Overview
A seven day, guided Moroccan adventure, combining the wonders of hiking in the High Atlas Mountains and Marrakech’s magic. This is a moderate hiking holiday, with walks in and around Imlil, gateway to Toubkal National Park, Moulay Brahim Gorges, Tizi N’Tinzert Pass and the Azzaden and Ouirgane Valleys. Explore these magnificent mountain landscapes with an expert guide and muleteers, followed by two nights in Marrakech and a day trip to Ouzoud Waterfalls. Full board accommodation is in traditional, quality riads with one night in a traditional Berber home.
- High Atlas Mountains
- Toubkal National Park
- Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Marrakech
- Tizi N’Tinzert Pass
- Berber villages and traditional Berber hospitality
- Visit to Kasbah du Toubkal
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Marrakech
Arrive in Marrakech. Private transfer from the airport to the hotel.
- Accommodation: Traditional Moroccan riad in Marrakech
Day 2: Tinzert – Marigha | 5-6h
Transfer to Imi Oughlad (1,450m), where you meet your Berber muleteer and guide for a leisurely acclimatisation hike in the Ouirgane Valley, in the heart of Toubkal National Park. Head toward Tinzert village which has great views over the Ouirgane Valley, where you rest and feast on your first traditional Berber lunch in the Atlas mountains. The afternoon walk is down a small valley, through olive groves to Marigha village, where you stay at Ouirgane Ecolodge.
- Accommodation: Ouirgane Ecolodge or similar
- Meals: full board
- Walking distance: 14km / 5-6h
Day 3: Marigha – Ait Aissa | 5-6h
After breakfast, you start a gradual ascent up towards the Azzaden Valley. Fantastic, expansive views open up as you cross into the valley, and your guide and cook will pick a picturesque spot to prepare a welcome lunch. After lunch, you follow the course of the river up the valley, walking through several traditional Berber villages before reaching Ait Aissa (1,860m).
- Accommodation: Berber house at Ait Aissa
- Meals: full board
- Walking distance: 13km / 5-6h, 760m elevation gain
Day 4: Ait Aissa – Imlil | 6-7h
Walk up through the Azzaden Valley to the village of Tizi Oussem, with a diversion to the largest waterfalls in the Toubkal National Park. After visiting the falls, you follow a path to Ait Mizan Valley via Tizi Mzzik (2,500m), where you get superb views of Imlil, its surrounding villages and the Atlas mountain range. The final leg of the walk will be descending to Imlil.
- Accommodation: Drar Adrar Guesthouse or similar
- Meals: full board
- Walking distance: 15km / 6-7h, 800m elevation gain
Day 5: Imlil – Aguerssioual – Marrakech | 7-8h
Today’s hiking trail is a circular route through Imnane Valley. You start by heading east out of Imlil (1,740m) and along the Tamatert Valley before taking the mountain pass of Tizi N’Tamatert (2,279m). Once you reach the top of the pass, you are rewarded with spectacular views of the Imnane valley. From here, head down to the village of Tinerhourhine and, follow winding mule trails, pass through the villages of Ikkis and Amssakrou on the way.
Lunch with a view again, looking out towards the summit of Jbel Oukaimeden (3,268m). After lunch, hike up to Tizi N’Aguersioual Pass (1,767m) before descending back into Imlil valley. Here you will meet your driver, to be transferred back to Marrakech.
- Accommodation: traditional Moroccan riad in Marrakech
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
- Walking distance: 17km / 7-8h, 800m elevation gain
Day 6: Ouzoud Waterfalls | 2-4h
Ouzoud Waterfalls are located in the Middle Atlas, 170km from Marrakech (3h drive). These are the highest waterfalls in Morocco, and you can walk around them, take a boat across the river or hike for two hours to their source. Lunch is in one of the restaurants with terraces overlooking the waterfalls. Transfer back to Marrakech.
- Accommodation: traditional Moroccan riad in Marrakech
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
- Walking distance: 2-4h
Day 7: Departure or extra nights in Marrakech
Departure after breakfast (airport transfer included) or extend your stay, upon request.
