Course of events
Day 1: Marrakech
Pick up at the airport in Marrakech. You will be then transfer to your hotel or riad in the heart of the Medina. You can spend the afternoon visiting Marrakech.
Day 2: Marrakech – Imlil - Imsker - Imi 'Oughelad
Transfers from Marrakech to Imlil Valley at the foothills of Mount Toubkal, this is the start of the riding on the first day.
You will start your adventure 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) you will stop for a mint tea and biscuits before heading for the first real singletrack through the villages of Tacheddirt, Tamguist and Amssakrou. This is good, flowing singletrack for a couple of hours which drops us into the riverbed for lunch. After a good, long lazy lunch you’re off again. A short climb which turns into a single-track descent. At the end of this technical singletrack descent you stop at Imi Oughlad where you spend the night.
Day 3: Imi 'Oughelad – Id Aissa Azzaden Valley
You will start with a tough climb to the head of the second pass of the week. The climb is optional an uplift can be arranged for those who are not up for the challenge. There is an easier and faster singletrack than on the first day. At the bottom of this singletrack there is a shop where you can grab a coke and cake before setting off again on the next climb. At the top of this climb you will face a short section of very technical singletrack. From here you will all drop into the lodge where you will be staying for the night and have lunch. Enjoy the rest of the evening visiting the area and its landscapes.
Day 4: Id Aissa – Ouirgane - Amizmiz Valley
This is a day only dedicated to singletrack. The guest house is situated at nearly 1800 m in altitude and today is the day to 'cash in' on the altitude! This path links to three or four villages that you will ride across from one side to the other. There are a couple of little climbs of 300-400 m which lead you to incredibly fast sections. You will stop for lunch in a secluded wooded part of the riverbed where mint tea is waiting for your arrival. After lunch you are off again.
A short warm up of 2 km when you will cross a large dam to find the entrance to yet another incredible ribbon of singletrack to a spectacular gorge. This is a truly breathtaking scenery, one of the best singletracks in the world! From here you will enjoy a gentle ride to the lodge 10km outside Amizmiz (1005m) this day will take you to Ait Zitoun village where you will enjoy a nice hammam after a long ride.
Day 5: Amizmiz Valley – Ait Hamed
Today is another hard and great singletrack challenge day with some great climb and challenges all morning! At the top of this challenge is a crossing and a singletrack descent back into a riverbed on the other side of the valley for another, very technical ascent. You can enjoy there a fantastic singletrack descent as a reward for the effort before lunch. After lunch you will have a short, steady crossing through several rustic villages to Ait Ahmad where you will spend the night at the lodge. This is a great village to explore with its incredible landscape, scenery and caves.
Day 6: Ait Hamed – Ijoukak
This is the last day on the bike and possibly the best one! You will start with a gentle crossing and climb to the head of the pass. This includes a 10 minute hike-a-bike but the reward at the top is priceless! From here the singletrack is fast and flowing to start and as it drops in, height becomes more technical into the riverbed. One of the sections of singletrack runs through a dry riverbed. From slow, super technical to smooth and flat out and everything in between! This continues for hours, without a letup anywhere. The finale is a rickety bridge crossing which takes us to the van for a late lunch. After lunch you can either transfer in the van to Ijoukak for the last night in the mountains or if you prefer, which most do, ride the 18km to the lodge.
Day 7: Ijoukak – Marrakech
Pack up the bikes after breakfast; load the 4x4 and transfer to a Riad in Marrakech for the rest of day and night. This is a great opportunity to explore the famous Jamaa El Fna square, souks and other sights. Explore the city and if you're up for it, a hammam to help refresh aching limbs!
Day 8: Marrakech – Airport
According to your flight times you will be transferred to the airport by your guide, who will also assist you with the paper work formalities before you board your flight out. Fly back to your destination with sweet memories of Morocco!
