Trek the Atlas Mountains

The trip exceeded our expectations: the landscapes are stunning, the food and facilities great (given the context), and our guide Hussein was awesome!

This was my first MBA trip and I can't wait for my next one! Our guide Hussein was amazing, he was very happy to answer any questions we had about the area and culture. The food was incredible and freshly cooked by a chef who is with you for the whole trip. The scenery was beautiful and so different to the UK. The riads we stayed in at the start and end of the trip were very comfortable. The gites in the mountains are quite basic but that's to be expected and they all had a hot shower! I tagged on a few extra days to explore Marrakech before the trip started and I would highly recommend doing this to have time to experience the city as well. I felt so looked after on the whole trip and it was a great introduction to my first multi-day hiking experience.

Very well organised tour. We were with company called Aztat treks and it was the best.

It was very hot but plenty of breaks and they have provided plenty of water. But don't forget to bring own snacks, as there aren't much place you can get snacks once hiking trip starts.

Do not expect 5 star hotels. Some places we had only 1 shower and toilet available for 14 people. But it was all good experience and was much fun with others in the group.

Bring own toilet papers. And bring own water bottles! You definitely will need 2* 1liter bottles to hydrate yourself.

It was very dusty as we went on dry season. Buff was good job to cover nose and mouth. And don't bring good clothes. Comfortable and good shoes will be needed.

Whatever they say to bring with you, do that. Our guide was very helpful, he gave us good tips for rest of the trip. Recommend good place to go and visit.

Hopefully you all have good trip. It was very worth spending time and money!

This was a great trek. The guides were super helpful and set a quick but manageable pace. The views were amazing. The weather was warm but not too bad for mid-late May, just be sure to pack a lot of sunscreen! Accommodations were better than expected and the group was fantastic. The terrain could be a bit slippery (lots of dust and loose rocks) so good shoes with solid grip are a must. The uphills can be challenging but I found the hikes to be quite enjoyable. The food was good and plentiful, but I would recommend bringing snacks for the trek. I would highly recommend! This was my first trip with Much Better Adventures and it won't be my last.

I have never left Europe before, and I have never hiked before. This adventure was a perfect start - amazing people in the group, super helpful and kind guides. The hike is not easy, but with an OK fitness level, its definitely doable. The landscape was beautiful, despite the terrible weather we had, I enjoyed every moment of it.

Could not recommend Aztat Treks any higher. The whole team (Mohamed, Hussain, Assia) were superb, they went far above & beyond to make the trip a truly unforgettable adventure and ensure our private group of 13 people had the best time. Everyday we were given the fullest hospitality, the meals were fantastic and the scenery was unreal, and not once did we feel like we were missing anything - could not have gone any better and all the praise goes to the Aztat Treks team! From arriving to the airport they were faultless and supportive, superb service. Special praise to our guides, they made the adventure. Lots of knowledge and shared lots as much as they could with our group. Riad Aymane is in the perfect location to enjoy Marrakech, the guesthouses (gites) we stayed in were more than adequate and allowed us to fully enjoy the local culture and beautiful scenery, but more than anything, our group was given the warmest welcome by everyone we met - it was a beautiful adventure which I would recommend to anyone who wants to explore the Atlas Mountains.

Hello All at Much Better Holidays. Overall, I enjoyed the time in the mountains, all be it very challenging at times and I'm pleased that any questions of my fitness were positively answered! I liked our guide Mustafe who was very supportive and encouraging and always sought to see that we were as comfortable as possible when overnighting. Abdelouahed too, was always on hand to help. I had the upmost admiration of the team that provided our meals. Whether breakfast, lunch or dinner, the meals were nutritious, plentiful and beautifully presented. It was a nice mix of us 'Oldens' with the younger members of the group, who's company I thoroughly enjoyed. When it came to tipping on the final day, I'd have rather given the tips to team leader ( Mustafa) to distribute as required, rather than doing it directly, appreciating that it is a traditional way of doing it.

