Lecture - Eurobike

Mountainbiking in Morocco
Challenges & Cultural Specifics
By
www.maroc-nature.com
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Routes & Accommodation
We have also developed a good relation with local families who offer
accommodation for our groups for overnights in the mountains.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The
Promotion
Challenge
We launched tow dedicated websites: www.vtt-maroc.com &
www.bike-morocco.com, 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.
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.
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:
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
....
Evolution
We continue developing new trips like: Fat bikes in the desert, E-Mtb,
Mtb & Wellness trips in the Atlas ...
Evolution
Our relationship with our partner Cannondale got stronger and now we
are exclusive distributor in Morocco.
Morocco
A Must Ride Destination, So Come &
Ride it With Us ☺
www.maroc-nature.com