The route
This tour is well suited for those who wish to enjoy an active holiday in the mountains without overly demanding stages. The days include gentle to moderate ascents in varied terrain, with good breaks along the way. You typically hike 4–6 hours per day, following trails and small gravel roads. A reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to walk in hilly terrain are required, but there are no technical sections and no need for special equipment.
Easy cancellation up to 35 days before departure
This tour is covered by our special easy cancellation policy up to 35 days before departure.
Itinerary
You arrive in the vibrant city of Marrakech, where North African traditions meet lively city life. After arrival, you are transferred to your hotel or riad, a traditional Moroccan guesthouse built around a peaceful inner courtyard. Depending on your arrival time, you may take your first stroll through the medina, enjoy the atmosphere at Jemaa el-Fna square, or simply relax with a glass of mint tea and take in your new surroundings.
Hotel (example): Riad Omar
You start the day early with breakfast before setting off on your hike. The trail gradually leads uphill through small Berber villages and past terraced fields.
Your goal for the morning is Tizi n’Tamatert Pass at 2,289 metres. The ascent is steady and manageable, and as you gain height the views open up more and more. From the pass, you are rewarded with spectacular panoramic views over both the Imlil Valley and the wide Imnane Valley. Here you enjoy lunch in the open air, surrounded by impressive mountain scenery.
After your break, you continue towards the village of Tacheddirt, beautifully located in the Imnane Valley, where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful mountain atmosphere.
Hotel (example): Guesthouse in Tacheddirt
Today offers a pleasant and mostly downhill hike towards Matat. You follow trails that wind through open mountain landscapes at a relaxed pace, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings.
Along the way, you pass small, authentic villages such as Ouanskra, Tamguist, Ikkis and Amsakrou. Earth-coloured houses blend into the mountainsides, and you may encounter local shepherds or glimpse everyday life in the valley.
Gradually, the landscape opens up again before you reach Matat, where you spend the night in peaceful surroundings framed by the soft silhouettes of the Atlas Mountains.
Hotel (example): Guesthouse in Matat
After an early breakfast, you set off southwest from Matat through varied and open mountain terrain. The day begins with a steady ascent towards Tizi n’Elbour Pass.
You then continue through a quiet area of dry riverbeds and green patches between the rugged mountain slopes before beginning the climb to Tizi Oudid Pass at approximately 2,200 metres. From the top, you are rewarded with beautiful views over both the Azzaden Valley and the Imlil Valley – a perfect place to stop for lunch and take in the scenery.
After lunch, you follow a small gravel road that gradually leads you onwards to Ait Aïssa, where you spend the night in peaceful, scenic surroundings.
Hotel (example): Guesthouse in Ait Aïssa
After breakfast, you leave Ait Aïssa and begin your final hiking day in the Atlas Mountains. The trail climbs towards Tizi Mezik Pass at 2,489 metres. The pace is steady, and along the way the landscape once again opens up with wide-ranging views.
From the pass, you enjoy another impressive view over the Imlil Valley before descending towards Imlil, where you have a well-deserved lunch.
Hotel (example): Dar Assarou
After breakfast, you leave Imlil and the Atlas Mountains behind and travel south toward a very different landscape. The route takes you over the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass, where winding roads reveal breathtaking views of high peaks, deep valleys, and small villages perched along the mountainsides.
As the day progresses, the scenery gradually changes. Green mountain slopes give way to drier and more rugged terrain, punctuated by palm groves and fertile oases. Along the way, you pass small rural settlements and gain insight into everyday life in southern Morocco.
By late afternoon, you arrive in the Dades Valley, renowned for its dramatic rock formations, winding roads, and lush river valleys. The area offers a striking contrast to the mountains and signals the transition toward Morocco’s desert landscapes.
Hotel (example): Dar Esseyaha
The journey continues south through an increasingly arid and open landscape. Along the way, you pass small oases, palm groves, and scattered villages before arriving in Merzouga – the gateway to the Sahara and the vast sand dunes of Erg Chebbi.
