Morocco makes a whole lot of sense as a singletrack destination. In search of year round riding with epic views and world class trails, the Biking in Turkey team headed across to the High Atlas Mountains, and what we found was little short of a revelation.

The trail network here is still used by the Berber people, and their mules and donkeys help keep the paths clean, grippy and fast flowing. Our routes run from the high peak of Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, down through the foothills of Ouirgane to the plains of Marrakech. Expect miles of smooth mule trails between the villages, boulder strewn stream beds and rocky gully descents. There are plenty of challenges for advanced riders too, with long rocky descents, scree and some exposed sections, so good bike handling skills make a real difference here.

Morocco feels exotic in the best possible way. It is colourful, culturally rich and totally different to anywhere we have ridden in Europe or the Middle East, and the sights, sounds and smells along the way make this much more than a regular trail trip. Mint tea with welcoming Berber families, wild flower meadows on the Kik Plateau and an evening wandering the souks of Marrakech and the legendary Jemaa el-Fnaa square all add to the adventure.

Most of the route stays rideable right through the winter, so apart from the hottest months you can ride here all year round. We avoid the summer months of June to September, when the heat on the lower plains is simply too much. We went looking for somewhere that riders who love Cappadocia would enjoy, somewhere just that little bit more exotic, and we think you will love it as much as we do.

Tours