TOUR PROSPECTUS This prospectus sets out the contents of the tour and together with the Booking Conditions and Booking Form is the basis of our contract with you. Morocco High Atlas / Jebel Sahro 23 March 2 April 2013 Tour 1270 Utilising numerous pistes (off road trails) this tour traverses both the High Atlas and the Jebel Sahro mountain ranges of Morocco. High mountain passes (Tizi N Ouano 3100m), sheer rock walled gorges (Todra), mighty canyons (Dades) are en route. Stone buildings of the Berber villages appear in the wadis where underground streams produce oases of date palms. In contrast, the tents of the nomadic Berber goat herders blend into the harsh, arid surrounding landscape. An adventurous ride for the regular rider. Itinerary Sat 23 March Sun 24 March Mon 25 March Tues 26 March Wed 27 March Thurs 28 March Fri 29 March Sat 30 March Sun 31 March Mon 1 April Tues 2 April Arrive at Marrakech Menera airport. Taxi to the hotel in Marrakech. Stay one night. Cycle from Marrakech to Taddert, a relaxing ride out through peaceful villages before entering the gorges that lead to this mountain village. Stay one night, hotel. 102km (road) Cycle from Taddert to Talouet, climbing out from Taddert over the Tizi N Titchka (2260m), leaving behind the greenery of the plains and entering the aridity of the high mountains and desert. A winding narrow road leads to Talouet and its ancient kasbah. Stay one night, hotel. 52km (road) Cycle from Talouet to Ait Benhaddou. Sustained riding along the first of the trails, crossing rivers, along gorges and through wee settlements before arriving at Ait Benhaddou and its magnificently restored kasbah. Stay one night, hotel. 51km (piste) Transfer to Tenerhir, 200kms along the Vallée du Dades, noted for its perfume industry based upon roses, then cycle, climbing out of Tinehir before descending through the 300m high rock walls of the Todra Gorge to Tamtattouchte. The road continues along the canyon, gradually climbing to the mountain plateau and the hamlet for the night. Stay one night, hotel. 36kms (road) Cycle from Tamtattouchte to Agoudal over the Tizi Tierherouzine (2800m), riding north through the mountain desert with peaks surrounding as the road goes over the pass and descends to Agoudal in the heart of the High Atlas.. Stay one night, gite. 68kms (piste) Cycle from Agoudal to Msemrir over the Tizi N Ouano (3100m), climbing from the village onto a high plain before following a series of hairpins that eventually arrive at the col. 360 panorama of snow capped mountains. Descend on a washed out road through a narrow valley with numerous river crossings before reaching the highest village in the Atlas at 2400m. Stay one night, hotel. 69km (piste) Cycle from Msemrir to Boumalne Dades. The road contours the mountainside following the vertical walls of the canyon; a version in miniature of the Grand Canyon. Descend for 55kms, sometimes steeply, following the hairpins of the Imdiazen Defile, then climb over small cols before another descent following the rock walls of this wild valley, eventually arriving in the wealthy market town of Boumalne Dades. Stay one night, hotel. 62kms (road) Cycle from Boumalne Dades to Nakob. This is the start of the strenuous climb over the Jebel Sahro to Bab N Ali and Nakob. A warm up along the road before joining the piste that climbs steadily with the occasional short steep section to Tizi N Tazzaret (2200m) and its small Berber house offering food and drinks (seasonal). The wild beauty of the Jebel is at its most impressive from here - shimmering black burnt rock, jagged peaks and the amazing twin rock pillars of Bab N Ali. Descend down rock steps in a boulder-strewn mountain desert, eventually reaching the valley and the green of the palmeries. Stay one night, hotel. 79kms (piste for 65kms) Transfer from Nakob to Marrakech. Stay one night, hotel. Tour ends after breakfast in the hotel in Marrakech.
