Day 2: Today involves a fairly stiff climb out of the Azzadene Valley to the Toubkal Refuge over the Aguelzim Mountain pass at 3,560m. Lunch will be taken with spectacular views over the Atlas Mountain Range. Overnight in the Toubkal Refuge (Niltner Hut) where you値l likely be sharing a bunk room with other trekkers tackling Toubkal early the next morning
Day 3: Up early for the climb up Toubkal (4,167m) from where, clouds allowing, you値l have wonderful views over the Atlas Range and the Sahara Desert then a long way back down past the refuge and the well-worn path back to Imlil. This is a fairly long day with 8-9 hours of trekking, involving 900m up then almost 2,500m back down to Imlil for the night at Our guesthouse Dar Adrar where you can enjoy a Hammam.
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9.00am and head out over the Atlas Mountains, driving over the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass. You値l pass through lots of Berber villages, and once you池e in the desert, you値l see riverside oases and barren hillsides dotted with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house families and their livestock). Along the way, you will have the option either to take a break and visit the Ouarzazate Film Studios or stop for a hike. Once you reach Dades Gorge, you have the option of going for a hike, or relaxing at your hotel. Overnight in Dades. (Total driving time 4 - 5 hours)
Day 5: Dades Valley - Todra
Gorge - Merzouga
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer from the Dades
Valley to Todra Gorge - a
massive fault dividing the
High Atlas mountains, rising
up 300 metres in a narrow
valley with palmeries and
Berber villages. Here, you
can go for a hike to explore
the palmery, a green oasis
full of large date palms.
After lunch you値l head
further into the desert to
the gateway town of Merzouga
to pick up supplies for your
desert trip. You will then
drive on to a kasbah to pick
up your camel. At sunset,
you値l trek for an
hour-and-a-half by camel to
a Berber camp where you will
enjoy a traditional Moroccan
dinner, and sleep under the
stars or in tents at a
desert camp. (Total driving
time 3 - 4 hours)
Day 6: Merzouga - Ait
Benhaddou
Wake to a desert sunrise and
then return to the kasbah by
camel. You will then have a
chance to freshen up and
enjoy a breakfast. Once you
are refreshed, you will head
out of the desert for a
drive to Ait Benhaddou. This
is an ancient fortified city
containing countless kasbahs
and has been the atmospheric
subject of numerous
hollywood movies (The Mummy,
Gladiator, Alexander,
Lawrence of Arabia...) You
will have the chance to walk
around the buildings and
explore with your guide. You
will overnight in a hotel
close to Ait Benhaddou.
(Total driving time 5 - 6
hours)
Day 7: Ait Benhaddou -
Marrakech
Travel along the Ounilla
Valley to the Telouet
Kasbah, a crumbling kasbah
that was once an important
stop for traders. Explore
the Kasbah and then after
lunch, you will head back
over the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass
to Marrakech (Total driving
time 2 - 3 hours).
Other available options :
- 2 days / 2 nights Mount Toubkal + 3 days / 2 nights Erg Chebbi desert trip
- 5days / 5 nights Berber Villages, Mt Toubkal + 3 days/2nights Erg Chebbi sahara Desert tour.
- 2 days/2nights Toubkal + 2days/1night Zagora trip.
- 2 or 3 days Short Atlas Azzaden or Imnane valley trek + Desert tour.