Morocco High Atlas Trek

Day 1 • Arrive Marrakesh

Arrive Marrakesh Menara Airport, Morocco (RAK). Transfer airport to hotel. Orientation and overnight at the hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel in Marrakesh

Day 2 • Marrakesh

After breakfast, we begin our day with a walking tour of the Medina of Marrakesh, the city’s historic district. As we walk, our guide tells us about Morocco’s history, architecture, culture and economy. We visit the Jemaa El Fna market square, the Royal Palace Dar El Makhze, the Saadian Tombs, and the beautiful Koutoubia mosque and gardens. We’ll have opportunities to shop and watch snake charmers before we return to our hotel to prepare for an early morning departure to the mountains.

Accommodations: Hotel in Marrakesh
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 3 • High Atlas Mountains • 7,380 feet

We depart Marrakesh and drive one hour to the High Atlas Mountains, where we meet our team at Aguersioual at 5,259 feet (1,600 meters), the starting point of our trek. We hike with light packs towards Tizi Oudite Pass at 7,280 feet (2,219 meters) passing Berber villages. Mules carry all our overnight gear. At the pass, we gain spectacular views of the Imlil and Azzadene valleys. We descend to Ait Aissa at 5,880 feet (1,790 meters), where eat lunch before continuing to Azib Tamsoult at 7,380 feet (2,250 meters) via Tizi Oussem village on the way. 

Vertical Ascent Trekking: 3,500 feet
Vertical Descent Trekking: 1,400 feet
Trekking Time: 5-7 hours

Accommodations: Mountainside Refuge at Azib Tamsoult
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)

Day 4 • Tizi Aguelzim Pass • Toubkal (Imlil) Valley • 11,810 feet

After breakfast, we set out eastward up a narrow ravine to a beautiful waterfall, then across open hillsides with spectacular views of the High Atlas landscape. After a break, we wind our way up moderately difficult mule tracks – making 82 switchbacks – to the Tizi Aguelzim Pass at 11,810 feet (3,600 meters). A long, gradual descent takes us to the Toubkal Refuge near the spring snowline at 10,520 feet (3,207 meters). We enjoy lunch and dinner at Toubkal Basecamp. 

Vertical Ascent Trekking: 4,430 feet
Vertical Descent Trekking: 1,450 feet
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours

Accommodations: Tented Camp or Mountainside Refuge at Toubkal Basecamp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)

Day 5 • Jbel Toubkal • 13,671 feet

We begin the day early and enjoy the sunrise from North Africa’s highest point, Jbel Toubkal at 13,671 feet (4,167 meters) in the High Atlas Mountains. After descending from the summit to basecamp for lunch and tea, we descend to Sidi Chammharouch for a rest break. We continue to the lush village of Imlil at 5,708 feet (1,740 meters) via the main route to Toubkal.

Vertical Ascent Trekking: 3,150 feet
Vertical Descent Trekking: 3,150 feet to Toubkal basecamp
Vertical Descent Trekking: 4,850 feet to Imlil 
Trekking Time: 3-4 hours to summit, 2 hour descent to basecamp, 3-4 hour descent to trailhead

Accommodations: Hotel in Imlil
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)

Day 6 • Essaouira

After breakfast, we drive 4 to 5 hours to the coastal city of Essaouira. Along the way, we may have the opportunity to visit a women’s cooperative that produces Argan oil. Western Morocco is known for the rare Argan tree, which thrives in the region’s desert, but relatively humid, coastal climate. In Essaouira, we explore the sandy beaches of the North African Atlantic coast, as well as the city’s fishing pier and medieval fortifications. We can shop for local handicrafts in the city’s narrow, vibrant streets before savoring a dinner of Moroccan cuisine in one of the fine terrace restaurants in the ancient medina.

Accommodations: Hotel in Essaouira
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 7 • Marrakesh

After breakfast, we have a chance to explore the medina and markets of Essaouira on our own. In the afternoon, we transfer five hours back to Marrakesh where we stay the night. 

