Forever, Morocco has been drawing poets, artists,
writers and travelers in search of adventure, mystery and the exotic.
It is a fascinating and often bewildering place, full of contrasting
images, colorful sights, strange smells and wild experiences - a
mountain bike destination like nowhere on earth. With Big Mountain,
you will explore Morocco - its date palm oases, wild streets of
Marrakech, grand views of the pre-Sahara and never-ending High and
Middle Atlas trails and roads as it should be explored - on a mountain
bike.
We'll begin our adventure in Marrakech, the
stunning 1000 year-old ochre-colored city with a vibrant street
life and a chaos of cultures. At night, we'll explore the
walled Medina, the old town, and the labyrinth of ultra-narrow
streets, through crowded markets and smoky alleys with saffron
and cumin wafting in the air. Then, we'll drive in our Land
Rovers to the highest mountain range in North Africa - the
High and Middle Atlas. These rugged, prehistoric, flat-topped
mountains are laced with dirt roads and trails still used
by the nomadic Berber peoples - the ancient race that inhabits
the Atlas and has since Neolithic times. In the Atlas, we
will ride for 8 days on a backcountry traverse, living among
the Berbers, riding singletrack and double track up and over
passes, through small villages and camps. Every night we will
sip mint tea and stare up at the blanket of stars in the desert
sky. Every day we will pedal where few mountain bikes have
ever gone, and experience new adventures at every turn.
Duration: 10 days
Level: Level 2-3 fitness, Level 2 technical
Joining in: Marrakech
Dates: Sunday, November 2 to Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Land Cost: $2595 CAD
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