
Climb Mount Toubkal (4167m) and Sleep in the Sahara
Trek across the beautiful Atlas Mountains to North Africa's highest peak and sleep in the desert
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guideAll accommodation
2 nights in a riad, 1 night in a mountain refuge, 2 nights in hotels and 1 night in a Berber campMeals
All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinnersTransfers
To and from the airport and everything in betweenPorterage
Mules and muleteers to carry your overnight luggage during your climbSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
…
What's it like?






























Experience the best of Morocco - from the highest point in North Africa, to the wild scenery of the northern Sahara
Climb to the summit of Mount Toubkal and be rewarded with the sunrise of a lifetime
Take a road trip to the desert and trek by camel to a Berber village to sleep surrounded by rolling sand dunes
Key Information
Day 1
Check out the sights and smells of Marrakech

Your host will meet you at the airport and take you to your traditional riad accommodation in Marrakech’s historic medina. You'll then get the chance to spend the day exploring the city’s colourful souks, wander the UNESCO-listed main square and indulge in some amazing Moroccan food.
Day 2
Hike to the Toubkal Refuge

Hiking
Wake up early and drive through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to Imlil, where you'll meet your support crew and start your trek. Ascend the dramatic Mizane Valley, passing Berber farming villages and stop for lunch on the trail. In the afternoon you’ll arrive at the refuge where you can settle in, meet other hikers and refuel with a well-earned dinner cooked by your support crew. Sleep well before your summit attempt tomorrow.
Day 3
Summit Mount Toubkal

Hiking
Wake while it’s still dark and begin your ascent. Reach the final ridge and finish the climb to the top (4167m) in time to watch the sunrise over the mountains and the distant Sahara. Rest up and then begin the descent back to Imlil where you’ll sleep soundly in a comfortable hotel.
Day 4
Road trip to the Dades Valley

Driving
Take a scenic drive over the Atlas Mountains and descend toward the unworldly landscape of the Sahara Desert, passing Kasbahs (fortified homes) and oases. You'll also have the option to stop at the Ouarzazate Film Studios and Ait Ben Haddou, famous as the filming location for movies and TV shows including Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Arrive in the Dades Valley and take a hike to explore it or just relax back at your hotel.
Day 5
Road trip to Todra Gorge and camel trek to the Berber camp

Driving
Drive through Todra Gorge, an impressive canyon with sheer, 160m cliff walls and then take a short hike to a date palm oasis. Rendevous with your camels in Merzouga, gear up and ride into the desert. Arrive at a traditional Berber camp surrounded by dramatic dunes and enjoy dinner around the fire before sleeping under the stars or in a comfortable, carpeted Berber tent.
Day 6
Sunrise camel trek and road trip back to Marrakech

Driving
Wake early and enjoy a sunrise camel trek back to Merzouga. Eat breakfast, shower off the desert and then drive back to Marrakech, stopping along the way for photos, exploration and food. You’ll arrive at your riad in the early evening in time to find a restaurant for couscous or a tasty tajine before collapsing into bed.
Day 7
Time to go home. What a week.

Relax over your last Moroccan breakfast, explore the town some more if you have time, then transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Marrakech Menara Airport
Any time on Day 1
Ends
Marrakech Menara Airport
Any time on Day 7
Transfers
Private transfers between the airport and your riad are included for any time you choose to arrive on Day 1 and depart on Day 7, or if you have booked additional pre- or post-trip accommodation with your host.
If you are making your own arrangements to extend your stay in Morocco, transfers are not included but can be arranged with your host for an additional cost. Please see Optional Extras for details.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Marrakech from airports across the UK and Europe.
Please note that mobile boarding passes are not accepted at Marrakech Airport. You will need to present a printed boarding pass on departure.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3 – Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?

