Moroccan Mountain Bike Adventure

Airfare is not included in this tour, so you are responsible for arranging your own transportation to and from Morocco. The first day is unscheduled, allowing you to arrive in Marrakech at your convenience; however, we suggest arriving in time for the group Welcome Dinner that evening. The group will meet our Norrøna Adventure team at our charming hotel in the historic downtown of Marrakech. Please note: due to varying international arrival times, one group transfer to the hotel will be scheduled to accommodate the majority of participants. If your flight does not align with this transfer, you will be responsible for arranging your own transportation to the hotel, which is approximately 20 minutes from the airport.

After breakfast, we meet our guide at the hotel. They will give us a short briefing before we embark on our adventure into the High Atlas. We drive south to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and gradually ascend the steep mountain roads to the town of Oukaimeden, home to Africa’s highest ski resort at 3,268 m. Today is a taste of things to come and the trail offers long, playful sections on flowy paths along with some good uphill stretches to warm up our riding legs for the week ahead. From there, we descend into the Imenane Valley, passing green fields, pine forests, and streams fed by melting mountain snow. After lunch by the river, we continue to the Imlil Valley at the foot of Mount Toubkal, where we end the day and spend the night at a charming mountain riad overlooking the iconic village of Imlil.

After breakfast, we gear up for another epic day in the High Atlas. Today’s goal: the scenic Tizi Mizik Pass. We start with a smooth road climb that warms up the legs before the trail steepens into a rugged mountain path. As the terrain turns loose and rocky, we’ll load our bikes onto mules and hike alongside them — a true High Atlas experience. From the top of the pass, the views open wide across red valleys and dramatic peaks. Then comes the reward — an exciting singletrack descent through the beautiful Ouïssaden Valley. The trail winds down past terraced fields and remote villages, offering endless views and the perfect mix of challenge and flow.

We start the day on one of the classic trails that has put Ouirgane firmly on the world singletrack map. The canyon below, with its striking blue lake, is pure gold for trail riding — technical enough to keep you focused, but never intimidating. After a short, steep climb (some hike-a-bike required), we drop onto a wonderful elevated singletrack that winds above the river valley. This 10 km section is a true highlight of the tour — exhilarating, scenic, and absolutely unforgettable. From there, we bypass the usual dirt road and contour around the hills on narrow goat trails, arriving at Imi n’Tal’at village for a delicious hand-prepared picnic lunch. After lunch We then tackle an entertaining singletrack uphill through the village, before looping back down the same valley on a fast, flowing descent. A few fun sections in the riverbed lead us onto the dirt road, and soon we arrive in the Amizmiz Valley. The setting here is the stuff of dreams. After a feast of a dinner, enjoy drinks on the rooftop while soaking in the sights, sounds, and a star-studded sky overhead — the perfect end to an epic day of riding.

A one-hour transfer brings us to a plateau at 1,900 m on the edge of the Atlas Mountains. We start with an easy 5 km roll before descending to the Taskourt Reservoir to recharge. After a shuttle back to the plateau, we tackle a variety of singletracks of varying difficulty on the return to Amizmiz. The highlight is the Sharp Rock Trail — flowing and fun, with the first section challenging more from bushes than rocks, offering a playful and scenic ride through the High Atlas.

We begin with a gentle traverse and climb to the top of the pass, including a short hike-a-bike. From the summit, the singletrack starts fast and flowing, gradually becoming more technical as it drops into the riverbed. The trail varies from slow, technical sections to smooth, flat-out stretches, keeping the ride thrilling all the way. The finale treat is a rickety bridge crossing, leading to the van for a late lunch. Afterward, we transfer to Ouirgane for our final night in the Atlas Mountains.

This is our final day in the High Atlas and it will be a big one! After breakfast, we ride together for about an hour, climbing over a pass before plunging down a rugged canyon. The trail opens onto a thrilling stretch of fast, loose pea gravel — wide, flowing, and pure adrenaline, with none of the usual trail worries. At Assif Zegzawne, we enjoy a short, relaxing downhill “piste” before hitting 8 km of high-speed, flowing singletrack through forested slopes above Ouirgane. The terrain is spectacular, the views jaw-dropping, and the fun doesn’t stop until we reach Tighfist village. From there, golden trails carry us all the way down to Ouirgane’s lakeshore, followed by a final easy 4 km roll to the hotel. After lunch, we transfer back to Marrakech, exhausted but exhilarated. Tonight we will stay at a riad in the Medina of Marrakech, which is close to the main square Jemaa El Fna. This square is one of the most incredible places in all of Morocco! At dusk, the square gradually fills up until it becomes an entire carnival of storytellers, snake charmers, medicine men, acrobats, musicians and entertainers. A wonderful place to end our trip!

As our group mountain biking trip comes to an end, we reflect on the exhilarating trails we conquered and the bonds we've formed. Now, it's time to choose: return home with memories to cherish or extend the adventure further into the unknown! Again, due to varying international departure times, one group transfer to Marrakech airport will be scheduled to accommodate the majority of participants. If your flight does not align with this transfer, you will need to arrange your own transportation to the airport, which is approximately 20 minutes.