Luggage carrying A Land Rover support vehicle will be available to carry up to 4 people and bikes max and all luggage between hotels. Also to provide transfers for everyone and bikes on 27 March and 1 April. Space is restricted to either 2 panniers OR one airline bag OR one medium-sized rucksack (approx 50 litres) per person. Accommodation and meals Six nights are in 2-3-star hotels (Moroccan Tourist Board grading system) with ensuite facilities, two nights are in hotels with shared facilities, and two nights are in gites with shared facilities. All hotels are based on two people sharing rooms. Some singles may be available at a supplement. Meals are on a half board basis throughout the tour, and vegetarian options are available. Travel Since there is no travel included in this tour, it is very important that you note that neither your leader nor CTC Holidays & Tours are responsible for you in any way until the appointed time at the designated meeting point. Should you fail to arrive at the appointed time for whatever reason, we will not be responsible for any additional expenses you may incur in order to meet up with the tour group. Before finalising travel arrangements to meet the tour, you should ensure that you have read and understood our booking conditions. Should this tour not attract sufficient bookings to reach the minimum operating size, we may cancel the tour at any time up to 10 weeks before departure. It is therefore recommended that you book fully flexible and refundable transport and accommodation or wait until you have been informed that the tour is going ahead, as in the event of the tour being cancelled, we will not be responsible for any losses incurred. Price 825 The price is based on a minimum number of 8 participants taking part in the tour and is calculated at a rate of 12.84 Dirhams to 1 sterling (based on exchange rates published by World First Bank on 28 October 2011; please note Booking Conditions, clause 4). If there are insufficient bookings by 12 January 2013 we will contact you and return all monies paid, though in certain circumstances the tour may still run at below minimum numbers but at the same price. Price includes: - 6 nights hotel accommodation on half-board basis, sharing rooms - 2 nights hotel accommodation on half-board basis, sharing facilities - 2 nights gite accommodation on half-board basis, sharing rooms and facilities - Support vehicle to carry luggage between hotels, plus up to 4 riders and cycles when requested - Transfer of bikes and people between Ait Benhaddou and Tinerhir - Transfer of riders and bikes between Nakob and Marrakech - CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours costs Price does not include: - Travel to and from the tour - Taxi fares to / from the airport in Marrakech - Drinks with evening meals - Lunches or refreshments at morning and afternoon stops - Entry fees at any attractions visited - Gratuities to the driver - Any other personal expenses - Travel Insurance - Single occupancy supplement ( 10 per night, subject to availability) Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking that you are adequately insured for this tour. Whether you already hold a policy or will be taking out a new one, the cover it offers must be comparable to that stated in clause 8 of the Booking Conditions, and you must complete the enclosed Insurance Declaration Form and return it with your Booking Form. CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours Ltd can accept no responsibility for any costs you may incur due to insufficient insurance cover. Passports, Visas and Health EU citizens must hold a passport that is still valid for at least six months at the end of the tour. Holders of non- EU passports are advised to check whether they require a visa. There are no compulsory healthrelated requirements for UK and EU residents, but it is strongly recommended that you are vaccinated against typhoid, hepatitis, meningitis. Tetanus and polio vaccinations should also be up to date at the time of travel. You should contact your doctor at least three months prior to travel to obtain these vaccinations and the latest advice to travellers.