Moroccan food is a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Local specialities include tajines (a stew cooked in an earthenware pot), couscous, and pastilles (flaky pastries stuffed with meat and dusted with cinnamon and sugar). Food is often spiced with cumin, turmeric and ginger.
Meals on the trek are fresh, healthy and cooked by your Berber muleteers. Breakfast will usually feature bread, jam, cookies, fruit, juice, coffee and milk, while lunch will feature salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish (sardines, tuna) and seasonal fruit. Dinner meanwhile, will usually include soup, a classic Moroccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts and fruit.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?

Marrakech
In Marrakech, you'll stay in a beautiful riad - a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden or courtyard. The exact riad you stay in will be confirmed nearer the time based on availability and group size. All are chosen for their excellent reputation, location, beautiful decor and welcoming service.

The Atlas Mountains
During the trek, you'll stay in either the Mouflon or Neltner refuge, depending on availability and group size, the only accommodation options on the route. Rooms are simple, large mixed dorms with shared bunk-style sleeping platforms. Where possible, your group will have exclusive use of a dorm, though you may share with other climbers if space is limited.
The refuges have a relaxed, sociable atmosphere, with communal areas where you can wind down and chat with fellow adventurers in the evenings.

Imlil and the Dades Valley
You'll stay in a twin room in small but comfortable hotels with unique decor and ensuite bathrooms. You'll usually stay in Dar Adrar in Imlil and Dar Essyaha in the Dades Valley.

The Sahara Desert
You'll stay by the village of Merzouga, close to the Erg Chebbi dunes in the Sahara Desert. The Berber camp here provides permanent carpeted tents with beds – or, if you prefer, blankets so you can sleep directly under the stars.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and single tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability). This is only available for the nights in Imlil, Dades and in the Berber camp, not for the night spent on the mountain.
This trip has been rated as Challenging
No technical climbing experience is needed, however, the elevation, loose footing and time involved in climbing Mount Toubkal means a moderate level of fitness is required. The camel trek, though potentially a little uncomfortable, is easy for most travelers. There is a lot of distance to cover on this trip, Morocco is a big country! The driving times listed include stops for sightseeing and eating however so most find it pretty easy going and a nice time to relax having climbed a mountain in the first part of the trip.
What will I need to carry?
Mules will carry your main overnight luggage during the trek and you will need to carry your daypack with your daytime essentials (extra layer, snacks, water etc.). For the welfare of the mules, please ensure your main overnight luggage is in a soft-sided bag and weighs no more than 15kg.
From April to October, daytime temperatures in the Atlas Mountains are typically warm (25 - 30°C) but cool off considerably at night, and the higher you go, the cooler it gets (you may even need gloves on a summit day in August!) In the winter, daytime temperatures are still warm (10 - 20°C), but nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. Afternoon storms are always possible, but the amounts are small and generally don’t prevent anyone from enjoying the trek.
View detailed weather for the climb here on Mountain Forecast
The desert is considerably hotter than the mountains, though nighttime temperatures drop significantly and can even approach freezing in the winter.
In the summer (June, July, August), daytime temperatures have been known to approach 45°C in the desert and in Marrakech so please ensure that you come prepared with sun protection, light and airy clothing and electrolytes/rehydration solutions if travelling at this time of year. If it becomes unsafe to camp in the desert due to extreme summer temperatures, your host will accommodate you in a nearby hotel instead.


Fantastic Week
The tour is a fab introduction to Morocco for people who enjoy hiking and wish to sunmit Toubkal! The guides are really good and will get you up and down the mountain but you have to be reasonably fit and mentally determined as well. The night in the desert camp made the trip for me. There was 14 of us on the tour, all from different backgrounds but we all got a long great. The second part of the trip featured some long drives but the trip fits in the highlights and takes you across a large part of the country. Definitely makes me want to explore more of Morrocco.



Great Adventure
This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that exceeded all expectations. From scaling breathtaking mountain peaks to riding camels across the golden sands of the Sahara, every moment was filled with awe and wonder. What truly made the trip exceptional were the guides — incredibly kind, caring, and accommodating throughout. Their expertise and warmth made the journey feel not only safe but deeply personal. I can’t recommend this adventure highly enough for anyone looking to explore nature's extremes with a supportive and professional team.


