4.9

Trek the Atlas Mountains 2020

Explore remote Berber villages and rugged valleys surrounded by Morocco’s highest peaks

What's Included?

  • Maximum group size: 14Join small n’ sociable groups of like-minded, active and outdoorsy people – designed to be solo-friendly

Fromexcluding flights

Highlights

  • Explore the remote and peaceful landscape of the Atlas Mountains with the support of an experienced guiding team

  • Trek along cascading streams, ascend mountainsides, visit remote Berber villages and stay in traditional gite homes

  • Enjoy awesome views of Mount Toubkal - the highest peak in North Africa

Itinerary

    Day 1

    Imi Oughlad to Tiziane

    Hiking
    5hrs · 12km · 650m up · 350m down
    Homestay
    Mixed dorm
    Lunch and dinner included
    Show Day 1 detail

    Meet your fellow adventurers and drive to the trailhead in Imi Oughlad where you’ll meet your local support team. Hike along a dirt track and into the Moroccan countryside alongside your mule train. Enjoy a picnic lunch at 2000m and after a rest in the shade, continue to the picturesque, red clay village of Tiziane (1750m) where you’ll indulge in a delicious Moroccan dinner in a local gite.

    Day 2

    Springs and forests

    Hiking
    5hrs · 15km · 600m up · 700m down
    Homestay
    Mixed dorm
    All meals included
    Show Day 2 detail

    Hike through walnut and cherry groves to the refreshing Assaka spring where you’ll relax over a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, gently descend along the forest edge to the traditional Berber village of D’knt or nearby Agouns n Assol (1870m) and enjoy a hot meal in another working Berber home.

    Day 3

    Berber life

    Hiking
    6-7hrs · 17km · 1000m up · 800m down
    Homestay
    Mixed dorm
    All meals included
    Show Day 3 detail

    Hike to a freshwater spring, passing shepherds and goatherds tending their flocks and Berber women and children carrying firewood and herbs on their backs in the traditional way. Continue through an amazing landscape of steep, stacked agricultural terraces to the scenic village of Tamsoult (1850m) for another night in a traditional home.

    Day 4

    Back to Marrakech

    Hiking
    4-5hrs · 13km · 550m up · 650m down
    Breakfast and lunch included
    Show Day 4 detail

    Start the day with a scenic hike to a nearby waterfall and then continue up and over the Tizi n Mzik pass. At 2000m, this is the highest point on the trek! Enjoy the view and then descend through a shady valley of juniper and pine to the town of Imlil. Eat lunch while you stare at majestic Mount Toubkal – the highest peak in North Africa – then say farewell to your guide and support team and head back to Marrakech in time for onward travel or some more time in this beautiful country.

Practical Stuff

Getting There

Nearest airport
Menara Airport (RAK)
Pick up
Central Marrakech or Marrakech Airport
08:30 / 10:00
Drop off
Marrakech Airport or Central Marrakech
16:30 / 17:30

Detailed Logistics

Transfers

You'll be picked up on arrival, or from your hotel in the city and dropped off in either central Marrakech or back at the airport in time for departure.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Marrakech from airports across the UK and Europe.

What is and isn't Included?

What's included

Experienced, English speaking mountain guide

3 nights in traditional Berber gite homes

All your meals are included

To and from the airport and everything in-between

Mules to carry your luggage

What You'll Eat

Meals on this trek are fresh, healthy and distinctly Moroccan prepared by your Berber cook. For breakfast, expect bread and jam/butter, cookies, fruit, juice, coffee and milk. For lunch, expect salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils or beans, rice or past…

Food and Dietary info

Meals on this trek are fresh, healthy and distinctly Moroccan prepared by your Berber cook. For breakfast, expect bread and jam/butter, cookies, fruit, juice, coffee and milk. For lunch, expect salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils or beans, rice or pasta, sardines or tuna, and fruit. For dinner meanwhile, expect soup, tajine, couscous, olives, nuts and fruit. Most dietary requirements can be catered for, just let your host know in advance.

Optional Extras

Upgrades

Because of the style of accommodation, private upgrades are not available on this trip.


To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.

All extras must be paid before your trip starts.