At the edge of the desert, you change transportation and mount camels for a slow and peaceful ride into the dunes. The pace is unhurried, allowing you to fully absorb the silence and the immense scale of the desert. Rolling sand dunes stretch in every direction, and the light shifts continuously as the sun lowers.
As sunset approaches, the dunes glow in deep shades of gold and red, creating one of the most memorable moments of the journey. You arrive at your desert camp, where dinner is served beneath the open sky. As night falls, the desert becomes completely silent, and the star-filled sky above the Sahara offers an unforgettable end to the day. Overnight stay in tents in the heart of the desert.
Hotel (example): Camp in Sahara
Early risers can enjoy a memorable sunrise over the sand dunes as the desert slowly changes color with the morning light. After breakfast, you leave the Sahara and travel west through a striking landscape of oases, dry river valleys, and small rural villages.
You arrive at Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s most iconic and best-preserved kasbahs. Built from traditional earthen materials, this fortified village has for centuries played an important role along the historic caravan routes between the Sahara and Marrakech. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and widely known as a filming location for numerous international movies and TV series.
You have time to explore the kasbah on foot, wander through its narrow alleyways, and enjoy panoramic views from the upper levels.
Hotel (example): Riad Maktoub
After breakfast, you leave Ait Ben Haddou and continue your journey through a diverse landscape where mountains, valleys, and fertile plains gradually replace one another. Along the way, you pass small villages and gain insight into everyday life in rural Morocco.
Taroudant is considered one of Morocco’s oldest cities and is often referred to as “Little Marrakech”, though it has a much calmer and more authentic atmosphere. The city is surrounded by impressive reddish-brown city walls that create a striking first impression. Inside the walls, lively souks, small workshops, and open squares offer a glimpse into traditional Moroccan life.
You have time to explore the city at your own pace, stroll along the city walls, and soak up the atmosphere before settling in for the night at your hotel or riad.
Hotel (example): Riad Tafilag
You travel west toward the Atlantic coast, where the climate becomes cooler and the ocean air refreshingly crisp. You arrive in Essaouira, a charming coastal town known for its whitewashed houses, blue shutters, and relaxed atmosphere. The historic medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and reflects a unique blend of Moroccan, African, and European influences.
You have three days at leisure to explore the town at your own pace. Wander through the narrow streets of the medina, visit the lively fishing harbor with its blue boats, or relax at one of the many cafés. Essaouira is also well known for its artisans, small art galleries, and excellent seafood restaurants serving fresh catches from the Atlantic.
The wide sandy beach and steady ocean breeze make Essaouira ideal for relaxation as well as activities such as surfing and kitesurfing. It is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the final days of your journey in a calm and scenic setting.
Hotel (example): Riad Al Madina
You return to Marrakech for the final part of the journey. The glorious centerpiece of the city is Djemaa el Fna - an enchanting, exotic, oriental experience of snake charmers, acrobats and performing storytellers. In the evening you will have the opportunity to purchase a meal from one of the many small food stalls serving delicious kebabs, seafood, soups and salads.
The medinas and markets in the city are bursting with a colorful mix of woven carpets, fruit and yarns of wool. Behind small gates you will find the beautifully forged monuments of late Sultans, old picturesque palaces and Koranic schools. Take your time to sit down at one of the many street cafes and observe the busy crowd passing by. You will stay two nights in Marrakech.
Hotel (example): Riad Omar
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your departure from Morocco, bringing an unforgettable journey through mountains, desert, coast, and vibrant cities to a close.