Brilliant
Wow, surpassed all expectations. Great trip. Amazing climb of mount Toubkal, which was only achievable for me due to great guides. Huge shout out to Mohumad our tour leader. Excellent communication in lead up to departure. Lovely meals. Excellent value. Shall use the company again.

Fast but fun
Such a delight going on this experience. Guides were so friendly and helpful and reaching summit was an amazing accomplishment. That being said, the climb of mount Toubkal is quite challenging and I wouldn’t suggest unless you are quite fit and up for the challenge. I loved everything we saw and did but the trip was also very fast with little time to rest or explore each place we stopped. ~8hr bus ride to the Sahara, quick camel ride and then early wake up to leave desert.
The trip was good.
Incredible week
An amazing experience in a beautiful country. Fascinating to get to see so many different aspects of Moroccan culture and landscapes. The guides were absolutely incredible (shout out to Mohamed and Abdul) and the logistics were flawless. Plenty of delicious food was provided and we stayed in gorgeous accommodation. The only caveat is be prepared for a lot of driving, the second half of the trip is a whistle stop tour and involves a lot of time in the minivan.
An Eye Opening Experience :)
It was my first MBA trip and I’m now craving for more. :) I had my concerns initially as I didn’t think it through and chose to complete the most strenuous part of my trip in the beginning. I had no time to recover from the jet lag + long hours of flying to get to Marrakesh but I was lucky enough to not suffer from the altitude. It turned out I didn’t need to worry anyway because our guides were super professional, attentive, and our safety was always their top priority.
The rest of the week after summit was super cruisy. I’ve seen comments about the drive but I don’t think our group cared as much. It’s simply part of covering so much ground in 5 days. You have to accept the long drive as these places are not close to each other when you have to go through mountain ranges.
It does get quite hot in the van during the afternoons, so don’t hesitate to ask the driver to turn on the air conditioning.
For me, the most authentic part of the trip was from Imlil to Mt. Toubkal. After that, it became more commercialised, but it became apparent to me why and so didn’t take away from the experience.
Overall, I loved the trip. It felt great knowing my money was supporting local people. I always felt safe and cared for by everyone who took care of us not just our guide. It’s a great way to experience North Africa for the first time!
Lastly, I can’t not give a big shout to my group who made the trip extra memorable for me. 🥰
Itinerary could be better
While the hike up mount toubkal, Ait Benn Haddou and camel ride in the desert were amazing, everything else felt like filler. While all of the other stops were interesting, they only provided a brief point of interest and felt like the main purpose was just to break up the drive. I would also have appreciated more of an official welcome on day 1- we didn't meet the rest of the group until day 2 when we all congregated for breakfast and worked out that we were all on the same group. The guides were great and their support for the mount toubkal hike was brilliant, but it would've been nice to have been properly introduced to them.