Thanks very much, a great experience

Clive Mitchell

The nature was stunning, the weather was varied, the food was plentiful! Biggest thanks to the cooks and muleteers who worked so hard each day. And of course, biggest thanks to our guides Mustafa and Abdul for ensuring everyone was safe and happy. The hikes were very reasonable for anyone who has experience with day hikes though my knees were sore by the end! I was so so so lucky to have a fun and lovely group of people to share this experience with- it was difficult to say goodbye.

An incredible trip from start to finish. Organised superbly and brilliantly led by Mustafa, Abdu and the team. The food, scenery, hospitality and company left for nothing to be desired. I would (and have) recommended this trip to all friends who enjoy hiking

Overall a wonderful trip. The two leaders were very diligent and helpful. This is my second trip with MBA and now on both occasions I would say there needs to be more clarity with the : tipping '. On your webpage you suggest how to divvy up the money. But the leaders are unaware of your company and the suggested amounts are not the what they recognise. (Who gets what). This process was slightly embarrassing and consequently drawn out.

Everything was very well organised, and I had a lovely trip with a group of great people.

The trip was physically not as demanding as I expected; I'd say it's doable for anyone who is in fairly good shape. We spent the nights in hostel-like mountain gîtes. There were warm showers every day. Toilets weren't always flushable, but nothing a bucket of water couldn't fix. WiFi was available only in the last accommodation, so make sure you inform your loved ones that you may be unable to text them.

During the hike we took long lunch breaks, and while we rested the crew prepared a fantastic lunch every day. Food and drinks were all provided for.

I went in April, and the weather was warm (about 25 degrees) and sunny in the mountains all week. In Marrakech it was hot, about 37 degrees. I don't know whether this was normal for the time of year or not, but I certainly didn't need my rain clothes or warm clothes (just a sweater for the early mornings).

When my flight got cancelled and I had to rebook to a crazy early one, changing the time of my transfer to the airport to the middle of the night was no problem at all (which was very nice given the stress I was already experiencing).

To recap, I had a great time and everything was arranged super smoothly.

Excellent trip! It was just the right number of days and level of difficulty to feel both relaxed and accomplished at the end of a day. The guides and support team were kind and helpful, the food was delicious, and the views were varied and unexpectedly colorful. Be prepared to share close quarters, pleasant surprises, and laughs.

This trip was truly excellent and I would definitely recommend it! Our guides, Hussain and Mostafa were absolutely lovely. They set a good pace for the hikes, kept an eye out for anyone falling behind, and made sure we took regular breaks to rehydrate (definitely recommend adding electrolytes to your water). They also very kindly taught us some useful Arabic and Berber words (and laughed with us at our terrible pronunciation). Once we were on the road we had a group briefing the evening before the next trek so we knew what to expect from each day, and where we were on the map. While hiking in the sun and heat was strenuous, the hikes themselves did not feel as difficult as I had expected (or maybe the training that I did paid off?, who knows). We also had more free time than I had expected, both during lunch and in the gites at the end of the day, which was nice for getting a bit of rest in, and getting to know the group which was a mix of friends, solo travellers, and couples ranging from their mid-20s to mid-50s.

The food that chef Omar prepared on the hikes was impressive and honestly better than anything I ordered in the restaurants of Marrakech. There was so much food that the only time I ever felt hungry on this trip was in the few minutes between waking up and eating breakfast! As someone who is used to beige food and protein bars on hikes it was a nice surprise how colourful, varied, and nutritious the food on the trail was. I'll definitely be trying to recreate a few of the recipes at home, and I already miss the 5pm mint tea and snacks.

The accommodation in the gites is simple - just a mattress, blanket, and pillow, but it was as expected and it was enough. There were also sleeping bags for those who wanted them. However, I would recommend bringing your own pillowcase and/or a camping pillow. I would also recommend packing ear plugs, unless you enjoy being stirred awake by the dulcet tones of a donkey in the night... All of the gites that we stayed at had both seated toilets and squatting toilets, as well as hot showers. They also all had lovely roof terraces that we hung out on after the hikes, and the final gite even had wifi for those who wanted it. Personally, I found it quite nice staying off grid for a few days.

