Overview
When you go hiking in the High Atlas Mountains, short break tours like this help you lose all sense of time and stress. From day one, after a transfer from Marrakech, you’re trekking with an expert guide and muleteer, taking in views of Imlil and Assif N’ait Oussaden Valleys. By day two on this four day break, you hit the heights of Tizi N’taghrhourte Pass (1,995m) and, on day three, Tizi-n-Tegdalt Pass (2,700m). Walking gently from one traditional Berber village to another, take your time to absorb new landscapes and cultures, while staying in a mix of traditional gîtes and a mountain hut.
There is also an option to add on some extra days with other natural adventures in the Ourika Valley and Essaouira at the end of your tour. For more details see below.
- High Atlas Mountains
- Assaka Spring
- Tizi Oussem
- Ighoulidn Waterfall
- Tizi n’Mezzik Pass (2,489m)
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Tahliouin | 12-14km
Start the day with a private transfer from Marrakech to the trailhead at Imi Oughlad (1,450m), where you are greeted by your expert mountain guide and muleteer team. After a two hour acclimatisation walk, take in views of Imlil Valley and Assif N’ait Oussaden Valley, before stopping for a picnic lunch. Continue on the trail for another two hours and a half, before reaching the village of Tahliouin, the final stop for today.
- Walking for the day: 12-14km, 4-5h, ↑550m ↓250m
- Accommodation: Dar Abeldi Gîte or similar in Tahliouin. Depending on availability, you may also be accommodated in a tent outside the refuge.
- Meals included: picnic lunch and dinner
Day 2: Tahliouin – Tekkent Valley | 10-13km
Today’s route heads along Assif N’ait Oussaden Valley, before leading up towards Tizi N’taghrhourte (1,995m). Cross a rare stretch of flat terrain, before arriving at Assaka Spring, the perfect place to stop for lunch. Follow the trail along the edge of woodland, until you come to your accommodation in the Tekkent Valley.
- Walking for the day: 10-13km, 5-6h, ↑350m ↓300m
- Accommodation: gîte in Tekkent or similar in Tekkent Valley. Depending on availability, you may also be accommodated in a tent outside the refuge.
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 3: Tekkent Valley – Tizi Oussem | 14-16km
Today’s walk begins with an ascent to Azib Tekkent, the summer village of Tekkent, before continuing on to Tizi-n-Tegdalt Pass (2,700m), from where there are extensive views over Azzaden Valley and Jebel Agelzim (3,428m). Continue along the trail, before arriving at a small spring nestled among the trees, where you take a break for lunch. Walk for another three hours, following winding paths down to the banks of a small river, which marks the beginning of Assif N’ait Oussaden Valley. Finally, you come to the village of Tizi Oussem, where your accommodation awaits.
- Walking for the day: 14-16km,5h, ↑900m ↓850m
- Accommodation: Refuge Tamsoulte or similar in Tizi Oussem. Depending on availability, you may also be accommodated in a tent outside the refuge.
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 4: Tizi Oussem – Marrakech | 5h
Head up the valley and discover the dramatic Ighoulidn Waterfall, before following the trail towards Tizi n’Mezzik Pass (2,489m), with superb views over Imlil. After a break for lunch, begin your descent to Imlil where you meet your private transfer back to Marrakech.
- Walking for the day: 5h
- Accommodation: none included (option to book extra nights in Marrakech)
- Meals included: breakfast and picnic lunch
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned traditional gîtes and a mountain hut. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. Single rooms may not always be available. You will be accommodated in private rooms, with shared bathroom facilities.
Click to view default accommodations
- Dar Abeldi Gîte
- Gîte in Tekkent
- Refuge Tamsoulte
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of any of them 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
Breakfast is included on day two, three and four, picnic lunches are included on all days and dinner is included on day one, two and three.
Difficulty and terrain
The tour is rated moderate and is suitable for regular walkers with a good level of fitness. No mountaineering or climbing experience is required. There are some longer and more strenuous walks on days two and three. The terrain is varied, with trails following ancient Berber tracks, which can be high, steep, narrow, uneven and rough underfoot and the trails are often exposed to the sun (read more about difficulty grades).
Due to the lack of signposted trails, and since this is a very remote area, you are supported throughout the trip by a local qualified mountain guide.
When to go
This trip is available 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 most daily sunshine hours, with an average of 11 per day. The coldest month is January at 13C. Some walks can be above 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 2025 is expected to begin 28 February and end 29 March (Eid al-Fitr). Eid al-Adha 2025 is expected to be from the evening of 6 June to 7 June.
For more information on travelling to Morocco, see our blog on the Best time to go to Morocco.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Marrakech Ménara Airport (RAK).
- From Marrakech Airport there is a short, direct bus service to the centre of Marrakech. Tickets cost around £3 (approximately 40Dh) and can be purchased at the airport
- Alternatively, it is possible to take a taxi from the airport to the city centre
- Private transfers to/from the airport are not included, but can be arranged at an additional fee
Inclusions
Included
- 3 nights accommodation with shared bathroom facilities
- 3 breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches and 3 dinners
- Luggage transfers (one bag per person, up to 20kg and soft bags only)
- Private transfers from Marrakech to Imlil (day one) and Imlil to Marrakech (day four)
- Services of a qualified English-speaking mountain guide
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Any snacks, drinks and meals not listed in the itinerary
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights in Marrakech before or after the holiday (on request).
- You can also book one of our guided day tour extensions – listed below – for these extra days in Marrakech, or just relax and stroll the streets of Marrakech.
Click here to view the Ourika Valley full day guided tour
Ourika Valley is a very popular day trip from Marrakech due to its many scenic waterfalls and unique wildlife, with the valley being the sole location within the High Atlas mountain range where the endangered Barbary Macaque can be found. The day consists of an easy hike (1-3h) to the famous seven waterfalls, with a picnic lunch accompanied by an official guide.
Please note: overnight accommodation is not included, please request an extra night in Marrakech when booking.
Included: return transfer, guided services, lunch.
Click here to view the fishing port of Essaouira full day guided tour
The day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech begins with a drive along the Haouz planes to Chichaoua, the perfect place to stop for refreshments before continuing to Sid L’Mokhtar. The journey leads through the Argan forest, where you may spot the area’s tree-climbing goats, before heading to a local women’s cooperative to learn how argan oil (also called liquid gold or Moroccan oil) is extracted and made into cosmetic products. From here, continue to the port city of Essaouira to explore the city at your leisure.
Please note: overnight accommodation is not included, please request an extra night in Marrakech when booking.
Included: return transfer, guided services
