Visit The Moroccan Chamonix
Experience the perfect combination of a two-day Atlas Valleys trek and a four-day Sahara Desert tour, taking you from the mountain village of Imlil – Morocco’s own ‘Chamonix’ – through the spectacular High Atlas Mountains and into the Sahara Desert.
Your adventure begins in Imlil, where you’ll spend two days trekking through the beautiful Atlas valleys, discovering traditional Berber villages and enjoying spectacular mountain scenery. From here, we cross the High Atlas and continue towards the Dades Gorges, our first stop on the journey through southern Morocco.
From Dades, we travel onwards to Merzouga and the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes. Here, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable camel ride across the Sahara before spending the night at a traditional nomadic-style desert camp beneath the stars.
The following day, we leave the dunes behind and travel through the stony desert landscapes around Tazarine and along the dramatic Draa Valley, continuing to Aït Benhaddou. We spend the night in a hotel near the famous kasbahs, giving you time to explore this remarkable UNESCO-listed site.
On the final day, we travel through the beautiful Ounila Valley before crossing the High Atlas once again via the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka Pass. We then descend towards Marrakech, completing an unforgettable combination of Atlas Mountains trekking, Berber villages and Sahara Desert adventure.
This trek operates all year round and can depart on any date of your choice.
We usually have several treks departing each week that you can join if you wish, so please get in touch!
All of our Morocco mountain treks can also be combined with other tours and experiences, including trips to the Sahara Desert, visits to Morocco’s Imperial Cities or journeys to the Atlantic Coast.
Pick Up & Drop Off
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech city, many riads don't have access via 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/ High Atlas Mountains (1740m)– Tizi Mzik (2684m)-Tamsoulte waterfalls (2300m) Tizi Oussem village (1850m).
After breakfast in Marrakech, pick up & drive towards the high Atlas Mountains via Tahnnaout, Oued Ghighaya & Asni, enjoy the stunning view of the villages along the valet. Arrival to Imlil (65km from Marrakech), meet the guide & multeer andthen start the trek & climb Tizi Mzik pass (2684m), spectacular view over Imlil valley & Toubkal Summit, continue to Tamsoulte to visit the highest waterfalls in the Atlas Mountains (100m of hight), down the Azzaden valley through juniper forest to get to Tizi Oussem village. Overnight at the Guest house in the village. 5hrs walking.
Day 02
Tizi Oussem (1850m) – Id Issa village (1800m) – Tizi Oudid (2000m) – Mattat - Imlil
After breakfast, we leave Tizi Oussem and continue through the beautiful Azzaden Valley, enjoying the sunshine and spectacular scenery of its colourful landscape and traditional Berber villages. We descend towards Id Issa village before climbing steadily towards the Tizi Oudid Pass (2,000m).
The trail then leads through a wild forest of thurifer juniper before reaching Matat village. We stop for lunch beneath the shade of walnut trees, with time to relax beside the river and enjoy the peaceful mountain surroundings.
In the afternoon, we continue with a short trek up the valley towards Imlil. On arrival, settle into your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the evening. Overnight at Dar Adrar Guesthouse or similar.
Walking time: approximately 5 hours.
Day 03
Imlil - Dades Valley
After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9:00am and begin your scenic journey across the High Atlas Mountains, travelling over the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass. Along the way, you’ll pass through numerous traditional Berber villages before descending into the arid landscapes of southern Morocco.
As the scenery changes, you’ll see riverside oases and barren hillsides dotted with traditional kasbahs – fortified dwellings once used to house local families and their livestock. Along the route, you’ll have the option to stop and visit the famous Ouarzazate Film Studios or take a short hike to explore the surrounding landscape.
Continuing east, we eventually reach the spectacular Dades Gorges, where you can choose to enjoy a hike through the surrounding scenery or simply relax at your hotel.
Spend the night in the Dades Gorges. Driving time: approximately 7 hours.