Accommodations: Hotel in Marrakesh
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 8 • Zagora

After breakfast we drive 4 hours southeast toward the Sahara Desert, passing through Berber villages and across the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 7,415 feet (2,260 meters) in the High Atlas Mountains. Ancient fortifications known as “kasbahs” cluster in riverside oases and on barren hillsides. Before lunch, we have the opportunity to hike 1 hour to the summit of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with outstanding views of the surrounding landscape. After lunch we continue another 4 hours to Zagora, with remarkable views of the Draa Valley. We arrive in early evening and ride camels into the dunes where we will be served a local tea jokingly referred to as “Berber whisky.” After watching the sunset over the sand dunes, we enjoy a fantastic Tajine dinner and then local music by campfire light. We spend the night in Berber tents.

Accommodations: Berber Desert Camp in Zagora
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)

Day 9 • Marrakesh

We watch the sunrise and eat a light breakfast at our camp. Then we ride camels back to the main road, where we meet our van driver. We drive seven hours back to Marrakesh over the Tizi N’Tichka Pass, with a quick photo stop at the fork to Timbuktu. We arrive in Marrakesh in early evening.

Accommodations: Hotel in Marrakesh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (B, L)

Day 10 • Depart Marrakesh

Transport to Marrakesh Menara International Airport for flights home.

Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 7 • Taroudant

After breakfast we drive five or six hours to Taroudant. We follow the Atlantic coast south to Agadir, passing small towns known for their surfing tournaments, and then drive inland to the walled city of Taroudant. Nicknamed the “Grandmother of Marrakesh,” Taroudant was the royal seat of the Saadi Dynasty in the 16th Century before the capital moved to Marrakesh. Unlike modern Marrakesh, almost all of Taroudant is still within the city’s ancient fortifications. We stay the night in a charming Riad, a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden, and have time to explore the city while shopping for jewelry and carpets produced by Taroudant’s skilled artisans.

Accommodations: Hotel in Taroudant
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner (B, D)

Day 8 • Dades Valley

After breakfast we drive five to six hours across the southern mountains of the High Atlas Range and then east to the sandstone cliffs of the Dadès Gorge. Carved by the Dadès River, the many-hued walls of the gorge rise as high as 1,600 feet. The walls of the gorge are sandstone, limestone and other sedimentary rocks that lay at the bottom of ancient oceans millions of years ago.

Accommodations: Hotel in Dades Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)

Day 9 • Merzouga Dunes

Our path continues 4 hours east towards the border of Morocco and Algeria and the great Merzouga dunes in a sea of sand named Erg Chebbi. We ride camels out among the dunes to watch the sunset, then return to our luxury tent camp for a dinner of delicious Moroccan cuisine while listening to live Berber music beside a campfire under the crisp desert stars.

Accommodations: Berber Desert Camp in Merzouga
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)

Day 10 • Kasbah Ait Benhaddou

We depart west, passing through Tamnougalt and the lush palm groves of the Mezguita Oasis, before continuing on toward the city of Ourzazate. Ourzazate is a noted film-making location home to Morocco’s biggest studios. Films including Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Gladiator (2000) were shot here. At Ourzazate we once again visit the Ait Ben Haddou UNESCO World Heritage Site, but now we have time to linger and explore this marvelous city then sleep in its kasbah. Ait Ben Haddou is a fantastic example of traditional architecture on the edges of the Sahara. It is a “ksar,” a group of connected, red, earthen dwellings surrounded by a single defensive wall.

Accommodations: Hotel in Ait Ben Haddou
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B, L, D)

Day 11 • Marrakesh

We drive four hours back to Marrakesh over the Tizi N’Tichka Pass, arriving in early afternoon. In the evening we have time to explore the city on our own.

Accommodations: Hotel in Marrakesh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (B, L)

Day 12 • Depart Marrakesh

Transport to Marrakesh Menara International Airport for flights home.

Meals Included: Breakfast (B)