Bike the High Atlas Traverse

The North African Enduro ~ Challenging singletrack in the shadow of Mt. Toubkal ~ Ride amongst North Africa's highest peaks ~ Berber hospitality in exotic landscapes ~ Technically demanding route

This is the ultimate Morocco enduro mountain bike route and ranks amongst the hardest of KE's bike trips, with a considerable amount of climbing and technical singletrack. Going where others don't dare, we focus on the central part of Morocco's Atlas Mountains and bike across a succession of high passes between the main valleys, from Imilchil in the north-east to Toubkal (North Africa's highest peak). This is a continuous bike traverse, with the route following mule tracks and rough, narrow piste roads between the many picturesque Berber villages. We even provide mule transport to help with the longest carries! This is a high-level mountain bike route for confident and experienced riders only. It should not be underestimated, nor mistaken for the easy Atlas foothills riding offered by other mountain bike companies. Combining the colour and mystique of Marrakech with the delightful people and landscapes of the High Atlas, this is the definitive Morocco biking experience.

FAT TYRE ADVENTURE. One of our toughest mountain biking trips, involving long days and testing biking conditions. In total, we climb and descend approximately 13,500m/44,300ft whilst covering 650km/400 miles off-road. There are some long sections where we have to push our bikes up to passes and odd sections of descent that are too technical to ride. In Morocco altitude is not a major factor but the heat of the sun can be, hence we run this trip either side of the hot summer months. Average daily distance 55 km/34 miles.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1. Rendezvous at the group hotel. Complimentary airport transfers are provided. KE group package services begin with the evening meal.

Day 2. Morning sightseeing around the Djemaa-el-Fna and souks, with english speaking guide. We can assemble our bikes in preparation for the riding ahead.

Day 3. Drive via Kasbah Tadla to the northeastern end of the Central Atlas. Overnight close to Imilchil on the shores of Lake Tislit in a gite.

Day 4. Bike mostly on piste (unsurfaced jeep roads), gaining height steadily and then a big descent to Anergui. Gite.

Day 5. Mostly piste again on a long descent beside the Melloul River. Then, more varied riding to Zawyat Ahancal. Gite.

Day 6. Cross the Tizi-n-Lissi (2603m/8540ft) then the Tizi-n-Tirghist (2629m/8626ft) into the lovely Bou Guemez Valley. A long day to Abachkou where we'll stay in a Gite.

Day 7. A tough climb (mule-assisted) across the Tizi-n-Rougelt (2860m/9384ft). Then superb singletrack to our Gite at Ichbbakene.

Day 8. Descending beside the Tessaout River to Toufghine and then cross the Tizi-n-Fedghat (2182m/7160ft) to reach our gite in Tamzrit.

Day 9. Another mule-assisted ascent, to the Tizi-n-Tamda (2690m/8825ft). Then ride via Lake Tamda to Tighza. Excellent singletrack to reach the gite at Tighza.

Day 10. Ride via Telouat on a good road to the Tizi-n-Tichka (2206m/7238ft). Then a long singletrack descent to our basic gite in Azgour.

Day 11. Biking down the piste road we reach tarmac at Tighedoine. From here we take a short transfer and then climb to the ski station at Oukaimeden (2600m/8531ft), where we stay in a gite.

Day 12. First we cross the Tizi-n-Eddi (2928m/9600ft), the highest point of the trip. Reaching Ouaneskra we then cross the Tizi-n-Imlil (2279m/7477ft) and on to our gite at Ait Souka.

Day 13. Today we'll ride to Marrakech either on the road or with an off-road element via the Imsker valley. Reaching our hotel in Marrakech we can celebrate the end of our Atlas mountains epic ride.

Day 14. KE group package services end after breakfast with complimentary transfers to Marrakech Airport.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

During this trip the group will spend 3 nights in a hotel in Marrakech. In the gites the accommodation style can vary from twin-occupancy rooms to dormitories sleeping 6 to 8. The sleeping arrangements in a Gite are often communal, raised sleeping platforms and there are often additional mattresses available.