Atlas Mountains to Atlantic Coast MTB Tour

Atlas Mountains to Atlantic Coast MTB Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Marrakech

Arrive and meet your guide at the airport in Marrakech. Next, you’ll transfer to the hotel/Riad in the heart of the Medina. You can spend the afternoon visiting Marrakech and taking in its enchanting, smells, sights and sounds.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Marrakech
Distance: None
Meals: None

Day 2 Transfer to Imlil and Ride Through the Foothills of Mount Toubkal to Imi’oughelad

This morning you’ll transfer from Marrakech to Imlil Valley, found at the foothills of Mount Toubkal. Your first ride begins with a climb, not a tough one but good enough to put pressure on the pedals to make sure everything is working! At the top of the pass (2300m), stop for mint tea and biscuits before heading for the first real singletrack through the villages of Tacheddirt, Tamguist and Amssakrou. This is good, flowing off-road riding for a couple of hours which will lead you to a scenic riverbed where you can enjoy lunch. After a good, long lazy lunch you’re off again. A short climb that turns into a single-track descent is up next. At the end of this technical singletrack descent, you’ll end at Imi Oughlad where you’ll spend the night.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Imi'oughelad
Distance: 42km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 Ride from Imi’oughelad to the Azzaden Valley

This morning from Imi Oughlad you’ll start with a tough climb to the head of the second pass of the week. The climb is optional, and uplift can be arranged for those not wanting to tackle it. Today’s singletrack is easier and faster than yesterdays. At the bottom of this singletrack, there is a shop where you can grab a drink and a cake before setting off again on the next climb.

At the top of this climb, you’ll drop into a short section of very technical singletrack riding. From here you’ll drop into the Gite where you’ll will be staying for the night. Enjoy lunch at the gite and explore the surrounding Azzaden Valley this evening.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Azzaden valley
Distance: 34km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Bike the Azzaden Valley to Amizmiz

This is a day of singletrack riding. The Guesthouse is at nearly 1800m in altitude and today is the day to ‘cash in’ on that altitude! This path links three or four villages as you traverse from one to the other. There are a couple of little climbs of 300-400m which catapult you into incredibly fast sections. Enjoy a stop for lunch in a secluded wooded part of the riverbed where mint tea awaits upon arrival. After lunch, you’re off again. A short warm-up of 1.5-2km will have you crossing a large dam to find the entrance to yet another incredible ribbon of singletrack to a spectacular gorge. This is truly breathtaking scenery to match some of the best singletracks in the world! From here you’ll wrap with a gentle ride to the gite for tonight, found 10km outside Amizmiz (1005m).
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Amizmiz
Distance: 68 km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 Challenging Ride to Imouzzar Ida Outanane

Today is another tough great singletrack day with some great climbing and challenges all morning! From the top of this challenge, you’ll traverse a singletrack descent back into a riverbed on the other side of the valley for another, very technical ascent.

From the top here there is a fantastic singletrack descent for your reward before continuing the ride until stopping for lunch. After lunch transfer to Imouzzar Ida Outanane where you’ll spend the night.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Imouzzar Ida Outanane
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Mountains and Sea on the Ride to Imessouane

This will likely be another favorite day of riding as you cycle a scenic quiet road from the mountains to the sea, making your way through remarkably contrasting landscapes. You’ll take in some cascading waterfalls and wind down the road along the superb Targant Valley. A first good climb will take you to some high plateaus where local Berbers graze peacefully alongside their goats and camels. As you ride west, the smell of the sea announces your imminent approach to the Atlantic Coast!

You’ll reach Imessouane where you’ll find your guesthouse for tonight.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Imessouane
Distance: 61km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Ride the Atlantic Coast to Essaouira

A superb morning ride along the Atlantic Coast awaits you before setting out on a thrilling section inland where you’ll bare witness to majestic mountains, valleys and villages. Terraced fields with almond trees in blossom flank the rail, as you ride to Sidi Kaouki. Enjoy a refreshing swim here and a top it off with a picnic lunch.

Next, you’ll drive to Essaouira. Essaouira is famous for its artisan shops, European feel, and several kilometres of sandy beaches. You’ll join a local historian explore the medina here in-depth, where the maze of tiny streets reveal spice markets, marquetry workshops, ancient hammams and more. You’ll stay at the nice Riad, located in the heart of the medina tonight.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Essaouira
Distance: 81km
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Return to Marrakech

There may be an opportunity to explore the Medina & walk along the beach before departing to Marrakech this morning. Afterwards, you'll visit the city’s sites including El Bahia Palace. As dusk sets on the extraordinary Jemaa El Fnawe’ll, watch as snake charmers, acrobats and street performers of every kind imaginable fill the streets. You’ll stay at a wonderful Riad near the historical neighbourhood in the Medina for your final night. The distance between Essaouira and Marrakech is 170 km.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Marrakech
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 Depart for Airport

According to your flight times, you will be transferred to the airport by your guide to depart.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast