Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Fly to Agadir; transfer to hotel. Fly to Agadir, transfer to our hotel. Depending on arrival time we can go for a wander around the town, spend some time relaxing by the hotel pool or take a walk down to the beach which is just 5 minutes from the hotel. In the evening we will be met by our tour leader and will have a trip briefing over dinner ( dinner not included). Tulip Inn Oasis or similar – Agadir Day 2 Transfer to Tafraoute in the heart of the Anti Atlas Mountains. Introductory ride through a lunar landscape, passing the famous painted Blue Rocks. Setting off from Agadir in our four wheel drive vehicles, we drive across the plains of the Souss Valley. We climb into the heart of the Anti Atlas range, reaching the high mountain Pass of Tizi Mlil, above the old garrison town of Tafraoute (3 hour transfer). From here we get on our bikes and descend on a rocky, vehicle width track down to Aguerd Oudad where we meet the vehicles before heading on to the gritty pistes through the extraordinary boulder strewn moonscape to the famous painted blue rocks. Following non-technical gravel tracks across the high altitude plains, we return to Tafraoute on a mix of good tarmac and sections of sweeping singletrack through the beautiful palmeries. Today's ride is a relatively easy introduction to prepare us for the days to come. Auberge Chez Amaliya or similar – Tafraoute Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Spectacular ride through impressive gorges and lush palmeries around Ait Mansour. A rough and rocky day with 35km descent and optional tarmac climb towards the end. Today's ride follows a spectacular route through impressive gorges and lush palmeries around Ait Mansour. After a short transfer high into the mountains behind Tafraoute to Tizi Tasrite, we begin our 75km ride descending through the landscape that contrasts so dramatically with what we saw yesterday. The scenery is breathtaking as the ride descends through impressive gorges, following dry river beds in places and passing through small berber villages. 25km is off road and 50km is on tarmac, including some massive downhill sections (and one long optional climb on tarmac) we return to the hotel on bikes. Back in Tafraoute we can relax by the hotel bar and pool or go for a walk into town where we can visit a local carpet shop before dinner at the hotel. Auberge Chez Amalia or similar – Tafraoute Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Transfer to Tizi Mlil Pass for an exhilarating descent and a great ride back to Tafraout. A short transfer takes us back to the high pass of Tizi Mlil (start of day 2 ride). From here we take a 20km high mountain trail above Tafraoute leading to Tizi Tasrite. Stunning views of our previous ride are clearly visible far below. Before the village of Tasrite there is a short optional single track section which leads onto the start of a superb 10km switchback off road descent. The first 4km of the trail are rough and rocky (and ridden without a support vehicle), then the trail gets smoother and the flowing gritty pistes return. After lunch we take a short section of tarmac to the village of Fisli and then ride on an old piste over the plains back to Tafraoute where we re join our single track through palmeries back to the hotel. Once back in Tafraoute there will be time to visit the town or relax by the hotel pool. Auberge Chez Amalia or similar – Tafraoute Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Ride down to the old walled town of Tiznit. Optional visit to silver markets and traditional Hamman. We drive for about an hour southwest from Tafraoute to the start of today’s ride. After a short off road climb to a high col, there is a choice of a steep technical singletrack descent (followed by a short climb), or a more leisurely piste trail with stunning views. We then take a superb switchback piste trail, nearly 20km down off the mountain and pass a number of traditional villages en route to Anezi. A short tarmac stretch offers a break from the stony terrain, but the piste soon returns winding its way through a scenic valley and crossing riverbeds. At the end of the ride, we transfer approx 30 minutes to Tiznit, an old walled medina town famous for its silver markets. There is a traditional hammam (steam bath) here that we can visit in the late afternoon, explore the town or you can relax by the hotel pool. Hotel Idou Tiznit or similar – Tiznit Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Drive into High Atlas Mountains where the landscape is very different; ride through pine forests and mountain villages of the Tiqqi Gorge to Imouzzer. After an early breakfast and morning transfer (approx. 