Ratings & Reviews

4.934 reviews
  • 3 stars (0)
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)

Category rating

Latest Reviews

  • Joseph

    The views and terrain were amazing, our guides were extremely accommodating, food was great and bountiful. The accommodation was better than I'd expected!

  • Anna

    Everything about this trip was incredible. Lovely hiking routes. Stunning views of the mountains daily. Basically nobody else on the trails and got to observe Berber culture first hand. The food was delicious. And most importantly the local guides (Mohamed and team) were really lovely and knowledgeable. I can't recommend enough.

  • Natasha

    Up there with one of the best hiking trips I've ever had, the guides were wonderful, views spectacular, the whole experience well planned.

  • Aili

    The whole experience - the scenery, our guide Mohamed and the muleteers were just amazing, friendly and cheerful. They did everything with smiles, which made me feel so warm and welcomed in Morroco!

  • Tori

    Great walking, good food, stunning scenery, easy-going and knowledgeable guides.

  • Julia

    Beautiful country, guides and team were a great company, very experienced and supportive, exactly the right level of physical challenge, felt very special as saw no other trekkers until the final day.

  • Aaliyah

    The views, the guides (Hussain and Hassan), the difficulty level, the food and the company were great.

  • Sara

    Everything was great - routes, guides, food, scenery, group, even the weather!

  • Lindsey

    The trip was amazing - the scenery was beautiful, walks were varied and a satisfying level of challenge, food was very good (and plentiful) and our guides looked after us so well.

  • Stephen

    Everything was great.

4.934 reviews
  • 5 stars (29)
  • 4 stars (5)
  • 3 stars (0)
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)
Showing all 34 reviews
  • The views and terrain were amazing, our gui...

    Joseph January 2020
    The views and terrain were amazing, our guides were extremely accommodating, food was great and bountiful. The accommodation was better than I'd expected!
  • Everything about this trip was incredible....

    Anna January 2020
    Everything about this trip was incredible. Lovely hiking routes. Stunning views of the mountains daily. Basically nobody else on the trails and got to observe Berber culture first hand. The food was delicious. And most importantly the local guides (Mohamed and team) were really lovely and knowledgeable. I can't recommend enough.
  • Up there with one of the best hiking trips...

    Natasha December 2019
    Up there with one of the best hiking trips I've ever had, the guides were wonderful, views spectacular, the whole experience well planned.
  • The whole experience - the scenery, our gui...

    Aili November 2019
    The whole experience - the scenery, our guide Mohamed and the muleteers were just amazing, friendly and cheerful. They did everything with smiles, which made me feel so warm and welcomed in Morroco!
  • Great walking, good food, stunning scenery,...

    Tori November 2019
    Great walking, good food, stunning scenery, easy-going and knowledgeable guides.
  • Beautiful country, guides and team were a g...

    Julia April 2019
    Beautiful country, guides and team were a great company, very experienced and supportive, exactly the right level of physical challenge, felt very special as saw no other trekkers until the final day.
  • The views, the guides (Hussain and Hassan),...

    Aaliyah March 2019
    The views, the guides (Hussain and Hassan), the difficulty level, the food and the company were great.
  • Everything was great - routes, guides, food...

    Sara March 2019
    Everything was great - routes, guides, food, scenery, group, even the weather!
  • The trip was amazing - the scenery was beau...

    Lindsey March 2019
    The trip was amazing - the scenery was beautiful, walks were varied and a satisfying level of challenge, food was very good (and plentiful) and our guides looked after us so well.
  • Everything was great....

    Stephen March 2019
    Everything was great.
  • Everything was great....

    Michael February 2019
    Everything was great.
  • Food, scenery, weather, length and variety...

    Ed February 2019
    Food, scenery, weather, length and variety of hikes were great.
  • The weather the food, the location, the gui...

    Rachel February 2019
    The weather the food, the location, the guides and the other walkers were great.
  • Just completely different to anywhere I’ve...

    Victoria October 2018
    Just completely different to anywhere I’ve walked before and such welcoming people.
  • Rashid (our guide) and Hussain and Ali (che...

    Jennifer October 2018
    Rashid (our guide) and Hussain and Ali (chefs/mule handlers) were fantastic hosts. They made sure that every part of our experience was spot on and took really good care of us. The mountains themselves were spectacular.
  • Our trekking team (guide Mohamed, chef Omar...

