The Mountains, The Desert, The Berber Villages & A Camel Ride
This is the perfect combination of a 4-day, 4-night Atlas Valley trek and a 4-day, 3-night desert tour. The trek takes you through the spectacular Azzaden Valley, over beautiful mountain passes and through traditional Berber villages, offering a wonderful insight into the daily life and culture of the local Berber communities. The desert tour then takes you deep into southern Morocco, with plenty of time to discover the region’s historic kasbahs, dramatic landscapes and desert scenery.
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4-day Atlas Valley Trek: Trek through the beautiful Azzaden Valley, crossing scenic mountain passes, walking through traditional Berber villages and exploring peaceful mountain valleys.
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4-day Desert Tour: Take your time exploring the many highlights along the way, including the famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, the scenic dirt roads of the Ounila Valley and the impressive Glaoui Kasbah at Telouet — places often missed on shorter 3-day/2-night desert tours.
This Atlas Mountains trek runs all year round and can depart on any date to suit your plans.
We usually have several treks departing each week, which you are welcome to join. Please get in touch to find out more!
All our Morocco mountain treks can also be combined with other tours, including trips to the Sahara Desert, Morocco’s Imperial Cities or the Atlantic Coast, allowing you to create a tailor-made Morocco adventure.
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
Arrival - Atlas Mountains
On arrival at Marrakech Airport, you’ll be met and transferred to the mountain village of Imlil, the gateway to the High Atlas Mountains. Settle into your friendly, family-run guesthouse and enjoy your first evening surrounded by the spectacular mountain scenery.
Dinner is included and accommodation is at Dar Adrar or similar. We will provide a private transfer from the airport to Imlil.
Day 02
Imlil – Tizi n Mzik –Tizi Oussem
After breakfast, meet your guide and muleteer before loading your bags onto the mules. The mule team and cook will head on ahead to find the perfect picnic spot and prepare lunch while you begin your trek. The trail starts with a fairly steep climb towards the Tizi n Mzik Pass (2,489m), where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views across the High Atlas Mountains. From the pass, descend into the beautiful Azzaden Valley, known locally as the ‘Valley of Colour’, with its dramatic mountain scenery and traditional Berber villages.
Your day’s trek ends in the small Berber village of Tizi Oussem, where you’ll spend the night in a village gîte. If you’re feeling energetic, you can take a detour to the impressive D’Irhoulidene Waterfalls. This adds around two hours of walking, but the extra effort is well worth it. Approx. 4–5 hours walking, or 6–7 hours including the waterfalls. (749m ascent; 649m descent.)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Accommodation is a village gîte.
Day 03
Tizi Oussem – Tinzert
After breakfast, continue your trek through the beautiful Azzaden Valley, passing traditional Berber mountain villages and enjoying spectacular views of the High Atlas peaks behind you. Ahead, the valley opens into a peaceful landscape, with a fast-flowing mountain stream winding through lush walnut groves. As you gradually descend, you’ll enter Ouirgane National Park, a protected area renowned for its beautiful scenery and diverse natural landscapes. Your day’s walk ends in the rustic Berber village of Tinzert, where you’ll spend the night in a traditional village gîte. Approx. 5–6 hours walking (640m descent).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included and accommodation is a village gîte.
Transport is included where relevant.
Day 04
Tinzert – Imi Oughlad – Imlil
Today is the gentlest day of the trek, with fewer steep climbs and descents, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean-style scenery. The trail winds through peaceful valleys dotted with juniper trees, rosemary and thyme, where local shepherds tend their goats. You’ll continue towards Imi Oughlad, stopping for lunch before saying goodbye to your cook, guide and mule team. After lunch, you’ll be picked up and driven back to your accommodation in Imlil, where you can enjoy a well-earned hot shower and a relaxing afternoon surrounded by the High Atlas Mountains. Meals are included and accommodation is Dar Adrar. Transport is included from Imi Oughlad to Imlil.
Approx. 4 hours walking (200m ascent).