3.5 hours) we arrive at the small village of Tiqqi in the foothills of the High Atlas. The landscape here is very different, with pine and cedar forests and remote mountainside villages dominating the area. Initially, our track leads past several untouched Berber villages. Mud houses are perched precariously under cliff edges, with locals looking on as we cycle through. After lunch the track becomes slightly rockier as we come to a spectacular gorge, there is time to admire the views and contemplate the two afternoon climbs, before our final fast flowing cross-country ride down to tarmac. Rejoining the tarmac we cycle downhill for the last few kilometres to our hotel in Immouzer. Hotel des Cascades Ecolodge or similar – Immouzer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 The ultimate off road finale, through remote villages down to the Atlantic Ocean for a swim; drive to Agadir. The ultimate off road trail and a fitting finale to this biking adventure! Riding directly from the hotel, we take the short scenic tarmac road through the village of Immouzer, before ascending a rough track which gradually climbs for 6km onto a high mountain pass. From here the blast down to the coast begins with a spectacular 40km mountain descent. The trail is rough and rocky in places as it contours and gradually descends, offering amazing views over the mountains and to the coastline. Poor weather may make this particular route impassable, in which case we will make our way out of the mountains through the Paradise Valley. This route follows a spectacular winding tarmac road, dropping from the ridges around Immouzer, deep into a narrow gorge, abundant with palm trees and small oases. After a swim or stroll on the beach, we load the bikes onto the support vehicles for the last drive into Agadir (approx. 30 minutes), arriving in time for an optional, relaxing Berber massage and a farewell dinner. Tulip Inn Oasis or similar– Agadir Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 8 Transfer to airport, fly to London. After breakfast the trip ends in Agadir. Meals included: Breakfast
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Hotels We stay in a good selection of well-located hotels, all of which are lavishly decorated in traditional Moroccan style. We spend three nights in Tafraoute; our hotel has a well-stocked bar and a swimming pool on the terrace with fantastic views over the Ante Atlas Mountains.
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Reviewed November 2019 Hendrik Van de Velde Trip: Atlas Descent Marokko landscapes Very nice trip to see a lot of different landscapes. From a moon like view to a Oasis with palm trees. Some nice hotels and good food. The cycling is a lot of downhill with sometimes a nice climb. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The different scenery's. What did you think of your group leader? Very good, always willing to help. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Some experience with a mountainbike is recommended. Personally I think that a full suspension bike would be better for this trip than the rental hardtail bike.
Reviewed November 2019 Tony Monaghan Trip: Atlas Descent Never gets old 12 years from first doing the Atlas descent in 2007 I am embarked for a third journey on this wonderful expedition. The variety of scenery and landscapes combined with the off-road journey makes this a wonderful trip What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It’s difficult to pick out the most inspirational part of the trip. I saw several, however the group gelling and working together and helping everybody out along with the tour leader and drivers is always a very special experience. Some of the climbs are very challenging and I am not the fastest uphill so completing them is always something which I’d like to remember! What did you think of your group leader? This was the first time I had a local group leader on a cycling trip in Morocco. Abdu did a great job and was always very conscientious to ensure he did his best, culturally he may not have some of the more strident behaviours needed. However I did speak to him and give him some advice on how he Could change his own personal style which I think he was grateful for Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Ensure you pack the correct clothing and footwear! You will need to do some training and have off-road experience Is there anything else you would like to add? I think I’m already planning for my fourth MMA – Atlas descent
Reviewed January 2019 Simon Jackson Trip: Atlas Descent Varied riding in the sun This is a great winter getaway for people with at least some off road mountain bike experience, most, but not all of the rough and technical sections can be avioded but there was nothing which was excessively technical. The scenery was impressive with a good variety of landscape to enjoy. Dont think this trip is all downhill, there are some demanding climbs. The leaders, Liz and Ranu were excellent, looking after everybody from skilled riders to the less experienced. Hotels were pretty good, food was adequate rather than good, apart from the lunches on trail which were always good, plenty of snacks and drinks always on hand. A quibble which didnt affect me personally was that some of the bikes were supplied with the brakes reversed, which is an accident waiting to happen, and unfortunately one of our group needed a trip to hospital for a clean up and a stitch after braking hard to avoid a child, unfortunately he was used to the brakes the UK way round and pressed hard on what he thought was the rear brake, and went over the bars as he pulled hard on front brake which was were the rear normally is ! Unfortunately the first time we saw the bikes was at the first trailhead so no time to swap and bleed the brakes. But overall it was an excellent trip with a large but lovely group of people, highly recommended, just check the bikes are set up properly. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Riding some of the rough sections and the descent on the last day. What did you think of your group leader? Excellent Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure the bikes are set up for your preferences, take a saddle, handlebar grips and pedals so your contact points are what you are used to.