Mount Toubkal was excellent, the rest was average.
The highlight of the trip was definitely the hike and summit of Mount Toubkal — an incredible experience. The group was also excellent: adventurous, fun, and full of good energy.
The visits to Aït Ben Haddou (ancient palace and famous film location) and the Dades Valley was enjoyable. However, the stops at the Atlas Studios, rose cooperative, traditional dress-up spot, and fossil shop felt unnecessary — more like stops to just buy souvenirs than meaningful experiences.
Our guide was friendly and very helpful — always offering water, helping with luggage, and giving great support to hikers who struggled on the way to the summit. Still, I would’ve appreciated more information about Morocco itself. He also never really learned our names or socialised much with the group, which made the experience feel a bit impersonal at times.
The camel ride and night in the desert were nice, though not as authentic as I had hoped — it felt very much like a setup for tourists rather than a genuine cultural experience.
The food was mostly average and not particularly memorable. I found better meals during the extra time I spent in Marrakech. Some small details could’ve been better organized too — for example, on the first morning there was no one to receive us at breakfast, so we had to figure out on our own who was part of the group and introduce ourselves.
Overall, I enjoyed the trip — especially the Toubkal hike — but in hindsight, I would’ve just booked the shorter MBA tour focused on the summit and explored the rest of Morocco independently.
Dear Ian
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We're really pleased to hear that the Mount Toubkal hike was a highlight and that you enjoyed the energy of the group dynamic — it's great to know that part of the experience stood out for you.
We also appreciate your honest comments about other aspects of the trip and are sorry to hear they didn't meet your expectations on this occasion. Your feedback has been noted and we will ensure it is carefully reviewed with our local host to help identify improvements for future groups.
It's always our goal to provide meaningful, well-organised, and culturally enriching adventures, so your input plays a key role in helping us achieve that.
Thanks again for your thoughtful review and we hope to welcome you onto another MBA trip in the future.
Tom - MBA Operations Team
BRILLIANT
One of the most eye opening experiences of my life. guides where fantastic and the hiking is possible for everyone to do despite the challenge due to the hard work of the guides.



Enjoyable but a lot of driving
The highlights of this trip were definitely the views from the peak of Mount Toubkal, and being surrounded by the dunes of the Saharan desert on a camel, which made this trip worthwhile.
The trip however did feel a little rough around the edges compared to the other MBA trip I have done. There were a number of things that led to the trip feeling less special. Largely the food, which was quite similar across most days and didn’t feel like the most exciting of options available in Morocco.
The guiding, whilst pleasant, also felt a little off at times, particularly on the first day where there were no group activities, and you didn’t meet the group or the guide.
There was also a lot of time spent driving in a hot, cramped minibus, particularly on the penultimate day with 10 hours of driving. It’s something worth considering if you’re happy with if you’re thinking about doing this trip. A lot of the stops along the way also aren’t particularly noteworthy and were usually just tourist shops dressed up with a 5 minute talk first.
Dear Jack
Many thanks for sharing your experience on this trip — we’re really pleased to hear that the summit of Mount Toubkal and the time spent in the Sahara were standout moments for you and made the journey worthwhile.
We also appreciate your honest reflections on the areas that didn’t meet your expectations. We’re sorry to hear that the food felt repetitive and that the guiding and group introductions at the start of the trip lacked the connection and structure we aim to provide. We also understand how the long travel days and stops can affect the overall experience.
We’ll be reviewing comments in detail with our local host to explore how we can make adjustments to improve the comfort and authenticity of the trip.
Thanks again for your constructive review and we hope to welcome you onto another MBA trip in the future.
Tom - MBA Operations Team
Great trip to have a
Great trip to have a good idea of Morocco in few days Fab value for money






A fabulous excursion
I am 63 and active and I took my 18 year old nephew from London on this trip to see a bit of the Atlas and the desert. The climb of Toubakil was challenging but our guides were super organized and always present to help. With their help, no one felt they couldn't do it and everyone made it to the top - and its quite a climb. We later drove across the country and had a great time in the Sahara with helpful steps along the way to see the sights and do some shopping. The team were great and all needs were accommodated- we had a vegan and a vegetarian also along and they were well fed. Top marks to Much Better Adventures.
An amazing adventure!!
This trip was absolutely outstanding! From the local guides who took the best care of us, to the stunning sunrise Mountain View’s and beauty of the Saharan sand dunes, this trip exceeded all my expectations and was one of the best things I’ve done!







Hidden Gems & Lasting Memories
Third trip with MBA and once again, flawless! From hiking to camel rides, every moment was inspiring and unexplainable. And the food incredible. Even the scenic drives were were kept adventurous by our guide, Mohammed, and driver, Yusuf. We stopped plenty of times; walks through pomegranate and orange groves and visits to local waterfalls with the village children. Another trip that’s unlocked core memories.
Wonderful trip to Toubkal and the desert
We recently went on the Toubkal and desert trip with much better adventures. It was a fantastic trip which I highly recommend. Our guide Muhammad was really supportive on the Toubkal climb, he took excellent care of all us and made sure we all had an enjoyable experience. The climb was challenging but definitely worth it!
Muhammad also led the remainder of our trip and had an excellent knowledge of all the locations we visited. Our driver Yusef was also great and always there to pick us up at the end of each activity.
Overall a great trip, shared with a wonderful group and well worth it.



Amazing 🤩
What an amazing trip! From start to finish, the organisation and professionalism of all staff involved was brilliant. We were constantly informed and reviewed on activities and daily schedules, which made our trip run so smoothly. The food was so nice and very tasty, with great portions, especially in the mountain hut! Our guide Mohammed was fantastic! From his knowledge and eagerness to his sense of humour and professionalism. He really made the trip feel so personal and made everyone feel so welcome. The hike was paced very well with plenty of stops to recharge and enjoy the scenery. Thank you also to our driver Yussef, who was very nice throughout the entire journey. We visited a lot of local areas and many tourist attractions on our way to Dades Gorges. The Sahara experience went above and beyond my expectations, with the scenic camel ride, stargazing and beautiful accommodation. The staff really made a huge effort to make it a unique experience, playing the drums and singing for us, with the opportunity for tourists to try their musical talents. Thank you so much for such a great adventure and for the memories!
Amazing trip!
Well organised, great guides, unforgettable experience, good value for money.






Climb Toubkal plus Sahara camp.
This is one of the most organised & outstanding expedition’s i have ever been on, from the moment we arrived till the moment we left everything was taken care of in such a fantastic way, we summited the mountain on a great route, the places we stayed in were very comfortable and the camp in the desert was better than some hotels. Mohamed (mountain guide) was very professional and a great person to share knowledge about each and every day whether we were on the mountain or in the desert, we visited idyllic & impressive gorges in the Atlas Mountains,the drive to the desert is excellent, you come across so many towns in the middle of nowhere where we stopped for tea/coffee etc, the food throughout the whole week was delicious, I would certainly recommend to anyone to book this trip and go and experience a remarkable adventure with a very good company. Thank you so much MBA for giving me a such a great trip. Kind regards Simon Mcconville
Fab way to tour Morocco
As a solo traveller, and not a very experienced one at that, I’ve much enjoyed my trip with Aztat adventures. The guides are knowledgeable with good English and French. A fantastic way to see a lot of Morocco in an organised way.
The Toubkal hike is not difficult, but altitude sickness easily creeps in. Bring hydration tablets. There’s a lot of driving too, but many stops along the way for interesting sightseeing opportunities. It’s an opportunity to recover from the hike, and hang out with your group. You’re with like-minded people which helps a lot.





Unforgettable Moroccan Adventure with Stunning Views and a Few Minor Flaws
I recently returned from a trip to Morocco that included a trek to Mount Toubkal, and overall, it was an unforgettable experience. The trip was very well organized, with a highly professional and knowledgeable guide leading our group. I also appreciated the support from the riad staff in Marrakech — they were always ready to help with any questions.
Along the way, we visited several fascinating places, each adding something unique to the journey. The views from the summit of Toubkal were absolutely breathtaking, and riding camels through the Sahara, surrounded by endless dunes, felt almost surreal. It was clear that the entire team—guides, drivers, and hosts—genuinely cared about our comfort and did their best to ensure a great experience for everyone.
The only downside was the desert camp. While the setting was beautiful, the tents had an unpleasant smell, possibly from incense or repellents used to keep insects away. More importantly, the bedding didn’t feel clean, and I had the impression that the sheets hadn't been changed after the previous guests.
Despite that, the trip as a whole was memorable and well worth it. The landscapes, cultural experiences, and overall organization made it a truly special journey.