Day 05
Imlil - Tizi n Tichka – Ourzazate – Dades Gorges
You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9.00am and begin your journey across the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the spectacular Tizi-n-Tichka Pass. Along the way, you’ll pass through traditional Berber villages before descending towards the desert landscapes, where riverside oases and barren hillsides are dotted with impressive kasbahs – fortified dwellings once home to families and their livestock. En route, you’ll have the option to stop at the famous Ouarzazate Film Studios or enjoy a short hike through the surrounding landscape. On arrival at Dades Gorge, you can choose to explore on foot with a hike or relax at your hotel. Overnight in the Dades Valley. Meals all included and accomodation is Kasbah Dades, Hotel Babylon or Dar Essayaha. Transprt from Imlil to Dades is included too (Total driving time: approximately 6 hours.)
Day 06
Dades gorges- todghra Gorges – Merzouga
After breakfast at the hotel, travel from the Dades Valley to the spectacular Todra Gorge, a dramatic 300-metre-high canyon cutting through the High Atlas Mountains. The narrow valley is surrounded by palm groves and traditional Berber villages, creating a striking contrast with the rugged mountain scenery. Here, you can enjoy a hike through the palmery, a lush green oasis filled with tall date palms. After lunch, continue towards Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert, where you’ll collect supplies for your desert adventure. From Merzouga, drive to a nearby kasbah to meet your camels. As the sun begins to set, embark on a one-and-a-half-hour camel trek across the dunes to a traditional Berber desert camp. Enjoy a delicious Moroccan dinner before spending the night beneath the stars or in comfortable desert tents. (Total driving time: approximately 6 hours.)
Day 07
Ait Benhaddou - Marrakech
Wake early to enjoy a spectacular sunrise over the Sahara before returning to the kasbah by camel. On arrival, you’ll have time to freshen up and enjoy breakfast before leaving the desert behind and travelling towards Ait Benhaddou. This ancient fortified village, or ksar, is made up of a maze of traditional kasbahs and has provided the atmospheric backdrop for numerous Hollywood films, including The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander and Lawrence of Arabia. Explore the historic buildings and winding streets with your guide before settling into your hotel near Ait Benhaddou for the night. Food all included and accommodation is Auberge Etoile Filante or Hotel Rose du Sable. Transport will be 4x4 or minibus. (Total driving time: approximately 5–6 hours.)
Day 08
Ait benhaddou – Telouet Kasbah – Marrakech
Travel through the scenic Ounila Valley to Telouet Kasbah, a fascinating and atmospheric ruin that was once an important stopping point for traders crossing the High Atlas Mountains. Explore the historic kasbah before enjoying lunch, then continue your journey back to Marrakech, crossing the spectacular Tizi-n-Tichka Pass.
Breakfast included and 4x4 or minibus transport (Total driving time: approximately 4 hours.)
Optional extension: If time allows, this Morocco itinerary can be extended to include a couple of nights in Marrakech and Essaouira, giving you more time to experience the vibrant Red City and Morocco’s atmospheric Atlantic coast.
Note: This itinerary is intended as a guideline and may be changed to suit 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 : 1015€
2 people : 620€/person
3 people : 570€/person
4 - 7 people : 510€/person
8 - 12 people : 440€/person
What Is Included?
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All transport
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2 Overnight in Dar Adrar or similar (Dinner & breakfast)
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English speaking guide, and cook (Mountain trek)
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2 nights Accommodation in Villages Gites.
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Muleteers and mules for assistance (Mountain trek)
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Full board on trek + mineral water, coffee and tea (Mountain trek)
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4x4 or Mini-bus during Desert tour
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2 overnight in hôtels at Dades gorges & Ait Benhaddou (Dinner & breakfast)
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1overnight 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: Dar Adrar or similar guesthouse.
Night 2: Village gîte.
Night 3: Village gîte.
Night 4: Dar Adrar Guesthouse.
Night 5: Hotel near the Dades Gorges.
Night 6: Desert camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, staying in traditional nomadic-style tents.
Night 7: Hotel near the famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah.
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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Most of those equipment can be rented locally from our equipment shop in Imlil:
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Walking boots : 5 €/day
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Sleeping bags : 2.5 €/day
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Rain Jackets : 3 €/day
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Walking Poles : 3 €/day/pair
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Back packs : 3€/day
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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.