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Epic Morocco is a specialist British adventure tour operator owned and managed by Anglo-French couple Charlie Shepherd and Melodie Selvon. Both have spent much of their working lives in tourism sales, marketing, management and operations. The rest of the time they've spent being tourists themselves; both are well-travelled individuals with an unquenchable thirst for discovering new places. Epic Morocco was set up in 2005 following two years of extensive research of mountain bike routes and hiking trails, and is managed from Marrakech where the couple live with their young sons Oscar and Max. Charlie spends much of his time leading groups, enjoying the chance to endulge his passion for adventure sports, whilst Melodie spends much of her time looking after their young family. Epic Morocco is a small and friendly company set up with the express aim of taking people off the beaten track to get to the heart of what's really special about this exotic, absorbing, and strikingly-beautiful country.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the able assistance of our loyal support crew. Here is a short introduction to the key members of our team.....
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Charlie Shepherd, Managing Director.
Charlie is the founder of Epic Morocco and has been working in tourism for the
past 13 years. After an extensive period of world travel he joined a Latin American
tour operator in 1997 and managed their adventure tours department. After seven
years working in London he felt it was time to spread his wings and set up his own
company. Epic Morocco was born after a series of visits to Morocco when he and
his better half fell in love with the country. He divides his time between leading tours
and managing operations from the office. |
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Alistair Cope, UK Tour Director
Alistair is a qualified guide and has been leading groups in the UK and abroad
over mountain and moorland for many years. Recently he has been developing his
passion for cycling from his home in the West Country and is rarely off his bike!
His latest Epic Morocco projects are to build links with local charities to assist in
fundraising "challenge" events. In his spare time he runs an active cycling club in
Devon. |
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Jim Davies, MTB Guide and Trail Researcher
We have known Jim since he was in short trousers - ....well, actually, he is almost always
still in short trousers. Jim is a MIAS qualified biking guide, a handy trail researcher
and an excellent photographer to boot. Jim guides many of our biking tours and his
latest project will take him down to the Pyrenees to research routes for our new sister
company Epic Pyrenees. When he's not guiding, Jim lives in Yorkshire.
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Mustapha El Ouakhoumi, Mountain Guide
Mustapha hails from the beautiful Ait Bougmez Valley in the High Atlas Mountains
and has worked as a mountain biking and trekking guide for Epic Morocco since
its creation in 2005. Mustapha was instrumental in the research phase of the company
and continues to demonstrate his skills and mountain knowhow to Epic Morocco groups.
Mustapha lived for two years in New York (a far cry from Bougmez!) and spends
low season in the French Alps climbing and trekking with French mountain guides.
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Rachid Mousklou, Mountain Guide
Rachid, also from the Ait Bougmez Valley, is an experienced mountain guide who
has been leading trekking groups for many years. He is notable for many things, but
most importantly his excellent level of English (complete with slight Cockney twang),
his quiet and thoughful personality, and his diminutive stature. Rachid has an excellent
knowledge of the mountains and deserts of Morocco and his versitility and competence
takes him all over Morocco with our groups.
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Noureddine Bachar, Mountain Guide
Noureddine "Mr Nice Guy" Bachar's origins are in the Ourika Valley, close to Marrakech.
His passion for all things mountainous and Moroccan, and his up-beat and friendly
demeanour, make him very popular with our clients. He goes down particularly well
with families. If you book with Epic Morocco, and he is your guide, you can be sure
that Noureddine will look after the kids while you are free to get on and enjoy your holiday!
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Abdellah El Ouakhoumi, Cook and "Fixer"
Over the past few years Abdellah has earned Epic Morocco "legend" status.
Multi-functional and multi-talented, Abdellah cooks a mean tajine and is a superb
organiser and "fixer". "Big Abs" (as he is sometimes called) is a big man with a
big personality and he always brings a cheery atmosphere to the groups he
accompanies. He knows the mountains like the back of his (very big) hand and
is exceptionally adept at sourcing all manner of obscure items in far-flung places. |
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Abdelatif Ait Hajjou, Bike Mechanic
Abdelatif runs a small motorbike and bicycle repair stand on the streets of Marrakech.
Since our meeting in 2005 he has worked part time for us in our workshop and
accompanies many of our cycling groups on multi-day tours. A more genuinely nice,
and more hard-working chap would be extremely hard to find. It would also be hard to
find anyone who can change an inner tube quicker!
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