High Above the Atlas: My Toubkal Ascent.
It was definitely a challenge at times, but absolutely manageable—and so worth it. The views from the top were stunning, and the whole experience left me feeling strong and accomplished.
But the real magic happened afterward, in the Moroccan Sahara Desert. Endless dunes, golden sunsets, starry nights, and a sense of freedom that’s hard to describe. It was an even greater adventure than I expected—beyond beautiful and deeply moving.


A Ginger in the desert!
This was my first time travelling with MBA, and I have to say it was very well organised. Even before travelling, having access to the dashboard and a WhatsApp text number was invaluable. If I thought of a question, I could text there and then and generally didn't have to wait too long. Booking was easy; paying the trip off in instalments was dead handy.
I arrived the night before the trip was set to start. I had booked my own accommodation. While emailing the company about an unrelated question, I was offered a transfer from the airport to the accommodation, free of charge, even though the trip was not set to start until tomrorrow.
From the very beginning in Riad Viewpoint, the staff were helpful, polite and welcoming. Everything was done in a timely manner and dinner on the first night was really tasty and was a great way to get to know the group.
A lot of driving, but that was expected. Everything on the mountain went really well. What I expected but found difficult was the long summit day, which included a long 6+ hours back to Imlil, which was tough, and I would consider myself quite fit. The thing that made it worse was the fact that on returning to the Refuge, lunch was served, with NO meat. It was a mediocre lunch at best and on a day with 13+ hours walking, some protein and a decent lunch would have been good. The same could be said about one lunch stop during the week too. BUT that would be my only criticism.
The guide, Mohammed, was really knowledgeable and very enjoyable to chat to. The accommodation, particularly in Imlil, was exceptional. Always comfortable and always clean.
Thank you so so much for a super experience and trip. I know you guys have nothing to do with the people who book the trip, but the group I was privileged to travel with were some of the best people I have ever met. I will never ever forget this trip!
Tantalising Toubkal and Tagines
Great Trip.
Our fantastic guide Mohammed helped get us up rhe mountain with his enthusiasm for the local area. All the accommodation we were in was of a high standard. Highlights were the climb up Toubkal and the camel ride to the desert.
Trip to Toubkal
Overall an unforgettable trip with a great group dynamic and wonderful guides.


Fabulous Adventure
We had a fantastic trip! Climbing Mt Toubkal was tough but incredibly gratifying. What an incredible feeling of accomplishment! Trekking into the Sahara was awesome! The camp and tents were far beyond my expectations and the camel rides were great fun!! Excellent food throughout the trip and consistently nice accommodations!! Loved it!!
Adventure of a lifetime
Amazing trip! Much better adventures put on a well planned, and well executed trip, alongside an amazing like minded group of people. You really feel like you’ve seen the country from this trip! From a challenging but rewarding hike up mount Toubkal, to driving through the atlas mountain range, stopping at amazing view points along the way, to wandering through beautiful gorges, to riding your camel in the Sahara! You really get the opportunity to soak in the country in its splendour. Bring plenty of snacks to see you up the 2 day hike, you’ll be running on sugar fumes as fun as all sleeping in a shared dorm is, sleep is hard to come by prior to your summit attempt. The guides are fantastic and the pace is well suited to the whole group ensuring no one is left behind or getting burnt out, we had a mix of ages and abilities in our group and everyone successfully made it to the summit which was credit to the amazing guide's. If you’re a bit unbalanced like me, be prepared to come down some of the mountain on your bum! Some steep gravel/scree sections make for entertaining descent. Throughout the whole trip you are well fed, albeit heavily influenced by moroccos dish of choice… Tagine… be prepared to live off Tagine, but it’s is all amazing food and plenty of it. Plenty of stops to pick up western snacks if you need a boost. Lots of driving, with regular stops to stretch out and cool off. Make sure to bring a hand fan for travelling as it can get hot in the minibus. To complete your trip, what better way to celebrate by a night camping (was more glamping) in the Sahara desert, transported by camel! The journey back to Marrakesh is a long one, but our driver was fantastic and we did stop along the way to stretch out and cool down as it was a toasty ride back. There is a lot of driving on this trip but I feel this contributes to feeling like you’ve seen the country, sitting watching the rolling landscape change from mountains to towns to desert is part of the amazing experience. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone! I had a fantastic time.