Day 04
Dades Valley - Todra gorge - Merzouga
After breakfast at the hotel, we leave the Dades Valley and travel towards the spectacular Todra Gorge, a dramatic natural fault cutting through the High Atlas Mountains. Towering cliffs rise up to 300 metres above the narrow valley, surrounded by lush palm groves and traditional Berber villages.
On arrival, there’s time to explore the palmery on foot, following trails through this beautiful green oasis beneath the shade of the date palms. After lunch, we continue south towards Merzouga, the gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes, where we can pick up any supplies needed for our desert adventure.
We then drive to a nearby kasbah to meet our camel team. As the sun begins to set, we set off on an unforgettable 1½-hour camel ride across the golden Sahara dunes to a traditional Berber desert camp. On arrival, enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner before spending the night beneath the stars or in a comfortable desert tent. Driving time: approximately 6 hours.
Day 05
Merzouga - Ait Benhaddou
Wake early to experience the spectacular sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes before returning by camel to the nearby kasbah. Once back, you’ll have time to freshen up and enjoy breakfast before leaving the Sahara behind and continuing towards Aït Benhaddou.
Our journey takes us through the dramatic landscapes of southern Morocco to this ancient fortified village, or ksar, renowned for its distinctive earthen architecture and collection of traditional kasbahs. Aït Benhaddou has provided the atmospheric setting for numerous Hollywood films, including The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander and Lawrence of Arabia.
On arrival, you’ll have time to explore the narrow lanes, historic buildings and kasbahs on foot with your guide, discovering the history and architecture of this remarkable UNESCO-listed site.
After exploring Aït Benhaddou, we continue to our nearby hotel, where we spend the night. Driving time: approximately 5–6 hours.
Day 06
Ait Benhaddou - Marrakech
Leaving Aït Benhaddou, we travel through the spectacular Ounila Valley towards the historic Telouet Kasbah. Once an important stopping point for traders crossing the Atlas Mountains, this atmospheric and now partly ruined kasbah offers a fascinating insight into Morocco’s rich trading history. We’ll have time to explore the kasbah before continuing our journey.
After lunch, we cross the High Atlas once again via the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka Pass, following the winding mountain road back towards Marrakech. Enjoy changing views of rugged peaks, traditional Berber villages and dramatic mountain landscapes along the way.
Please note: This itinerary is a guideline and may be adapted according to local conditions.
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
1 person : 920€
2 people : 585€/person
3 people : 575€/person
4 - 7 people : 485€/person
8 - 12 people : 390€/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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1 night accommodation in a Village gite in Tizi oussem village.
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English speaking guide, and cook (Mountain trek)
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Muleteers and mules for assistance (Mountain trek)
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Full board on trek + mineral water (Mountain trek)
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1 overnight in a simple Gite at Tizi oussem village
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4x4 or Mini-bus during Desert tour
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2 overnight in hotels at Dades & Ait Benhaddou ( dinner & breakfast )
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1 overnight camping on Dunes at Erg Chebbi ( dinner & breakfast )
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Camel Ride on Dunes
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 desert part.
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Entrance fee (Monuments visits)
Accommodation & Shelters
Night 1: Village gîte in Tizi Oussem.
Night 2: Dar Adrar Guesthouse in Imlil or similar accommodation.
Night 3: Hotel accommodation in the Dades Gorges.
Night 4: Traditional nomadic-style tent at a desert camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Night 5: Hotel accommodation near the Aït Benhaddou Kasbahs.
Clothing & Essential Equipment
Essential Equipment
Can Be Hired From Us
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Good walking boots and socks / good trainers for valley treks
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Personnel First aid Kit
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3 to 4 season sleeping bag ( winter) or light Sleeping bag ( Summer)
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Lightweight waterproof over-trousers / rain-pants
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Water bottle or camel back (recommended)
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Soft-sided bag (50-80 litres)
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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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Ask us to see what we have
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.