The Riad that we stayed in on the first and the final night in Marrakech was also charming with a great rooftop terrace, and the staff were very kind and helpful. This review would of course be incomplete without mentioning Mouna, who oversaw communication and coordination of travel both before and during the trip, and was really quick to respond to any queries. The Aztat Treks team were just great in general and were able to deal with any problems as they arose.

This trip was all smiles for me - the scenery was incredible, the food was good, and the company was great. While I enjoyed the entire trip, it really wasn't until we descended into Imlil on the final day of trekking that I realised that this really was the much better adventure. For four days it was basically just our group and the locals up in the mountains with no other tourists around, which stood in stark contrast to the day trippers and tour groups we passed in Imlil. I feel very fortunate to have spent a few days in the Atlas mountains and amongst the Berbers for what felt like an authentic, non-touristy, experience.

So much to love about this trip, a very smooth operation indeed! Pick up and drop off at the airport, lovely accommodation in Marrakech with friendly staff, only a couple of hour drive into the mountains, nice paths, fairly easy hiking, truly beautiful scenery (see pictures), great guides (Husain and Mustafa) who were very knowledgeable and accommodating, local style food cooked for you three times a day, mules to carry your stuff, simple accommodation in the local towns, escape the crowds, a good length of trip, time to explore Marrakech and relax at either end, and all at a very very reasonable price. Would highly recommend, if you enjoy hiking and aren’t too fussy about staying in luxury.

Few things I wish I’d known before I went: some of the items on the packing list weren’t necessary, at least on my trip, for example, water treatment parafernalia was not needed as top ups with bottled water were frequently available. The max elevation is about 2.8k. I was very please to have packed ear plugs so the the call to prayer, snoring and braying donkeys didn’t wake me up!

From the first night at the Riad until the transfer to the airport, this trip was impeccably well-organized and meticulously planned. Hosein was an outstanding guide—so enthusiastic, bursting with regional knowledge, and incredibly fun and supportive. The mountain views were stunning, and the food was exceptional (a big shoutout to our skilled chef, Omar). I wholeheartedly recommend this tour to all novice hikers.

Our guides Hussain and Mustafa were really caring and patient. The food was outstanding, thanks Omar. The route was brilliant. The early morning ascents allowed us to hide from sun and experience the traditional paths of the local villages. These paths, weaved through the village buildings and then skirted upland fields where flowers, barley and various fruits / nuts were grown. Once height was gained, we meandered through landscapes which was both stunning and remote. Over the first three and a half days of hiking our group encountered just 2 other hikers. On the final night in the mountains, I opted to sleep out on the balcony (early April) and was rewarded with a starry night.

Our trek was well managed from start to finish . We would recommend it to anyone with a moderate fitness level . The guides were knowledgeable and our food was superb every day. This trip is slightly off the beaten track and for that we were grateful . Morocco is a great country to visit the scenery is stunning and the people are so warm and friendly.

Beautiful trek in the Atlas.

The guides were really helpful and kind.

An excellent trip, the tour was very well run by very professional friendly guides. The views in the Atlas Mountains were incredible. I would definitely recommend this trip. Morocco as a whole in a very interesting location with very friendly people. My wife and I felt very safe as well. 5 stars

What a fantastic trip, beautiful scenery, fantastic views. The local guides were extremely friendly and helpful.the food they prepared for was amazing too. Thank you for such a wonderful time.

Enjoyable, fun trip

I absolutely loved this trip with a wonderful group of people. The guides were fantastic and the views stunning. We were well fed throughout with amazing picnic lunches and a never ending supply of mint tea! I loved walking alongside the goats! The walking was quite tough in parts but absolutely worth it. Everything was run smoothly with great communication. Highly recommended.