Payment schedule A deposit of 400 per person must accompany the Booking Form, with the final balance of 425 per person to be paid ten weeks prior to departure, by 12 January 2013. Cheques should be made payable to CTC Tours or complete the credit/debit card slip in the booking pack. Cancellations Should you be forced to cancel your booking for any reason you must notify us in writing. Cancellation charges are as follows: Written notice received: Cancellation charge: Before 12 January 2013 Deposit ( 400) 12 January 2013 through to departure 100% ( 825) To make a booking Complete, sign and return the Booking Form together with your deposit and the relevant part of the Travel Insurance Declaration Form directly to the leader (address on Booking Form). CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours Ltd, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX
LEADER S INFORMATION SHEET The information below is given by the tour leader to help enquirers decide if the tour is suitable for them. The area covered by the Tour South of Marrakech stand the two mountain ranges of the High and the Anti Atlas. The peaks of the High Atlas (Jebel Toubkal 4167m) are snow covered for much of the year. Rivers have cut remarkable gorges (Todra, Dades) through them offering suitable sites for villages and providing shelter for the cedar forests that were once dominant. Oases and palmeries are found where the underground springs have been tapped for their water, producing a rich green tapestry against the backdrop of sand and rock. The landscape is arid and uncompromising, which may account for the architecture of the Berber population who inhabit the region. Fortified villages (ksars) and houses (kasbahs) are revealed against the blue skies. Many have fallen into ruins whilst others encourage the traveller to wander through them. South of here lies the Jebel Sahro, a wild, isolated area having a lunar landscape of uncompromising aridity with flat-topped mesas and deep gorges. In the wadis (dry river beds) there are sporadic settlements using underground water creating a green patch in total contrast to their surroundings. It is also the stronghold of the Ait Atta Berber tribe who still practice traditional transhumance, moving their herds from the high mountains into the valleys during the winter. Their nomadic settlements of goat haired tents, perhaps a camel, and goats are a feature of the region. The Tizi N Tichka pass (2260m) is the gateway to the region. Climbing over this pass we leave the greenery of the plains for the aridity of the high mountains and desert. A descent to Talouet follows, after which a river crossing gives access to the piste, which we descend for the next 31kms following the gorge along a track cut out of the hillside. Passing through Ait Benhaddou (featured in Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator etc), a transfer takes us along the Draa Valley through its numerous palmeries and kasbahs to Tinerhir. After a ride into and through the impressive Todra Gorge with its 300m high rock walls, we emerge from the greenery of the river valley into the desert of the plateau and the village of Tamtattouchte. From here the trail goes deep into the Atlas climbing the Tizi N Tirhouzine (2700m) with its 360 panorama of snow capped mountains before descending to the oasis of Agoudal, the highest village in the Atlas at 2400m. Sustained riding from here following river beds, climbing 3 cols before the final Tizi N Ouano (3100m). A 21kms descent following the emerging Dades Gorge with its rock walls before arriving at Msemrir. From here the road contours the mountainside following the vertical walls of the canyon; a version in miniature of the Grand Canyon. For 55kms we descend, sometimes steeply following the hairpins of the Imdiazen Defile, then climb over the small col before another descent following the rock walls of this wild valley, eventually arriving in the wealthy market town of Boumalne Dades. Then we cross the desolate, intriguingly beautiful burnt out rock landscape of the Jebel Sahro. There is a gentle introduction on road before ascending the rough piste to the gite on top of the Tizi N Tazzazert (2200m), then a rocky descent for 15kms to the gite at Bab N Ali and the twin rock pillars. A final sustained ride leads through palmeries before the descending plain leads to Nakob. Photos of the area covered by this tour can be found at http://petej47.jalbum.net/maroc%20off%20road/ Rides and rest days Morocco High Atlas / Jebel Sahro 23 March 2 April 2013 Tour 1270 There are NO rest days on this tour. There are also 2 strenuous days. However, there is a support vehicle that will allow you to do as much riding as you wish. Ride in it to the top of the col then cycle down the valley or choose which bits you want to ride on a daily basis. Your leader will suggest how you can get the most out of the trip with total enjoyment. Breakfast (very French, with lots of bread, jams, tea, coffee etc) will be around 0700, hoping to be loaded and on the road between 0730 and 0800. During the morning we ll find a convenient place for tea and then lunch around midday. On the crossing to Msemrir and the Jebel Sahro the vehicle will carry food, as nothing exists in between. Depending on the day we should arrive at the hotel/gite in the early afternoon allowing time to explore. The evening meal is normally served around 1930. You can buy bottled drinking water at roadside stalls and hotels. The vehicle will also carry a supply which you can purchase. On most days there is around 700m of ascent, with two days of 1000m. About two thirds of the tour is on piste - tracks with hard packed sand and some rock sections, although there is nothing technical. The gradients are generally not steep but the climbs can be long (15kms). They are Land Rover width and are used as main thoroughfares of communication by the locals. The sealed roads we ride on are tarmac and well maintained. We all ride at different speeds, and this also varies depending upon how we feel on the day. The ascents, culture shock, heat, altitude and change of diet all affect the way we perform. I tend to ride through the group, offering support to anyone who needs it. Just ride at your own speed and enjoy it, and the support vehicle is there for you. Detailed route descriptions will be sent with the final tour information approximately 3 weeks before the tour starts.
