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| Morocco | Mountains and Desert | Desert | Dune | FAQ |
 Many of our clients have expressed a desire for a more ethnic, less hardcore type of journey, so that they can have more time to look around and experience the country and its inhabitants. So we have created this, our CHEGAGA TOUR, to satisfy this request.
The 7-day tour begins and ends in Ouarzazate with a total of 5 days riding. It takes you south to the endless 50km² of dunes that form Chegaga and returns back through the beautiful lower mountain ranges that form the part of the southern foothills of the High Atlas. We use more local accommodation – typical Moroccan family-run auberges and some 3* small hotels. The tour is about 70% offroad, compared with about 90% on most of our other tours, and average around 160 km per day. As such it is suitable for bikers with less experience, though to maximize your enjoyment you must have some knowledge of how to manage an offroad bike.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Ouarzazate. Airport and transfer to our local hotel. Evening meal.
Day 2 Ouarzazate to Foum-Zguid (170 km, 90% offroad). Briefing over breakfast, fuelling of bikes and departure for Foum-Zguid. 3 km down the road and we are off onto the trails. Pleasant winding, slightly rocky tracks, - ideal for you to get accustomed to your bikes - that climb to an altitude of 1500m. You are biking in the southern foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. After a 65 km track we have lunch in a local restaurant in Tazenakht. Here we can also refill the bikes with fuel and head out towards another mountain region. The sudden changes in landscape are amazing. One moment we speed over flat plains and the next moment we are between dark rocky mountains without any vegetation. After a dramatic decent we find ourselves riding between palm trees and a jungle of green. A day with lots of varied terrain. We stay at a small local auberge in the village of Foum-Zguid.
Day 3 Foum Zguid – Chegaga (135 km, 90% offroad). Leave hotel after breakfast and depart for the dunes of Chegaga. A short section on road before turning onto the trails. We carry our own fuel on the assistance vehicle as none will be available until our lunchstop tomorrow. This area is well known for being unpleasantly rocky but we have found a smoother alternative which joins up with a fast 30 km stretch of the Dakar Rally route. Picnic lunch somewhere around here. We cross the normally dry Iriki lakebed which takes us to the beginning of the dunes. The Chegaga dunes stretch for more than 50 km and some of the dunes are as high as 80 m. We follow the track bordering the dunes until we get to the bivouac. Here we leave everything at our tents and go off to play in the dunes. Hot showers available followed by supper, by gaslight, in the tents. Sometimes a campfire and local musicians to entertain you.
Day 4 Chegaga – Zagora (140 km, 70% offroad). A relaxed breakfast before our start for Zagora. After 40 km of sandy trails we reach the small village of M’hamid. Here we turn north and cross another picturesque dune area called Erg Lehoudi. A short 15 km asphalt section to cross over a mountain pass and to get to our refuelling point. The last 60 km are easy going over flat plains. Either a picnic en route or if we arrive in time lunch by the pool of our French owned hotel in Zagora. Evening meal by the fire if it’s cold.
Day 5 Zagora – Boulmalne de Dades (220 km, 70% offroad). After breakfast we take to the trails just behind the hotel and ride through a section of palmeries with little mud hamlets hidden in amongst the trees. Many children to be found here so go very carefully. Turning northwards we wind our way across a reasonably flat plain and then start climbing into a small mountain range, following a trail that leads us through a very rocky river. Popping out onto the tarmac it is 15 km to our refuelling point where we will have our picnic lunch. Then on up into the Jbel Sarhro mountains, considered some of Morocco’s most beautiful with unusual rocky crags caused by erosion. The last 15kms across a fast flat plateau leading us into Boulmaine de Dades where we stay in a new, very unusual 4* hotel offering massages, hammam and a hot open air jacuzzi tub. Spectacular views across the Dades valley. Evening meal is normally a plentiful buffet.
Day 6 Boulmalne – Ouarzazate (190kms, 80% offroad). Leave for Ouarzazate after breakfast. 8 ks on road up the fertile Dades Gorge and we take to our trails. Winding up into the foothills of the High Atlas, we pass through the Valley of the Roses and continue on fast tracks, down through a 6km rocky riverbed section followed by 10 km on road. We leave the road and take to a brand new section of beautiful trails winding their way along a deep gorge, with many small villages and fertile oasis en route. Picnic lunch somewhere perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the gorge. Final 30 km fast pleasant tracks across the plateau back to our hotel at Ouarzazarte.
Day 7 Depart Ouarzazate.
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Chegaga Tour
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Season
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Rider
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Sgl rm suppl.
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Riding gear
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tbc
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£1,475.00
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£65.00
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£75.00
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tbc
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£1,475.00
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£65.00
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£75.00
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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, 2008/9 models; fuel; 3rd party insurance (min. age 25 yrs, although younger is not usually a problem); support/luggage vehicle with 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 (if you have your own clothing you are welcome to bring it, see also below); daily coffee stop; picnic lunches; airport transfers; luggage storage; biker’s rucsac..
Price excludes: Axo MX helmet, Axo gloves, 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.
Any questions? Please see our FAQs
| Morocco | Mountains and Desert | Desert | Dune | FAQ |
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