Pictures from the trip
Prices and dates
The price includes
ACCOMMODATION
- 3 nights’ stay in Marrakech at a hotel/riad
- 3 nights in guesthouses with shared bathroom/toilet
- 1 night in Imlil at a riad
- 1 night’s stay in Dades at a hotel/riad
- 1 night in a desert camp in Sahara
- 1 night in Ait Ben Haddou in hotel/riad
- 1 night in Taroudant at a hotel/riad
- 3 nights in Essaouira at a hotel/riad
FOOD & DRINK
- Breakfast every day
- All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- All meals during the desert safari (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
EXPERIENCES DURING THE TRIP
- 4 days / 3 nights trekking tour in the Atlas Mountains
- Local English-speaking guide, cook, and mule drivers during the trek
- 2-day / 1-night camel safari with overnight stay in tents
- Half-day guided sightseeing in Marrakech
TRANSPORT
- All transportation according to the itinerary
- Mules for transporting luggage during the trek
EVERYTHING ELSE
- Local service hotline
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
GENERELT
- Transport to/from Morocco (Marrakech)
- Cancellation and travel insurance
- Handling fee (€25)
REQUIRED AND PAYABLE LOCALLY
- Tips for driver, guide, cook, and mule drivers
Use the “Calculate price” function on this page to see the total trip price including any optional extras you choose.
Practical information
The price is based upon two people sharing. For safety reasons, this tour cannot be booked for solo travellers. There must be minimum two participants.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill out any forms. Here’s how:
- Click on the "Calculate Price" button (you’ll find it in the "Dates and Prices" section) – this will take you to the first pages of the booking form
- Select your preferred date, number of people, room distribution, any extra nights, and any available add-ons you may want
- See the price
Get a quote
If you would like a flight included, or changes made to the trip, you can request a customized offer by clicking the "Get Quote" button at the top of the page. Remember to describe in detail what changes you would like.
The booking process
When you book the trip, we will begin booking hotels and arranging all the practical aspects of your tour. This process typically takes 5–8 working days, but in some cases it may take longer for certain bookings. If you arrange your own transportation, we recommend waiting until we have confirmed your booking before making any arrangements.
Dates
If you can select a date in the trip calendar (in the booking form), then this is a possible start date. We regularly update our trips with sold-out dates; these dates will then appear in red/grey and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Marrakech are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flight.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 3-4 business days)
- You arrange your transportation
Airport transfers
When you arrive at the airport you will be picked up and driven to the hotel in Marrakech. You will also be driven back after the trip ends.
Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 48 working hours). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.
In Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou, Dades, Taroudant you will stay at so-called "riads" which is a nice tourist class hotel where breakfast is included. On the trek you will stay in guesthouses and on the camel tour to the desert, you will spend the night in traditional Bedouin tents.
In Marrakech, Essaouira and Taroudant, breakfast is included, but you must purchase the other meals. On the trek and the camel tour all meals are included with the option to purchase soft drinks.
A typical trekking day begins with a wake-up time between 06:00 and 6:30. After breakfast you will pack your luggage on the mules and begin the walking around 8.00. Around noon you will have a nice long lunch break before continuing on the afternoon walk. You will typically arrive to your accommodation in the middle of the afternoon.
This journey has difficulty level 2
Grade 2
Easy hiking on reasonably good trails. The day walks will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in good physical condition can participate. Your luggage will be transported and you only carry a light daypack. Requires comfortable footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.
Read more about our grading system here.
On this tour, you will receive the following documents:
Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.
One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.
Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
Some nationalities do not need to apply for a visa before visiting Morocco. We ask you to check if you need to apply for a visa here.
We recommend checking with your health authorities or contacting your local doctor well in advance of departure to get updated information on relevant and possibly required vaccinations.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
When booking this trip, you will receive our practical information and a suggested packing list for the trip.
From March to October are good months for this trip where the temperatures in spring and autumn are 20-25 degrees C. In the summer it is hot with over 30 degrees in the low-lying areas. The tour can be arranged with daily arrivals to Marrakech year round, even in the winter. In the period from November to February it cools down in low-lying regions with daily temperatures between 10-15 degrees.
Here is some general climate data for Marrakech, as seen on bbc.com:
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"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"