An amazing 4 days with a gorgeous group of people, a broad age range but everyone got on so well. The trek is slightly harder than I had anticipated, a fair amount of steep uphills but if anything it made every peak even more worth it. The catering and accommodation was great, we were so well taken care of with the kindest guides who made sure everyone went at their own comfortable pace. An unforgettable trip!

Trekking the Atlas Mountains with this team was an incredible experience. The food prepared for us everyday was authentic and delicious and the guides did a fantastic job taking care of everyone. I am so grateful for being able be a part of this group.

Great trip exceeding expectations. Our group were all fantastic and the guides and mule team super. The lunches prepared in the mountains warrant special mention - superb.

Absolutely amazing the sights were stunning, the riads in marrakech were very welcoming but don't drink the tap water!:D The guides were so much fun and hilarious aswell as caring towards tge people that needed it. Plenty of breaks when needed on tge trails and the food was brilliant! Loved seeing the mountains! All round a great holiday, to enjoy the hospitality and landscape worth staying sone extra days.

A truly unbelievable trip. It’s hard to put into words, let alone know where to start. This was our first MBA trip. The group was amazing (there were 14 of us, and it felt like the perfect amount of people) and the whole trip was full of laughs and great conversations - four days in the mountains can be a really bonding experience! The guides Mohammed and Abdul were exceptional, always ready with loads of information and would come and sit with us in the evenings. We were even treated to Berber songs and dancing one evening in the gite. Not sure they felt our rendition of “500 Miles” was quite as impressive. Accommodation is basic but comfy, and we even had warm showers every night. The food is amazing, the chefs are able to cook up some absolutely amazing dishes even with minimal equipment - you won’t go hungry but I’d recommend bringing snacks for during the walks in case you need something extra between meals in the mountains. Bring some cash for tips (we brought 300 dirhams each), and maybe some extra if you fancy buying some fruit or snacks from the mountain villages (the oranges are amazing). The walks aren’t overly strenuous but paths can be a bit rocky, lots of scree, so can be a bit loose underfoot - none of us needed walking poles but they wouldn’t be a bad idea (you can rent them from the trekking company if you need). You go through loads of different terrain and environments, it's a really beautiful route through the mountains. Communication with the trekking company Aztat Treks was great, they were always on hand to help and have loads of good tips for spending some time in Marrakech (we stayed a couple of days in the city after the trek and would highly recommend - it’s an amazing place). Overall a phenomenal trip - amazingly well planned, beautiful views and walks, and great people everywhere you went. I couldn’t recommend this trip highly enough.

An incredible trip. We had the best time on this adventure - amazing scenery, food, and people.

From the welcome at our riad to the guides and team on the route, the hospitality was the best I've ever received. The hiking was a good challenge, without being too difficult, and the accommodation basic but met all our needs. Some difficult terrain at times but the guides were always on hand to help. The weather in February was also great!

By far one of the best things was the people we met - we had such a lovely group and spent the days chatting and evenings playing games, it made the experience all the more memorable.

A few things to note: sleeping bags are provided and it actually wasn't too cold at night, bring hiking poles if you're a less confident hiker, if you want to be connected buy a sim from the airport, and don't use Orange (although I enjoyed not having data), bring toilet roll and plenty of suncream, have cash on hand for tips at the end.

An absolutely incredible trip. This was my first multi day hike as someone who does casual fitness, the activity was just the right level where it was challenging but I wasn't sore all week. The group dynamic was incredible. A lot of us had no signal or data in the mountains (I had a cheap esim, it is possible to get a proper sim that has coverage from the airport if you need data) so in the evenings before and after dinner we managed to connect on a level that I haven't felt since before social media existed. The food was also noteworthy, it was always the perfect thing after a long day hiking and I always looked forward to it and was satisfied. Massive portions too! Weather wise in February it was a lovely 26°C or so which was just perfect

This trip was incredible. The guides Mohammed and Abdul were flawless and ensured we were always looked after. The cooks and the mule riders were exceptional, cooking various delicious meals and snacks. Most importantly, I had the most wonderful group who I hope to see again in the future. This trip is a credit to MBA.