Mountains and Desert Offroad Tour

For experienced off road bikers. A total of 9 days, 6 days biking, one day off and days of arrival and departure. Crosses the spectacular High Atlas Mountains over a pass of 2997m, traversing the beautiful Cirque de Jaffar and heading north to the small town of Midelt on the Arid Plateau. Loops back down to the Sahara via a little known mountain track north of the village of Bougnib. 98km of flat fast desert brings us to the unusual Kasbah Xaluca. After a day off we take to the desert proper and the cathedral dunes at Erg Chebbi before heading on west across vast dry lake beds to the palmeries of the fertile Draa Valley.

Itinerary

DAY 1 Arrive Ouarzazate. After your evening flight from Casablanca to Ouarzazate, we meet you at the airport and transfer you to our first night’s 4* hotel.

DAY 2 Ouarzazate - Tineghir (250 km). After a good continental breakfast and a full briefing, you will be given your bike and riding equipment. We set off on a 65 km road section to Skoura, then it’s off up into the southern foothills of the High Atlas Mountains to the fertile ‘Valley of the Roses’ and on to Boulmaine de Dades to refuel both our bikes and ourselves. The first 6 km section is technical, winding through a dry, rock strewn riverbed followed by a further 75 km of winding, sandy trails through small villages. After Dades you can complete the day’s ride with either a 50 km road ride with the support vehicle to Tinerhir, or carry on offroad for another 100 km through the beautiful Jebel Sahro mountain range.. MOR - mountainDesertmap

DAY 3 Tineghir (250 km). Today we take a circular route. After refuelling, a fast blast across 90 km of arid plateau to Goulmima. Then it’s 15 km on road and back onto a well maintained piste for about 120 km, following the normally dry riverbed of the river Gheris. This takes us through a beautiful fertile gorge where we stop for our picnic lunch and then continue on the piste climbing higher to the village of Ait Hani. Left turn and we take to the tarmac which will return us to our hotel in Tineghir via the spectacular Todra Gorge, with its over 400m high sheer rock sides.

DAY 4 Tineghir - Midelt (200 km). Breakfast, and we're off into the High and Middle Atlas. The first 50 kms on road revisiting the Todra Gorge and making our way back to Ait Hani. Rejoining the well maintained piste for about 65 km we pass through many local villages and then climb up and over a 2800m pass and on to the village of Agoudal and its fertile valley. A short 20 km on road, we then rejoin the trails winding in and out of the riverbed, and through beautiful cedar forests to Tounfite where we refuel before continuing to Midelt - the fossil centre of Morocco - via either the Cirque de Jaffar, a very narrow, high sided, rocky gorge, or across the "Arid Plateau". Dinner and accommodation in a 3* Middle Atlas Kasbah style hotel.

DAY 5 Midelt - Erfoud (320 km). 10 km on road and then across an arid plain in the northern foothills of the High Atlas. We cross these on a very little used winding mountain track: the scenery is stunning and the tracks awesome. As we descend on the southern side we ride for about 20 km along the riverbed, passing through many beautiful gorges. With the High Atlas behind us it’s a 130 km fast blast across the desert. Rocks, sand, washouts, dunes and palmeries are all encountered on the long hot ride into town where the cool beers await us by the swimming pool of our 4* hotel in Erfoud. Buffet dinner.

DAY 6 Erfoud – Merzouga (120 km). Breakfast and early start across the desert on piste to Erg Chebbi again, where we will try to reach the top of the highest "cathedral" dune, this time on the bikes. After lunch of a typical couscous we set off into the Sahara desert, across flat, dry lakebeds, and winding sandy trails towards our night’s stop. Dinner and accommodation in a typical berber jaima (tent), situated close to a large area of smaller dunes (max. 80m). In the late afternoon/early evening, once the sand has cooled down, those wanting more biking can play in the dunes or take a walk to the top. Dinner.

DAY 7 Merzouga - Zagora (190 km). Breakfast and another early start across the desert towards Zagora. It’s 30 km to our refuelling point at the village of Remlia. Today’s riding is characterised by flat, dry lakebeds, deep sandy riverbeds, winding sandy trails, plenty of "fesh fesh" (bull dust) and some rocky pistes. Dinner and accommodation in 3 star French owned hotel styled on a Moroccan kasbah.

DAY 8 Zagora - Ouarzazate (180 km). Our final day’s riding takes us back to our 4* hotel in Ouarzazate. The morning is spent riding biking through palmeries in the Draa Valley (about 90 km), followed by 90 km on-road, going over the Tizi-n-Tifnifft pass with its spectacular scenery. Late lunch by the hotel pool.

DAY 9 Depart Ouarzazate. Transfer to Ouarzazate airport for your early morning flight home.

Mountains and Desert offroad tour

Tour dates

Rider

Sgl rm suppl.

Riding gear

01 Oct - 09 Oct 2008

£2,095.00

£95.00

£75.00

01 Nov - 09 Nov 2008

£2,095.00

£95.00

£75.00

18 Apr - 26 Apr 2009

£2,095.00

£95.00

£75.00

Ready to book? Please click here

Price includes: Experienced guide with full medical kit, VHF radio and GSM phone; GPS kits so group can split when desired (additional security deposit of €200 required); KTM 450EXC motorcycle with large fuel tanks, 2007/8 models; fuel; 3rd party insurance (min. age 25 yrs, although younger is not usually a problem); back-up vehicle with luggage and spares; half-board accommodation in 3-4* hotels, shared (no camping except where stated!); Clothing - Dainese jacket and jeans, knee and elbow protectors, Scott 25 l backpack, Fox chest protector, Axo gloves (if you have your own clothing you are welcome to bring it, see also below); daily coffee stop; picnic lunches; airport transfers

Price excludes: Axo MX helmet, Scott goggles and Alpinestar MX boots (see pricing panel to book if required); damage deposit €500 payable locally (refundable on safe return); Bar bills, lunches and personal expenses (beer c. £1.50/25 cl) and bottled water (c. £0.80/1.5 l); travel insurance (compulsory) and flights available through H-C Travel.

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