitude.
Another beautiful valley - a succession of palm groves, with small villages, kasbahs and ksour (set of kasbahs) - that of the Drâa.
When we talk about southern Morocco, the first words are for its exceptional natural sites. On returning from a trip, we praise the hospitality and kindness of the Berbers, its inhabitants.
For us mountain bikers they are also wonderful terrain to ride.
The two days of discovery of the desert by mountain bike, on a route with constantly changing landscapes, make this raid exceptional.
More accessible and very interesting too, the mythical valleys of the High Atlas (Ounila, Todra, Dadès and Roses) -with red lands and numerous villages grouped around kasbahs- that we travel through at the beginning and end of the raid.
Nice passage in altitude to the tizi (pass) Zegzaoune when the weather allows it. In the middle of winter the track is impassable with snow, we take one less in altitude.
Another beautiful valley - a succession of palm groves, with small villages, kasbahs and ksour (set of kasbahs) - that of the Drâa.
When we talk about southern Morocco, the first words are for its exceptional natural sites. On returning from a trip, we praise the hospitality and kindness of the Berbers, its inhabitants.
For us mountain bikers they are also wonderful terrain to ride.
DAY1: MarrakeshDepending on the time of arrival, your visit to the city will take place on the first day, or on the contrary on the last day. Marrakech is truly a magical city.
The first day, even if you arrive late, don't miss going to the Djemaa El Fna square.
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DAY2: DESCENT IN SOUTHERN MOROCCO: OUNILA VALLEY, KSAR OF AÏT BENHADDOUBy 4x4 to Tizi n'Tichka (2260m) a road classified as "picturesque" by Michelin.
Telouèt (1880m) for our first pedal strokes in Berber land. A track parallel to the Ounila valley: red rocks, kasbahs (Telouèt, Imiter) adobe villages... First contact with the Berber mountain dwellers. Then Aït Benhaddou (1330m) and its ksar classified as World Heritage by Unesco. The now paved Ounila track is replaced by other equally fabulous ones.
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Day3: REG, PALMERA GARDENS AND KASBAHS OF THE DRÂA VALLEYDirection the film studios of Ouarzazate by the tracks and paths of the reg.
Then short transfer by 4x4 (obligated, no tracks to cross the Anti-Atlas) to Tamnougalt, in the first palm grove of the Draa Valley. Visit of the ksar. In the afternoon, tracks and trails in the rich palm groves between Jebel Kissane and Oued Drâa to the small dunes near Zagora. Small passages on the tar. Sumptuous kasbahs. A lot of activity in this valley, we meet the inhabitants on foot and by bike.
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Day4: 100% DESERT 1 - TRAILS UP TO DAYA EL MAÏDEROur goal to reach the dunes of Merzouga in two days and discover what this desert is that is not only sand! Past the small Tizi n'Tafilelt pass and its improbable watermelon crops (in depth there is therefore water!)... we are really there.
Always different landscapes and atmospheres: small mountains, dunes, oases, desert plain, small douars (villages). A few nomads with their herd.
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Day5: 100 % DÉSERT 2 - PISTES JUSQU'AUX DUNES DE MERZOUGA
Before arriving at the dunes of Merzouga the track follows the phantom courtyard of the Ziz wadi. Everything is beautiful on the course: the red dunes, the tabular garas, the chott, the djebels with blue reflections, the black reg, the golden sand. Millions of years ago the sea covered everything. Areas rich in fossils.
As you get closer to Merzouga, the douars become more numerous: Ouzina Rimal, Taouz (rock engravings), Rmlia. Stop at Ramlia with the Gnaouas, black musicians descended from slaves, and visit the oasis. Large herds of camels.
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Day 6: DESERT AND PALMERAIE OF TINERHIR AND TODRA GORGESMorning mountain biking in the desert, then short transfer to the Todra gorges.
Track on the reg to leave Erg Chebbi. Visit a quarry of trilobites and fossils before arriving in Rissani where you can visit the souk, the ksar and the Moulay Ali Chérif mosque. In 4x4 160 km towards the Todra gorges, lunch on the road. Crossing oasis, stop to visit a khettara (underground pipes that bring water to the desert. At the end of the afternoon, walk in the gorges and the palm grove of Tinerhir.
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Day7: GORGES-GORGES TRAIL, DADES VALLEY AND GORGES, ALTITUDE DESERT OF AÏT YOUL, VALLEY OF ROSES
In the morning, loop along the track linking the Todra gorges to those of Dadès via the Tizi Zegzaoune pass (2,639 m). Then descent of the exceptional valley of Dadès today paved in 4x4. Red soils, very beautiful kasbahs, remarkable natural sites (Dadès tortoise, monkey's feet rocks). In Aït Youl we leave the road towards the Valley of Roses by the desert track of Aït Youl. Magical red lands. Stop at the troglodite nomads.
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Day8: ROSES VALLEY, FOOTFORTS TRAIL, ON THE EDGE OF THE WADI
Wonderful tracks and trails in the foothills and the Agouti Valley.
A hilly terrain, soils of all colors. The nomads settle there with their herds during the winter, sometimes in caves, sometimes in tents. They are the only occupants of this region. Then the immensity of the reg between the two chains of the Atlas. To the north the High Atlas, to the south the Anti-Atlas. Meeting nomads at the well. We reach the Wadi Dadès.
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Day 9: SKOURA PALMERAIE, CROSSING THE HIGH ATLAS, MARRAKECH
In the morning mountain biking in the palm grove of Skoura, visit of the Kasbah of Amerhidil, before returning to Marrakech.
Back to our kasbah where lunch awaits us before hitting the road. 200km for which it is necessary to plan 4 hours with stops. We pass the Tichka pass. The whole route is a delight, we can only repeat it.
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Day 10: MARRAKECHSi n’avez pu visiter Marrakech en arrivant, sans doute l’horaire de votre vol de retour vous permettra-t-il de le faire ce dernier jour.
Transfert à l'aéroport 2 heures 30 avant le décollage. |
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Level of difficulty (1, 2, 3) of this circuit:
As an indication on the technical level, this circuit receives classification 1 or 2: Level 1: rolling path or path, without obstacles, small roads with little traffic; Level 2: Path or path with passages containing obstacles (stumps, stones, etc.) steep path with slope. The price includes :
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