Reviewed January 2019 Louise S Trip: Atlas Descent Riding up rocks Great trip with excellent leaders, stunning landscapes and challenging trails What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Every day the landscapes and rides were exceptionally good but the final days ride was great for the views and variety of trails and the amazing descent to the sea What did you think of your group leader? Liz and Radu were always professional and expert in their management of the the varied skills within the group . Their knowledge of the area, bike skills, good humour, planning and organisational skills were excellent.They made the holiday run safe, smooth and well.
Reviewed December 2018 Vic S Trip: Atlas Descent Challenging riding, good location A well-run trip - good organisation and helpful leaders and support crew. There is a variety of riding and dramatic scenery. A fair amount of uphill riding too, so fitness important. The technical descents are challenging. I have ridden mountain bikes for over 30 years and parts tested me. Some riders on the trip had limited experience off-road, so found it tricky. Weather was changeable - be prepared for anything! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The fast descents on rough ground, going through remote villages, were great. And then being met by the support crew with lunch ready was even better! What did you think of your group leader? Great organisation, and kept the group going well. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Practice your off-road skills before hand. You'll get more out of the trip if you're not always looking down and crawling along at walking speed. Get your fitness up. There are long rides, with uphill sections that can go on and on! Is there anything else you would like to add? A good trip. The only downside (apart from weather, which Exodus can't control) is the party size. We had about 20, which was more than this trip was originally run for (I've noticed Exodus have now increased the typical party size to 20 on the website). With this number it meant there was a fair amount of waiting and hanging around for all members to catch up and then regroup. Not too bad - you could admire the view for longer - but it did lead to strung-out rides sometimes.
Reviewed November 2018 Peter Lyne Trip: Atlas Descent MTB Atlas Descent This is a. Exodus classic which has evolved over the years . Consequently the quality of organisation and leadership by the experienced guides was first rate . We were unlucky with the weather but nevertheless had a good week with a modified itinerary thanks to the determination and local knowledge of our guides. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Conquering very challenging wind, rain and hail on day 2 . Also the worst sticky mud I have encountered in 20 years of mountain biking in many different countries ! The resilience of our group was impressive . What did you think of your group leader? Brilliant . Coped with at times difficult situations with calm, competent leadership. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Work on your fitness and off road skills . Morocco is not all benign mild weather so be prepared with enough gear to cope with cold, wet weather if necessary including good quality wind and rain proof biking jacket, full finger gloves etc
Reviewed November 2018 Simon Hill Trip: Atlas Descent Atlas Descent Second time on this trip and once again it was brill. Great riding, stunning scenery, amazing tour leaders and a good group of fellow riders. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The scenery What did you think of your group leader? Brill! Both Radu and Liz were great Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Enjoy it
Reviewed November 2018 James Dodwel Trip: Atlas Descent Beautiful scenery, excellent tour leaders and company. Our week in Morocco was expertly led by Liz and Radu who were always there to help and sort out any issues. Despite the extreme weather (temperature ranged fro zero to +30 and there was lots of rain at times) and inability to ride some trails (good alternatives were always found) we had an extremely enjoyable week. The company was great as well - even more fun than on the road biking trips!!! The scenery was stunning with some great views. Goats really do climb trees!!! Some bits of advice: It does get cold and it does rain - so make sure to bring plenty of layers and head/ neck wear Bring shampoo as Hotels in Morocco don’t always provide it Some hotels are dry - you may not always be able to get a beer A great trip that I would recommend - even to a mountain bike virgin such as myself What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The group leaders - Liz and Radu - who helped everything run smoothly despite the weather related obstacles. Getting the bikes fit for riding on the last was extreme devotion to duty What did you think of your group leader? The group leaders - Liz and Radu - who helped everything run smoothly despite the weather related obstacles They were both always had a smile and were very helpful Getting the bikes fit for riding on the last was extreme devotion to duty Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It is cold and sometimes very wet in the mountains. Bring lots of layers and good waterproofs. Warm Head/neck gear is essential It can be muddy Hotels don’t always have shampoo. Bring your own Is there anything else you would like to add? No