Had the best time. Beautiful
Had the best time. Beautiful scenery, inspiring group and wonderful people. There was a fair bit of driving but lots of stops, lovely views and we could relax as our Driver was great! (don’t know how else you would see everything in a short space of time. ) Loved the desert!
An unforgettable adventure!
Climbing to the summit of Mount Toubkal was challenging, but absolutely worth it. The experience of standing on the highest peak in North Africa is something I’ll never forget. Our guides were fantastic—supportive, encouraging, and full of local knowledge. The food throughout the trip was excellent, with generous portions (maybe even too generous—we had lots of leftovers!). We had a great group, which made the journey even more enjoyable. This was my first trip with Much Better Adventures, and it certainly won’t be my last. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a well-organized, meaningful adventure.

Amazing trip!
This trip exceeded my expectations, from the hike and the amazing views, to the great food, friendly people and rich culture. Would definitely recommend!
Itinerary Activities
- Guided hike through the Mizane Valley to the Toubkal Refuge
- Guided hike to summit Mount Toubkal and descent to Imlil
- Road trip through the Dades Valley, visiting Ouarzazate Film Studios and Ait Ben Haddou
- Road trip to Merzouga, stopping for a hike around Todra Gorge
- Camel trek from Merzouga to your Berber camp in the Sahara Desert
- Sunrise camel trek back to Merzough
- Road trip back to Marrakech with en route stops
Guides
- Expert, local, English-speaking guides
Accommodation
- 2 nights in a beautiful riad in Marrakech
- 1 night in a mountain refuge on Mount Toubkal
- 2 nights in hotels in Imlil and the Dades Valley
- 1 night in a Berber camp in the Sahara Desert
Meals
- All (6) tasty breakfasts
- 5 freshly cooked lunches
- 4 delicious Moroccan dinners
Transfers
- Arrival transfers from Marrakech Airport at any time on Day 1
- Departure transfers to Marrakech Airport at any time on Day 7
- All transfers during the trip
Porterage
- Mules and muleteers to carry your overnight luggage during your Toubkal climb
Our trips are hassle-free by design. We include all the activities and equipment, as well as many of the meals, so you can simply rock up with your rucksack and share the adventure with your new pals.
Travel to and from the trip
Our trips do not include flights, trains or other travel to the start point and back from the end point.
Tips
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice however we suggest budgeting for a minimum of 300 Dirhams per person, to be split and offered directly to the following individuals:
- Guides: MAD120
- Cook: MAD40
- Muleteer: MAD100
- Drivers: MAD20
- Riad staff: MAD20 (total)
Of course, you are free to tip more or less and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures, and you'll need to provide your policy details before departure. Your insurance should offer adequate cover for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment, and the specific activities involved in your adventure. We also recommend ensuring your policy includes cancellation and curtailment cover, in case you're unable to join your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness.
Standard travel insurance may not cover all the activities included in your adventure, so it's essential to check the details carefully. There are adventure-specific providers that many travellers have used in the past, such as True Traveller (for those based in the UK or Europe), or Rise + Shield, both of which offer cover for a wide range of adventurous activities.
Please make sure your chosen policy meets your individual needs and covers all aspects of your trip.
Visas
Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.
Personal Expenses
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
What's provided?
- Sleeping bag (you can bring your own if you'd rather)
What do I need to bring?
- Day-pack (carried by you)
- Rucksack or duffle bag (carried by mules)
- Warm jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm hat and light gloves or mittens
- Light-weight, breathable hiking shirts and trousers
- Broken-in hiking boots
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sun block)
- First aid kit
- Electrolytes/rehydration solutions (especially if travelling during the summer)
- Personal toiletries
- Sanitary supplies (hand sanitiser, toilet paper, wet wipes, and ziplock baggies to carry stuff out)
- Head torch
- Water bottle
- Towel
- Earplugs (optional)
- Sleeping bag liner
Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Double/Twin Room
Payable Before Departure
Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Double/Twin Room
… Per night
Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single Room
