Mountainbiking in Morocco Challenges & Cultural Specifics By.

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1 Mountainbiking in Morocco Challenges & Cultural Specifics By

2 Morocco, has always been a great land for outdoor and adventure trips. In the last two decades, our country knew an increasing interest from foreign bikers for many reasons: Proximity from Europe Nice weather during winter Many mountain ranges Cultural diversity Good local operators, and our company worked hard to be one of them.

3 How did we come into Mountain Biking? Until late 90's, the Atlas Mountains (occupying 2/3 of the surface of Morocco) were considered as a paradise land for trekking & hiking, but less known for biking. There were really few foreign companies proposing mtb trips. Since 2000 we witnessed an increasing demand for Mountain Biking, and many of our hiking clients were telling us that the Berber Valleys and Mountains would be great for mtb. Since then there was an orientation to convert our hiking experience into 2 wheels and raise the challenge to be a mountain biking specialist company!

4 The Challenge The big challenge for us, as a 100% Moroccan travel company, was to prepare a complete and reliable offer for Mountain bikers who would like to visit parts of the Atlas Mountains or the desert on Mtbs. To achieve this goal we had to work hard and develop three essential axes: Mountain Bike Guides Routes & Accommodations Assistance & Equipment

5 Mountain Bike Guides We started with a young berber team from the central high Atlas who had little experience in biking, but had a good fitness level as all of them are originally from altitude areas.

6 Mountain Bike Guides We got in touch with French Monitor for a "pilot" trip in the Siroua Mountains so that our team get accustomed to mtb technical terms and get the experience of how our colleagues from France handle mtb trips.

7 Mountain Bike Guides We also did many mechanic training with a bike shop staff from Switzerland so as to improve our team's mechanical skills.

8 Routes & Accommodation In the last 2 decades, the Moroccan government did a great job building new dirt tracks and pistes to open up remote and high valleys which opened new areas for Mountain Biking.

9 Routes & Accommodation Using these new pistes and older ones, we created a good selection of itineraries of different abilities where mtbers can ride multi-day trips without using car transfers on each stage if they don't wish to.

10 Routes & Accommodation We have also developed a good relation with local families who offer accommodation for our groups for overnights in the mountains.

11 Assistance & Equipment We selected a good team of drivers (who were mainly accustomed to tours in the desert) and train them so they can assure back up for mtbers and take care of bikes while transported.

12 Assistance & Equipment In order to transport bikes in the best conditions and safest way, we have imported professional racks for different type of axels. Some clients bring some very expensive mountain bikes and they want to be sure that they will be transported in the best way.

13 Assistance & Equipment In 2009 we have purchased our first fleet of rental bikes as some bikers wish to hire on spot to avoid the hassle and risk of transporting their bikes byplanes. In 2012 we have started a cooperation with Cannondale Bikes, so that our customers could ride a worldly known brand.

14 New trends & Moroccan Specificity Few years now, we have noticed an increasing interest in single track biking, so our teams were on the run again to create single track oriented trips.

15 New trends & Moroccan Specificity in 2011, we have launched a new tour in the Atlas of Marrakech with about 12 amazing trails that were initially built by villagers hundreds of years ago to travel with their mules and herds to pasture areas or down to the souks and local markets in the plains. And now, bikers looking for adrenalin can enjoy amazing lines in the Berber land.

16 New trends & Moroccan Specificity We don't have lifts as most bike parks in Europe, we either use 4x4 to get to the top of plateaus to the beginning of Trails, or a more original way of transport, MULES. In facts, we use the same muleteers with whom we work on treks to take the bikes on mules sometimes up to 3600m so as to ride some of the best singles in the Atlas Mountains.

17 The Promotion Challenge As a small local company, it was difficult to get known and create cooperation with foreign TO. So from the beginning we focused on the internet to promote mountain biking in Morocco.

18 The Promotion Challenge We launched tow dedicated websites: & these websites have had a very good ranking on search engines and most of our clients are individuals or private groups who contact us directly.

19 The Promotion Challenge Later on we have established cooperation with few specialized foreign companies who use our itineraries and our services as a ground handler for their groups.

20 Evolution Since we bought our first 2 second hand mountain bikes to start scouting mtb trip till now, it seemed that we did a long way with great achievements. We have the most varied and well selected offer for mountain biking in Morocco:

21 Evolution The Atlas of Marrakech 5 Days Single Track Heaven 8 Days Toubkal Mtb Grand Tour 8 Days South Morocco Free Wheels 8 Days Cedar & Lakes of Middle Atlas 9 Days Atlas to Sahara 10 Days...

22 Evolution We continue developing new trips like: Fat bikes in the desert, E-Mtb, Mtb & Wellness trips in the Atlas...

23 Evolution Our relationship with our partner Cannondale got stronger and now we are exclusive distributor in Morocco.

24 Morocco A Must Ride Destination, So Come & Ride it With Us