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Mountain Biking in Morocco

Morocco has long been a Mecca for the mountain biking cognoscenti and in recent years it’s started to open-up to the wider MTB community. And with wall-to wall-sunshine, jaw dropping scenery, and trails to suit all abilities it’s easy to see why.

Mountain biking in Morocco may be in its infancy, but it’s growing up fast. Known locally as VTT (or more formally in French as Vélo Tout Terrain) a MTB holiday in Morocco is a great way of exploring the country, getting a serious adrenaline fix, and beating the winter blues.

Running down the spine of the country the Atlas Mountains provide the perfect playground for hardcore technical mountain bikers, while to the east the Saharan Mountains have stunning trails suitable for all riders. No matter where you go, you can forget about tarmac and piste and expect some serious single-track action.

Mountain Biking Hotspots

High Atlas: Mountain biking in the High Atlas centres on the two trekking favourites of Toubkal and M’Goun. Toubkal’s main selling point is its’ proximity to Marrakech and while M’Goun is a little more difficult to get to, it can be combines with a spin around neighbouring Jebel Sahro. If you’re planning an Atlas traverse it’s not uncommon for riders to hire a mule to carry their bike over section that are impossible to ride.
 Jebel Sahro: sandwiched between the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas and the bone-dry sands of the Sahara are Jebel Sahro is the No. 1 destination for mountain biking in Morocco. The landscape is straight out of a Road Runner cartoon with towers of pink rock dominating the horizon. Put simply it’s perfect mountain biking country and with the Dades and Todra Gorges nearby you can get your fill of Kasbahs before seeing if you’ve got the strength to attack the Atlas.

Anti Atlas: South west of Morocco’s backbone lies the Anti-Atlas and a great starting point for anyone new to mountain biking or new to Morocco. Trails are less vertiginous than elsewhere and thread through scenic valleys and Berber villages.

Organising a Mountain Biking Trip
Arranging your own mountain biking holiday in Morocco requires a good deal of organisation, so you can see why bikers may prefer to forgo the hassle and book with an established tour company. And to be fair there are a number of sensibly priced and slick operators out there who will arrange everything for you, including:

  • MTB hire in Morocco for anyone who isn’t bringing their own bike
  • Return transport from Marrakech to the start and finishing points
  • Overnight accommodation and meals
  • Organised MTB routes and help with bike repairs
  • Luggage transfer to minimise what you carry on your back

However, if you would rather go it alone there’s nothing standing in your way. Routes can be planned online, bikes loaded into coaches or put on top on minibuses, and accommodation arranged en route. Admittedly you’ll need to travel super-light (a change of clothes and a sleeping bag liner), but that’s all part of the adventure.