Atlas Mountain Bike challenge

Level of Difficulty

The High Atlas Mountain Bike Challenge is graded as tough, and as such it is suitable for participants who have previously done some long distance cycling but who want to get out of their comfort zone, and challenge themselves to a higher level. A good level of training is strongly advised to take part in this challenge.
During your Atlas Mountain Bike challenge you will be:

• Cycling through the Mid-High Atlas mountain range.
• Cycling mainly off road on dirt tracks. There are sections that are on tarmac and some that are on single track roads.  
• Taking on many tough, solid ascents on poor quality roads. You will also enjoy the hard downhills!
• Cycling up to an altitude of 2600 meters, through remote areas.
• Cycling for up to 68 km per day.      

Typical day

You will wake early (around sunrise), in time for a hearty breakfast. Cycling days will last between 4-8 hours, including breaks and snacks. You will have a leisurely, longer break for lunch around noon (picnic or cooked lunches will be provided). You will arrive at your accommodation each day before sunset. Most of the challenge takes place on dirt roads, with the occasional tarmac road.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. In a nutshell, Our Challenge Safe brand formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the activity itself. Your welfare is paramount!
In terms of your High Atlas Mountain Bike Challenge, there are a couple of important points that you should be aware of:

• You will be going to high altitude. The maximum altitude reached during this challenge will be 2600 metres.
• The Mid-High Atlas Mountains could be very challenging in terms of terrain and remoteness. The camping facilities are very basic. You will spend one night in a local house.
• You will take on some steep descents on tough terrain, which will require a lot of concentration
• The local team are very good at trying to accommodate different dietary requirements. However, a vegan and gluten free diet will be difficult to cater for. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate your request. Please make sure you bring some extra snacks and products that you are used to eating.

Responsible Tourism

At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism, and work closely with bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group and Climate Care to ensure that our challenges benefit the local environments and communities in which they take place. We ensure that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly, and following local guidelines on cultural and environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment. In addition to taking these practical steps to ensure that our challenges are sustainable, we also make a contribution each year to a number of local community projects, so as to give something back directly to the communities that we visit. Since 2000 we have donated almost £200,000 to such projects, supporting a range of initiatives, including schooling for children in Africa, shelter for street children in Brazil, and Orang-utan conservation in Indonesia. We recommend that any gifts brought over for children are given to the UK challenge leader and distributed where needed by them and our local Ground Agent. If you wish to do more, you should consider buying drinks, postcards and souvenirs from the local vendors. For many, it is their sole source of income. For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages, where you will be able to view a list of the projects that we currently support.

Flights

You will be flying from London to Marrakech and returning via the same route. Your flight tickets will be e-mailed to you before departure. If you choose to book your own flights you must confirm with the Charity Challenge office before paying otherwise you may be liable for your included group flights (please contact flights@charitychallenge.com for further assistance).

Visa

For UK passport holders a full passport is required but no visa. You must have at least six months to run on your passport from the end of the challenge. Ensure your passport is stamped on arrival. Non UK passport holders should consult their nearest Moroccan embassy regarding visa requirements.

Insurance

Your safety when travelling with Charity Challenges is our main concern which is why it is a booking condition that you have a suitable travel insurance policy that will cover you for the adventurous nature of your challenge. We have chosen to partner with specialist travel insurance providers Campbell Irvine, who offer cover for an extensive number of adventurous activities. Cover is available directly from Campbell Irvine for most European residents and includes cover for emergency medical and repatriation and for your cancellation or curtailment of the challenge. Full details including costs may be found by clicking here. 

For more general travel insurance questions, please refer to our main FAQs page.

Vaccinations

For up to date vaccination information please check the Travel Health Pro page:  https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/154/morocco#Vaccine_recommendations

Charity Challenge team are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your GP or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your GP may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting, and as such it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you.

Medication

• Carry medicines (including those bought over the counter) in their correctly labelled original packaging, as issued by the pharmacist. These should be carried in your hand luggage.
• Consider packing a spare supply of medication in the hold luggage in case of loss of hand luggage
• A letter from the prescriber detailing the medicines with the generic names for the medications can be helpful for border control checks, and in case medicines have to be replaced or medical help is required
• Carry a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery for controlled substances and injection medications
• Take out an appropriate level of travel health insurance including repatriation and specific cover for any pre-existing illnesses

N.B.  Some medications are banned abroad so please check. You can find further information at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad

Climate & Terrain

Climate
Early mornings will immediately warm as soon as the sun rises, and the days will be hot and bright. As soon as the sun sets, the temperature drops radically and is often well below zero degrees. It is good practice to always pack for all weathers, but in general your challenge should be hot and dry, with cold evenings.

Terrain
The trip starts on a well maintained dirt track in the mountains before it gets slightly narrow on the second day with mainly uphill sections. Occasionally single tracks are involved with even stony sections for some kilometres. However there is a big mixture of tarmac road on good dirt road on others, with one iconic day of cycling on a flat single trail through the valley of Ait Bougumez in the middle of the fields.

Training

Training and fitness is definitely required. It is important that you work specifically on your stamina, leg and joint strength, core and balance in order to get as much out of the challenge as possible. You will be cycling everyday on varied terrain so get out on your bike as often as you can! You need to be able to sustain around 7-8 hours of cycling for 5 continuous days, so if you can then replicating this over a weekend would be fantastic training. In your Charity Challenge account you will find more comprehensive Fitness Training Notes. You can also look to join one of our training weekends.