- Meals: Breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in quality hotels (riads) in Marrakech, quality guesthouses and one night in a traditional Berber house. There is an option to upgrade at time of booking.
Click to view sample hotels
- Ouirgane Ecolodge
- Drar Adrar Guesthouse
- Riad Zayane Atlas
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts are included, as well as all lunches and dinners in the mountains (picnic lunches are included when out on walks). During your mountain walks, you will be accompanied by a local guide, a cook and a muleteer.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip requires a moderate physical condition. There are some longer (strenuous) walks on some days. The terrain varies, and the trails are often exposed to the sun. In the mountains, the route follows ancient Berber tracks, which can be high, steep, narrow, uneven and rough underfoot (read more about difficulty grades).
Due to the lack of signposted trails, you will be supported by a local qualified mountain guide. This is a very remote area. You should be a regular walker and have a good level of walking fitness to get the most from this walk.
When to go
This trip is available all year round. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
July is the hottest month in the Atlas Mountains with an average temperature of 29C and the coldest is January at 13C. Some walks can be above the the snow line throughout the year.
Please note that during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha’s festival times, many restaurants and shops will be closed, which may affect your trip experience. Ramadan and Eid al-Adha change yearly. Ramadan 2024 is expected to begin 11 March and end 09 April (Eid al-Fitr). Eid al-Adha 2024 is expected to be from 16 June to 20 June.
Please note that there might be supplements for bookings over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK).
- Private transfer from the airport to your hotel on day one and from the hotel to the airport on day seven is included. Please note that only one airport transfer is included, though we can arrange additional transfers. Therefore, it is advisable that all party members arrive on the same flight or at least at a similar time. Extra charges may be applicable on private transfers in case of late-night arrivals.
Inclusions
Included
- 3 nights in a comfortable 3-star grade riad
- 1 night in a traditional guesthouse
- 1 night in a Berber village house
- 1 night in an ecolodge
- 5 breakfasts
- 3 dinners
- 5 lunches (some of which are packed lunches)
- Airport transfers to and from Marrakech
- Bag transfers of one bag of up to 20kg per person between accommodations
- Services of a personal walking guide, a muleteer and a cook as appropriate in the mountains
- Guided day tour of Ouzoud Waterfalls on day six
- Detailed holiday information pack
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare
- Meals not listed in itinerary
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own, when one is available.
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as costs are not shared.
- Optional hotel upgrade: if you prefer to stay on your nights in Marrakech in a luxury 4-star hotel (riad) e.g. Charme d’Orient (or similar), you can add this option when completing the online booking form
- One or two extra nights in Marrakech before or after the holiday (standard accommodation)
- One or two extra nights in Marrakech before or after the holiday (luxury accommodation)
- You can also book one of our guided day tour extensions – listed below – for these extra days in Marrakech, or just relax and enjoy the the streets of Marrakech.
Click here to view Ourika Valley full day guided tour
Ourika Valley, with its many waterfalls and several attractions, is a very popular day trip from Marrakech. This valley is the sole location within the High Atlas Range where the endangered primate Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus is known to live. You can picnic in the oasis or hike up to the famous seven waterfalls. It’s an easy hike, accompanied by an official guide, and it can take between one and three hours.
Note: Overnight accommodation not included, please choose an extra night in Marrakech extension when booking.
Click here to view fishing port of Essaouira full day guided tour
Your day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech begins with a drive along the Haouz Plains to Chichaoua village, where you stop for a cup of mint tea or coffee before continuing to Sidi Mokhtar. On your way, you traverse a landscape with argan trees, where you might spot some goats climbing the trees. To watch how argan oil is extracted, you can visit a local women’s cooperative. From here, you continue on to Essaouira, famous for its Medina, traditional fishing harbour and beaches.
- Visit the fishing port of Essaouira and watch local fishermen returning inland with their catch
- Skala Kasbah
- Essaouira’s art galleries and Medina
- Seafood lunch in the harbour stalls or at a local café
- Relax on the 6km long sandy beach
Note: Overnight accommodation not included, please choose an “Extra night in Marrakech” extension when booking the guided tours (or book a hotel on your own).
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