Travel The tour starts in Marrakech, and therefore you must make your own arrangements to travel there. Please make sure you have read the section on Travel in the Prospectus. Airlines that fly to Morocco include: www.easyjet.com www.royalairmaroc.com www.ryanair.com The website www.whichbudget.com/ lists all airlines flying from the UK to the rest of the world. Accommodation / Meals Accommodation is in Category 2-3-star hotels of the Moroccan Tourist Board grading system. They are a mixture of traditional long-established hotels, together with newer ones. Some have en suite facilities. Gites offer a more basic accommodation with shared facilities and sleeping space, though some may have some additional rooms. They all offer hot water in the evenings, though not necessarily when you arrive, being delivered in a bucket with a container with which to pour it over you. If requested, single rooms may be available in the hotels for an additional fee. Morocco is famous for its couscous, a coarsely ground wheat flavoured with aromatic spices. Accompanying this are the dishes made in tajines - round, shallow earthenware pots with a tall conical lid in which meat; vegetables etc are cooked slowly for several hours in their own juices. Prunes and almonds are a favourite addition to any meal as is the flat bread with its distinctive flavour. Evening meals will normally be taken in the hotel or gite at around 1930. The local tea is refreshing, being a mixture of Green Gunpowder Tea into which a bush of mint is placed followed by tons of sugar. It s great for getting over the mountains or sitting in a square people watching. Lunch stops will be taken at tourist hotels offering a wide range of food, local stalls or a picnic arranged by myself and the driver. As lunches and tea stops are not included in the price, I will take a kitty from you to cover this, which will be replenished as and when needed. Group information The maximum group size will be 14 including the leader. Smokers are welcome on the tour provided they agree not to smoke in shared bedrooms, or at the dining table whilst others are eating. Weather and clothing At this time of year it should be pleasantly warm, with temps around 25C, but rain is a possibility. Mornings can be cool, and temperatures at night in the mountains will fall rapidly as the sun goes down. A fleece and long trousers for the evening are fine. We are guests in a Muslim country (although used to tourists for many years) and so dress accordingly in the towns. Shorts and sun tops are ideal for riding in, but have a baggy t-shirt to put on when we stop for drinks etc. Sun cream is a must, as is a covering for your head. Cycles / Equipment A touring cycle, hybrid or lightweight mountain bike is suitable, but this must be in good working order, especially the brakes. A bottom gear of 20-24 inches is recommended. Mudguards are optional. Each participant will be expected to bring and carry sufficient spares and tools to deal with punctures and minor repairs, though your leader should be available to carry out repairs on the way. Maps and Guide books You should carry a map in case you become separated from the group. The route has been planned using the Michelin Map Editions du Voyage, No:959 Maroc (1:1,000,000). The Lonely Planet book Morocco is recommended. Travel Insurance Before booking you should check the Foreign Office Travel Advice by Country at www.fco.gov.uk or on 0845 850 2829. About the leader I am a climber, mountaineer, sea canoeist and long distance rider. I have climbed and trekked through the Pyrenees, Alps, Norway and the Himalayas of Nepal and Ladahk, and I also ran an outdoor centre on the Isle of Mull. I have cycled through many parts of the world for extended periods and have been leading CTC tours for some years. In between renovating a house in France, I find time to take people to places that I enjoy. Pete Jarvis Lagasse 46120, Thémines, France petej47@hotmail.com