Challenge Training

If you would like to get a feel for our challenges ahead of your departure, why not consider booking on a 1 or 2 day UK Challenge?

We have a variety of challenges, covering all levels of difficulty, taking place in stunning National Parks across the UK that are led by highly qualified and experienced expedition and mountain leaders. These challenges will give you the perfect opportunity to monitor fitness levels, test out your kit, meet people in the great outdoors, share fundraising stories and gain valuable advice and support for the challenge ahead. We encourage participants to make use of our highly knowledgeable leaders and ask them any questions you may have about clothing and equipment, expedition health and wellbeing, trekking skills, walking techniques and teamwork!

We are offering all participants 50% off the registration fee when you book on one of the UK challenges listed via the link below. Just use the code TRAINING when booking. T&C’s – you must have an active booking on a challenge to avail of this offer. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Find out more here

Luggage allowance & Valuables

Try to keep luggage to an absolute minimum – details of what to pack are provided in your kit list. Your rucksack/holdall (suitcases are not appropriate) must not exceed the maximum weight limit of the airline you are flying with (usually 20kg, however do check this with the airline or contact our flights team if in doubt). Each day when you begin to ride, your personal kit will be transported to the next hotel. You will only need to have a handle bar bag or bum bag with you during the day and you will be able to access your day pack at rest stops.

While we will do everything to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces, rings and even watches.  Your passport and money should be kept on you at all times.

Leadership

We employ a number of first aid qualified challenge leaders, all of whom speak fluent English. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group.

Group Size

Each group is intended to be a minimum of 11 people in order to run and a maximum of approximately 20 people due to the wilderness environment in which the challenge takes place. We will be able to run this challenge for 8 to 10 people by charging a small group supplement of approximately £75 which will be added to your final balance invoice (self funders) or charged to your charity (minimum sponsorship or flexi).

Clothing & Equipment

Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For your cycle challenge, padded cycling shorts and comfortable footwear are essential, and helmets are compulsory throughout. Training with your cycling shorts is definitely advised! You can bring equipment like clip-in pedals or a gel seat, if desired, in order to adapt your bike in country, and we would also recommend technical/wicking t-shirts rather than cotton shirts. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here and once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners The Outdoor Shop, Outdoorhire and Cotswold Outdoor.

What are the bikes like?

The mountain bikes that we use are some of the best available in Morocco, although you should not expect them to be as high-spec as some that are now available in the UK. Sizes range from 15 - 21” and come equipped with off-road tyres and multi-use pedals. All bikes have disc brakes and come with water bottle holders. There is a possibility to fit your own pedals and you may bring your own saddle if you wish. We have plenty of spares and our helpful mechanics are on hand at all times to help with repairs or adjustments.

Accommodation & Toilets

Accommodation
During the challenge you will be staying mainly in tents and village houses, with shared toilets/shower facilities. You will be in a centrally located hotel in Marrakech. Please let Charity Challenge know if you are travelling with a friend or relative who you wish to share with, if not you will be roomed with someone of the same sex.

If you are travelling with a friend or partner who you wish to share with please ensure that you note this where appropriate when booking or email challenges@charitychallenge.com.

Toilets
During the challenge you will be staying mainly in tents and village houses, with shared toilets/shower facilities. You will be in a centrally located hotel in Marrakech with western style toilets.

Food & Drink

You will be served a variety of Moroccan food. All meals are healthy and nourishing. Lunches will be either in the form of light snacks suitable for biking, or picnics. There will be plenty of food to satisfy hungry appetites, but please let Charity Challenge know if you have any specific dietary requirements.

NB. You will only be expected to carry water & any essentials you would carry on a day ride – our support team will take care of the rest of your luggage.

Money

Currency: The national currency is the Dirham, which is divided into 100 centimes.
For up to date currency exchange, go to www.xe.com.

Currency regulations: The Dirham is officially designated as a closed currency meaning it can only be traded within Morocco; however, Dirhams are being sold and bought in travel agencies and at major airports in several countries (notably the UK). The import and export of the currency is tolerated up to a limit of 1000DH. Currency purchased during a visit to Morocco should be converted back before departing the country, with the exception of the 1000Dh level.

ATMs: There are ATMs available at the airport and near to the hotel in Marrakech. This is the best source of obtaining currency whilst you are in Morocco.

Credit cards: Although you should bring one in case of emergencies, we do not recommend you rely on a credit card in the rural area of your challenge.

How much to bring: You will not need a large amount of money during this trip as most expenses are covered. However, approximately £200 is recommended for gifts, souvenirs, alcohol & tipping. GBP, Euros and US$ can all be exchanged on arrival.

Tipping: Tipping is personal and at your sole discretion. You should only tip if you feel that you have received good service. We recommend approx. £5/US$8 per person per challenge day and this should be given to the challenge leader at the end of the challenge who will distribute it evenly among the support team.

Phone & WiFi

WiFi and mobile phone reception will be available at the hotel in Marrakech. After leaving Marrakech, the mobile phone and WiFi signal will be limited.

Emergencies

Full back-up support (by 4WD vehicles) will be close by and can be brought in should there be an emergency, or if you need to stop for any reason. The challenge is not run as a race and there is always a large discrepancy in people’s cycling abilities. There will be a staff member at the back of the group at all times to ensure that no one is left behind and can take things at your own pace.