Moroccan Mountain Bike Adventure

Flight tickets are not included in this trip, so you are responsible for arranging your own transport to and from Morocco. The first day has no set schedule, allowing you to arrive in Marrakech whenever it suits you. However, we suggest that you arrive in time for the pleasant group welcome dinner that evening. The group will meet our Norrøna Adventure team at our charming hotel in the old town of Marrakech. Note: Due to varying international arrival times, one group transport to the hotel will be arranged to accommodate as many participants as possible. If your flight does not match this transport, you must arrange your own transport to the hotel, which is located about 20 minutes from the airport. Taxis are easy to find outside the terminal.

After breakfast we meet our guide at the hotel. There we get a short briefing before we set out on our adventure into the High Atlas, the main mountain range of the Atlas Mountains. We drive south to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and gradually ascend the steep mountain roads to the village of Oukaimeden, home to Africa's highest ski resort at 3268 m. Today provides a taste of what is to come, and the trail offers long, playful sections on flow trails along with some good climbs to warm up our biking legs for the week ahead of us. From there we bike down into the Imenane valley, past 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, North Africa's highest mountain, where we end the day and spend the night at a charming mountain riad overlooking the village of Imlil.

After breakfast, we get ready for another epic day in the High Atlas. Today's goal: the scenic Tizi Mizik Pass. We start with a steady road climb that warms up the legs before the trail gets steeper and turns into a rugged mountain path. As the terrain becomes loose and rocky, we load our bikes onto mules and walk alongside them—a true High Atlas experience. From the top of the pass, the view opens up over 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 blend of challenge and flow.

We start the day on one of the classic trails that has firmly put Ouirgane on the world map for singletrack. The gorge below, with its striking blue lake, is pure gold for mountain biking—technical enough to keep you focused, but never intimidating. After a short, steep climb (some bike pushing is necessary), we zoom down a fantastic, elevated singletrack winding across the river valley. This 10 km long stretch is a true highlight of the trip—exciting, scenic, and completely unforgettable. From there, we bypass the usual gravel road and follow the ridge lines on narrow goat paths, before arriving at the village of Imi n’Tal’at for a delicious, handmade picnic lunch. After lunch, we tackle an entertaining uphill singletrack through the village, before turning back down the same valley in a fast and flowing descent. Some fun sections in the riverbed lead us onto the gravel road, and soon we arrive at the Amizmiz Valley. The surroundings here are like something out of a dream. After a feast dinner, you can enjoy drinks on the rooftop terrace while taking in the sights, sounds, and a starry sky—the perfect end to an epic day of biking.

A one-hour drive takes us to a plateau at 1900 m on the outskirts of the Atlas Mountains. We start with an easy 5 km bike trip before driving down to the Taskourt reservoir to recharge. After a shuttle back to the plateau, we tackle a series of singletracks with varying difficulty on the way back to Amizmiz. The highlight is Sharp Rock Trail – flowing and fun, where the first section challenges more with bushes than rocks, and offers a playful and scenic trip through the High Atlas

We start with an easy traverse and climb to the top of the pass, including a short bike hike. From the top, the singletrack starts fast and flowy, gradually becoming more technical as it drops into the riverbed. The trail varies from slow, technical sections to smooth, fast stretches, keeping the trip exciting all the way. The finale is a rattling bridge crossing, leading to the van for a late lunch. Afterward, we drive to Ouirgane for our final night in the Atlas Mountains.

This is the final and most demanding day in the High Atlas! After breakfast, we ride together for about an hour, climbing over a pass before plunging down into a rugged canyon. The trail opens up into an exciting section with fast, loose pea gravel—wide, flowing, and pure adrenaline, without the usual challenges one worries about on the trail. At Assif Zegzawne we enjoy a short, relaxing descent before hitting 8 km of high-speed, flowing singletrack through wooded hillsides above Ouirgane. The terrain is spectacular, the views are breathtaking, and the fun doesn't stop until we reach the village of Tighfist. From there, golden trails lead us all the way down to the lakeshore of Ouirgane, followed by a final easy 4 km casual ride to the hotel. After lunch, we are transported back to Marrakech, exhausted but full of energy. Tonight we will stay at a riad in the Medina of Marrakech, located near 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 a complete carnival of storytellers, snake charmers, medicine men, acrobats, musicians, and entertainers. A fantastic place to end our trip!

As our mountain biking trip now nears its end, we reflect on the exciting trails we conquered and the bonds we have forged. Now it is time to choose: head home with memories to cherish, or extend the adventure further into the unknown! Again, due to varying international departure times, one shared airport shuttle to Marrakech will be arranged that suits most participants. If your flight time does not match this transport, you must arrange your own transport to the airport, which is located about 20 minutes away.