8 Days biking Atlas Mountain to the Sahara Desert

THE STRONG POINTS

• Non-tourist region
• Quality of the course
• Playground (a large variety of  small tracks for gravel ike ride)
• No 4x4 transfers during the course
• Total immersion in the inhabitant
• Arrival in Marrakech the red city.
• Large varieties of landscapes
•  Unusual encounters and warm welcome from the people.
• Achievable from April to November. Departure on the date of your choice from 2 or 3 people.

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
​The diversity of the landscapes encountered in just one week of travel:​

• Mountains of the High Atlas.
• Gorges and rocky peaks of Ounila Valley.
• Greenery of the gardens and palm groves.
• Ksers of Ait Benhaddou.

DESCRIPTION

Ref TN25
A wonderful 8-day biking tour across the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert, the wonderful way to explore Morocco, start cycling from the High Atlas and ending in the Deep Sahara Desert, biking through ancient Kasbah and Berber villages, with a lovely two-day biking in Sahara.

DAY1: Marrakesh

Welcome to Marrakech! Your guide can meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. There will be time to assemble your bikes, with the help of local staff if required. This evening after a pre-trip briefing, you are free to head out for dinner and explore Marrakech at leisure.

• Accommodation: Palm Menara.
• Meals: Dinner
• Note: Bikes Parking at the Hotel 

Day 2: Marrakech – Telouet and the start of our bike adventure – Ait ben Haddou – Ouarzazate

Early in the morning we depart in a minibus or Land rover heading south. At the breath taking Tizi-n-Tichka pass we turn eft towards Telouet. Here our mountain bike adventure starts. A rough track takes us south through an amazing landscape of colors, traditional villages and green oases. The track ends at the famous ksar Ait Benhaddou where we load our bikes on the vehicles for a transfer to Ouarzazate.
(long tour: 63 km, 39 miles and 631 mtr, 2070 feet pos.
short tour: 35 km, 22 miles)

• Hotel in the Dades Gorges.
• Superb 300 km transfer.
• Mountain biking: 41km, trail 17, road or trails 24. Easy terrain.

Day 3:  Ouarzazate – Kelaa Mgouna – Rose Valley – Talouite Valley

We depart for an incomparable adventure! A transfer takes us to Kelaa Mgouna, known for it’sannual rose festival. Our route takes us over a desert plateau toward the first pass of the High Atlas. A long climb brings us to the Talouite pass, from which we have a marvelous view over the Valley of the Birds. The landscape here is breath taking because of the contrast between the red soil and the green of the oasis. Next we descend into the still untouched Talouite Valley, with its pristine landscape. Lunch is on the bank of the river.
After lunch we cross the river and follow the splendid valley of El Hot and Hot with its traditional Kasbahs (Berbercastles)
Lodging with local residents.

• short tour: 35 km, 22 miles and 600 metres, 2000 feet pos.
• long tour: 42 km, 40 miles and 922 metres, 3024 feet pos.

Day 4: Dades Gorge – Mgoun River – Saghro Mountain range 

We follow the splendid Dades Gorge until the city Boumalne Dades. The long tour will cross the MGoun River and will climb some passes. After the climb at Boumalne Dades, we have a nice view over the oases. We continue and cross over a large desert plateau. Perhaps we come across a group of nomad swith their herds. We arrive in a small village at the feet of the Saghro Mountains. Lodging with a local resident.

• short tour: 40 km, 25 miles and 400 metres, 1300 feet pos.
• long tour: 55 km, 35 miles and 1000 metres, 3300 feet)

Day 5: Saghro Mountain – Tiazazarte 2500m – Bab Ali

We ride into the volcanic Saghro Mountains, and climb to the Tazazarte Pass (2500 mtr /7490 feet). Lunch is in the pass, with a fantastic view. In the afternoon we have a long descent. We set up camp as we enter the canyons opposite the impressive rock formation Babn’ Ali. Lodging in tents.

• (40 km, 25 miles and 800 metres, 2600 feet pos
• (After wards possibility to walk to the cascades of Iminougoulize. 1 hour).

Day 6: Bab Ali – Iki Village – Azib Amguis – Nkob

We leave the unpaved road and follow a mule path through a scenic landscape. Now the route becomes even more challenging. The support vehicle is not present during this part of the trip. We travel further to the impressive rock of Bab N’ Ali, and on to the azid Amguis Valley. Lunch in Nkob. Here iti s possible to organize an evening to enjoy local folklore.
After lunch we can add about 45 km / 25 miles by climbing to passes. During this part we visit some rock drawings
Lodging with a local resident.

• (short tour: 37 km, 23 miles and 600 metres, 1968 feet pos
  
• long tour: 80 km, 50 miles and 800 metres, 2624 feet pos)

Day7:   N’Kob transfer to Marrakech

After breakfast we load the bikes on the vehicles and drive to the splendid Draa Valley. We unload the bikes here and we ride the last short stage on our mountain bikes through one of the most beautiful valleys of Morocco with a succession of traditional villages lying in green oases. ( 30 km / 20 miles) After lunch we drive to Marrakech via the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass where we check into your hotel or riad.

Day 8: Transfer to the airport 

Transfer from the hotel to the airport.

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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 :

• Ground transfers necessary for the normal course of the trip
• Accommodation as described
• Full board during the circuit (except for lunch and dinner in Marrakech)
• Supervision by a guide - Moroccan guide from the MTB Morocco team
• Assistance from a local team (drivers, cooks)
• A group pharmacy
• Mineral water (water to be treated provided)

The price does not include:

• Insurance, assistance
• Lunch and dinner in Marrakech
• Visits to museums, monuments and sites not included in the program
• Additional trips related to a modification of the program for meteorological reasons
• All personal expenses
• Everything that is not indicated in the section “the price includes”.