Reviewed November 2018 M. O'Day Trip: Atlas Descent Atlas Descent--fun off-road riding with moments of terror Ditto other reviews--lots of fun double track and old roads, beautiful views, lots of camaraderie, many challenges. But I'd like to make others aware that I found some of the technical sections beyond my abilities. I realize that "technical" is a subjective term but I found the riding far more technical than I had expected. Luckily I was able to walk the shorter ultra-technical sections, which were either very steep with large, loose rocks and tight turns or short sections with rocks sticking up 6-8 inches. The others in my group (of ages ranging from 29 to 65) were able to ride these sections so I was definitely the weakest rider--the reviewer who said this is serious mountain biking nailed it. But I just suggest that if anyone is concerned about the difficulty of this tour they contact Exodus and ask detailed questions about the trails. I'm still very glad I went and but did have some days of pure terror mixed with incredible fun. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Riding down into the gorges near Ait Mansour full of palm trees. The scenery was incredible and it was amazing to be in a remote part of this beautiful country. What did you think of your group leader? Liz was a strong rider and always concerned about our safety. Every day she reviewed our route and any dangers to be aware of. Our guide Alexis was also a strong rider and stayed at the back of the group to make sure no one got into trouble. But riding was just a part of the trip. With Liz' familiarity with the country and Alexis' language skills (he speaks French natively), they helped straighten out any problems at meals or at the hotels. Their communication with our 3 drivers was also excellent and things went very smoothly. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The crew always carried extensive first aid kits but I recommend bringing your own Neosporin and some bandaids to do follow-on care at night. It is easy for any wounds to get infected in Morocco. Also, bring Immodium and Cipro to deal with digestive problems. I was the only one in the group to develop problems but these kind of things can impact your enjoyment of your holiday. For vegetarians: I was lucky enough to have Liz as my tour leader, who was also vegetarian. She helped make sure that I got vegetarian meals. Otherwise, be aware that the definition of "vegetarian" is loose in Morocco. It really helps to have someone who speaks the languages well (Arabic or French) to ask the servers what exactly is in the food. Is there anything else you would like to add? We used Genesis Mantle 30 mountain bikes with front suspension and 29" wheels. These bikes were amazing. I couldn't believe the rocky terrain that I was able to ride over with this bike. Too bad the bike was better than its rider!!!
Reviewed April 2018 Alan Thompson Trip: Atlas Descent Atlas Descent Forget about enjoying the scenery, there just isn't time. The mountains were stunning, but I couldn't observe a lot until the rest stops. The downhill biking was run at an incredible pace and probably surprised most of us at what we tackled and achieved. The Exodus guys were prepared to go at a pace with which we could all cope and that was amazingly fast. l think I'm still high on adrenaline. There was quite a range of biking confidence and styles but I'm pretty sure everyone had a great time. Radu and John couldn't have done a better job of looking after us, our welfare, our safety and the bikes. My only issue, and that of my fellow travellers, Exodus don't appear to do any more trips quite as good as this. Take you life in your hands, get on the bike and go for it, you won't regret it. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Day 3 a 20k downhill in the most rugged terrain, and at the lunch stop, the overwhelming feeling of what we had achieved. What did you think of your group leader? Great - see note above Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't hesitate, sign up now Is there anything else you would like to add? The accommodation was very good but perhaps the room quality could be better in the first hotel in the mountains