Atlas Descent

Test yourself against some of the finest mountain bike trails on the planet

Over the years, we’ve ridden every trail through the Anti-Atlas Mountains to create the best offroad cycling tour around. This trip has everything from fast singletracks passing palm trees to tightly turning muleteer routes and remote, rocky jeep tracks. Alongside the amazing trails, there is epic scenery, delicious food and one of the warmest welcomes in North Africa. Along the way, we pass areas untouched by mass tourism, but also interact with local people and experience the indigenous Amazigh culture.

Aldo Kane Collection: A hand-selected range of adventures by our Brand Ambassador:

“This trip is a combination of my two favourite pastimes: biking and being in the mountains. Also, my son’s name is Atlas, so this trip really stuck out for me. From exhilarating hairpin bends that ancient muleteers used to fast, singletrack routes through palmeries, the Anti-Atlas Mountains offer some of the best mountain biking trails in the world.”

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• We buy supplies from small shops in the villages we pass through, which supports the local economy.
• The traditional hammam experience in Tiznit provides employment for local people.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Cycling trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the local people, as it is a quiet, low impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• Our local partners have reached B Corp Certification which requires that they demonstrate high levels of social and environmental performance.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

Morocco

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Morocco. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/morocco
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/morocco
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Morocco.html

Vaccination

Morocco

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. A polio vaccination certificate may be required for some travellers. Please confirm your needs and requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners are included.

Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent, though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Where meals are not included, budget for the following approximate prices:

• Lunches: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
• Dinners:
  • In cities: 80-200 dirhams (US$8-US$19)
  • Small towns and villages: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
• Soft drinks in restaurants: 10-20 dirhams (US$1-US$1.90)
• Alcohol:
  • Beer: 30-50 dirhams (US$2.85-US$5)
  • Wine: 150 dirhams (US$14) and more

Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip.

Please note, if you have any special dietary requirements, you should inform us prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (eg coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home.

Weather

Mountains can always make their own weather and, as a result, we may occasionally be forced to amend the itinerary for part of the trip. On the plains, the days are usually warm to hot (above 25C/77F) but the nights are cooler. In the higher areas and the mountains, days should be warm or even hot in October and April, with clear skies, but the nights are often cold. On the high ridges of the High Atlas, there is sometimes snow, but not normally enough to affect the areas in which we cycle; in the event of a track being closed, we arrange a suitable alternative ride. Rainfall in the areas we visit is relatively low though there is a chance of rain particularly on trips in December to February. Although unusual, there is also the possibility of much colder weather during these times and average temperatures can be as low as 10C (50C).

Is this trip for you?

This trip is classified Off Road and Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more on our ratings, please visit our Activity Level guidelines.

• Six days of cycling
• Average daily distance: 31mi (50km)
• Full vehicle support (except on sections of days 2 and 4 and optional single track sections)

The temperatures in Morocco are hot in the summer months but we try to make the most of the coolest parts of the day for our sightseeing so you can expect some early starts.  Expect it to be hot to very hot in the desert from May through to September.

Morocco can get cold in the winter months though usually daytime temperatures are mild. It is advisable to pack winter clothes for November through to March when nighttime temperatures especially in the desert and the mountains can drop considerably. During these months there can also be rain throughout the country and snow in the mountains. As Morocco is generally mild to hot it is not set up for colder temperatures and so there may not be heaters available. Please pack winter clothes and nightwear to ensure you are comfortable. Of course you can also ask for more blankets from the hotels. Please be prepared for the colder months.

The trails we follow are mostly vehicle-width with singletrack options available on some days. Trails are generally good dirt and gravel tracks, though sometimes they are rough and rocky, particularly some sections on days 4, 6 and 7. There are some big climbs of more than 1,640ft/500m (all optional with the support vehicles available to give lifts) and masses of downhill. A good level of fitness and off road experience is highly recommended. Please note due to the rough surfaces it is not possible to use a trailer for the bikes. The bikes are loaded on to the roof of the support vehicle instead.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.