Payable Before Departure
Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single Room
… Per night
Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
…
Private transfer between Marrakech Airport and Marrakech City (per vehicle)
Payable Before Departure
Private transfer between Marrakech Airport and Marrakech City (per vehicle)
…
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 419kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
- A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Absolutely! We recognise that you may want to leave some of the kit you bring to Morocco somewhere safe before you start your ascent of Toubkal. When you reach Imlil, you will be able to leave any non-essential items you don’t want to take up on the hike with you at your local guides base there.
Your host works with muleteers who collaborate with the local charity Spana (The Society for the Protection of Animals and Nature) on the AMI programme (Aid to the Mules of Imlil). The charity provides training, guidance and incentives to mule owners to encourage and support good care for their animals in all aspects of their working lives. The programme also runs a monthly clinic, offering free veterinary care for the animals and distributing humane tack.
Ramadan is expected to take place from 17 February to 19 March 2026, followed by the national holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which lasts for two to three days. Ramadan is an Islamic festival during which the religious do not eat or drink during daylight hours. This can be a fascinating time to travel, particularly to witness the evening celebrations when the fast is broken. However, you can expect some business hours to be shortened, alcohol not to be served during daylight hours, and some restaurants to be closed during this period.
Daytime activities for local people are often limited, while the nights are very lively in cities, with a wide variety of foods being sold and enjoyed. Ramadan will not affect the inclusions on your trip, although you should be aware that dinners will be served after locals break their fast in the evenings.
This trip visits locations at or above 2500m, where some people may experience symptoms of Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
Previous experience at altitude doesn’t guarantee the same response again – your body can react differently on each trip. However, having been at altitude before is still valuable: it gives you a better understanding of how your body might respond, what symptoms to look out for, and how to manage your pace and energy levels.
Your guide is trained to manage the risk of altitude sickness by controlling the rate of ascent, monitoring group wellbeing, and responding appropriately if anyone feels unwell.
Before booking, we recommend considering your personal health, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions, and consulting a medical professional if you’re unsure. Arriving early to allow your body to acclimatise can also make a big difference.
Your travel insurance must cover the maximum altitude reached on this trip and include emergency evacuation.
This trip includes locations where temperatures can range from extremely hot to extremely cold during different parts of the itinerary. In some areas, you may face high daytime temperatures, strong sun, and humidity with limited shade. Elsewhere, especially at higher elevations, temperatures may drop below freezing, particularly at night.
These extremes can affect your physical performance and increase the risk of heat-related issues such as dehydration or heat stroke, or cold-related risks like frostbite and hypothermia. Your guide will manage the pace, monitor group wellbeing, and adjust the plan when needed to keep everyone safe.
We recommend considering how you personally respond to heat and cold, and speaking with a healthcare professional if you have any conditions that could be affected. Packing the right gear for both climates is essential, and arriving early may help your body acclimatise more comfortably, especially if you're coming from a more moderate climate.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Reviews

Fantastic Week
Megan J. October 2025

Great Adventure
Nancy S. October 2025

Brilliant
Natasha S. October 2025

Fast but fun
Max N. October 2025

Mount Toubkal was excellent, the rest was average.
Ian K. October 2025

Enjoyable but a lot of driving
Jack B. October 2025

A fabulous excursion
Michael J. September 2025

Hidden Gems & Lasting Memories
Christina K. September 2025

Amazing 🤩
Sally K. August 2025


Need help finding flights?
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DEPARTURE DATES
Sunday 3rd May 2026
to Saturday 9th May 2026
Sunday 10th May 2026
to Saturday 16th May 2026
Sunday 17th May 2026
to Saturday 23rd May 2026