    Katie September 2018
    Our trekking team (guide Mohamed, chef Omar, Hassan and Abdul) could not have made our adventure any more fabulous. And the Atlas Mountains were simply stunning, particularly the amazing colours.
  • Ibrahim, our guide and the cook were great....

    Iris July 2018
    Ibrahim, our guide and the cook were great.
  • The organisation was great....

    Joe July 2018
    The organisation was great.
  • Awesome hike route, lovely/experienced guid...

    Emma May 2018
    Awesome hike route, lovely/experienced guide, easy pick-up, very good value for money, like-minded fun fellow travelers
  • The atmosphere, locations and people were g...

    Isabella May 2018
    The atmosphere, locations and people were great! Just everything, absolutely stunning, amazing experience!
  • Friendly and highly experienced guides. Ver...

    Leon May 2018
    Friendly and highly experienced guides. Very well organised down to the smallest detail including some excellent food choices throughout. Amazing landscapes which need to be seen to be believed, I'll certainly never forget the trip and intend to come back one day. Overall a great challenge in a beautiful part of the world. With many serious climbs and long days trekking, this will push most people to their limits.
  • Everything was great! Great guide, amazing...

    Mike April 2018
    Everything was great! Great guide, amazing mountain views and awesome berber food and hospitality.
  • Beautiful scenery, everything worked smooth...

    Alice April 2018
    Beautiful scenery, everything worked smoothly, and our local guide, Mohamed, was excellent.
  • Our guide Housein was fantastic. The food w...

    Anne April 2018
    Our guide Housein was fantastic. The food was exceptional and the Atlas Mountains just so beautiful.
  • The trek start to finish was great, the vil...

    Farhana April 2018
    The trek start to finish was great, the village location, the team members who helped out with our bags and food arrangement. It was my boyfriend’s birthday on Good Friday and the village people surprised him with a cake and music with their traditional drums - it was such a lovely surprise! The food was exceptional! Really lovely and generous
  • Our guide, Abdel, was brilliant - we had so...

    Nick April 2018
    Our guide, Abdel, was brilliant - we had so much fun joking around with him. The food was also fantastic, portion sizes were ridiculous, you will not go hungry on this trip!
  • Our guide- Ibrahim- was brilliant- knowledg...

    Sarah April 2018
    Our guide- Ibrahim- was brilliant- knowledgeable, helpful, great humor, as we're all the crew. We were very well looked after. Incredible scenery, beautiful villages and views, superb gite lodging. Great times.
  • The guide Youssef Boulite was amazing, and...

    Robin March 2018
    The guide Youssef Boulite was amazing, and the muleteers were kind and helpful. The meals were plenty and very good. The gites and guesthouse were comfortable. The trecks we did were fantastic. 10/10! I will book another adventure with MBA soon!
  • Yousif the guide was great, the views and t...

    Emily March 2018
    Yousif the guide was great, the views and the food also! Met the most wonderful people and thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the trip. Top tip: Pack for every weather eventuality - we had blissful sunshine and knee-deep snow! LOVED IT!
  • What a beautiful place to be. The trek was...

    Hannah February 2018
    What a beautiful place to be. The trek was just stunning! Hard Work, especially for a beginner, but overwhelmingly beautiful. Our guide, Yusef, was fantastic, friendly and encouraging. The gites were much nicer than we had expected and the team of a helper who made our food were fantastic! I've already recommended the trip to friends.

Before You Travel

What to Pack

Backpack with hiking gear laid out

Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.

Kit List

What's provided?
  • Sleeping bag (you can bring your own if you like)
What do I need to bring?
  • Sturdy hiking boots or hiking shoes (broken in)
  • Personal toiletries
  • Towel
  • Warm layers including gloves and a hat
  • Sun protection
  • Small backpack to carry daily items
  • Flashlight or headlamp
  • Raingear (jacket and trousers),
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder
  • Sleeping bag liner

FAQs

You can leave luggage you don't need in Marrakech, your host will store it safely.

For current advice about travelling in Morocco, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

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 a minimum of 150 - 200 Dirham per person.

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.

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.

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.

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