A Day Walk In The Atlas Mountains & A Night At Erg Chebbi & Ait Benhaddou
Perfect Express Combination of a day walk in the Atlas Mountains followed by an 3 Day 2 night Erg chebbi & ait benhaddou overnight with overnight camping in the Erg chebbi Dunes, Great introduction to the Southern region of Morocco.
This trek runs all year-round and can depart at any date of your preference.
We usually have several treks departing each week that you may join if you wish , please get in Touch!!
All of our Mountain treks ca be combined with some other tours either to the sahara desert, Imperial cities or to the Atlantic coast,
Pick Up & Drop Off
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech city, many riads does not have access by car so the driver will park nearby and come to get you.
You will be dropped off at the nearest point to your riad/hotel, our driver can call your riad to meet you if needed.
Route Details
Day 01
Marrakech – Imlil
Departure by car from Marrakech around 8h in the morning for 1h20 drive south up the Moulay Brahim Gorges, Asni weekly market every saturday, then to Agersioual (1,600m), set in the upper level foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains, Here you will leave the Vehicle and meet your local guide prior to setting out for some 12km excursion. towards the East to the Berber village of AIkkiss (1,700m), Over Tizi n agersioual pass (2200m). Lunch taken inside a Berber Home (or by the river) then carry on walking up the Imnane valley then over Tizi n Tamter pass (2779m) , From here one can view the two valleys, down into the Imlil Valley and back down to the Imnane valley. Another 1h30 trek down from here will take you to the village of Imlil where you will enjoy an evening meal in the charming Dar Adrar Guesthouse. 1h20 drive and 6hours walking.
Day 02
Imlil - Dades Valley
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’ll pass through lots of Berber villages, and once you’re in the desert, you’ll 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 . A side trip is possible 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.. Once you reach Dades Gorge, you have the option of going for a hike ( this will depend on season as this may not be possible in winter due to short days), or relaxing at your hotel. Overnight in Dades. (Total driving time 7hours)
Day 03
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’ll 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’ll trek for an hour by camel to a Berber camp where you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner, and sleep under the stars ( summer) or in tents at a desert camp. (Total driving time 6hours )
Day 04
Merzouga - Marrakech
Wake up early , just prior to sunrise, we have a 1h camel ride at sunrise to explore the area further and we head back to Merzouga on our Camels. When we reach Merzouga, have breakfast & have the opportunity to shower and then we begin our journey through the stony desert and over the Atlas mountains, with plenty of stops for photos, exploring and lunch as we return to Marrakech. The usual arrival time in Marrakech is between 17:00hrs and 18:00hrs. (10h drive)
NB : If you prefer to break the distance of the last day then we suggest to spend the night in the Kasbah of Ait benhaddou so take a 5 days Tour
Note : Itinerary is just a guideline and subject to change to suit local condition.
Equipment
Please ensure you have packed all safety essentials. See the Equipment List here if you're unsure of what to bring. Our guides will conduct a final gear check in Imlil before we commence the ascent to the higher altitudes of the Toubkal massif.
Tour Rates
Flexible Pricing
Group 1 person : 640€
Group 2 people : 415€/person
Group 3 people : 390€/person
Group 4 - 7 people :355€/person
Group 8 - 12 people : 295€/person
What Is Included?
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All transport
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1 Overnight in Dar Adrar or similar (Dinner & breakfast)
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Guided Day Walk
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Lunch on day 1
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4x4 or Mini-bus during Desert tour
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1 overnight camping in Erg chebbi + dinner & breakfast
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Camel Ride
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1 overnight accommodation in Hotel in Dades gorges + dinner & breakfast
What Is Not Included
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Travel insurance.
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Soft/alcoholic drinks
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Tips and personal expanses
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Lunches during the 3 days Desert part.
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Entrance fee (Monuments visits)
Accommodation & Shelters
1st night in a Guesthouse in Imlil such as Dar adrar Guesthouse of Similar.
2nd night in a Hotel in Dades Gorges such as Hotel Babylon, Guesthouse Dar Essayaha , ...
3rd night in a nomadic tent on the dunes.
Clothing & Essential Equipment
Essential Equipment
Can Be Hired From Us
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Good trainers for valley treks
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Personnel First aid Kit
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Lightweight waterproof over-trousers / rain-pants
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Lightweight daypack
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Sunglasses
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Sunscreen
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Torch and batteries
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Towel & all personal toiletries
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Check with us to see if we have anything for hire
What Is Appropriate Attire In Morocco?
Morocco is a conservative and religious country, which means you always need to be mindful of your clothing choices. This is especially true in the country’s more rural areas, which include the Sahara Desert and its surrounding villages. As a general rule of thumb, you should always attempt to cover body parts considered “private”. For women, this means covering the arms (or at least the shoulders) and the knees up. For men, it requires covering up the shoulders and above the knee.
High Energy Meals
Meals on the trek are cooked by the Berber muleteers. The food is fresh and healthy. Example meals:
Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, coffee, milkLunch: salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish (sardines, tuna), seasonal fruit
Dinner: Soup, classic Morooccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, fruit
Can my dietary requirements be catered to?
Absolutely. Just let us know about your catering preferences when you confirm your booking to ensure any dietary requirements are met. Please remind as well your guide and cook on first day of the trek.
Start Your Journey
Ready to explore the Atlas Mountains? Reach out to us for detailed trek inquiries, tailor-made itineraries, or any questions about our Berber-led adventure tours.
Email: aztat.trek@gmail.com
Phone: +212 668-760165
Location: Imlil, Morocco
Personal baggage, cooking equipment and food are carried by the mules, leaving you to carry only a rucksack with whatever you need close at hand for the day. NB: Left luggage or unnecessary luggage can be left safely in our storage in Imlil till you come back from the trek.